Health Assistant

What does a health assistant do?

• Move patients from place to place around hospitals
• Help patients to shower, go to the toilet, shave, brush their teeth, dress, and eat
• Help patients communicate
• Help enrolled and registered nurses with basic treatment
• Help to set up procedures, clean equipment, and complete documentation

What do I need to be good at?

• Physical strength and movement
• Fine motor skills
• Oral and written communication
• Teamwork
• Following instructions

How much does a health assistant get paid?

Average salary in Australia is $49,235. (Source 1)

How does a health assistant get trained?

Qualification to work as a health assistant are offered at Vocational and Educational Training in Schools (VETiS) or by TAFEs. They include the Certificate II in Health Support Services and the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance.

Where are the jobs for an health assistant?

Common job titles are health assistant, health care assistant, assistant in nursing, orderly, and ward assistant, and workers with those titles are employed at every hospital.

What does this job lead to?

You can put the skills you learn on the job and in formal training toward further training as a personal care worker (Certificate III or IV) or an enrolled nurse (Diploma) at an accredited provider.

Read more about employers and what programmes they offer here.

1. Source: Payscale.com