Why 2026 Is the Best Time to Start a Career in Aged Care (And How to Get Qualified)
Reading time: ~6 min | Covers: 2026 wages, workforce demand, qualification details, and career pathways
If you have been thinking about a career in aged care but keep putting it off, here is something worth knowing: the window right now, in early 2026, is genuinely one of the best moments in a generation to make the move.
That is not marketing language. It is backed by three converging forces that are reshaping the aged care sector simultaneously — and all of them point in the same direction for people entering the workforce.
Force 1: Australia Is Ageing Fast — and the Workforce Cannot Keep Up
New analysis from spatial intelligence firm Informed Decisions confirms that Australia has already entered what demographers are calling the first wave of accelerated ageing. The large baby boomer generation is moving into retirement, and over the next 20 years, approximately 2.5 million more Australians will join the 65-and-over population.
By the late 2020s, that same cohort will enter their 80s, a stage of life when care needs rise sharply. By the mid-2040s, a further 1.3 million Australians are projected to join the 80-plus population.
This is not a future problem. The demand surge has already begun.
Around 460,000 workers currently operate across aged care, disability and home care in Australia, drawing from the same limited labour pool. The sector is already struggling to fill roles, and according to CEDA's Duty of Care report, the aged care worker shortage will exceed 400,000 by 2050 unless the pipeline of new workers expands dramatically. On top of that, approximately 23% of the existing workforce will need to be replaced over the next decade due solely to retirements.
In plain terms: the jobs will be there. The question is who fills them.
Force 2: Wages Are Going Up — Right Now
One of the biggest criticisms of aged care as a career has historically been pay. That criticism is becoming less valid by the month.
The Fair Work Commission's Aged Care Work Value Case delivered one of the most significant wage restructures in the sector's history. Pay increases have been rolling out across three tranches, with the final and largest increase scheduled for 1 August 2026 (Fair Work Ombudsman, 2026).
For personal care workers and support staff, this means noticeably higher base wages than were available even 12 months ago. For those entering the field now, they will be among the first cohort to work under the new, improved pay structure from day one, without enduring years of the old rates before the reform kicked in.
The Australian Government has also committed ongoing funding to support these wage increases through aged care providers, making the uplift sustainable rather than a one-off adjustment.
Force 3: The New Aged Care Act Is Raising the Bar on Qualifications
Australia's new Aged Care Act, which came into effect in 2024, has raised quality and safety standards across the sector. One consequence of this is that employers are increasingly seeking workers with formal qualifications — not just people willing to show up and learn on the job.
Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts that over half of all new jobs created by 2028 will require a vocational qualification. In aged care, that means the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) — the foundational, nationally recognised qualification for personal care and support roles — is now a genuine employment prerequisite for many positions.
Getting qualified now means getting ahead of that curve, rather than scrambling to catch up later.What the Qualification Covers and What It Leads To
The CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) is an AQF Level 3 nationally recognised qualification. It is the standard entry point for a career as a personal care worker, aged care assistant, home carer, or community support worker.
Across 15 units, you will cover:
- Providing personalised and person-centred support
- Supporting independence, dignity and wellbeing
- Recognising and responding to health changes and falls risk
- Supporting people living with dementia
- Infection prevention and safe work practices
- Legal and ethical responsibilities in care settings
- Communicating effectively in health and community services
You will also complete a minimum of 120 hours of supervised work placement in a real aged care or community setting — which is where theory becomes genuine skill.
Typical roles graduates move into, and what they pay in 2026:
| Role | Avg. Salary (AUS) |
|---|---|
| Personal Care Worker / Aged Care Assistant | $57,000 – $68,000 |
| Home Carer / In-Home Support Worker | $55,000 – $65,000 |
| Community Support Worker | $62,000 – $75,000 |
| NDIS Support Worker | $65,000 – $78,000 |
| Disability Support Worker | $62,000 – $78,000 |
These figures reflect the updated award wages following the Fair Work Commission's staged increases, which continue to improve as the August 2026 tranche takes effect.
Is Aged Care the Right Career for You?
This is worth being honest about. Aged care is not a passive career. It involves physical work, emotional resilience, and a genuine commitment to the people you care for. The reward is also genuine; it is one of the few careers where the impact of your work is visible and immediate every single day.
It suits people who:
- Find purpose in helping others maintain dignity and independence
- Are moving from adjacent roles in retail, hospitality, healthcare administration, and childcare and want a step up in both meaning and pay
- Want a career with genuine job security regardless of economic conditions
- Need flexible study options that fit around existing work or family commitments
How to Get Qualified with Upskilled
Upskilled offers the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support 100% online, self-paced, with no exams and government funding available in multiple states. You can choose the specialisation that fits your goals:
| Stream | Best For | Career Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Ageing | Focused on residential and in-home aged care | Aged care worker, personal carer, home carer |
| Disability | Focused on NDIS and disability support | NDIS worker, disability support worker |
| Ageing & Disability | Broadest foundation; maximum job options | Aged care, disability support, and community care — all three |
Study from anywhere in Australia, at your own pace, with no fixed start dates. Payment options start at $61 per week, and government funding may significantly reduce your cost, depending on your state and eligibility.
What Comes After the Cert III?
The Cert III is a launchpad, not a limit. Upskilled offers a clear pathway of further study to help you specialise, move into coordination roles, or step into leadership:
| Course | Best For | Career Direction |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate IV in Mental Health CHC43315 | Workers wanting to specialise in mental health — increasingly intertwined with aged care | Mental health support worker, community health worker |
| Diploma of Community Services CHC52025 | Those ready to step into senior or coordination roles across the community and health sectors | Community services worker, program coordinator, team leader |
| Diploma of Community Services (Case Management) CHC52025 | Those who want to coordinate complex, multi-service support for clients | Case manager, care coordinator, support planner |
Beyond study, experienced aged care workers also progress into leadership roles as Team Leader, Clinical Care Coordinator, or Facility Manager, often without returning to full-time study. Healthcare Australia's 2026 Salary Guide shows that Registered Nurses with aged care experience can earn up to $105,000 in NSW and QLD, illustrating the long career arc available to those who commit to the sector.
The Bottom Line
Aged care in 2026 is not the underpaid, undervalued sector it once had a reputation for being. Wages are rising by law, demand is structurally guaranteed by demographics, and the new regulatory environment means formally qualified workers have never been more sought after.
If you have the compassion for the work, 2026 is the year to act on it.
Ready to get started? Explore Upskilled's CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support courses and find the stream that suits you:
Ageing · Disability · Ageing & Disability
Sources: Informed Decisions spatial analysis (2026) · CEDA Duty of Care Report · Fair Work Ombudsman Aged Care Work Value Case · Healthcare Australia 2026 Salary Guide · Jobs and Skills Australia · Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (January 2026) · Inside Ageing (February 2026)
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