Employment of Assistants in Nursing (AIN) in NSW Health Acute Care
Summary
This Policy Directive is to facilitate uniform practices for employing, expanding and
developing the Assistant in Nursing role in Public Health acute care facilities. It
outlines the education, qualification or equivalency, scope of practice and skills
recognition processes to be applied to those in this employment category. It also
refers employers to assessment processes for identifying the appropriate clinical
environments for Assistants in Nursing allocation in acute care.
Document type
Policy Directive
Document number
PD2021_035
Publication date
27 September 2021
Author branch
Workplace Relations
Branch contact
(02) 9391 9373
PD2018_017
Review date
27 September 2026
Policy manual
Not applicable
File number
H21/169567
Status
Active
Functional group
Personnel/Workforce - Industrial and Employee Relations, Recruitment and selection
Applies to
Public Health Units, Local Health Districts, Board Governed Statutory Health
Corporations, Chief Executive Governed Statutory Health Corporations, Specialty
Network Governed Statutory Health Corporations, Affiliated Health Organisations,
NSW Health Pathology, Public Health System Support Division, Cancer Institute,
Community Health Centres, NSW Ambulance Service, Dental Schools and Clinics,
Public Hospitals
Distributed to
Ministry of Health, Public Health System, NSW Ambulance Service, Health
Associations Unions, Tertiary Education Institutes
Audience
Nursing, Workforce, Human Resources
Policy Directive
Secretary, NSW Health
This Policy Directive may be varied, withdrawn or replaced at any time. Compliance with this directive is
mandatory for NSW Health and is a condition of subsidy for public health organisations.
PD2021_035
Issue date: September-2021
Page 1 of 3
NSW HEALTH POLICY
EMPLOYMENT OF ASSISTANTS IN NURSING (AIN)
IN NSW HEALTH ACUTE CARE
POLICY STATEMENT
All NSW Health organisations must ensure practices for employing, expanding and
developing the Assistant in Nursing (AIN) role in public health acute care facilities are
consistent with procedures outlined in this policy.
This Policy Statement applies to the employment of all AINs employed under the Award
classification of Assistants in Nursing (AIN) in the NSW public health system. This
Policy Directive does not apply to students on clinical placement.
SUMMARY OF POLICY REQUIREMENTS
AINs are to be employed in acute care areas following the assessment process outlined
in the Assistants in nursing working in the acute care environment – Health Service
Implementation package.
An AIN will work within a plan of care under the supervision and delegation of a
registered nurse when providing aspects of nursing care.
An AIN will be responsible for their own actions and will remain accountable to the
registered nurse for all delegated duties.
An AIN working in acute care will be delegated nursing activities that are within the
parameters documented in the NSW Health Assistant in Nursing – Acute Care position
description.
Any additional context specific nursing activities delegated must follow a formally
documented process that reflects the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia Decision
Making Framework and Health Service guidelines.
AINs are to be assigned to appropriate clinical areas according to identified skill mix
assessment process guidelines and be provided with support and supervision at all
times.
The skill mix for the provision of nursing care in acute care areas is to reflect those
categories of staff who are required to meet the clinical needs of patients/clients as
determined by established tools.
The AIN will wear the NSW Health uniform and identification badge that indicates their
AIN classification.
AINs employed in NSW Health acute care environments are to have completed a
relevant Certificate III (or higher) qualification in Health Services Assistance, for
example the current course HLT33115 Certificate III Health Services Assistance
(Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care), or having equivalent experience or have
completed 1 or more years training as an undergraduate nursing student.
AINs who are employed in public health aged care facilities must successfully complete
a relevant Certificate III (or higher) qualification in aged care, for example the current
course CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support or have equivalent experience.
PD2021_035
Issue date: September-2021
Page 2 of 3
NSW HEALTH POLICY
AINs currently employed in NSW Health acute care areas, who are not current
undergraduate students of nursing or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander Cadets, will be
supported by Health Services to upgrade their qualification to the level of HLT33115
Certificate III Health Services Assistance (Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care)
skills pathway.
AINs working in Acute Care
NSW Health supports the qualification, HLT33115 Certificate III Health Services
Assistance (Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care) skills pathway for AINs working in
acute care environments who are not undergraduate students of nursing.
NSW Health has identified preferred units of competency (Group B electives) for
students to complete as part of their qualification, to support their employment as acute
care AINs in the NSW public health system.
Recognition of Skills Process
Health Services are encouraged to support AINs to convert or upgrade their current
qualifications to the HLT33115 Certificate III Health Services Assistance (Assisting in
Nursing Work in Acute Care) skills pathway, through a “recognition of skills” process.
Existing workers employed as AINs at the date of issue of this Policy Directive are
encouraged but not required to obtain formal qualifications.
Undergraduate Students of Nursing
NSW Health supports the employment of undergraduate nursing students in the role of
AIN in acute care environments.
The employment of undergraduate nursing students as AINs in acute care
environments does not form part of their formal education program. This employment
provides students with increased exposure to clinical environments in preparation to
practice as a nurse and the opportunity to gain an income while studying.
Undergraduate nursing students may be employed as AINs in the second or third year
of their Bachelor program. First year undergraduate students may be employed as an
AIN if previously gained qualifications and/or experience are deemed equivalent. The
scope of practice for the undergraduate student of nursing employed as an AIN in the
acute care environment is consistent with that outlined in the NSW Health Assistant in
Nursing Acute Care Position Description.
For the purpose of the COVID-19 Pandemic response in NSW, first year undergraduate
nursing students (who don’t have previous qualifications or experience as above) may
be employed in a modified AIN role, consistent with that outlined in the NSW Health
First Year Undergraduate AIN Position Description. These first year undergraduate
AINs are supernumerary and not included in nursing workload numbers.
Supporting resources such as background to AIN employment in acute care facilities,
positions descriptions for AINs in acute care facilities, and associated activities and task
lists are available at:
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/workforce/Pages/Working-with-Assistants-in-Nursing-AIN.aspx
PD2021_035
Issue date: September-2021
Page 3 of 3
NSW HEALTH POLICY
REVISION HISTORY
Version
Approved by
Amendment notes
September-2021
(PD2021_035)
Deputy Secretary
People, Culture
and Governance
Updated Policy to include First Year Undergraduate AINs
supernumerary roles as part of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Response
May 2018
(PD2018_017)
Deputy Secretary
People, Culture
and Governance
Updated Policy to reflect course codes and hyperlinks
September 2010
(PD2010_059)
Deputy Director-
General
Health System
Support
Updated Policy to recognise expanded employment criteria
for AINs in acute care health services
August 2001
(PD2005_214)
Director-General
New Policy