Patient Care Assistant
Shortage Now
States / territories with a shortage signal
Snapshot
Median salary
A$58,100
Full-time annual
People employed
42,300
Estimated workforce
Shortage signal
No shortage (national)
Categories identify where a shortage occurs; they are not a severity score.
What you actually do
Provides general assistance, emotional support and personal care services to patients in a health care facility.
Alternative titles
Health Care Assistant · Health Care Worker · Personal Care Assistant (Health)
Scope note: Patient Services Assistants and Residential Aged Care Workers are excluded from this occupation. Patient Services Assistants are included in Occupation 442532 Patient Services Assistant. Residential Aged Care Workers are included in Occupation 421331 Residential Aged Care Worker.
Read official OSCA descriptionSkills & main tasks
Official main tasks
- Assists with personal care needs such as showering, dressing, eating, mobility and communication
- Negotiates with individuals and families regarding the acceptance of care provided
- Participates in care planning
- Supports a multidisciplinary team to adhere to health plans as directed by health care professionals
- Observes and reports changes in patients' conditions
- Reports complaints about care
- Assists with rehabilitation exercises, basic treatment and delivery of medications
Where people work
State / territory distribution
Highest education
Share of workers
Education & work pattern
Part-time
67%
Female rate
86%
Median age
43
2030 & 2035 employment outlook
to 2030
+14%
15,876 projected jobs
to 2035
+25%
28,389 projected jobs
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OSCA skill level 4
A classification attribute describing the occupation; it is not a personal eligibility or qualification decision.
Official VET pathways
Certificate II in Health Support Services
Occupation ready
Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance
Specialised training
Certificate II in Community Services
Transferable skills
Certificate III in Individual Support
Transferable skills
Real jobs right now
Live signal from SEEK, Indeed & moreCurrent vacancy signal
WA · May 2026
131
NT · May 2026
26
ACT · May 2026
24
TAS · May 2026
82
QLD · May 2026
394
NSW · May 2026
607
Where could this career take you?
Compare state-level shortage signals, salary context, study options and visa information for Patient Care Assistant.
Regional demand
Largest employment base
#1 Melbourne - South East
5,255 estimated employed
- 1
Melbourne - South East
5,255 employed
VIC
-7.29%
year on year
- 2
Melbourne - West
4,258 employed
VIC
+2.13%
year on year
- 3
Sunshine Coast
3,475 employed
QLD
+7.89%
year on year
- 4
Sydney - Parramatta
3,463 employed
NSW
-3.3%
year on year
- 5
Gold Coast
2,859 employed
QLD
-3.74%
year on year
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Ranked by current shortage signal and projected employment growth.
Workers in this occupation
32,165
Moved in from another occupation
5,450
Moved to another occupation
4,600
Recommendation score: shortage = 2 points, no shortage = 1 point, plus 1 point for each 10% of projected growth to 2035.
- 1
5
points
- 2
5
points
- 3
4
points
- 4
4
points
- 5
3
points
Data status
- Classification
- OSCA 442531
- Last updated
- Refresh pending
- Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia OSL · Jobs and Skills Australia DOM · ABS OSCA · OSCA 2024 — Jobs and Skills Australia
Labour-market data coverage
- Shortage signal and drivers: JSA Occupation Shortage List (ANZSCO unit group where applicable).
- Work profile, state distribution and education: JSA Occupation Profiles (ANZSCO mapped).
- Regional employment: JSA NERO, June 2026.
- Career-move observations: JSA DOM, last available 2020–21. Observed Australian worker transitions are not personalised recommendations; many contractors and sole traders are excluded, as are transitions below 10 workers.
- Vacancy signal: JSA Internet Vacancy Index, 3-month average (ANZSCO unit group).
- Employment outlook: JSA employment projections (ANZSCO unit group).
- Training pathways: JSA Training Occupation Pathways.
Data confidence: estimate. A missing CSOL flag is not a finding of visa ineligibility; check the current Home Affairs list.