Regional nurse jobs in Australia

Develop your career and make a real difference as a regional nurse with Sanctuary. Through our long-standing partnerships with regional, rural and remote aged care homes, you can gain invaluable experience and explore diverse communities with our regional nurse jobs.

What does regional nursing with Sanctuary look like?

Our regional nurse jobs give you the opportunity to bring your skills to communities that need them the most. If you live in a rural or regional location, we have casual shifts available, and if you want to travel into regional areas, you can secure one of our short‑ or long‑term contracts.

Benefits of regional nursing with Sanctuary include:

  • Flexibility and variety: Work on your own terms, on contract placements or a casual schedule.
  • Competitive pay: Regional roles often have higher pay rates than shifts in metro areas.
  • Experience: Build your skills providing quality care across different communities and grow your professional experience.
  • Explore the country: Travel to regional areas and discover parts of Australia you may not have visited before.
  • Create meaningful impact: Make a real difference by providing essential care to regional communities and enriching the lives of older Australians who need it most.
Row edge-slant Shape Decorative svg added to top

Our regional nursing roles across Australia

We offer opportunities outside metro areas in the following states:

  • New South Wales
  • Northern Territory
  • South Australia
  • Queensland
  • Victoria
  • Western Australia

Lets get started

Getting started with Sanctuary is simple. Once you apply or register your interest, we’ll support you throughout your search.  

register with sanctuary

Express your interest

Send in your resume or register your interest and our industry expert consultants will be in contact.

register with sanctuary

Speak with our team

Your dedicated consultant will learn about your experience, skills and preferences to support your job search. 

register with sanctuary

Start your remote role

Once you’ve found the right role, we’ll help you through the onboarding so that you can confidently start your new role. 

Regional nures job FAQs

Regional nurses provide care in communities outside major cities. You’ll perform your usual clinical duties while working in regional, rural or remote locations, either on a short to long term contract (typically four weeks to three months) or on an ad-hoc basis if you live within commuting distance to the home.

We have regional nursing opportunities across the country, in six different states. View a list of our job vacancies here or get in contact for a full rundown of the areas we work in.

Working in regional areas often comes with higher hourly rates than metro-based roles. Your pay rate will be influenced by factors such as your experience, specialism, location and shift patterns. Contact our team for more information on what you could earn.

Regional nursing typically requires in-depth experience, as you may work in smaller teams or at times solo. Most roles require at least 12 months of Australian nursing experience, and you may benefit from obtaining remote area nursing qualifications for certain regions. Our team can assess your resume and match you with suitable positions.

Great regional nurses have the following skills:

  • Clinical skills
  • Leadership and management
  • Community engagement
  • Cultural sensitivity
  • Adaptability
  • Continuous learning
Aged care blog
What skills do you need to work in aged care?

Revised: June 2025 Are you interested in working in aged care? Developing aged care skills is key to becoming a great worker and succeeding in the industry.  Through gaining aged care skills that allow you to interact with residents from a diverse range of backgrounds, deliver quality care and maintain a safe environment, you’ll improve…

FIFO Nurse Salary Guide

FIFO nursing is a great opportunity to expand your experience and develop your skillset in rural and remote regions, delivering aged care services to communities living far from major population centres. It is not only a fantastic way to explore areas of Australia, but you can also earn an increased FIFO nurse salary to compensate…

What is the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS)?

The Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) is a government initiative and subsequent reporting system implemented to reduce abuse and neglect of older people receiving aged care services. SIRS is a mandatory requirement for approved aged care providers, including residential aged care homes and home care services (encompassing Home Care Packages, the Commonwealth Home Support Programme…

Federal Budget 2025-26: what it means for aged care

First published: May 2025 The Federal Budget 2025-26 was announced on the 25th March 2025 which included economic forecasts and what areas would be allocated funding and financial backing this coming year. Covering areas such as the cost of living, housing prices, education, healthcare and student debt, it offers a projection of what each sector…

Aged care careers

First published: April 2025 Aged care careers cover working in clinical and non-clinical roles across an array of environments including residential aged care, home care/independent living and retirement communities. There is a wealth of employment opportunities that will allow you to explore roles that fit your knowledge and skills, that you can make a long…

Palliative approach in aged care

First published: August 2025 The spectrum of palliative care covers more than just end-of-life care. A palliative approach to aged care encompasses methods to improve the quality of life for individuals with life-limiting illnesses, to ensure they are as comfortable as possible. Types of palliative care In residential aged care, palliative care is delivered with…

Remote area nurse salary guide in Australia

Published: December 2025 Remote area nurses deliver healthcare services to rural communities. Access to care in these sparsely populated areas is usually limited, so remote area nurses travel in from across the country to provide it. They are often contracted to be in one area for a specific amount of time, temporarily alleviating staffing shortages.  Within our remote area nurse salary guide, we will explore what you can earn as a remote area nurse, ways to…

Aged care worker salary earnings in Australia in 2025

Revised January 2025 An aged care worker salary in Australia is increasing with the demand. It was reported that there is a need for at least 110,000 direct aged care workers across the country in the next decade. The aged care industry is made up of many different roles, both clinical and non-clinical, with a variety…

Standard 6: why food and nutrition matter more than ever in aged care

By Rhiannon Dhoot, Client Relationship Manager at Sanctuary Recruitment I’m Rhiannon, Client Relationship Manager at Sanctuary Recruitment. Over the past few months, I’ve had the opportunity to meet with aged care providers across Australia, visit a range of homes and learn more about the challenges and priorities shaping the sector today. One topic that has…

How to become an aged care worker

First published: November 2023, revised April 2024 The aged care industry encompasses the services provided and delivered to care for the elderly population. The Department of Health and Aged Care governs the quality of these services and focuses on continuous improvement and development, with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission in charge of government…