Regional nurse jobs in Australia

Develop your career and make a real difference as a regional nurse with Sanctuary. Through our long-standing partnerships with regional, rural and remote aged care homes, you can gain invaluable experience and explore diverse communities with our regional nurse jobs.

What does regional nursing with Sanctuary look like?

Our regional nurse jobs give you the opportunity to bring your skills to communities that need them the most. If you live in a rural or regional location, we have casual shifts available, and if you want to travel into regional areas, you can secure one of our short‑ or long‑term contracts.

Benefits of regional nursing with Sanctuary include:

  • Flexibility and variety: Work on your own terms, on contract placements or a casual schedule.
  • Competitive pay: Regional roles often have higher pay rates than shifts in metro areas.
  • Experience: Build your skills providing quality care across different communities and grow your professional experience.
  • Explore the country: Travel to regional areas and discover parts of Australia you may not have visited before.
  • Create meaningful impact: Make a real difference by providing essential care to regional communities and enriching the lives of older Australians who need it most.

Our regional nursing roles across Australia

We offer opportunities outside metro areas in the following states:

  • New South Wales
  • Northern Territory
  • South Australia
  • Queensland
  • Victoria
  • Western Australia

Lets get started

Getting started with Sanctuary is simple. Once you apply or register your interest, we’ll support you throughout your search.  

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

Speak with our team

Your dedicated consultant will learn about your experience, skills and preferences to support your job search. 

register with sanctuary

Start your remote role

Once you’ve found the right role, we’ll help you through the onboarding so that you can confidently start your new role. 

Regional nures job FAQs

Regional nurses provide care in communities outside major cities. You’ll perform your usual clinical duties while working in regional, rural or remote locations, either on a short to long term contract (typically four weeks to three months) or on an ad-hoc basis if you live within commuting distance to the home.

We have regional nursing opportunities across the country, in six different states. View a list of our job vacancies here or get in contact for a full rundown of the areas we work in.

Working in regional areas often comes with higher hourly rates than metro-based roles. Your pay rate will be influenced by factors such as your experience, specialism, location and shift patterns. Contact our team for more information on what you could earn.

Regional nursing typically requires in-depth experience, as you may work in smaller teams or at times solo. Most roles require at least 12 months of Australian nursing experience, and you may benefit from obtaining remote area nursing qualifications for certain regions. Our team can assess your resume and match you with suitable positions.

Great regional nurses have the following skills:

  • Clinical skills
  • Leadership and management
  • Community engagement
  • Cultural sensitivity
  • Adaptability
  • Continuous learning
Aged care blog
6 steps to aged care compliance readiness

As Australia’s aged care landscape continues to evolve, compliance has never been more important. With the strengthened Aged Care Quality Standards and the new Aged Care Act that came into effect on the 1 November 2025, providers must be confident that their workforce, systems and processes are up to standard. These obligations apply across residential…

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…

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…

The resilience of the aged care industry

First published: October 2023 How to overcome aged care hidden hurdles “The staff were the most vital asset in this situation, the power of the team really shone through during this time” Being part of the world of aged care usually means your general workday is fast-paced and constantly changing, but we often know what…

Celebrating International Nurses Day

First published: May 2024 International Nurses Day, celebrated around the world on the 12th May each year, recognises the importance of healthcare professionals, in particular recognising the role that nurses play in our society. This day, the anniversary of Florence Nightingale’s birth, calls to our attention the unwavering commitment that nurses show everyday across every…

Remote area nurse salary guide in Australia

Published: December 2025 Remote area nurses deliver healthcare services to rural communities. Access to care in these sparsely populated areas is usually limited, so remote area nurses travel in from across the country to provide it. They are often contracted to be in one area for a specific amount of time, temporarily alleviating staffing shortages.  Within our remote area nurse salary guide, we will explore what you can earn as a remote area nurse, ways to…

Day in the life of an aged care registered nurse

Aged care nursing is fast paced and deeply rewarding. Every shift brings new challenges and the chance to make a real difference in someone’s day. It’s a career built on compassion, skill and a commitment to ensuring each patients needs are met and their voices are heard. Within this blog, we will outline what a…

How to become a remote area nurse in Australia

Remote area nurses are skilled medical professionals who keep rural and isolated communities safe and well across Australia. In this article, we’ll look at how to become a remote area nurse, what the role entails and the benefits of taking this career path. How do I become a remote area nurse? In Australia, to become…

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…