Aged care workers perform physically demanding and emotionally taxing work — manual handling of residents, high emotional workload, shift work, and exposure to aggressive and distressing behaviour. Injury and burnout rates are among the highest of any Australian workforce.
Common TPD conditions in aged care
- Back and musculoskeletal injuries — from manual handling, transferring and lifting residents
- Shoulder injuries — from lifting and awkward reaching
- Mental health conditions — burnout, depression, anxiety and PTSD from high-stress environments
- Chronic conditions — exacerbated by shift work, physical demands and emotional load
Super funds common in aged care
HESTA is the primary industry super fund for health and community services workers including aged care. See our HESTA TPD guide. Many workers also have accounts in other funds from earlier careers.
Your employer may have under-reported your injury
Many workplace injuries in aged care go unreported or are under-documented. Even if your injury wasn't formally reported, you can still pursue a TPD claim based on your medical evidence. Check your options with a free eligibility check.