Nursing Assistant
Support patients through their daily routines, helping them complete exercise, mobility, and hygiene activities.
Support patients with their day-to-day needs
Working as a Nursing Assistant, you will deliver limited care to patients and support the work of Registered Nurses in a medical environment. A rewarding career requiring strong empathy, Nursing Assistance involves assisting patients with their daily routines, including personal hygiene, mobility, and exercise regimes. You will develop important relationships with patients built on trust and strong communication, and will provide important support to the nurses and medical staff around you.
Key stats
Nursing Assistants provide an important role in supporting the growth and development of communities across Australia, and are always in high demand. Here are some key facts and figures about this career path:
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$1,200
Average weekly salary
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43 hrs
Average hours worked per week
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39 yrs
Average age of people in this career
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Multi-region
Jobs available in metro and rural areas
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~36,200
People employed in this industry
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35%
Of employees are full time
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Low
Unemployment for this industry
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Low
Skill level required for this career
Source: JobOutlook.gov.au; SEEK.com.au
Core skills of a Nursing Assistant
Working as a Nursing Assistant, you’ll have specialised skills in assessing and supporting your clients’ needs. Some of the core skills of Nursing Assistant include:
Teamwork
Working with the nursing and broader medical team to understand patient needs, as well as routine tasks such as setting up for procedures and cleaning medical equipment.Communication
Building relationships with your patients based on clear communication, trust, and empathy.Implementing therapy plans
Supporting the nursing team to implement therapy plans and medical interventions, as well as assisting patients with personal care and mobility needs.Maintaining patient records
Monitoring your patients’ progress and maintaining accurate and detailed records of their health.Start here
Once you’ve completed your Certificate III
Traineeship
You may choose to complete further study with the Diploma of Nursing to become a qualified Enrolled Nurse (Division 2).
Fore more information about studying to become an Nursing Assistant, get in touch with one of our Course Coordinators. They'll help you understand your study options and match the right course with your goals.
Why choose GOTAFE?
Community connections
We work closely with the local community and nursing industry to make sure your training gives you all the skills you need to succeed in the workforce.
State-of-the-art training equipment
Our nursing labs feature industry-leasing equipment that help you develop all the skills you’ll need in the workforce.
Join Australia’s 5th largest industry
Approximately 8% of Australia’s workforce are employed in healthcare, and Nurses account for more than 30% of job ads in the industry.
Explore more career opportunities
Not sure this is the right career path for you? Explore our other careers and find the right fit for you.
Helpful advice for planning your career
Still not sure what career path you’d like to follow? Our Skills and Jobs Centre is a one-stop-shop for anyone looking for career planning advice. The Centre is government-funded and you don’t have to be a GOTAFE student to get help from our advisors.