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Young male Orderly sets the breaks on a wheelchair in preparation of moving a patient.

Hospital Orderly

Transport patients around a hospital, provide patient care and ensure wards are tidy.

Overview

Hospital orderlies ensure the safety and care of patients in a hospital. They keep wards are neat and tidy, lift and turn patients, assist with patient personal care, and transport them in wheelchairs or on movable beds.

Work is in hospitals or similar health facilities. There may be some weekend and evening work.

Suitable for people with good communication skills who are physically fit. An interest in caring for others and in public health and safety are important.

Day-to-day

  • assist patients with their personal needs such as showering, dressing and eating
  • assist patients with their mobility and communication needs
  • move patients around the facility by pushing them in wheelchairs or in mobile beds
  • move equipment around the facility
  • perform manual support tasks at the direction of medical staff
  • ensure wards are clean and neat and tidy.

Considerations

  • physically demanding
  • stressful.

Occupation snapshot
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Not available
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Moderate
Apprenticeships may be available

To become a Hospital Orderly

  • Formal qualifications are not required, however vocational education and training (VET) studies in health assistance can improve employability.

    Find a certificate in allied health assistance

  • You may also need:

    • food handling and hygiene certificate
    • manual handling and safe lifting practices certificate
    • national police check
    • working with vulnerable people and children check
    • first aid certificate.

Skills

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