Aged Care Blog

an interview with an aged care AIN

An interview with an Aged Care AIN

First published: June 2024

We are proud of our incredible nursing team, showing dedication day in and day out to the residents that they care for. Our aged care recruitment services are spread across Australia, providing staffing solutions on an ad-hoc, short term contract/block booking and permanent basis in metro, regional, rural and remote areas of the country. In our many years of unwavering commitment to the sector, we have nurtured long standing relationships with a network of aged care providers, and have built a nursing community that emulates our core values of resilience, determination and respect.

Parminder, an AIN based in North West Sydney, picks up shifts at her local aged care homes. She kindly came into our head office based in Sydney CBD, to chat to us about her nursing experience and working with Sanctuary.

parminder kaurMeet aged care AIN, Parminder

 

Tell me about your nursing journey. How did you get into this field and find yourself in the aged care industry?

“I came to Australia in 2020 and have been working as an Assistant in Nursing for three years, all in aged care. I joined Sanctuary Recruitment this year after moving to Sydney from Victoria. I am originally from India, and after having experience looking after my grandparents I realised the personal value that I could derive from interacting with the elderly. After finishing my studies, I migrated to Australia and decided to a pursue a career in caring for the older population.”

Why did you choose to pursue a career through an agency?

“I like the flexibility of working through Sanctuary. I can pick and choose shifts that suit me as well as decided where I work”

“It’s also really easy to pick up shifts through the Deputy app. There are always a lot of shifts available so I have the freedom to control how much I work in the week. It’s a very smooth process.”

What stands out about Sanctuary in particular?

“I was searching on my phone and came across Sanctuary. They had really great reviews and after getting in contact with them, I saw firsthand how nice the consultants were. Zinna helped me with the compliance process and whenever I need any help claiming shifts, Katie always answers the phone, even if its early in the morning!

“The homes that are available to work at, I have always found that I am respected by the staff members and not singled out being an agency nurse. I feel very comfortable going to whenever they have.”

What do you like the most about aged care?

“I like talking to the elderly about their life experiences, and I believe it is a blessing to receive their wisdom and life advice.”

Tell me about you! What do you like to do in your spare time?

“I am a big fan of reading. I try to read whenever I get a spare minute. On public transport, and I used to read with my grandmother which strengthened our bond.”

What do you think a nurse needs to have to be successful in the aged care industry?

“My advice to any future nurses is to have good communication skills and patience. There can be ups and downs, but having that core passion will remind you why you have chosen this career path.”

A snippet of this interview can be found on our YouTube Channel.

To become part of a community of dedicated, passionate and inspiring nurses, get in contact with our industry expert consultants today.

Register with us

Looking for a new opportunity
in the aged care sector?

Expert staffing solutions

Need staffing support on a temporary, contract or permanent basis?

Subscribe Here!

Subscribe to our blog!

1 Comment

  1. Dipeshni on March 6, 2025 at 12:58 pm

    Looking for assistant in nursing jobs



Aged care blog
Ideas for engaging aged care activities

First published: September 2024 An important part of an aged care resident’s health and wellbeing includes lifestyle and leisure activities that call to their needs, interests and desires. The 13th recommendation in the Royal Commission into Quality and Safety report was ‘Embedding high quality aged care’, which includes supporting the resident to engage in recreational…

Fast tracked AHPRA conversion for overseas nurses

Published February 2025 From April 2025, internationally qualified nurses from six countries will be able to receive their AHPRA registration using a more effective, less timely process. Nurses from the United Kingdom, Ireland. the United States, Singapore, Spain and parts of Canada (British Columbia and Ontario) will be able to register as a healthcare practitioner…

Why Sanctuary is one of Australia’s best nursing agencies

Over the past decade, Sanctuary has built longstanding relationships with aged care professionals and service providers, establishing ourselves as one of the best nursing agencies in Australia. With a focus on aged care nursing and leadership roles, we connect experienced candidates with reputable not-for-profit and private aged care organisations across the country. At Sanctuary, people…

10 common aged care interview questions for PCAs 

First published: July 2025 Aged care interview questions for personal care assistants (PCAs) are designed to understand your skills, experience and motivations for working in the sector.  In this article, we share 10 common aged care interview questions for PCAs, along with examples of how to answer them. Considering these questions ahead of your interview…

How our remote area nurses help aged care providers thrive in hard-to-staff regions

Regional and remote aged care homes are facing significant staffing shortages. The Nursing Supply and Demand 2023-2035 report predicts that this will increasingly impact service delivery across these areas over the next 12 years as unmet demand continues to rise.  The sustainability of the aged care workforce depends on providers implementing long-term strategies that attract…

On the road to remote care: my journey as a travel nurse in Western Australia

First published: February 2025 Travel nurses experience the unique thrill of packing their bags and spontaneously setting off on a new adventure. When the destination is Western Australia—home to stunning coastlines, vast outback, and a diverse healthcare landscape—the experience becomes something truly unforgettable. At Sanctuary, our contract team specialise in the placement of experienced and…

Your guide to getting involved in aged care volunteering

First published: May 2025 Aged care volunteering is an opportunity to give back to the community whilst providing companionship and support to older people whilst both living in aged care homes or receiving home care. Aged care volunteering options that are available include assisting with daily living activities to make day to day tasks easier,…

How to become an approved aged care provider

First published: May 2025 To become an approved aged care provider, which is an organisation that has been approved by the Department of Health and Aged Care to provide aged care services to the elderly population, a successful application must be submitted to the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. Aged care services can be delivered…

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…

Aged care manager salary guide

First published: June 2025 Are you wanting to step into an aged care management role? These jobs offer a fulfilling career where you can make a meaningful impact while earning a competitive salary. In this blog, we’ll look at the aged care manager salary you’ll receive, taking into consideration factors that can influence your pay…