How to become a Patient Services Assistant

Also called: Hospital Orderly, Orderly, Patient Support Assistant, Theatre Orderly, Wardsperson

Assists with the provision of care to patients in a hospital by ensuring wards are neat and tidy, lifting and turning patients, transporting them in wheelchairs or on movable beds, and providing direct care and support.

Main tasks

• Transports patients in wheelchairs or mobile beds
• Provides safe patient handling and positioning in beds and transfers to and from beds
• Undertakes general duties, ensuring hospital wards are clean, orderly and sanitised, maintaining infection control protocols
• Provides direct care and support to patients, assisting with their personal needs such as showering and dressing
• Stocks and replenishes supplies of medical equipment, and transfers items between departments or wards
• Assists with the preparation and serving of patients' meals and beverages

Ways in

• TAFE and VET: Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (HLT33115); Certificate II in Health Support Services (HLT23221); Certificate IV in Medical Practice Assisting (HLT47715)

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 Care 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 Services Assistant?

Ways in include: Certificate III in Health Services Assistance; Certificate II in Health Support Services.

How much does a Patient Services Assistant earn in Australia?

Median full-time pay is $83,824 a year (Jobs and Skills Australia).

Is a Patient Services 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 Services Assistant?

Usually not. Only 14% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: Certificate III in Health Services Assistance; Certificate II in Health Support Services.

Will AI change the work of a Patient Services 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