Comparing roles and rates
- Support workers assist with daily routines, with personal care starting from $85 per hour and domestic help from $83 per hour.
- Nurses provide clinical medical care, starting from $125 per hour, with registered nursing from $144 per hour.
- Support workers hold vocational certificates, while nurses are regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
What a support worker does
Support workers are the everyday foundation of home care. They assist individuals who need a friendly and capable hand with routine daily activities. Duties include assisting with showering, grooming, dressing, meal preparation, grocery shopping, light housework, and transport to medical appointments.
Their focus is preserving independence, dignity, and quality of life in familiar home surroundings. While support workers possess valuable training in manual handling and infection control, they do not deliver clinical treatments.
What a home nurse does
A visiting nurse delivers clinical treatments that require formal medical training. Enrolled nurses and registered nurses perform sterile wound dressing, catheter changes, clinical medication administration, diabetes health monitoring, and post surgical recovery care.
Registered nurses also conduct comprehensive health assessments, coordinate with general practitioners, and design clinical care plans for chronic disease management.
Clinical boundaries and safety
By law, support workers cannot perform invasive clinical procedures, manage complex wounds, or adjust prescription medication dosages. If a client experiences a skin tear, pressure sore, or sudden health change, a qualified nurse must inspect and treat the issue.
Many families engage both professionals collaboratively. A support worker visits multiple times each week for personal hygiene and meals, while a visiting nurse attends weekly for clinical wound management.
Next step
If you are unsure whether your family needs a nurse or a support worker, call Living Well At Home on 0426 533 700 to discuss your situation, or send an enquiry.
Common questions
Can a support worker administer prescription medication?
Support workers may prompt or assist a person to take tablets from a pharmacist prepared blister pack if trained. They cannot calculate dosages or administer injections.
When should a family request an in home nurse instead of a support worker?
Request a nurse when the person requires sterile wound care, catheter management, diabetes support, injections, or clinical assessment after a hospital stay.
What qualifications do home care support workers hold?
Professional support workers typically hold a Certificate III or IV in Individual Support or Aged Care, alongside current first aid and CPR credentials.
Can one care organisation provide both nurses and support workers?
Yes. Quality home care providers coordinate qualified support workers and registered nurses together under one unified care plan.
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.