2026 – Direct Care Attendant – Aged Care Cadetship

• Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network, Location Negotiable Within Region
  
• Salary: $1,250.29 - $1,281.40 per week (pro rata) | WHD3 
  
• Temporary (up to 24-months) - both part time & full time opportunities available
  
  • flexible working hours ranging from 22.8 hours minimum to 38 hours maximum per week
    
  • over a 7-day roster 
• Locations
  • Residential Aged Care: Barmera, Lameroo, Loxton, Pinnaroo, Renmark and Waikerie*
    
  • Community Health: Barmera, Loxton, Murray Bridge, Renmark and Waikerie* 

*Please note, you will not be required to work across all sites, you will have the option to nominate your preferred site/s upon submitting your application.

About The Role

Are you looking for a fulfilling career that positively impacts the lives of others?

Are you…

• Respectful
• Motivated
• Compassionate
• Able to work well as part of a team
• Able to use your initiative
• Interested in developing your skills and knowledge

If you have answered YES, then you might want to consider pursuing a career in aged care as a Direct Care Attendant.

Whether you are looking to start your career in aged care or thinking of making a career change, this could be the ideal opportunity for you.

The Riverland Mallee Coorong Local Health Network (RMCLHN) Aged Care Cadetship Program is an opportunity for individuals to work, earn and learn in an aged care environment.

• Earn a weekly wage and study towards a qualification
• Part-time and full-time opportunities available
• Receive an attractive salary of $32.90 - $33.72 per hour 
• All necessary checks and clearances are paid for, saving you hundreds of dollars

This is an exciting opportunity to kick start your career in aged care. RMCLHN is offering a 18-month Aged Care Cadetship Program that will see you graduate with a nationally recognised qualification.

Successful candidates will be offered a 24-month employment contract with RMCLHN working as a Direct Care Attendant WHD3 at one of our residential aged care facilities or within community health. Upon successful completion of the program, staff working in Residential Aged Care Facilities (RACF) will be offered permanent, ongoing working arrangements at the WHD4 level. 

Direct Care Attendants enjoy the opportunity to make a difference to the wellbeing of older people and people living with a disability.

A typical day in the life of a Direct Care Attendant may involve:

• assisting with bathing, showering, dressing, grooming and personal hygiene,
• assisting with toileting and continence management,
• helping residents/consumers move from their beds into chairs or wheelchairs with the use of mechanical aids; and
• ensuring the cleanliness and neatness of environments.

What does the study involve?

We have partnered with TAFE SA to offer the Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) training program. This training will combine theory and practical study components to help you achieve a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) qualification. The best part of this program is that all learning will occur during paid work hours, allowing you to earn while you learn.

Learning is facilitated onsite at TAFE SA Berri and Murray Bridge campuses, and includes a range of assessment tasks including short answer questions, multiple choice, scenarios, and practical workplace experiences.

On average, one day per week will be allocated for paid study time, to complete workplace and written assessments. Additional study may be required outside of work hours.

The remaining days will be dedicated to practical on-the-job learning within the workplace.

Want to know more?

Join our Q&A session, where you can learn more about this exciting opportunity.

When: Wednesday 18^th February 2026 from 12:30 – 1:30pm

When: Wednesday 18^th February 2026 from 5:30 – 6:30pm

Where: Microsoft Teams. Join on your computer or mobile device. Fill in our form to receive an invitation -  bit.ly/AgedCareCadetship

Enquiries:

Name: Erin Jacobs
Title: Human Resources Recruitment Coordinator
Phone: (08) 8595 2923
E-mail: Health.RMCLHNRecruitment@sa.gov.au

Closing Date: Sunday 1st March 2026 - 11:55PM

927619 WHD3 Community Role Description

927619 WHD3 Residential Role Description

Fact Sheet - Direct Care Attendant Cadetship Program 2026 (APPLICANTS).pdf