The pages in this section have been written to provide support for these service groups. Some roles are specific to the residential aged care setting, others are also relevant to home care.
Aged care workers support thousands of older people across Australia. In 2016, there were over 366,029 (estimated) employees in the aged care sector working in residential and community settings, and in a variety of direct-care and non-direct care occupations. [1] This workforce includes nurses, direct care providers and allied health staff such as social workers, OTs and physiotherapists. Direct-care workers may provide care in a person’s home or in an aged care home.
In residential aged care Personal Care Attendant (PCAs) are the largest occupational group (70%), followed by Registered Nurses (RNs) (15%) and Enrolled Nurses (ENs) (10%). The median age of the residential direct care workforce was 46 years. While 32% of the total residential care workforce was born overseas, 40% of recent hires were migrant workers. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accounted for 1% of the residential direct care workforce. [1]
The total home care and home support workforce decreased by 13% between 2012 and 2016. Community care workers were the largest home care and home support direct care occupational group (84%) followed by RNs (8%) and AH professionals (5%). The median age of the home care and home support direct care workforce was 52 years, and they were predominantly female workers (89%). The proportion of overseas born workers in the home care and home support sector has reduced from 28% in 2012 to 23% in 2016. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people accounted for 2% of the home care and home support direct care workforce. [1]
The increasing demand for aged care services means that there is a need to ensure that the workforce is appropriately trained and prepared to provide care for older people with palliative care needs. [2]
Page updated 08 February 2023