Manual handling in aged care is essential for your safety and your clients’ wellbeing. Learn the risks, smart techniques, and what training you need to stay safe on the job.
You know your body better than anyone. You know when something doesn’t feel right, when a lift is too awkward, or when a task is pushing the limits. In aged care, you’re constantly giving—but you can’t let a job, even one you love, take a toll on your body.
That’s why manual handling training matters. It’s not just about ticking a box. It’s about making sure you’re safe, strong, and confident in your role—for the long haul.
This article covers exactly what you need to know:
- What manual handling is in aged care
- The real injury risks you face every day
- Techniques and tools to protect your body and your residents
- How to stay calm and safe with tricky client situations
- What training you need—and how our course delivers it
Why Manual Handling Training in Aged Care Isn’t Optional
Manual handling is a part of daily life in aged care: lifting, supporting, transferring, or helping someone move safely. But without training, it’s easy to make a mistake that could cost you big—physically and professionally.
As Safe Work Australia clearly states, you have a responsibility to know how to handle people and objects safely. And Community Therapy backs it up—manual handling training is a duty of care, not a nice-to-have. If you want to be taken seriously in this field, you need to be trained.
Common Manual Handling Hazards in Aged Care
You know the situations:
- Helping someone out of bed who’s unsteady or panicked
- Transferring a client with dementia to the toilet
- Repositioning a heavy resident in a tight room
- Picking someone up off the floor after a fall
These are high-risk tasks. Even one wrong move can lead to:
- Slipped or herniated discs
- Shoulder and neck injuries
- Repetitive strain injuries (RSIs)
- Muscle tears and sprains
We’ve seen too many aged care workers suffer injuries that could’ve been avoided with better training or the right tools. You don’t want to be one of them.
Use the Right Techniques & Equipment
The smartest aged care workers don’t rely on strength. They rely on planning, teamwork, and tools.
✅ Plan Before You Lift
- Clear clutter and plan your path
- Communicate clearly with the client and your team
- Know when to get help
- Always ask: “Is there a safer way to do this?”
Some clients will resist help—not because they’re trying to be difficult, but because they may feel scared, confused, or in pain. This is especially common with residents who have dementia or mental health conditions. Having a plan that includes a calm, respectful approach to care is just as important as physical technique. This study shows that predictable routines and calm communication can lower anxiety and prevent resistance.
✅ Hoists Are Your Friend
Using a hoist isn’t a sign of weakness—it’s a sign you care about safety. Hoists reduce risk, protect the dignity of the person being moved, and make your job easier. Don’t lift something if a machine can do it for you.
✅ Slide Sheets Change Everything
If you haven’t used slide sheets, you’re missing out. They make repositioning clients smoother, safer, and more respectful. Watch this demo—they’re game changers.
You Need to Care for Yourself, Too
This job is about caring for others—but that doesn’t mean ignoring yourself. No one knows your body like you do. If something feels off or unsafe, listen to that. Speak up. Get help. Use the tools. You can’t give quality care if you’re hurting or burned out. Prevention starts with you.
What Course Should You Do?
In Australia, a nationally recognised coure for safe manual handling is HLTWHS005 – Conduct Manual Tasks Safely. It’s common across aged care and health services for a reason—it teaches you how to stay safe, work smart, and meet your WHS responsibilities.
You’ll learn:
- How to identify and assess manual handling risks like the ones you face in aged care.
- Practical, real-world handling techniques
- How to plan safe tasks, work with others, and prevent injury
- Your legal duties and how to stay compliant under WHS law
Our Manual Handling Course for Aged Care Workers
We offer training in Brisbane and SE QLD designed specifically for aged care staff:
HLTWHS005 – Conduct Manual Tasks Safely
- $125 per person (group discounts available)
- 2-hour practical session at your site
- 2–3 hours of online theory (self-paced)
- Delivered by experienced trainers who understand aged care work
This is practical, hands-on training tailored to what you actually do every day. We know the aged care environment, the pressure, the challenges—and we train with that in mind.
Book Now
Click here to request a quote or give us a call on (07) 3872 6777.
You’ve chosen a meaningful career. Let’s make sure it’s also a safe one.
