Each setting and role builds a different kind of evidence toward the Diploma. Choose work that builds the portfolio you need.
The anchor industry for Certificate III graduates. The Aged Care Act 2024 introduced a rights-based framework, strengthened Quality Standards, the Code of Conduct for Aged Care and mandatory care-minute requirements.
CEDA projects Australia needs at least 17,000 additional direct aged-care workers every year this decade, with a shortfall of 110,000 workers by 2031 if unaddressed.
Responsibilities
Technical skills
Human skills
Person-centred and rights-based care · Empathy and compassion · Dignity and privacy · Clear respectful communication · Duty of care and professional boundaries · Reliability and teamwork
Evidence value: Builds currency and foundation referee reports from your first shifts.
Responsibilities
Technical skills
Human skills
Person-centred and rights-based care · Empathy and compassion · Dignity and privacy · Clear respectful communication · Duty of care and professional boundaries · Reliability and teamwork · Patience with cognitive decline · Family communication · Cultural safety for diverse elders · Calm response to behaviours · Resilience and self-care
Evidence value: Documentation quality and deterioration reporting build the portfolio foundation for later RPL; meets currency expectations.
Responsibilities
Technical skills
Human skills
Person-centred and rights-based care · Empathy and compassion · Dignity and privacy · Clear respectful communication · Duty of care and professional boundaries · Reliability and teamwork
Evidence value: Underpins confidence for HLTENN040 (medicines) study — no credit, but strong readiness. Strengthens Diploma application.
The fastest-growing setting. The Support at Home program is shifting care volume into people's homes, elevating demand for home care workers, community support workers and home-care coordination roles.
Fastest-growing care setting in Australia as care volume moves into people's homes.
Responsibilities
Technical skills
Human skills
Person-centred and rights-based care · Empathy and compassion · Dignity and privacy · Clear respectful communication · Duty of care and professional boundaries · Reliability and teamwork
Evidence value: Early currency evidence and referee relationships.
Responsibilities
Technical skills
Human skills
Independence-building rather than task-doing · Respecting the client's home · Boundary-setting · Problem-solving without on-site supervision
Evidence value: Documented telehealth coordination generates potential evidence toward HLTADM008 RPL — keep records of telehealth interactions.
The second anchor industry. Support is delivered in participants' homes, Supported Independent Living (SIL) arrangements and community access programs, governed by the NDIS Practice Standards, Code of Conduct and Worker Screening.
Structural demand under the NDIS; remunerated under the SCHADS Award.
Responsibilities
Technical skills
Human skills
Person-centred and rights-based care · Empathy and compassion · Dignity and privacy · Clear respectful communication · Duty of care and professional boundaries · Reliability and teamwork
Evidence value: Builds NDIS documentation habits early.
Responsibilities
Technical skills
Human skills
Choice and control mindset · Advocacy · Age-appropriate engagement · Supporting social inclusion · Safeguarding and zero tolerance of abuse
Evidence value: Team leadership in a SIL house builds direct evidence toward BSBLDR414 RPL; goal reporting builds documentation evidence.
Hospitals and sub-acute services employ care-qualified staff as Assistants in Nursing, patient care assistants and nursing support workers. Best treated as a growth destination rather than a first destination.
Some employers prefer HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance or current Diploma of Nursing enrolment for acute settings.
Responsibilities
Technical skills
Human skills
Working under RN/EN delegation · Escalating concerns promptly · Teamwork in fast-paced multidisciplinary environments
Evidence value: Eases the acute placement transition in the Diploma; strengthens application and interview.
Retirement living and seniors' communities, respite and day-therapy centres, transition care, and entry-level community mental health support roles.
Responsibilities
Technical skills
Human skills
Person-centred and rights-based care · Empathy and compassion · Dignity and privacy · Clear respectful communication · Duty of care and professional boundaries · Reliability and teamwork
Responsibilities
Technical skills
Human skills
Person-centred and rights-based care · Empathy and compassion · Dignity and privacy · Clear respectful communication · Duty of care and professional boundaries · Reliability and teamwork
Evidence value: Broadens practice contexts for portfolio sufficiency.
