A$60,000+ Healthcare & Support Jobs in Australia for Foreign Workers

Australia’s healthcare and social assistance industry offers career opportunities ranging from registered nursing and enrolled nursing to aged care, disability support and personal care.

For foreign workers, this is important because not every healthcare career requires becoming a doctor or registered nurse.

Depending on your qualifications, experience and immigration eligibility, occupations can include:

• Registered nurses
• Enrolled nurses
• Aged care workers
• Disability support workers
• Personal care workers
• Nursing support workers
• Allied health professionals
• Medical technicians
• Community and social-support workers

Australia’s healthcare and social assistance industry is also enormous.

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that approximately 2.409 million people work in Health Care and Social Assistance, representing around 16.3% of Australia’s workforce.

It is currently Australia’s largest employing industry.

For workers looking at earnings, the numbers can be attractive.

Current Jobs and Skills Australia data reports median full-time earnings of approximately:

A$2,192 per week for Registered Nurses

and

A$1,761 per week for Aged and Disabled Carers.

That means many full-time healthcare and support occupations can comfortably exceed A$60,000 per year.

This guide explains A$60,000+ healthcare and support jobs in Australia for foreign workers, including salaries, occupations, requirements and employer-sponsored visa possibilities.

Can Healthcare Workers Earn A$60,000+ in Australia?

Yes.

To gross A$60,000 annually, a worker needs average weekly earnings of approximately:

A$1,154 per week.

Alternatively, someone working 38 hours per week would need an average hourly rate around:

A$30.36/hour.

For comparison:

A$35/hour × 38 hours × 52 weeks = A$69,160

A$40/hour × 38 × 52 = A$79,040

A$45/hour × 38 × 52 = A$88,920

A$50/hour × 38 × 52 = A$98,800

Many healthcare occupations have earnings above this level.

Use the calculator for planning rather than treating the result as a guaranteed Australian salary.

Australia’s Healthcare & Social Assistance Industry

Healthcare and Social Assistance is Australia’s largest employing industry.

Current Jobs and Skills Australia data reports approximately:

2,409,000 workers

representing:

16.3% of Australia’s workforce.

The industry covers services including:

• Hospitals
• General medical services
• Specialist medical services
• Pathology
• Diagnostic imaging
• Dental care
• Allied healthcare
• Ambulance services
• Aged care
• Residential care
• Social assistance

Employment in the industry has grown substantially over the long term.

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that employment increased by approximately 95,000 workers over the year to February 2026.

That does not mean every healthcare occupation or every foreign applicant is guaranteed employment.

But it shows the scale of the sector.

A$60,000+ Healthcare & Support Jobs

Some of the major occupations foreign workers may research include:

1. Registered Nurses

Registered nursing is one of Australia’s major healthcare professions.

Jobs and Skills Australia currently reports:

Median full-time weekly earnings: A$2,192

Median hourly earnings: A$57

A simple 52-week annualisation of the weekly median gives approximately:

A$113,984 per year.

Registered nurses work in:

• Hospitals
• Aged-care facilities
• Community healthcare
• Medical facilities
• Other healthcare environments

Registered nursing is a regulated profession, so internationally qualified nurses need to investigate Australian registration requirements.

Our upcoming Registered Nurse Jobs in Australia for Foreign Workers guide will cover this separately.

2. Aged and Disabled Carers

This is particularly important for our Healthcare & Support category because it moves beyond professional nursing.

Jobs and Skills Australia currently reports approximately:

376,300 Aged and Disabled Carers

working in Australia.

Current median earnings for full-time workers are approximately:

A$1,761 per week

with median hourly earnings around:

A$46/hour.

Annualising A$1,761 weekly gives approximately:

A$91,572 per year.

However, there is an important qualification.

Only about 40% of workers in the occupation currently work full-time hours.

Therefore, you should not assume every aged-care or disability-support worker earns A$91,000 annually.

Hours matter enormously.

What Do Aged and Disabled Carers Do?

Jobs and Skills Australia describes aged and disabled carers as workers providing household assistance, care, companionship and emotional support to aged people and people with disabilities.

Typical duties can include:

• Helping clients with mobility
• Assisting with personal hygiene
• Helping with dressing
• Preparing food
• Providing companionship
• Accompanying clients during daily activities
• Performing household tasks
• Shopping and errands
• Supporting social activities

This makes the occupation closely related to what many international applicants search for as:

caregiver jobs in Australia

or

disability support worker jobs in Australia.

3. Enrolled Nurse Jobs

Enrolled nurses provide nursing care under applicable professional requirements and typically work alongside registered nurses and other healthcare professionals.

Jobs and Skills Australia currently reports:

Median full-time weekly earnings: A$1,777

Median hourly earnings: A$46

Annualising the weekly median gives approximately:

A$92,404 per year.

Enrolled nurses can work in:

• Hospitals
• Aged care
• Community healthcare
• Other health facilities

Approximately half of workers in the occupation currently work full-time.

Professional registration requirements apply.

4. Nursing Support Worker Jobs

Nursing support occupations provide another route into Australia’s healthcare workforce.

Depending on the job, workers may assist nurses and other healthcare professionals with:

• Patient mobility
• Personal care
• Patient comfort
• Everyday activities
• Basic support tasks

Foreign applicants should pay close attention to the actual occupation classification.

“Nursing support worker,” “personal care worker,” “care assistant” and “caregiver” should not automatically be treated as interchangeable titles.

5. Personal Care Worker Jobs

Personal care workers can provide direct support to people who require help with everyday living.

Employment can exist in:

• Aged-care facilities
• Residential care
• Community services
• Disability services
• Home-care environments

Duties can include:

• Personal hygiene
• Mobility support
• Dressing
• Meal assistance
• Companionship
• Daily living assistance

These roles will form an important part of our dedicated Caregiver Jobs in Australia for Foreign Workers guide.

6. Disability Support Worker Jobs

Disability support is another major part of Australia’s care economy.

Workers can assist people with disabilities with:

• Personal care
• Community participation
• Mobility
• Household activities
• Social activities
• Everyday routines
• Independent living

Some positions involve home-based care, while others are connected to community or residential services.

Qualifications and employer requirements vary.

7. Aged Care Jobs

Australia’s aged-care sector employs workers across different qualification levels.

These include:

• Registered nurses
• Enrolled nurses
• Personal care workers
• Aged and disabled carers
• Nursing support workers
• Allied health professionals
• Community support staff

This makes aged care one of the most useful subcategories for foreign healthcare and support job seekers.

Aged Care Worker Salary in Australia

Current Jobs and Skills Australia data for the broader Aged and Disabled Carers occupation reports median full-time earnings around:

A$1,761/week.

That is approximately:

A$7,631/month

when annualised and divided across 12 months.

The annual equivalent is approximately:

A$91,572.

But again, this figure represents median earnings for full-time non-managerial employees in the data.

A large proportion of aged and disabled carers work part-time.

Actual annual earnings can therefore be substantially lower.

Registered Nurse Salary in Australia

Registered nurses currently have median full-time weekly earnings around:

A$2,192.

That gives an annual equivalent around:

A$113,984.

The current median hourly figure is approximately:

A$57/hour.

Registered nursing therefore comfortably exceeds our A$60,000 threshold.

Enrolled Nurse Salary

Current median full-time weekly earnings:

A$1,777

Annual equivalent:

approximately A$92,404

Median hourly earnings:

approximately A$46/hour

This positions enrolled nursing between many support occupations and registered nursing in terms of professional responsibility and earnings.

Healthcare Jobs Without a Medical Degree

Australia’s healthcare and support sector includes occupations that do not require someone to become a physician.

Depending on the role, opportunities can include:

• Aged care worker
• Disability support worker
• Personal care worker
• Nursing support worker
• Community support worker

This does not mean the jobs have no requirements.

Employers may request:

• Relevant vocational qualifications
• Care experience
• Background checks
• First aid
• CPR
• Driver’s licence
• English proficiency
• Occupational screening

Requirements differ according to the occupation.

Qualifications for Aged and Disabled Carers

Current Jobs and Skills Australia education data shows that Certificate III/IV is the most common highest qualification category among Aged and Disabled Carers, at approximately 36.6% of workers.

Other workers have:

• Diplomas
• Bachelor’s degrees
• Year 12
• Other qualification levels

This shows why foreign applicants should not assume university education is required for every support-care occupation.

Registered Nursing Requirements

Registered nursing is different.

Internationally qualified nurses need to satisfy Australian professional registration requirements before practising under the protected professional title.

Applicants should investigate:

• Qualification recognition
• Professional registration
• English-language requirements
• Identity requirements
• Professional experience
• Other regulatory requirements

Immigration eligibility and professional registration are separate matters.

Can Foreigners Work in Australian Healthcare?

Potentially, yes.

Foreign nationals need an immigration status that allows them to work.

Depending on the occupation and circumstances, pathways can involve:

• Employer-sponsored visas
• Skilled migration
• Regional skilled visas
• Other visas carrying appropriate work rights

Eligibility depends on the occupation and individual.

Skills in Demand Visa

Australia’s Skills in Demand visa — subclass 482 is one important employer-sponsored route.

The Australian Department of Home Affairs states that the visa allows an employer to sponsor a suitably skilled worker to fill a position when an appropriately skilled Australian worker cannot be sourced.

For the Core Skills stream, the nominated occupation must satisfy the applicable occupation-list requirements.

Applicants must also satisfy the relevant criteria.

Subclass 482 Work Experience

Current Department of Home Affairs information states that Skills in Demand visa applicants must have the skills to perform the nominated occupation.

The government’s sponsored-visa comparison also states applicants need:

12 months of work experience in the occupation or a related field.

Other requirements apply.

This is very different from simply finding an Australian job advertisement.

Employer Nomination Scheme

The Employer Nomination Scheme — subclass 186 is another employer-sponsored visa.

Unlike subclass 482, subclass 186 is a permanent visa.

Depending on the stream, requirements can include:

• Employer nomination
• Skills assessment
• Relevant professional registration or licensing
• Other eligibility requirements

Foreign healthcare workers should research the visa that matches their actual occupation and circumstances.

Regional Employer Sponsorship

Australia also has the:

Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa — subclass 494.

It allows eligible employers in designated regional areas to sponsor workers for nominated skilled positions.

The visa can be valid for five years.

Professional registration or licensing must still be held when required for the occupation.

Healthcare Jobs With Visa Sponsorship

Many international candidates search:

healthcare jobs in Australia with visa sponsorship

or:

aged care jobs in Australia with sponsorship.

Employer sponsorship does exist.

However, not every healthcare employer sponsors overseas applicants.

A worker still needs to meet the requirements of the relevant visa and occupation.

Avoid assuming that Australia’s healthcare-worker shortage automatically guarantees sponsorship.

Nursing Support and Personal Care Sponsorship

Support occupations are especially worth watching.

Australian government immigration-program data shows that Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers were among the more frequently granted nominated occupations for Temporary Skill Shortage and Skills in Demand visas in recent reporting.

Government data recorded 852 grants in this occupational group in 2025–26 through 31 December 2025, following 1,339 in 2024–25.

Registered nurses were also among the leading sponsored occupations.

This provides evidence that employer-sponsored recruitment is not limited to doctors and highly specialised professionals.

It still does not mean every care-worker job qualifies.

Regional Healthcare Jobs

Foreign workers should not focus only on:

• Sydney
• Melbourne
• Brisbane

Australia’s regional healthcare system also employs healthcare and support workers.

Depending on occupation and visa eligibility, regional opportunities can be particularly relevant because Australia operates regional skilled visa pathways.

Potential locations can include parts of:

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• Western Australia
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Northern Territory

Always confirm whether a location meets the immigration definition of a designated regional area.

Healthcare Jobs in Sydney

Sydney has a large healthcare labour market.

Potential employers include:

• Hospitals
• Aged-care facilities
• Disability-service providers
• Community healthcare organisations
• Private healthcare providers

However, Sydney’s housing costs can be high.

A high salary does not automatically translate into high disposable income.

Healthcare Jobs in Melbourne

Melbourne is another major healthcare centre.

Opportunities span:

• Hospitals
• Aged care
• Disability support
• Community services
• Private healthcare
• Allied health

Foreign workers should compare employer requirements and professional registration before relocating.

Healthcare Jobs in Brisbane

Brisbane and other Queensland communities provide healthcare and support employment across metropolitan and regional environments.

Queensland accounts for a significant share of Australia’s registered nursing workforce.

Healthcare Jobs in Perth

Western Australia can also be relevant for:

• Nursing
• Aged care
• Disability support
• Regional healthcare
• Community services

Workers considering Western Australia should compare Perth with regional opportunities.

A$60,000 Salary Per Month

An annual salary of A$60,000 equals approximately:

A$5,000 gross per month.

For comparison:

Annual Salary	Monthly Gross Equivalent
A$60,000	A$5,000
A$70,000	A$5,833
A$80,000	A$6,667
A$90,000	A$7,500
A$100,000	A$8,333
A$110,000	A$9,167
A$120,000	A$10,000

These are simple gross equivalents before Australian taxes and other deductions.

Working Hours Matter

Support workers need to pay particular attention to working hours.

For example, Jobs and Skills Australia reports that only around:

40% of Aged and Disabled Carers work full-time.

Registered nurses have a full-time share around:

56%.

Therefore, a high hourly wage does not automatically mean high annual income.

Always check:

• Guaranteed weekly hours
• Employment status
• Casual vs permanent work
• Weekend rates
• Night shifts
• Overtime
• Penalty rates

Casual Employment

Some Australian healthcare and support positions are casual.

Casual employees can have different pay structures from permanent employees.

A higher hourly rate should therefore be evaluated alongside:

• Guaranteed hours
• Leave entitlements
• Job security
• Benefits
• Shift availability

Do not compare two job offers using hourly wage alone.

How Long Can Moving to Australia Take?

There is no universal timeline.

Depending on your occupation, the process can involve:

• Qualification assessment
• Professional registration
• Skills assessment
• English testing
• Job search
• Employer sponsorship
• Visa application
• Health examinations
• Character checks
• Visa processing
• Travel preparation

A registered nurse may have a very different process from an aged-care support worker.

Use the result as a planning estimate only. Australian immigration processing times and professional-registration timelines can change.

How to Find Healthcare Jobs in Australia

Search using your exact occupation.

Instead of searching only:

healthcare jobs Australia

try:

• Registered nurse Australia
• Enrolled nurse Australia
• Aged care worker Australia
• Disability support worker Australia
• Personal care worker Australia
• Nursing support worker Australia
• Community support worker Australia

You can then add:

visa sponsorship

when specifically researching employers willing to recruit overseas.

Check Employer Sponsorship Carefully

An advertisement saying “sponsorship considered” is different from guaranteed sponsorship.

Before making decisions, determine:

• Which visa is being discussed
• Whether the occupation qualifies
• Whether the employer is eligible to sponsor
• Required experience
• Required qualifications
• Required professional registration
• Salary requirements
• Whether the offer is genuine

Avoid Australian Job Scams

Foreign healthcare applicants should be cautious of:

• Guaranteed Australian visas
• Guaranteed permanent residence
• Paid job offers
• Fake aged-care employers
• Fake nursing recruitment
• Fake sponsorship certificates
• Requests for large payments through personal accounts

Verify the employer independently.

Registered Nurse vs Aged Care Worker

These are very different career paths.

Current median hourly earnings:

Registered Nurses — approximately A$57/hour

Aged and Disabled Carers — approximately A$46/hour

But registered nursing requires professional nursing qualifications and registration.

Care/support occupations have different qualification requirements and responsibilities.

Choose based on your actual background rather than salary alone.

Australia vs Canada Healthcare Salaries

Both countries can provide attractive healthcare careers.

Australia currently reports relatively strong full-time earnings for both registered nurses and aged/disability carers.

Canada also provides substantial nursing and healthcare-support opportunities.

However, direct salary comparison should account for:

• Currency
• Taxes
• Cost of living
• Housing
• Working hours
• Employment benefits
• Immigration requirements
• Professional registration

Someone choosing between the countries should compare the entire employment package.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can foreigners work in healthcare in Australia?

Yes, when they meet the requirements for the occupation and hold appropriate Australian work rights.

Can healthcare workers earn A$60,000?

Yes. Many full-time healthcare and support occupations have current median earnings above A$60,000 annually.

How much do registered nurses earn?

Jobs and Skills Australia currently reports median full-time earnings of approximately A$2,192 per week and median hourly earnings around A$57.

How much do aged and disabled carers earn?

Current median full-time earnings are approximately A$1,761 per week, with median hourly earnings around A$46.

Do all carers make A$90,000?

No. A$1,761 weekly annualises to about A$91,572, but this is a full-time median. Only around 40% of workers in the occupation currently work full-time.

Do I need a nursing degree to work in healthcare?

Not for every occupation. Aged care, disability support and personal care include roles with different qualification requirements.

Can Australian employers sponsor foreign healthcare workers?

Yes, employer-sponsored visa pathways exist, including the Skills in Demand subclass 482, Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186 and regional subclass 494. Eligibility requirements apply.

Does sponsorship guarantee permanent residence?

No. Temporary and permanent employer-sponsored visas have different requirements.

Can support workers receive employer sponsorship?

Government immigration data shows Nursing Support and Personal Care Workers among occupations receiving TSS/SID visa grants. However, this does not mean every support-worker position qualifies for sponsorship.

Should I only search Sydney and Melbourne?

No. Regional Australia can also provide healthcare employment and has immigration pathways specifically connected to regional skilled employment.

Final Thoughts

Australia’s Healthcare & Support sector provides opportunities far beyond doctors and professional nurses.

Current official labour-market data shows approximately 2.4 million people working across Health Care and Social Assistance.

Registered nurses currently have median full-time weekly earnings around:

A$2,192

while Aged and Disabled Carers have median full-time weekly earnings around:

A$1,761.

That puts the A$60,000 threshold within reach for many full-time workers in the sector.

Foreign workers can investigate careers including:

Registered nursing → enrolled nursing → nursing support → aged care → disability support → personal care → community support.

The right option depends on your qualifications.

If you have professional nursing qualifications, our upcoming Registered Nurse Jobs in Australia for Foreign Workers guide will cover registration, salaries and employment.

If you are looking for support work, continue with Caregiver Jobs in Australia for Foreign Workers, Aged Care Jobs in Australia for Foreign Workers, and Disability Support Worker Jobs in Australia for Foreign Workers.

For Canadian opportunities, compare this article with $50,000+ Healthcare & Support Jobs in Canada for Foreign Workers and Caregiver Jobs in Canada for Foreign Workers.

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Important Disclosure

MimBlog is an independent information website and is not a recruitment agency, employer, immigration authority or government agency. Salaries are estimates and may vary by employer, experience and location. Job availability and immigration requirements can change. Always verify vacancies, eligibility and visa requirements through employers and official government sources.