Assistant in Nursing Jobs in Cairns

Sanctuary Recruitment is an aged care recruitment consultancy in Australia, with years of unwavering commitment to the aged care sector behind it. We work with some of the top aged care providers across the country and provide staff on temporary, contract and permanent assignments in regional, rural, metro and remote locations.

We are hiring assistant in nursing jobs in Cairns and across Queensland on a casual and contract basis. If you are looking for a new opportunity or would like a free resume assessment, submit your interest below

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

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Assistant in Nursing Jobs in Cairns FAQs

Assistant in nursing, otherwise known as personal care workers or simply care workers, are healthcare assistants that work across a variety of medical sectors. They help patients and residents with their daily care. This could be during meal rounds, showering and hygiene, toileting and grooming for example. 

This is an entry level role in the aged care industry, which can open the door to many other positions such as an enrolled nurse, registered nurse, aged care management and beyond.

Since inception, we have nurtured strong relationships with aged care homes across the country. Through Sanctuary, there is the option to work in areas that are metro, regional, rural and remote.

Queensland has fantastic areas to explore and work in which includes:

  • Bundaberg
  • Brisbane
  • Gold Coast
  • Hervey Bay
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Townsville
  • Whitsundays
  • Wide Bay

and more!

Pay rates are stipulated by the Aged Care Award. This will vary depending on your experience, job title and location of work. A personal care worker will receive casual pay of $29 - $71 per hour.

You can earn bonuses, as well as receive incentives and allowances for eligible certain contract placements. Aged care reforms have led to pay rises for aged care workers in recent years, with more developments to come.

As a rule of thumb, you need a minimum of six months Australian aged care experience to work through our agency. Once you have reached this level, which equates to 910 hours, get in contact with our team who can go through the onboarding process.

To be an assistant in nursing, you would need a relevant qualification. In Australia, this is a Certificate III/IV in Ageing Support/Individual Support/Health Services Assistance. This course is around 5 months long (full time) and can be studied through various educational institutions.

Once qualified as an assistant in nursing, you can choose to work on a temporary/casual and/or contract basis. Casual work, or shift filling, is usually done ad-hoc or last minute. Contract roles range in length and last 4 - 12 weeks in rural, regional and remote areas of the country.

We ensure all of our nursing pool are up to date with their knowledge and skills. 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 practices.

Working on a casual basis allows you to:

  • Structure your work day/week to your schedule
  • Explore areas of the country whilst getting paid for it, with free travel and accommodation included for certain placements
  • Set your own level for work/life balance
  • Receive a higher hourly rate than if you were a permanent employee

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 Blog
Transitioning into Aged Care

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Federal Budget 2025-26: What it Means for Aged Care

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An Interview with an Aged Care AIN

First written: 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…

Creating a Heartwarming Holiday Season in Aged Care

First published: December 2023 The festive season in Residential Aged Care is a time to bring the residents and their families together to celebrate the Christmas period. It may be a new experience for those observing this occasion away from the comfort of their family home, so making sure that everyone feels included in the…

Aged Care Bill Passes Parliament

First published: November 2024 In line with the Once in a Generation aged care reform that was announced in September, on the 25th November 2024, the Albanese government has passed the aged care bill allowing for elderly Australians to have access to better aged care services and delivery. The Royal Commission into Aged Care and…