The short answer
Two rates, because there are two levels of clinical scope.
Qualified nursing covers wound care, medication support, catheter and stoma care at $125 an hour. Registered nurse care is $144 an hour where the clinical need calls for the additional scope and judgement of an RN.
| Support | From | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Nursing | $125 / hour | Wound management, medication support, catheter and stoma care. |
| Registered nurse | $144 / hour | Complex assessment, clinical judgement and escalation. |
Why nursing costs more than personal care
A nurse carries a qualification, registration, clinical accountability and professional indemnity. The visit also includes assessment and documentation that a support worker is not trained or authorised to provide. You are paying for judgement, not just hands.
The difference between $125 and $144 is about scope. An RN can assess, make clinical decisions within their scope and escalate. An enrolled or qualified nurse works within a defined plan. If your need is straightforward wound care, the lower rate is usually appropriate.
How long a nursing visit takes
Wound care is often 30 to 45 minutes, including assessment and documentation. Catheter changes and complex dressings can take longer. Medication support can be brief, but the documentation is not.
Some providers set a minimum visit length. Ask, because a 20-minute dressing billed as an hour is a different cost.
Weekly arithmetic
| Pattern | Hours a week | From |
|---|---|---|
| Three wound care visits | 2.25 | $281 |
| Daily medication support, five days | 2.5 | $313 |
| Two RN visits for assessment | 2 | $288 |
| Daily wound care plus weekly RN review | 6 | $894 |
What changes the cost
- After hours. Evening, overnight and weekend visits can attract loadings.
- Complexity. A complex dressing takes longer than a simple one.
- Frequency. Daily care adds up quickly. Ask for a weekly estimate.
- Travel. Confirmed before the first visit.
- Equipment. Dressings and consumables are usually separate. Ask what is included.
What funding may cover
Nursing can be funded through an NDIS plan where it relates to the disability, through an aged care package, through private health extras in some cases, or privately. Medicare covers some community nursing through programs, but eligibility is narrow.
Ask your GP, plan manager or provider what applies. Do not assume a hospital discharge will arrange it automatically.
Do not downgrade clinical care to save money
If a task needs an RN, using a cheaper worker is a false economy. The risk is not the invoice. It is the wound, the medication error or the missed deterioration.
Common questions
Is nursing covered by Medicare?
Some community nursing is, through specific programs and eligibility. Private nursing at home is generally not covered by Medicare. Ask your GP what applies.
Can I choose between a nurse and an RN?
The clinical need decides. We will explain which level applies and why.
Are dressings included in the rate?
Usually not. Ask what consumables are included and what is billed separately.
How quickly can a nurse start?
Usually within a few days, once we have the referral and the clinical plan.
Can a nurse visit at night?
By arrangement. After-hours rates may apply. Tell us the clinical need and the times.
Sources and further reading
This guide is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice. If you are worried about your health, call your GP. In an emergency, call 000.