To become an assistant in nursing (AIN) in Australia, you’ll usually need a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance for hospital roles or a Certificate III in Individual Support for aged care. Nursing students can also work as AINs in NSW public hospitals while they finish their degree. You won’t need to register with AHPRA, though public hospitals will ask for proof of vaccination before they hire you.
What does an AIN do?
An assistant in nursing provides hands-on patient care under the supervision of a registered nurse. NSW Health’s policy on AINs says you’ll work within each patient’s plan of care, where a registered nurse delegates tasks to you and holds you accountable for how you complete them.
You’ll spend much of your shift on direct care, like helping patients shower or move around the ward. The registered and enrolled nurses on your ward will also need your help with patient care and with keeping each patient’s records up to date.
The role doesn’t require registration with AHPRA, since AINs aren’t one of the health professions it regulates. This sets AINs apart from enrolled nurses, who have their own registration requirements with the Nursing and Midwifery Board.
How to become an AIN
There are four main ways to become an AIN in Australia, depending on the setting:
- Certificate III in Health Services Assistance: This is the standard qualification for hospital work, which NSW Health names as the entry requirement for AINs who aren’t studying nursing. Choose the acute care electives, since public hospital job ads tend to require or prefer them.
- Certificate III in Individual Support: Aged care employers and nursing agencies often ask for this in their AIN ads. The course includes at least 120 hours of work placement, so you’ll have experience with residents before you finish.
- A nursing degree in progress: NSW Health hires undergraduate nursing students as AINs, though each local health district sets its own minimum. Northern Sydney asks for students in their second or third year, while Southern NSW accepts students with just one year of study behind them.
- A higher health qualification: Some private and agency employers ask for a Certificate III or higher in a health-related field. IPC’s Certificate IV in Health Care may meet that requirement, so check the wording of each ad before you apply.
What checks do you need to become an AIN in Australia?
NSW Health classes AIN jobs as Category A positions because they involve direct physical contact with patients. Under PD2024_015, you’ll need evidence of protection against diseases like hepatitis B and measles before your appointment, along with a tuberculosis assessment. Any tests or vaccinations you’re missing must come out of your own pocket. The policy also requires a flu vaccine every year, which existing staff need by 1 June.
AIN salary in Australia
Nursing support and personal care workers earn a median of $1,612 a week in Australia, based on ABS data from 2025. That figure groups AINs with aged care personal care workers and may include overtime, so your base pay could be lower. Public hospitals pay AINs under each state’s health award, while private hospitals and aged care providers set pay under their own agreements.
In NSW, a first-year AIN earns $1,248.60 a week from 1 July 2026, which works out to about $32.86 an hour or $64,900 a year. Your AIN salary in NSW rises each year until your fourth year, when you’ll reach $1,369.90 a week, or about $71,200.
If you work as an AIN in Queensland, you’ll earn more at every stage than you would in NSW. AINs in QLD make $35.22 an hour, or $69,836 a year, from 1 April 2026 at entry-level. Your pay then rises through six pay points as you gain experience, up to $38.57 an hour or $76,468 a year at the top of the scale.
Where can AIN work take you?
AIN work can be a first step towards a nursing career, since you’ll learn how a ward operates before you start formal training. The next level up is enrolled nursing, which requires a Diploma of Nursing approved by the Nursing and Midwifery Board. Enrolled nurses hold their own registration and take on more clinical tasks, though a registered nurse still oversees their work.
To become a registered nurse, you’ll need a Bachelor of Nursing. You won’t have to give up AIN work while you study, though, since NSW public hospitals routinely hire nursing students into the role.
If emergency care interests you more than ward work, your patient care experience is also useful in pre-hospital roles. Event medical employers, for example, accept IPC’s Diploma of Emergency Health Care. Our paramedic vs nurse guide compares the two careers if you’re still deciding.
Start your AIN career
The right qualification depends on where you’d like to work. If you’re aiming for a public hospital, the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance is the safest choice, while aged care employers are more likely to ask for Individual Support. Before you enrol, read a few current job ads in your area to confirm what local employers expect.
If pre-hospital work appeals to you as well, IPC’s course advisors can help you decide whether the Certificate IV in Health Care is a good fit for your goals.
FAQs
Can you work as an AIN without a Certificate III?
Yes, in some cases. NSW Health’s guideline also accepts undergraduate nursing students and people with equivalent experience or recognised skills, though job ads generally ask for a Certificate III.
How much does an AIN earn per hour?
First-year AINs in NSW public hospitals earn about $32.86 an hour from 1 July 2026. In Queensland, AINs start on $35.22 an hour and can reach $38.57 at the top of the pay scale.
Can nursing students work as AINs?
Yes, NSW public hospitals hire undergraduate nursing students as AINs. Each local health district sets its own minimum, with some accepting students after one year of study and others asking for second or third-year students.
Table of contents
