How to become a Patient Care Assistant
Also called: Health Care Assistant, Health Care Worker, Personal Care Assistant (Health)
Provides general assistance, emotional support and personal care services to patients in a health care facility.
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
Ways in
- TAFE and VET: Certificate II in Health Support Services (HLT23221); Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (HLT43021); Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33021); Certificate II in Community Services (CHC22015)
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
- Patient Services Assistant
- Allied Health Assistant
- Assistant in Nursing
- Dental Assistant
- Optical Dispenser
- Patient Transport Officer
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Patient Care Assistant?
Ways in include: Certificate II in Health Support Services; Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance.
How much does a Patient Care Assistant earn in Australia?
Median full-time pay is $83,824 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).
Is a Patient Care Assistant 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 a Patient Care Assistant?
Usually not. Only 21% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate II in Health Support Services; Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance.
Will AI change the work of a Patient Care Assistant?
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