ATS keywords for an aged care worker resume
Many employers keep applications in an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), where recruiters search and sort them by the skills the role needs. Use these terms where they honestly describe your experience, so your resume is easy to find and easy to read:
Key skills to highlight
- ▸Supporting personal care and daily living
- ▸Person-centred, dignity-led support
- ▸Safe manual handling and mobility assistance
- ▸Observing and reporting changes in clients
- ▸Clear care documentation and handover
Credentials Australian employers screen for
- ▸Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) or equivalent
- ▸NDIS Worker Screening Check and National Police Check
- ▸Current First Aid and CPR
- ▸Required immunisations (e.g. influenza) and a driver's licence where needed
Common mistakes to avoid
- ▸Not stating the Certificate III and screening clearances, both are non-negotiable.
- ▸Generic 'caring nature' lines instead of concrete care examples.
- ▸Leaving off first aid currency or immunisation status the provider requires.
- ▸Not tailoring to the setting (residential, home care, disability support).
Aged Care Worker CV example: before and after
One experience entry, written twice. The numbers are illustrative, the structure is what matters.
Before
Aged Care Worker, 2021 to present. Provide care and support to elderly residents in a residential facility. Assist with showering, dressing, meals and mobility, and report any concerns to the registered nurse. I have a caring nature and enjoy working with older people.
The Certificate III and the screening clearances are missing entirely, so a provider that must verify both before rostering you will not shortlist, and 'a caring nature' gives the care manager no evidence where a concrete dementia or manual handling example would.
After
Aged Care Worker | Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) | NDIS Worker Screening Check 000XXXXXX (cleared) | National Police Check current | First Aid and CPR current
Residential aged care facility, 90 beds including a 24-bed dementia specific wing | August 2021 to present | Permanent part time, 30 hours, morning and afternoon shifts
- ▸Delivered personal care and support with activities of daily living (ADLs) for a group of 12 to 15 residents per shift, including showering, dressing, continence care, grooming and assistance at mealtimes.
- ▸Worked to each resident's person-centred care plan, adjusting routines and communication approaches for residents living with dementia, and used redirection and reassurance to reduce escalation at end of day.
- ▸Practised safe manual handling with hoists, stand-up lifters and slide sheets, and completed annual competency assessment with no manual handling incidents across four years.
- ▸Observed and reported changes in residents (skin integrity, appetite, mood, mobility, signs of infection) to the registered nurse, and escalated three deteriorations that led to early GP review.
- ▸Completed care documentation and progress notes in the electronic care system each shift, gave clear verbal handover, and supported medication assistance within scope and infection control routines including outbreak protocols.
Same carer, same wing. The rewrite puts the Certificate III and clearances where the provider checks first, then trades 'caring nature' for resident numbers, dementia specifics and the reporting that keeps a facility compliant.
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Frequently asked questions
What qualification do I need on an aged care resume in Australia?
Most roles require a Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) or equivalent. State it near the top with your NDIS Worker Screening Check, police check and current first aid.
Do I need a police check and NDIS screening listed?
Yes. Providers verify these before engagement. Note that you hold a current National Police Check and NDIS Worker Screening Check, with the clearance dates if you have them.
How do I write an aged care resume with no experience?
Lead with your Certificate III placement hours, the care settings you trained in, and transferable skills (communication, reliability, manual handling). Placement detail carries a new-entrant resume.
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