Best Cities for Support Worker Jobs in Australia

If you’re looking for support worker jobs in Australia, Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are among the largest metropolitan markets to consider, while Adelaide and Perth also have established care-sector employment opportunities. Canberra has a smaller market but may still suit people interested in disability and community support.

The city with the most advertised jobs isn’t automatically the best choice for every support worker. The type of support work you want, your qualifications and experience, transport, employment arrangements and local living costs can all influence where you should look.

This guide compares Australia’s major cities and explains how to choose a location that fits your support-work career goals.

There is an important distinction between workforce data and job advertisements. Government workforce data helps show where people are already employed in the occupation, while job boards provide a changing snapshot of advertised vacancies.

Support Worker Jobs in Australia: What Does the Market Look Like?

Support work is a broad employment area covering roles across disability support, aged care and community services.

Depending on the position and employer, support workers may work in:

• Disability support
• Aged care
• Home care
• Community support
• Supported accommodation
• In-home support
• Community participation
• Residential care
• Individualised support

The Australian Government’s care-sector resources identify aged care and disability services as important parts of Australia’s care and support workforce. Care and Support Sector Jobs.

Jobs and Skills Australia reports 376,300 people employed as Aged and Disabled Carers in its latest occupation profile. Its state distribution shows the largest shares of employment in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland.

Jobs and Skills Australia – Aged and Disabled Carers

These figures describe the Aged and Disabled Carers occupation, rather than every job that may be advertised under the broader term “support worker”. That distinction is important when interpreting the data.

Best Cities for Support Worker Jobs in Australia

There is no official government ranking that identifies one Australian city as the “best” for support workers.

Instead, the cities below are compared using a combination of:

• The size of the broader care workforce
• Current employment-market signals
• Disability and aged care opportunities
• Variety of support settings
• Practical considerations for job seekers

1. Melbourne, Victoria: A Large and Diverse Market

Melbourne is one of the strongest cities to consider if you want access to a large and diverse support-work market.

Victoria accounts for 24.5% of employment in the Aged and Disabled Carers occupation nationally, making it one of Australia’s largest state markets for this workforce.

Support worker opportunities in Melbourne can span:

• Disability support
• Aged care
• Home care
• Community support
• Personal care
• Supported accommodation

Melbourne’s size also gives job seekers a large number of suburbs and employment areas to consider. Searching by suburb can be more useful than limiting your search to “Melbourne” alone.

Best suited to: People who want a broad metropolitan market with different types of support work to choose from.

2. Sydney, New South Wales: Australia’s Largest State-Level Workforce

Sydney is another major market for support workers, and New South Wales has the largest state share of employment in the Aged and Disabled Carers occupation.

New South Wales represents 27.4% of employment in this occupation, according to Jobs and Skills Australia’s latest available state distribution.

Sydney-based opportunities can include:

• Disability support
• Aged care
• Home and community care
• Personal care
• Supported accommodation
• Community participation

Because Sydney’s metropolitan area is extensive, searching individual suburbs and regions can produce more relevant results than using the city name alone.

For example, job seekers can explore opportunities across:

• Western Sydney
• South-West Sydney
• Northern Sydney
• South Sydney
• Parramatta and surrounding areas

A practical consideration is travel. Some support roles involve visiting clients in their homes or communities, so the distance between locations can affect your working day.

Best suited to: Workers who want access to a large metropolitan market and are comfortable searching across different parts of Sydney.

3. Brisbane, Queensland: A Strong Queensland Market

Brisbane is one of the main cities to consider if you’re looking for support work in Queensland.

Queensland accounts for 23.0% of Australia’s employment in the Aged and Disabled Carers occupation, giving it one of the largest state-level workforces in Australia.

Brisbane opportunities can include:

• Disability support
• NDIS-related services
• Aged care
• Home care
• Community support
• Supported accommodation

Job seekers should also consider surrounding areas rather than limiting their search to central Brisbane.

Best suited to: People looking for a substantial Queensland care-sector market, particularly those interested in disability and community support.

4. Adelaide, South Australia: An Established Support Market

Adelaide has a smaller overall employment market than Sydney or Melbourne, but South Australia still represents a meaningful share of Australia’s Aged and Disabled Carers workforce.

South Australia accounts for 9.8% of national employment in the occupation, according to Jobs and Skills Australia’s latest available state data.

Support workers in Adelaide can explore roles across:

• Disability support
• Aged care
• Home care
• Community services
• Residential care
• Personal care

A smaller city will naturally have fewer vacancies in absolute numbers than a larger metropolitan market. That does not mean the available jobs are less relevant to someone who already lives in Adelaide or plans to work there.

Best suited to: Job seekers who want an established support sector without limiting their options to Australia’s two largest cities.

5. Perth, Western Australia: An Established WA Market

Perth is an established employment market for support workers in Western Australia, with opportunities across disability, aged care and community services.

Western Australia represents 10.1% of Australia’s Aged and Disabled Carers workforce according to Jobs and Skills Australia’s latest available state distribution.

Depending on the role and employer, Perth-based support workers may work in:

• Disability services
• NDIS-related support
• Aged care
• Home care
• Community participation
• Residential services

Perth can therefore be a practical option for people who already live in Western Australia or specifically want to build their career there.

Best suited to: Workers seeking opportunities in Western Australia across disability, aged care and community support.

6. Canberra, Australian Capital Territory: A Smaller but Active Market

Canberra has a smaller support-worker employment market than Australia’s largest capitals, but opportunities remain available across disability and community support services.

The ACT represents 1.2% of national employment in the Aged and Disabled Carers occupation, which is consistent with the territory’s smaller overall labour market.

Canberra may suit people who:

• Already live in the ACT
• Prefer a smaller metropolitan market
• Want disability or community support work
• Are prepared to target specific employers and vacancies

Best suited to: ACT-based job seekers who want to build their career locally rather than choosing a city purely because it has the largest number of advertised vacancies.

Best Cities at a Glance

This table is a practical comparison rather than an official ranking. Employment opportunities change over time, and individual outcomes depend on qualifications, experience, availability and employer requirements.

Which City Is Best for Disability Support Work?

Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane are useful starting points for disability support job searches because Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland have large Aged and Disabled Carers workforces. Perth and Adelaide are also established markets. The right choice depends on the type of disability support role, employer and location that suits you.

The NDIS explains that support workers can help people with disability work towards their goals and that support workers may work for organisations or independently. The support provided depends on the individual’s circumstances and funded supports.

Disability support roles can involve:

• Supporting daily living
• Encouraging independence
• Community participation
• Personal support
• Supporting individual goals
• Working within an individual’s support arrangements

The exact responsibilities vary between roles.

Which City Is Best for Aged Care Jobs?

There is no single Australian city that is universally best for aged care jobs. Aged care employment exists across Australia’s major metropolitan areas as well as regional communities.

When comparing locations, consider:

• Residential aged care opportunities
• Home-care opportunities
• Distance between clients
• Public transport
• Access to a vehicle where relevant
• Available shifts
• Employer requirements
• Your preferred working environment

If aged care is your main career goal, don’t search only for “support worker”. Relevant vacancies can also use titles such as:

• Aged Care Worker
• Personal Care Worker
• Home Care Worker
• Residential Care Worker
• Individual Support Worker
• Community Support Worker

Best City by Career Goal

The best location depends on what you want from your support-work career.

These are starting points, not guarantees. Your qualifications, experience, preferred work setting and personal circumstances should ultimately determine where you apply.

Capital Cities vs Regional Areas: Where Should Support Workers Look?

Capital cities receive considerable attention because they have larger populations and broader employment markets.

However, support work is not limited to Australia’s capital cities.

The Australian Government’s care-sector resources cover employment across aged care and disability services, including residential and in-home support.

Regional opportunities can therefore be worth investigating if you’re flexible about location.

Before relocating, consider:

• The number of relevant vacancies
• Whether available roles match your qualifications
• Distance between clients
• Transport requirements
• Accommodation
• Employment type
• Available shifts
• Longer-term career opportunities

Don’t relocate solely because you see one suitable vacancy. Look at the broader local market first.

Do You Need a Qualification to Become a Support Worker?

There is no single qualification requirement that applies to every support worker position in Australia. Requirements can vary by employer, role and service setting. However, a relevant VET qualification can provide structured preparation for support work and may be requested or preferred for particular positions.

One relevant qualification is CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support.

Training.gov.au states that CHC33021 is designed for people working in community, home or residential care settings under supervision and delegation as part of a multidisciplinary team. The qualification includes specialisations in Ageing, Disability, and Ageing and Disability.

The qualification covers areas including:

• Individualised support
• Empowerment
• Independence and wellbeing
• Communication
• Working with diverse people
• Legal and ethical responsibilities
• Infection prevention and control
• Safe work practices

Care Connect Training Institute provides information about CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support and relevant care-sector training pathways.

Completing a qualification does not guarantee employment. Individual employers may have additional requirements for particular positions.

What Qualifications Could Support a Disability Career?

For people specifically interested in disability services, CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support is another relevant qualification to research.

The appropriate qualification depends on your existing experience, career direction and the type of role you want to pursue.

Care Connect provides information about CHC43121 and relevant disability-support training pathways.

If you’re deciding between Certificate III and Certificate IV, focus on the type of work you want to pursue and the requirements of the roles you’re interested in rather than simply choosing the higher qualification.

If you are specifically interested in aged care, the pathway can differ from disability support and other support-work roles.

Learn more: How to Become an Aged Care Worker in Australia

What Job Titles Should Support Workers Search For?

Searching only for “support worker” can cause you to miss relevant vacancies.

Try searching for:

1. Disability Support Worker
2. Aged Care Worker
3. Personal Care Worker
4. Home Care Worker
5. Community Support Worker
6. In-Home Support Worker
7. Residential Support Worker
8. Individual Support Worker
9. Lifestyle Support Worker

You can combine the role with a location, such as:

• Disability Support Worker Melbourne
• Support Worker Sydney
• Aged Care Worker Brisbane
• Personal Care Worker Adelaide
• Community Support Worker Perth

This broader approach can help you identify roles that may use different position titles.

How to Find Support Worker Jobs in Australia

A structured job search can make it easier to identify relevant positions.

1. Choose your preferred support sector

Decide whether you’re primarily interested in:

• Disability support
• Aged care
• Home care
• Community support
• Residential care

This gives you a clearer starting point for your job search.

2. Search multiple job titles

Use the different job titles listed above rather than relying on one search term.

Search both the city and surrounding suburbs.

3. Check employer requirements

Read each job advertisement carefully and look for requirements relating to:

• Qualifications
• Experience
• Availability
• Driver’s licence
• Screening
• First aid or CPR
• Other role-specific requirements

Requirements vary between employers and positions.

4. Prepare a targeted resume

Your resume should clearly show:

• Relevant qualifications
• Support-work experience
• Practical placement experience
• Relevant skills
• Certifications
• Availability
• Other information requested by the employer

Care Connect’s aged care resume guide provides further guidance on qualifications, practical placement, relevant skills and tailoring an application for care-sector roles.

5. Search consistently

Support worker vacancies change frequently. A position available today may close later, while new opportunities can appear in the same area.

The Australian Government’s care-sector employment resources can also help people explore career and employment information.

What Should You Consider Before Moving to Another City?

Moving for a support worker job is a significant decision.

Before relocating, compare:

Job availability

Look at the number and type of relevant vacancies, rather than simply counting every result containing the words “support worker”.

Your qualifications

Check whether the roles you’re interested in match your current qualification and experience.

Travel requirements

Home and community support can involve travelling between clients. Transport can therefore have a significant effect on your working day.

Employment type

Compare whether opportunities are:

• Full-time
• Part-time
• Casual
• Permanent
• Temporary

Living costs

Consider housing, transport and other everyday costs alongside potential employment opportunities.

Career direction

Think beyond your first job. Consider whether the local market provides opportunities that align with the type of support work you eventually want to do.

Is Support Work a Good Career in Australia?

Support work can provide a pathway into Australia’s broader care and community services sector, with opportunities across disability support, aged care, home care and community services. The sector includes different roles and working environments, so whether it is the right career for you depends on your interests, skills, qualifications and preferred type of work.

The Australian Government’s care-sector resources outline career opportunities across aged care and disability services.

For people entering the sector, relevant training can help develop foundational knowledge and skills. People who already have relevant industry experience may also want to investigate Recognition of Prior Learning.

What If You Already Have Support Work Experience?

If you have relevant work experience but don’t yet hold a formal qualification, Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) may be worth investigating.

RPL is an assessment process that considers existing skills, knowledge and evidence against the requirements of a qualification. Experience alone does not automatically result in a qualification.

Care Connect‘s RPL service provides information about assessing existing skills and evidence through an affiliated RTO.

This may be relevant to experienced workers who want to explore whether their existing competency can be formally assessed.

Final Verdict: Which City Is Best for Support Worker Jobs?

There is no single best city for every support worker.

If you want access to a large metropolitan employment market, Melbourne and Sydney are strong starting points, while Brisbane is another major market in Queensland. Adelaide and Perth are established care-sector markets, while Canberra offers a smaller employment market for people who want to work in the ACT.

Official workforce data shows that New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland have the largest shares of employment in the Aged and Disabled Carers occupation. Current job advertisements can then help you identify where employers are recruiting when you begin your search.

The most useful approach is:

Choose your career direction → identify relevant training → search the right job titles → compare cities and suburbs → check employer requirements → apply strategically.