Respite care jobs in Australia
1,238 care requests a respite carer could take on were submitted across Australia in the last 90 days. Register free to see the ones still open.
Get work near you
- Tell us your availability and credentials
- See real care requests within 30 km of you
- Contact the ones that fit directly
- No agency fees, no cut of your pay
Two minutes. Requests near you are on your dashboard.
How it works
Carevo is not a job board with fixed listings. You register once, and the requests near you come to you.
Register your availability
Tell us your role, the suburb you work from, how far you will travel, your availability and the checks and credentials you hold. It takes about two minutes, there is no CV to upload, and you can update any of it later as your situation changes.
You see the requests near you
Open care requests within 30 km of your suburb that match your services and funding types show on your dashboard, and each new one is emailed to you: area, needs, funding and timing, with contact details shown when you choose to contact them.
You contact the ones that fit
Choosing to contact a request shows you the contact details, and up to two workers can contact each one, so acting early helps. Providers hiring in your area can also see your profile and reach out to you directly. Either way, you decide which requests to pursue and which conversations to take.
Care requests across Australia
1,238
requests in 90 days
524
in the last 30 days
0
respite carer profiles on Carevo in the same area
In the 90 days to 2 November 2026, people across Australia submitted 1,238 care requests through Carevo that a respite carer could take on. The services asked for most were personal care, household help and social support. The suburbs with the most were Melbourne (50), Sydney (44), Brisbane City (42) and Perth (33). 524 of the 1,238 arrived in the last 30 days.
42% of these requests were sent by a family member or carer, and 40% by the person needing care. 59% asked for support to start within a week, so a quick reply counts for a lot here.
Where the requests came from
- Melbourne, VIC50 requests
- Sydney, NSW44 requests
- Brisbane City, QLD42 requests
- Perth, WA33 requests
- Adelaide, SA24 requests
- Woolloongabba, QLD10 requests
- Werribee, VIC9 requests
- City, ACT8 requests
- Kingston, TAS8 requests
- Toowoomba City, QLD8 requests
A suburb is named only when it has at least three requests of any kind in the window. Distances are straight lines between suburb centres.
Counted from care requests submitted through Carevo between 5 August 2026 and 2 November 2026, in the service categories respite carer work covers. They are enquiries from people looking for support, not advertised vacancies, and some will have been filled.
Support work requested across Australia
Care requests submitted through Carevo in the last 90 days in service categories related to respite carer work, newest first. These are examples of recent demand, not confirmed open vacancies or evidence that each request needs this specialist role. Check the scope, credentials and current status before contacting anyone.
NDIS participant in the Riverina NSW region, NSW needs personal care
needs to start soon
Support coordinator in Brisbane City, QLD needs personal care
NDIS, plan-managed · needs to start soon
Family carer in Ryde, NSW needs household help
NDIS, self-managed
Older person in Oakleigh, VIC needs household help and personal care
CHSP-funded · needs to start soon
Family carer in Lismore, NSW needs personal care and household help
Home Care Package / Support at Home · needs to start soon
Someone in Keysborough, VIC needs household help and personal care
CHSP-funded
Family carer in Belconnen, ACT needs personal care
CHSP-funded
Support coordinator in the Brisbane South & Logan region, QLD needs personal care
NDIS, agency-managed
Older person in Sydney, NSW needs respite
Home Care Package / Support at Home
NDIS participant in Port Augusta, SA needs personal care and social support
Family carer in Rockingham, WA needs personal care and household help
Home Care Package / Support at Home · needs to start soon
Family carer in Edithvale, VIC needs personal care and household help
Home Care Package / Support at Home · planning ahead
1,226 more related care requests across Australia in the last 90 days. Register your profile to see them in full and contact the ones that fit (contact details are shown when you choose to contact a request, and up to two workers can contact each request).
Requests are anonymised: no names, contact details or health information are stored or shown. A suburb is named only when it has at least three requests in the window; otherwise the region is shown. Who is asking and the timing are inferred from the request by Carevo's classifier, and timing is described in the past tense once a request is more than 30 days old. Regenerated from Carevo's database at each deployment. How we calculate these numbers.
How the work across Australia is funded
Of the 1,137 requests that stated how the support would be paid for, 38% were NDIS plan-managed, 27% were funded by a Home Care Package or Support at Home and 14% were CHSP-funded. 504 were NDIS plan-managed or self-managed, the two arrangements under which a participant can choose an unregistered provider, which includes a sole trader with an ABN. The 46 agency-managed requests can only be delivered by a registered NDIS provider.
- NDIS, plan-managed38% (430)
- Home Care Package or Support at Home27% (311)
- CHSP14% (161)
- Privately funded9% (99)
- NDIS, self-managed7% (74)
- NDIS, agency-managed4% (46)
- DVA1% (16)
Share of the 1,137 requests that stated a funding type. Who can deliver a support under each NDIS arrangement is set by the NDIA: ways to manage your funding.
Responses and competition across Australia
1,141
had a provider respond
215
had an independent worker respond
73
had no response from any provider or worker
Carevo sent out 1,214 of these requests. A provider responded to 1,141 and an independent worker responded to 215. No independent worker responded to the other 999; a provider responded to 926 of those. 73 (6%) had no response from any provider or worker through Carevo. Each request goes to providers as well as workers, and up to two independent workers can contact it, so a request with no response on the day it arrives may not stay that way.
No respite carer profile on Carevo currently lists a suburb across Australia. Providers in the area still receive the same requests.
Respite Carers already on Carevo
- respite carers registered
- 384respite carers registered
- active this week
- 63active this week
- with self-declared safety checks
- 323with self-declared safety checks
Register your profile to see the care requests near you, contact the ones that fit, and be visible to providers hiring. Availability is as each worker reported it.
Footprints
Support Worker
Helps with transport, behaviour support and building life skills. Speaks Croatian. Available weekdays and weekends, and says they can start immediately. Works under their own ABN as a sole trader.
- Working with Children Check
- Police Check
- First Aid
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- Insurance
Reported by the worker. Carevo has not sighted or verified these documents; ask to see them before engaging anyone.
Sydney
Location
10+ yrs
Experience
5
Checks
Sydney
Location
10+ yrs
Experience
5
Checks
Lauren
Support Worker
Drives their own insured vehicle. Helps with community outings, respite and meal preparation. Available weekdays, weekends and overnights, and says they can start immediately. Works under their own ABN as a sole trader.
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- Working with Children Check
- Police Check
- First Aid
- Insurance
Reported by the worker. Carevo has not sighted or verified these documents; ask to see them before engaging anyone.
Bendigo
Location
20+ yrs
Experience
5
Checks
Bendigo
Location
20+ yrs
Experience
5
Checks
Marzena
Support Worker
Speaks Polish. Available weekdays, weekends and overnights, and says they can start immediately. Works under their own ABN as a sole trader. Drives their own insured vehicle.
- Working with Children Check
- Police Check
- First Aid
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- Insurance
Reported by the worker. Carevo has not sighted or verified these documents; ask to see them before engaging anyone.
Burleigh Waters
Location
10+ yrs
Experience
5
Checks
Burleigh Waters
Location
10+ yrs
Experience
5
Checks
Michael
Support Worker
Helps with personal care, community outings and respite. Speaks Vietnamese. Available weekdays, weekends and overnights, and says they can start immediately. Works under their own ABN as a sole trader.
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- Working with Children Check
- Police Check
- First Aid
- Insurance
Reported by the worker. Carevo has not sighted or verified these documents; ask to see them before engaging anyone.
Inala
Location
10+ yrs
Experience
5
Checks
Inala
Location
10+ yrs
Experience
5
Checks
Natalie
Support Worker
Works under their own ABN as a sole trader. Drives their own insured vehicle. Helps with personal care, community outings and respite. Available weekdays, weekends and overnights, and says they can start immediately.
- Working with Children Check
- Police Check
- First Aid
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- Insurance
Reported by the worker. Carevo has not sighted or verified these documents; ask to see them before engaging anyone.
Townsville
Location
20+ yrs
Experience
5
Checks
Townsville
Location
20+ yrs
Experience
5
Checks
Nenita (
Support Worker
Helps with community outings, dementia care and cleaning. Available weekdays, weekends and overnights, and says they can start immediately. Can work as an employee or under their own ABN. Drives their own insured vehicle.
- Working with Children Check
- Police Check
- First Aid
- NDIS Worker Screening Check
- Insurance
Reported by the worker. Carevo has not sighted or verified these documents; ask to see them before engaging anyone.
Hope Island
Location
23+ yrs
Experience
5
Checks
Hope Island
Location
23+ yrs
Experience
5
Checks
The provider network you would join
Register once and you are visible to the providers hiring across Australia, alongside the requests you can contact yourself.
35,541
NDIS and aged care providers listed in the Carevo directory
8,609
care requests submitted through Carevo with NDIS or aged care funding
How we calculate these numbers, including the difference between providers listed and providers active in the last 30 days.
Providers in the Carevo network
Some of the respite carer-relevant providers across Australia, ordered using service relevance and activity on Carevo. Register your availability and providers like these can see your profile and contact you.
What the role involves
Respite carers provide planned, time-limited support to people with disability or older Australians when their usual carer needs a break. This could be a few hours during the day, an overnight stay, a weekend, or a longer planned period. The key responsibility is to maintain the participant’s routine and wellbeing while the primary carer is away.
In Australia and surrounding areas, respite care often happens in the participant’s own home. In some cases it takes place in a dedicated short-term accommodation (STA) facility. Either way, you are stepping into an environment where the participant has established preferences and routines, and your job is to follow those as closely as possible.
Day-to-day tasks vary significantly depending on the participant. You might be assisting with personal care, preparing meals, administering medication reminders, supporting community access, or simply providing company and engagement during leisure activities. Reading support plans carefully and communicating well with primary carers before and after each shift is essential.
Who you would support
Respite carers typically work with people who have physical, intellectual, or psychosocial disability, as well as older adults receiving aged care services. Some participants require high-intensity support. Others are quite independent and mainly need supervision and companionship.
Many families in Australia rely on respite care as part of their NDIS plan to give primary carers the break they need. When you do your job well, you are supporting the whole family, not just the participant.
How Carevo works
Carevo is not a traditional job board. It is a curated availability directory for care workers across Australia.
Here is the process. You register on Carevo with details about your experience, the type of support you can provide, your availability, and the areas near Australia where you are willing to work. Carevo then shares your profile with NDIS providers and aged care organisations in our network that are actively looking for respite workers.
When a provider finds your profile and considers you a good match, they contact you directly. You review the arrangement, ask questions about the participant and what the role involves, and decide whether it suits you. You are not committed to anything until you agree. Participants and families who arrange their own support reach out the same way.
Pay and working arrangements
Respite care pay rates under the NDIS vary depending on the time, day, and complexity of support required. Aged care rates are set under the relevant award. Carevo does not set or negotiate pay on your behalf. Those conversations happen directly between you and the provider.
What providers look for
The experience and qualities providers in the Carevo network look for in a respite carer.
Checks and credentials
The checks and credentials providers ask for in respite carer work, with indicative cost and timing. Which ones apply depends on the provider (registered or unregistered NDIS, or aged care), whether the role is risk-assessed, and your state. You can register your availability with Carevo before every check is finalised.
Varies by state, $112 (NSW) to $163 (ACT) · Valid 5 years Australia-wide; no unit publishes a guaranteed turnaround (Victoria quotes up to 3 weeks after employer verification)
Varies, around $50 to $80 · Valid 3 years (renewed by employers), often issued within days
Free · Online, around 90 minutes
Around $90 to $160 · 1-day course, valid 3 years (refresh CPR every 12 months)
Varies by state, around $80 to $130 (free for volunteers) · Valid 2 to 5 years depending on state
Around $200 to $2,000 (often subsidised or free via state programs) · 5 to 6 months, includes 120 hours of work placement
Varies (licence renewal around $30 to $100 per year) · Ongoing, must remain current
What respite carer pay looks like
Respite carers are generally paid under the SCHADS Award home care or disability stream, with overnight and weekend work attracting additional penalty rates and allowances.
$0 to $100 an hour
| Weekday | $28 to $37 an hour |
|---|---|
| Saturday | $43 to $55 an hour |
| Sunday | $57 to $73 an hour |
| Public holiday | $72 to $91 an hour |
Casual employees receive a 25% loading on the ordinary rate (about $36 to $46 an hour on weekdays), with casual weekend and public holiday rates of 1.75x, 2.25x and 2.75x the ordinary rate. Figures are full-time and part-time minimums for employees; independent contractors set their own rates.
How that compares, as of 1 July 2026
$28.86–$36.23
an hour · SCHADS Award minimum, home care employee, Level 2 to 3, full-time (Fair Work pay guide)
$73.58
an hour · NDIS price limit for standard weekday self-care support: the most a provider can bill a participant's plan for that hour, which funds wages, on-costs and overheads. A service price cap, not a worker wage (Pricing Schedule 2026–27)
Work out your own rate with the SCHADS award tool or the pay rate calculator.
Indicative hourly rates based on the SCHADS Award (MA000100), from the Fair Work pay guide effective 1 July 2026 (Fair Work pay guides). Modern award rates are national and do not vary by state. Pay is set by each provider and can be higher under an enterprise agreement. General information only, not financial advice.
How getting care work compares
Most care workers find work by searching a job board or signing on with an agency. Carevo works differently: you register once, the care requests near you come to your dashboard and inbox, and you choose which to contact. Providers hiring can contact you as well.
| Job board | Care agency | Carevo | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you get work | Search listings and apply to each one | The agency offers you shifts as they arise | Register once; see the requests near you and contact the ones you want. Providers can contact you too |
| Who sets the arrangement | The provider you apply to | The agency, usually as a casual employee | You and the provider or participant, agreed directly |
| Ongoing effort | Keep searching and applying as listings expire | Stay available for shift offers | Keep your profile and availability current |
| Choice over work | You choose what to apply for | You can decline the shifts the agency offers | You choose which offers to take up |
| Cost to you | Free | Free to you; the agency takes a margin on your rate | Free to register; no cut of your pay |
| Main trade-off | Time spent searching; listings can be out of date | Less say over which provider or client you get | Depends on demand for care near you |
Working for yourself
If you plan to take on participants directly rather than joining a provider team, these guides cover the practical side.
Frequently asked questions
Does Carevo have respite carer jobs I can apply for?
Carevo is not a traditional job board. Instead of applying for fixed listings, you register your availability and credentials once. Real care requests within 30 km of your suburb that match your services and funding appear on your dashboard and are emailed to you as they arrive. You contact the ones that fit, and the contact details are shown when you do. Providers hiring respite carers can also see your profile and contact you.
Does it cost anything?
Creating a profile and seeing the requests near you is free. To contact a request you need the Support Worker Plan: $99 a month (ex GST) for up to 5 contacts a month, with a 7-day free trial. Carevo charges no commission and takes no cut of what you earn.
What do I need to start respite carer work?
Most providers ask for a current Police Check and an NDIS Worker Screening Check (the screening check is legally required for risk-assessed roles with registered NDIS providers, and widely requested otherwise), plus any role-specific licences or qualifications. You can register your interest before every check is finalised and let providers know what is still in progress.
How soon will I see requests?
As soon as your profile is live: open requests near you that match your services and funding are on your dashboard immediately, and new ones are emailed to you when they arrive. How many there are depends on demand in your area. Providers hiring may also contact you, on their own timing.
Do I have to take every request?
No. You choose which requests to contact and which providers to talk to. Registering simply shows you the requests near you and makes you visible to providers seeking workers near you.
Related roles
People registering for respite carer work often look at these related care and support roles too. Or see every role on the jobs hub.
This role by location
Pick a state or city for its own request figures. Each state page lists every suburb with a page for this role.
By state
By city
Suburbs with the most requests
- Brisbane City, QLD 42
- Woolloongabba, QLD 10
- Werribee, VIC 9
- City, ACT 8
- Kingston, TAS 8
- Toowoomba City, QLD 8
- Caboolture, QLD 6
- Dubbo, NSW 6
- Geraldton, WA 6
- Shepparton, VIC 6
- Albury, NSW 5
- Campbelltown, NSW 5
- Coffs Harbour, NSW 5
- Lilydale, VIC 5
- Mackay, QLD 5
- Penrith, NSW 5
- Sans Souci, NSW 5
- Bega, NSW 4
- Bundoora, VIC 4
- Capalaba, QLD 4
- Clyde North, VIC 4
- Diamond Creek, VIC 4
- Frankston, VIC 4
- Helensvale, QLD 4
- Holden Hill, SA 4
- Joondalup, WA 4
- Maroubra, NSW 4
- Moonee Ponds, VIC 4
- Nelson Bay, NSW 4
- Northam, WA 4
- Point Cook, VIC 4
- Port Augusta, SA 4
- Redbank Plains, QLD 4
- Rouse Hill, NSW 4
- St Kilda, VIC 4
- Whyalla, SA 4
See the care requests near you
Register your availability and credentials in two minutes. Real care requests near you land on your dashboard and in your inbox, and you choose which to contact. No job ads to chase.
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