National registration scheme to support personal care workers in aged care

Closed 17 Apr 2025

Opened 18 Feb 2025

Feedback updated 3 Oct 2025

We asked

Between February and April 2025, we asked for your feedback on a national registration scheme to support personal care workers in aged care. 

You said

We received 585 online survey responses and 48 written submissions from older people, carers, workers, providers and organisations.

Common themes that emerged from this consultation include:

  • strong support for aligning requirements and systems between personal care and disability support workers 
  • preference to create a register, using a similar model to other professional workforces in aged care, including nurses and some allied health professionals
  • strong support for establishing a mandatory minimum qualification 

  • support for requiring workers to complete annual continuing professional development hours for their ongoing training requirements. 

We did

We created a summary report that highlights feedback and common themes from the consultation.

This feedback will help shape future policies to professionalise the personal care workforce and better protect older people receiving aged care.

Read the summary report.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the consultation. 

Overview

The Australian Government is seeking views on the design of a national registration scheme to support personal care workers employed in aged care, including new training and skills requirements.

The scheme will support the growth of a strengthened aged care workforce, where personal care workers are better valued for the important role they perform, and with greater professional development opportunities and improved conditions.

It will also play an important role in ensuring aged care is a safe place with appropriate protections for older people.

A consultation paper can be viewed in the related attachments below. This consultation paper has been developed to help you consider key issues and opportunities in the design of a scheme, including new training and skills requirements. We encourage you to read the consultation paper before undertaking the survey or providing a written response to the Department of Health and Aged Care via email.

Audiences

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
  • Academics
  • Aged care professionals
  • Aged care service providers
  • Aged care workforce
  • Businesses
  • Carers and guardians
  • Commonwealth agencies
  • Community groups
  • Contracted Service Providers
  • Families
  • General public
  • Health professionals
  • Health workforce
  • Local governments
  • Men
  • Non-government organisations
  • Parents
  • Seniors
  • State government agencies
  • Women
  • Young people

Interests

  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health
  • Aged Care
  • Dementia
  • Home Care
  • Learning and development
  • Policy Development
  • Residential Aged Care
  • Short-Term Restorative Care
  • Strategic Policy