Position Description: Personal Care Worker

Position title: Personal Care Worker

Classification: SCHADS Award, Level 3 (Aged Care)

Employment type: Casual

Reports to: Care Coordinator

Location: Eastern Melbourne (All areas, including rural)

Pay: $43.24 per hour base rate, plus applicable loadings and penalties under SCHADS Award

Purpose of the role

Provide person‑centred, safe, and culturally sensitive personal care and support that enables older people to live well at home, maintain independence, and achieve their individual goals and care plan outcomes.

Who we are

At Choice Community Health, our aged care services are built to help older Australians live well at home with dignity, safety, and connection. We honour each person’s story and support independent living through reliable, person‑centred care that strengthens family and community. We are a Jesus centered organisation. We welcome and serve people of all backgrounds and beliefs, and our work is guided by compassion, service, integrity, and hope. These values shape how we care for people, how we treat each other, and how we steward resources for the common good.

Our mission in aged care

Enable people to live independently, safely, and meaningfully at home by delivering compassionate, high‑quality support that is tailored to the individual and responsive to changing needs.

Our values

Intentionality

Plan care deliberately and thoughtfully, aligning supports to what matters most for each person and their family.

Purpose

Help people live meaningfully at home, supporting goals, roles, and daily life that bring dignity and joy.

Faithfullness

Keep our word, act with integrity, and serve with compassion in each interaction.

Choice

Champion consumer choice and control. Co‑design supports and respect decisions, culture, and faith.

Sustainability

Make care reliable for the long term by acting in the best interests of clients and workers, stewarding resources wisely, and supporting a healthy, sustainable workforce.

Excellence

Pursue best practice, measure outcomes, learn from feedback, and continually improve services.

Key responsibilities

Personal care

Assist with showering, bathing, grooming, continence care, dressing, and mobility transfers using safe work practices and approved equipment.

Daily living and community access

Support meal preparation, hydration and nutrition prompts, light domestic assistance, shopping, transport, and community participation as per care plans.

Medication support

Provide prompting or assistance within scope and according to organisational policy and client care plans.

Clinical observation and documentation

Record accurate case notes, observations, and task completion in client management systems in real time or by end of shift.

Escalate changes in client condition, risks, or incidents promptly to the Care Coordinator.

Safety and risk management

Apply manual handling, infection prevention and control, and hazard reporting procedures. Use PPE and maintain a safe in‑home environment.

Dignity, choice, and rights

Uphold privacy, confidentiality, and consumer‑directed care principles. Respect cultural, spiritual, and individual preferences.

Teamwork and communication

Communicate effectively with clients, carers, multidisciplinary team members, and external providers. Attend supervision, handovers, and training.

Quality and compliance

Follow policies, procedures, and the SCHADS Award provisions. Participate in audits, service improvements, and mandatory training.

Selection criteria

Essential

Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) or Certificate III in Aged Care, or a relevant equivalent qualification.

Current First Aid (HLTAID011) and CPR (HLTAID009).

Valid Australian driver licence

Current National Police Check

Current Working With Children Check (WWCC).

Demonstrated experience providing personal care safely, with sound knowledge of manual handling and infection control.

Desirable

Experience in community or in‑home aged care.

Training in dementia care, palliative care, or responsive behaviours.

SCHADS Award classification and conditions

Level: SCHADS Level 3 (Aged Care stream)

Pay: $43.24/hour base rate for ordinary hours.

Loadings and penalties: As per Award for evenings, weekends, public holidays, and overtime.

Travel and allowances: Paid in accordance with the Award and organisational policy for kilometres, travel time between clients, and applicable allowances.

Superannuation: 12%

Compliance and governance

Work within Australian Aged Care Quality Standards and organisational policies.

Maintain client privacy and confidentiality at all times.

Complete mandatory training and competencies on induction and annually.

Report incidents, hazards, and near misses promptly via approved systems.

Physical requirements

Frequent standing, walking, bending, reaching, and kneeling.

Ability to safely assist with transfers and mobility aids within manual handling guidelines.

Ability to drive between client homes during shifts.

Performance measures

Client outcomes and satisfaction aligned to individual care plans.

Timely, accurate documentation and incident reporting.

Compliance with care plans, policy, and safety procedures.

Attendance, punctuality, and shift acceptance within availability.

Contribution to a positive, respectful team culture.