The definition of a personal care worker/assistant in nursing (PCW/AIN) for the purpose of care minutes was changed on 1 January 2025.
This was to reflect changes to the Aged Care Award 2010 and the Nurses Award 2020. The new definition also clearly distinguishes the role of PCWs/AINs from other aged care workers, such as lifestyle workers.
Under the updated definition, a worker can only be classified as a PCW if:
- they are employed under the direct care categories on the Aged Care Award 2010, or an equivalent enterprise agreement
- they spend 50% or more of their time providing personal care services under the supervision of a registered or enrolled nurse.
Personal care services include:
- supporting residents' daily living activities
- attending to residents' personal hygiene, physical, and cognitive needs
- assisting with medical treatments and procedures.
For the PCW definition only, one-on-one social and emotional support is not a personal care service, but it's still considered a direct care activity. This means it can be counted towards care minutes if provided by a PCW, registered or enrolled nurse.
This definition change was based on feedback and information gathered from providers through the reporting assessment process and broader engagement.
For the updated definition, refer to section 2.2 of the Care minutes responsibility guide.
