Aged Care Employee Day
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Aged Care Employee Day

Celebrating our care champions – 7 August

Aged Care Employee Day, held annually on 7 August, celebrates the thousands of dedicated workers, supporting millions of older Australians in aged care, retirement living and seniors housing.

From leaders to those providing hands-on compassionate care or working behind the scenes – volunteers, cleaners, chefs, cooks, maintenance workers, gardeners and administrators – this day is all about saying #ThanksforCaring.

Why it matters

Aged Care Employee Day shines a spotlight on the people who work tirelessly to ensure the dignity, comfort and wellbeing of older people in Australia. Their care is personal, selfless and often unsung – making a difference in the lives of older Australians every single day.

  • Recognising the workforce
    This day honours the wide range of professionals who make up the aged care, seniors housing and retirement living sector, acknowledging their essential role in the lives of older people.
  • Showing our appreciation
    Whether through a heartfelt message, a morning tea or a social media post, everyone is encouraged to join in expressing gratitude for the tireless efforts of our workforce.
  • Promoting the sector
    It’s also an opportunity to raise awareness of the rewarding and meaningful nature of careers in aged care, and to help attract the next generation of care professionals.
  • Supporting the workforce
    Celebrating our workforce also means recognising the challenges they face – and advocating for greater support and recognition across the sector.

A message from Tom Symondson, CEO Ageing Australia

""

Aged Care Employee Day has become an important date in our calendar. Our care staff are the backbone of aged care in Australia. They are the superheroes who support older people day in and day out.”

We invite all our communities to take a moment to say 'thanks for caring'.Whether you're a provider, operator, resident, client, staff member, colleague, friend, family or loved one – your thanks matters.

Join the celebrations

Across Australia, aged care providers, families and communities mark the day with:

  • morning and afternoon teas
  • special messages and appreciation walls
  • social media tributes using #ThanksforCaring
  • recognition events in residential, home and community care, retirement living and seniors housing settings.

ACED in the media

Channel 7, A lifelike robot is changing the face of Australia’s aged care, 6/8

Channel 7, Daisy the Robot on Sunrise for Aged Care Employee Day, 7/8

Channel 7 Tasmania, Cadorna house wins Ageing Australia award on Aged Care Employee Day, 7/8

ABC Radio Perth, Ageing Australia CEO Tom Symondson talks about Aged Care Employee Day, 6/8

Canberra Times, It’s time to honour and celebrate the everyday heroes of aged care, 7/8

FIVEAA, Ageing Australia invited Australians to say thanks on Aged Care Employee Day, 1/8

FIVEAA, Ageing Australia CEO speaks about Aged Care Employee Day, 5/8

Inside Ageing, Cadorna House: The small Tasmanian aged care home making a national impact, 6/8

Times Victor Habor, Celebrating Our Aged Care Heroes, 29/7

The Murray Valley Standard, Celebrating Carers, 31/7

Australian Seniors News, Knitting group brings warmth to the ACT, 1/8

Australian Ageing Agenda, Sector rallies to thank aged care workers, 4/8

Yorke Peninsula Country Times, Shining a light on unsung heroes of Parkview, 5/8

Aged Care Online, Thanking Our Selfless Aged Care Workers, 5/8

Mirage News, National Award Finalist Reimagines Aged Care Through Virtual Reality, 5/8

Aged Care Guide, More Australians choose home care, finding support and family in the process, 5/8

Plains Producer, Celebrate aged care heroes, 6/8

Power 94.9 FM, A young standout in Aged Care Awards, 7/8

Tasmanian Times, Cadorna House – Setting a New Standard for Aged Care, 6/8

Port Lincoln Times, Chance to recognise aged care workers, 7/8

Inside Ageing, More than a job: Why aged care changed my life, 7/8

Aged Health, Council shines light on seniors club for Aged Care Employee Day, 7/8

The Border Mail, Interlinking our community and supporting our elderly, 7/8

The Ballarat Courier, Overcoming past challenges suits Sarah’s role as a home care worker today, 7/8

6 August Channel Seven News at 6.48pm AEST

7 August Channel Seven Sunrise at 7.55am AEST

7 August Channel Seven News Tasmania ACED feature on Cadorna House

ACED 2025 messages of thanks

ACED 2025 videos of thanks

Tom Symondson, CEO
Ageing Australia

Hon. Sam Rae MP,
Federal Minister for Aged Care and Seniors

Tim Bull MP
Shadow Minister for Ageing, Victoria

Jelena Giro, Director
Altaira, SA

Hall & Prior Health & Aged Care Group,
Fairfield Aged Care Home

Royal Freemasons

Hon. Chris Picton MP, 
Minister for Health and Wellbeing

Whiddon

Canterbury City Community Centre (4Cs) 

Warrina Home Inc.

Holdsworth Aged Care  

Care Connect  

Dovida Perth

Montefiore 

Ageing Australia Queensland team

Sawtell Catholic Care 

Emmy Monash

Hon. Amanda Camm MP,
Minister for Families, Seniors and Disability Services and Minister for Child Safety and the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence

Chris Barnard Health

Shangri La

Charles Moore, CEO
BaptistCare

Encara

Inclusee

integratedliving

Selectability

Homestyle

 
 

Tom Symondson celebrating aged care workers in Melbourne’s inner south-east 

On Aged Care Employee Day, Thursday 7 August 2025, our Chief Executive Officer Tom Symondson spent the day visiting members across Melbourne’s inner south-eastern suburbs. Tom was joined by our Victorian state manager, Danni Campbell-Manley, as they travelled to six aged care providers to honour and celebrate the dedicated individuals who care for older Australians each and every day. 

Tom was joined by local members of parliament, including the Hon. Rachel Westaway MP (Member for Prahran), who attended visits to Australian Unity, CaSPA Care (Emerald Hill), mecwacare (Malvern Centre) and Bolton Clarke (Europa on Alma). 

Later in the day, the Hon. Mr David Southwick MP (Member for Caulfield) joined visits to Jewish Care (Gary Smorgon House) and Calvary Care Kooyong. 

At each visit, leaders shared stories, enjoyed spending time with staff and residents, and thanked aged care employees for their compassion, dedication and commitment to care. 

Thank you to each of the organisations who warmly welcomed us into their communities.  

On behalf of Ageing Australia and the wider sector – thank you for caring. 

ACED 2025 gallery

Write an Aged Care Employee Day 'message of thanks'

Create and share a #ThanksforCaring video

Your voice matters.

We invite providers, operators, residents, clients, staff members, colleagues, families and loved ones to join us in celebrating the thousands of workers in our sector by creating a short video or photo tribute.

It’s a powerful way share your appreciation and gratitude with the wider community. It’s also a great chance to spotlight special initiatives, teams or innovations within your organisation.

Here’s how to get involved:

  1. Record your video – use our video tips guide to help your team record a clear, simple message. We recommend filming in landscape (16:9) and keeping videos under 3 minutes.

  2. Use hashtags – post your video to social media using #ThanksforCaring and #ACED2025.

  3. Tag Ageing Australia – @AgeingAustralia on Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

  4. Submit to us – upload via our online form, or send files to using WeTransfer or Dropbox.

  5. Optional branding – add our official intro/outro video clips for a polished finish.

These videos will be featured across Ageing Australia’s communication channels in the lead-up to Aged Care Employee Day, and on the day itself.

Get involved

Help celebrate the people who care.

Whether you’re organising a workplace event, sharing your thanks online or simply offering a personal thank you – every gesture counts.

Because when we say ‘thanks for caring’, we’re recognising the heart of aged care.

2025 You are ACE! Awards

Aged Care Employee Day will also feature the announcement of the 2025 Ageing Australia You are ACE! Award winners – recognising standout individuals, teams and organisations across 15 categories.

Over 500 nominations were received through the 2024-25 You are ACE! campaign, highlighting the exceptional talent and dedication within our sector.