How to become an Assistant in Nursing
Also called: Assistant Nurse, Nursing Assistant
Provides limited patient care under the direction of nursing staff in a hospital or aged care facility.
Main tasks
- Supports patients with daily activities such as mobility and personal care
- Follows therapy plans such as interventions, to assist patients
- Observes and reports changes in patients' conditions, and reports complaints about care provided
- Provides basic treatment and delivery of medications under the direction of nursing staff, including vaccinations
- Participates in planning the care of patients and residents
- Assists with rehabilitation exercises
- Assists in workplace health and safety
Ways in
- TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance (HLT33021); Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (HLT43021); Certificate II in Health Support Services (HLT23221)
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Typical full-time pay: $83,824 a year
- About 115,000 people work in this job group now, and about 143,400 are projected by 2035. (+24.7%)
- AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
Related jobs
- Allied Health Assistant
- Dental Assistant
- Optical Dispenser
- Patient Care Assistant
- Patient Services Assistant
- Patient Transport Officer
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Questions people ask
How do I become an Assistant in Nursing?
Ways in include: Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance; Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance.
How much does an Assistant in Nursing earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $83,824 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is an Assistant in Nursing a growing career in Australia?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 25% by 2035, from about 115,000 to about 143,400 people (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Do you need a degree to become an Assistant in Nursing?
Usually not. Only 23% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance; Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance.
Will AI change the work of an Assistant in Nursing?
AI is more likely to help with parts of this job than to do it. Jobs and Skills Australia rates its automation exposure as low.
Sources
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Occupation data (ANZSCO), from ABS Labour Force and Census (February 2026), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Generative AI Capacity Study, interactive table data (September 2025), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Jobs and Skills Australia: Employment Projections (Victoria University) (May 2025 to May 2035), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 2026-10-04
- Australian Taxation Office: Taxation Statistics, Individuals Table 15A (2023-24), CC BY 2.5 AU, retrieved 2026-10-04
Updated 2026-10-04