Aged Care Worker Requirements in Australia: Checks, Visa and Training (2026)

Step 2 of 3: Requirements

To work in aged care in Australia you'll need one of two background checks, the right to work here and, for most jobs, a Certificate III or a plan to get one. Under the national rules, a police certificate must be less than 3 years old. Here's the full checklist, and the next page walks you through applying step by step.

Tell us where you're starting from, and the next page shows you what to do.

Where are you right now?

✅ Basic eligibility

Every provider sets its own rules, but most aged care adverts ask for the same short list:

• The right to work in Australia (citizen, permanent resident or a visa with work rights)
• A police certificate or an NDIS Worker Screening Check clearance
• A Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing), or a willingness to study it
• Good spoken and written English, so you can follow care plans and write notes
• Two work references, ideally including a recent supervisor
• A first aid certificate for some roles, and a driver licence for many home care jobs

Age rules vary by provider, so check the advert. Personal qualities matter just as much as paperwork: kindness, patience, reliability and respect for older people's choices.

🔍 Police check or NDIS worker screening

The new Aged Care Act started on 1 November 2025. Under the government's worker screening guidance, aged care workers need either:

• A police certificate that is less than 3 years old and shows no precluding offences, or
• An NDIS Worker Screening Check clearance, which is accepted for aged care and is valid for 5 years

If you already have an NDIS clearance, you usually don't need a separate police certificate. Having a criminal record doesn't automatically rule you out, but certain serious offences do. Always be honest on your application.

Got your ID ready? The next page shows the order to apply in, from search to first shift.

📋 Work rights, visa and TFN

Every employer must make sure you're allowed to work in Australia. Australian citizens usually show a passport or birth certificate with photo ID. If you're on a visa, you can check your own work conditions for free using the Home Affairs VEVO service.

• Student visa holders: generally limited to 48 hours a fortnight while your course is in session, with unlimited hours in scheduled breaks
• Working holiday makers and other visa holders: check your visa conditions before you accept shifts
• Tax File Number (TFN): free from the Australian Taxation Office. If you don't give your employer a TFN within 28 days of starting, tax is taken at the highest rate

Never pay an agent overseas who promises a guaranteed aged care job and a visa. Real employers explain sponsorship themselves, and it's never sold as a package.

🎓 The Certificate III and training

The Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) is the standard entry qualification. It covers personal care, safe manual handling, infection control, dementia support and communication. TAFE NSW lists 120 hours of work placement, and other providers may require more.

Some providers will hire you while you study, or offer a traineeship. The Department of Health says new and existing aged care workers may be eligible for Fee-Free TAFE for this course. Once qualified, you're paid at award Level 3.

Ready for the next part? The application steps are simple, but the order matters.

🚗 Do you need a driver licence?

Not for most aged care home jobs, because you work on one site. For home care, many providers ask for a full driver licence and a reliable, insured car, since you travel between clients.

Ask how travel is paid, such as a per-kilometre allowance, before you accept a home care role. Some city providers also offer rounds by public transport.

⚠️ Common mistakes that cost people the job

Most rejections and delays come from small, avoidable slip-ups:

• Letting a police certificate pass its 3-year limit without applying for a new one
• Not mentioning something that later shows up in your check
• Applying for home care jobs that need a car when you don't have one
• Giving referees who don't answer, or old phone numbers
• Taking more hours than your visa allows
• Listing a Certificate III you haven't finished as complete

Want to avoid every one of these? The next page puts each step in the right order.

❓ Quick FAQ

On the next page: the 7 application steps in order, where to find genuine aged care vacancies, what happens at interview and how to spot fake recruiters.

🔥 Other jobs hiring now

Still deciding? These jobs have different requirements, and one may suit you even better.

Disclaimer: This is an independent information website. We are not an aged care provider, government agency or employer, we do not hire anyone and we do not collect job applications. Screening rules, visa conditions and training options change and vary by employer and state, so always check the official government and employer websites before you apply. Never pay anyone to get a job.