Registered Nurse Jobs in Cairns

Sanctuary Recruitment is recruiting registered nurses in Cairns city and surroundings, with opportunities available in more rural and remote regions of Queensland. We are a specialist aged care recruitment consultancy that provides aged care professionals with placements that suit their needs and values across Australia. We are hiring aged care workers for permanent, temporary, and contract assignments.

We are committed to assisting you in making your next aged care career role, so if you are a registered nurse in Cairns, or looking to move interstate/from overseas, get in touch with us today.

Register with Sanctuary

register with sanctuary

Express your interest

Send in your resume or register your interest and our industry expert consultants will be in contact.

register with sanctuary

Prepare for work

Complete the onboarding process and become fully compliant. Our compliance team can help you through this step by step.

register with sanctuary

Being working with Sanctuary

Choose from 100's of roles that suit your needs, values and requirements.

Registered Nurse Jobs in Cairns FAQ

Registered nurses in aged care homes are responsible for providing high quality care to residents on a holistic level. To enter into the industry, a fantastic way is to pursue a relevant qualification for an Assistant in nursing/personal care worker role, and through upskilling you can step into the position of a registered nurse.

We have longstanding relationships with over 400 aged care homes across Australia, in metro, regional, rural and remote areas of the country.

As well as Cairns, in Queensland we have positions in:

  • Brisbane
  • Bribie Island
  • Bundaberg
  • Darling Downs
  • Gold Coast
  • Far North QLD
  • Sunshine Coast
  • Toowoomba
  • Townsville
  • Wide Bay

There are a lot of variances when it comes to pay rates, as aged care casual rates depend on your position, experience level and shift times that you work. The average registered nurse casual pay rates are in-between $50 - $120 per hour

Incentives, allowances and bonuses are applicable for certain contract placements and locations. Reforms in aged care have led to pay rises for aged care workers in recent years, with more developments to come.

As a rule of thumb, you need 1 year of Australian aged care experience to work on our casual registered nurse pool. If you haven't reached this yet, get in contact as we do have opportunity for new/recent graduates to work in a few of our homes

For registered nurses, you would need a Bachelor of Nursing which is a three year university degree. This is made up of theoretical and practical assessments. If you are a qualified overseas nurse, you can get your qualification converted in line with AHPRA regulations, and obtain a sponsorship if you meet the eligibility requirements.

We are recruiting registered nurses for temporary/casual and contract assignments. Casual work, or shift filling, is done on an ad-hoc or block booking basis. Contract roles range from 4 weeks - 3 months in rural, regional and remote areas of the country.

Absolutely. We offer continuous online training via our Learning Management System (LMS) at no extra cost to you. This is regularly updated to reflect new legislation and practices.

Through working on a casual basis, you can:

  • Structure your work day/week to your schedule
  • Through our contract roles, you can explore areas of the country whilst getting paid for it, with free travel and accommodation included.
  • Set your own work/life balance
  • Receive a higher hourly rate than if you were a permanent employee

Rewards and Benefits

market leading pay rates

Market leading pay rates

bonuses and incentives

Bonuses and incentives

industry expert consultants

Industry expert consultants

discount programs

Discount programs

Free online education modules

Free online education modules

Referral scheme

Referral scheme

Aged Care Blog
Journeying Through Care: Insights from a Travel Nurse Exploring Western Australia

In the ever-evolving world of healthcare, travel nursing offers a unique opportunity for nursing professionals to expand their horizons while making a significant impact on patient and resident care across different regions of the country. Our contract team oversees short and long-term assignments in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia, identifying individuals ready to…

Duties and Responsibilities of an Aged Care Worker

First published: July 2024 Aged care workers working in the Australian aged care industry are responsible for more than just fundamental duties and responsibilities. They are expected to provide personal, emotional, and holistic support to their residents, playing a key part in a resident’s twilight years. Working in aged care is an admirable profession, one…

What is Duty of Care in Aged Care?

First published: November 2024 Duty of care in aged care is the legal and moral obligation and responsibility an aged care worker has, to ensure the physical and emotional safety of residents in their care. Alongside being legally and ethically sound, this encompasses providing a high-quality level of care that meets the clients needs, keeping…

Steps to Become a Nurse in Australia From Overseas

First published: February 2024 Nursing in Australia is a rewarding career path to choose, with a wealth of opportunities available. The journey of becoming a registered nurse in Australia from overseas will look differently to everyone depending on your qualification and experience level. Within this guide. we’ve listed a summary of the steps and all…

Migration Stories: From the Philippines to Australia

First published: February 2024 What moving overseas to Australia as a registered nurse looks like Australia is a very multicultural country and its nurses are from a range of different backgrounds. It is estimated that 40% of Australia’s registered nurses and aged carers were born overseas, with this number forecasted to grow in the coming…

On the Road to Remote Care: My Journey as a Travel Nurse in Western Australia

Travel nurses experience the unique thrill of packing their bags and spontaneously setting off on a new adventure. When the destination is Western Australia—home to stunning coastlines, vast outback, and a diverse healthcare landscape—the experience becomes something truly unforgettable. At Sanctuary, our contract team specialise in the placement of experienced and skilled nurses in aged…

2024 Flu Vaccination Requirements in Aged Care in Australia

First published: July 2024 The Aged Care Quality Standards states that for the purpose of infection control, aged care providers and relevant organisations should promote the benefits of the influenza and coronavirus vaccinations for both their residents and staff. These vaccinations are to be renewed annually, adapting to each new strain of influenza. Key aims…

Working in Aged Care in Australia

First published: November 2023, revised February 2024 If you’re seeking a career that combines purpose, personal growth, and a sense of accomplishment, working in aged care may be the perfect choice. Becoming an aged care worker is a career choice fit for those who love to help others and give back to their community. Aged…

Aged Care Bill Passes Parliament

First published: November 2024 In line with the Once in a Generation aged care reform that was announced in September, on the 25th November 2024, the Albanese government has passed the aged care bill allowing for elderly Australians to have access to better aged care services and delivery. The Royal Commission into Aged Care and…

Care Minutes in Residential Aged Care

As part of the aged care reform roadmap, the Department of Health and Aged Care are making changes to the number of direct care minutes a resident in residential aged care receives each day from a clinical aged care worker. As of 2023, it sat at 200 minutes per day with 40 of these being…