Enrolled nursing jobs in Cairns

Sanctuary Recruitment is Australia's leading aged care recruitment agency that specialises in placing enrolled nurses and aged care professionals in roles across the country on a temporary, permanent and contract basis. We have strong relationships with private and non-for-profit providers and are able to find you a position, or staff that meet your requirements and needs.

If you are an enrolled nurse and are looking for a new position in Cairns, or would like to travel the country with us, send in your resume and view our available jobs today.

Register with Sanctuary

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

Prepare for work

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

register with sanctuary

Being working with Sanctuary

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

Enrolled Nurse Jobs in Cairns FAQs

Enrolled nurses are AHPRA registered healthcare professionals who provide direct patient/resident care in an array of medical settings. The difference between an enrolled nurse and a registered nurse is their scope of practice - registered nurses have more responsibilities and duties than an enrolled nurse.

Enrolled nurses in aged care often enter the industry either through an entry level role such as an Assistant in nursing/personal care worker and then upskilling. or by studying the relevant course and entering at in this role.

Our enrolled nursing roles cover Australia wide areas. We have a large network of homes in metro, regional, rural and remote areas of the country.

Reach out today if you are looking for a role in Cairns or across Queensland, in areas such as:

  • Bribie Island
  • Brisbane
  • Gold Coast
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Toowoomba
  • Townsville
  • Wide Bay

Pay rates for enrolled nurses are broken down in the Aged Care and Nurses Award. There are various pay points that are dependent on your experience, location, job title and setting. The average enrolled nurse casual pay rates are in-between $31 - $76 per hour

For short term contract placements across the country, we offer allowances, incentives and bonuses depending on the placement. The aged care industry is evolving, with the aged care reform roadmap leading to a pay rise for the aged care sector in recent years, with changes to come.

For our enrolled nurses, we generally require a minimum of 6 months Australian aged care experience for our metro and casual nursing pool. Get in touch today if your experience doesn't reach this, as some of our clients accept newer grads.

Enrolled nurses are required to have completed a 2 year Diploma of Nursing course. This is  completed at an educational institution, made up of both practical and theoretical assessments. Eligible students can receive fee-free courses through TAFE.

You can work as an enrolled nurse on a temporary/casual and contract basis. Temporary work allows you to fill ad-hoc shifts when you like, whether it is last minute cancellations or block bookings. Contract assignments are often full time placements starting from 4 weeks in regional and remote areas of the country.

We have a Learning Management System (LMS) that allows for our nurses to educate and refresh their knowledge so they are ready for work. This is regularly updated to reflect legislation and is role specific, at no cost to you.

Through working on a casual/temporary basis, you can:

  • Decide when and where you work
  • Explore areas of the country whilst getting paid for it, with free travel and accommodation included.
  • Judge the work/life balance you want to implement
  • Receive casual loading hourly pay rates

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
What is aged care?

First published: January 2025 Aged care is a collection of services delivered to older people (usually aged 65 and over), both inside and outside of their home, that allows them to live a full, normal life. Aged care is provided on a variety of different levels, depending on the needs of the client. In Australia,…

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…

Delivering impact: how our partnership with Alphacrucis University College is changing the lives of Pacific Islander aged care workers

First published: October 2024 Sanctuary Recruitment and Pulse Staffing Australia, under the global healthcare partner Acacium Group, have secured a bid for this year’s Pacific Australian Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme. Aiming to fill labour gaps and alleviate work shortages across the country in a multitude of sectors, the PALM scheme allows for workers from the…

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…

Duties and responsibilities of an aged care worker

First published: July 2024 Aged care workers working in the Australian aged care industry are responsible for more than just fundamental duties and responsibilities. They are expected to provide personal, emotional, and holistic support to their residents, playing a key part in a resident’s twilight years. Working in aged care is an admirable profession, one…

PALM Scheme Cohort of 2024 graduation!

First published: May 2025 On 10th May 2025, our Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme cohort of 38 participants graduated with a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) from Alphacrucis University College. After an 18-week course with a four-week placement in Harts Nursing Home and Father Law Home in Suva, Fiji, our participants transitioned to…

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…

Care minutes in residential aged care

First published: November 2024 As part of the aged care reform roadmap, the Department of Health and Aged Care are making changes to the number of direct care minutes a resident in residential aged care receives each day from a clinical aged care worker. As of 2023, it sat at 200 minutes per day with…

Shining a spotlight on female leadership in aged care

First published: March 2024 A background to women in leadership The aged care industry is dominated by female workers, with 86% of the RAC workforce (direct care workers) identifying as female. Despite this overwhelming percentage, female leadership positions are still low in comparison to men, with women CEOs making up 19% across all industries. Females…

5 benefits of rural nursing in Australia

A career in remote and rural nursing comes with a wealth of personal and professional rewards. From expanding your clinical skills to experiencing real job satisfaction, nursing outside of Australia’s major cities opens the door to meaningful, impactful work. It’s a chance to grow as a nurse while supporting those who need care the most….