Aged care jobs in Cairns

Sanctuary Recruitment is currently seeking candidates for aged care jobs in Cairns CBD/metro area
and various locations throughout regional and rural Queensland. We are a specialist aged care recruitment
consultancy with years of industry expertise. We pride ourselves on our long-lasting relationships with
aged care homes and nurses and are committed to strengthening and
maintaining relationships within the aged care sector.

Register with Sanctuary

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Express your interest

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

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Prepare for work

Complete the onboarding process and become fully compliant. Our compliance team can help you through this step by step.

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Being working with Sanctuary

Choose from 100's of roles that suit your needs, values and requirements.

Rewards and benefits

market leading pay rates

Market leading pay rates

bonuses and incentives

Bonuses and incentives

industry expert consultants

Industry expert consultants

discount programs

Discount programs

Free online education modules

Free online education modules

Referral scheme

Referral scheme

Aged care jobs in Cairns FAQs

Aged care workers provide the direct care of residents on a physical, personal and emotional level. An entry level role in this industry would be an Assistant in nursing/Personal care worker, and you can develop your clinical skills to become a registered nurse and beyond.

Our longstanding relationships with over 400 aged care providers across the country, in metro, regional, rural and remote areas of the country.

Alongside Cairns, in Queensland we have roles in:

  • Bribie Island
  • Brisbane
  • Darling Downs
  • Far North Queensland
  • Gold Coast
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Toowoomba
  • Whitsundays
  • Wide Bay

There are a lot of variances when it comes to pay rates, as aged care casual rates depend on your position, experience level and shift times that you work. Our casual pay rates range from:

  • AIN: $38 - $75 per hour
  • EN: $40 - $81 per hour
  • RN: $50 -  $120 per hour

Incentives, allowances and bonuses are applicable for certain areas and contract placements. Reforms in aged care have led to pay rises for aged care workers in recent years, with more developments to come.

We have a scheme where we offer nurses who have less than 6 months experience a trial period within a residential aged care home. If you have less than 6 months experience or have an aged care certificate, please get in contact to see what your options are.

To work as an AIN/PCA you need to hold a Cert III/IV in Ageing Support/Individual Support/Health Services Assistance. To work as an EN you will need a Diploma of Nursing and an AHPRA number, and for RN's you need a Bachelor of Nursing degree and an AHPRA number. 

We are recruiting aged care positions on a clinical and non clinical basis (direct and non direct care), for temporary/casual, contract and permanent assignments. Temporary work, or casual work, is done on an ad-hoc or block booking basis. Contract roles are usually up to 12 weeks long in rural, regional and remote areas of the country and permanent positions are salary based, with you being employed directly by the home.

Absolutely. We offer continuous online training via our Learning Management System (LMS) at no cost to you. This is regularly updated to reflect new legislation and regulations.

Through working on a short term or ad-hoc basis, you can:

  • Structure your work day/week to your lifestyle
  • Through our contract roles, you can explore areas of Australia whilst getting paid for it, with free travel and accommodation included.
  • Set your own work/life balance
  • Receive a higher hourly rate than if you were a permanent employee
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…

A guide to the 8 Aged Care Quality Standards

First published: July 2024 The Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission have formed eight Quality Standards that are set within the aged care industry for the purpose of ensuring services provided to the elderly population of Australia are: Safe High quality Meet the needs and preferences of the people under their care All government funded…

12 aged care interview questions and answers

Revised: May 2025 Are you preparing for an aged care interview?  Knowing the most common aged care interview questions and how to answer them can help you feel confident and ready to showcase your skills. Within our detailed guide, we’ll help you to prepare for the 12 most frequently asked aged care interview questions. We’ve…

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…

Transitioning into aged care

First published: November 2023 A non clinical perspective With the aged care industry being a part of the healthcare space, the common perception is that you need a nursing qualification to be eligible for a role in a residential aged care home. This is true for a large number of job positions, as clinical members…

A complete guide to aged care qualifications and certification requirements 

There are many different roles within aged care, some of which require a higher degree of education and training. Getting the right aged care qualifications and certificates can support you in establishing a long and rewarding career in the field. They ensure you understand the safety, legal and ethical protocols to effectively look after the…

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…

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…

Enhancing aged care: Pulse Staffing Australia and Sanctuary Recruitment to deliver PALM Aged Care Expansion Program

First published: July 2024 Quality aged care is vital for ensuring that elderly people live fulfilling, healthy lives with dignity and respect. Aligned with our purpose to improve people’s lives, Pulse Staffing Australia and Sanctuary Recruitment, both part of Acacium Group, have partnered to support the delivery of the 2024 PALM Aged Care Expansion Program….

Aged care manager salary guide

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 and salaries to expect…