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 lasting, rewarding career out of.

With over nine years of experience recruiting within the aged care industry, Sanctuary is able to guide you through the onboarding and hiring process to find you an aged care career that suits your needs and requirements perfectly.

Aged care career roles

When choosing the perfect aged care career, you will need consider the level of qualifications needed as well as the right work experience to be eligible for these roles. Example of aged care career positions include:

Clinical aged care career roles

Assistant in nursing

This is an entry level aged care clinical role. To become an aged care worker, you need to have a relevant qualification (often a Certificate III in Individual Support/Ageing Support/Health Services Assistance) to be able to work in this position, which can be studied alongside your work or before depending on the requirements of the organisation. Assistant in nursing professionals are responsible for:

• Personal care and Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)
• Providing companionship and emotional support
• Liaising with other medical personnel to decide on the right care plan for the resident

Enrolled and registered nurse

The next step up on the clinical ladder is to qualify as an enrolled and then registered nurse respectively. A Diploma of Nursing is required for an enrolled nurse and a Bachelor of Nursing is needed for a registered nurse before you can work in these roles. In these positions, aged care focused duties and responsibilities include:

• Administering medications
• Assisting with care planning and documentation
• Wound management
• Monitoring vital signs

A registered nurse will have more enhanced aged care skills, making them equipped to be in charge of more complex pain management, with a wider scope of practice due to a more in-depth nursing study.

Clinical care coordinator

A step up into management for registered nurses, clinical care coordinators organise and supervise the daily goings on in an aged care setting. They may provide direction to the clinical team to ensure the best possible care is delivered.

Care and facility management

Care and facility managers run residential aged care homes. Care managers focus on the clinical side and oversee the nursing team with the clinical care coordinators. They are advocates for residents’ health and well-being and liaise with other healthcare and medical institutions.

Facility managers are in charge of day-to-day operations within a residential aged care home, achieving KPIs and managing budgets. They are responsible for getting an aged care home to accreditation status, devising training plans and ensuring quality services are delivered to residents.

Non-clinical aged care career roles

Leisure and lifestyle officer

These personnel are responsible for evaluating and implementing leisure and activity programs into an aged care setting. Part of this role is to assess the interests and social needs of each resident and recipient of aged care services and create a program that fulfills each person using a holistic approach.

To work as a leisure and lifestyle officer, you will often need a relevant qualification such as a Certificate IV in Leisure and Health.

Chefs, cooks and kitchen hands

Responsible for devising menus and adhering to requests and requirements of the residents/aged care service recipients, these personnel will work together to provide nutritious, balanced meals that are tailored to individual needs.

Those working in the culinary space within the aged care industry often need experience as well as a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery.

Laundry and maintenance

Household positions such as laundry, cleaners, and general maintenance are all essential to keeping the homes and places of residence in full working condition.

Administration

Rostering coordinators and administrators oversee staff bookings, both internal and external, and make sure that there is a fully equipped team to meet all the resident’s needs.

Gardeners

Keeping residential aged care homes and retirement villages looking and feeling as homely as possible is important for residents mental and physical wellbeing and can be a hobby that residents enjoy.

Advancing your aged care career with Sanctuary Recruitment

Working in aged care with Sanctuary will allow you to develop your aged care career opportunities and prospects. Covering locations Australia wide, with job roles available on a temporary/casual, contract and permanent basis, our industry expert consultants are available to provide you with options that suit what you are looking for.

Benefits for furthering your aged care career with Sanctuary

Our aged care nursing team are available to receive a wide array of benefits when they join our agency. Benefits you will receive include:

• Consultants who are dedicated to your aged care career trajectory
• Location choice in every state of Australia
• The opportunity to choose your work type
• Exclusive discounts and partnerships
• Bonuses, allowances and incentives
• Market leading agency pay rates and salary packages
• Shift options for new grad nurses

Speak to our team today for advice on your aged care career

Our industry expert consultants are on hand to provide market insights into the aged care industry and guidance on what your aged care career can do for you. View our jobs board and get in touch today.