Faq

FAQs for Businesses and Families looking for Care

Q. How does the Qualified Carers Website Work?

A. Qualified Carers is Australia's only job site dedicated exclusively to the Care Industry, allowing you to target a broad range of Carers to suit your business or home needs. Once you purchase a package you will receive instant access to our database of experienced and qualified Candidates actively seeking employment in your selected area.

All of our Packages allow you these same great benefits so simply choose the period of time that best suits your business needs:

- Unlimited Advertisements: Post unlimited advertisements to advertise your vacancies during your package period. Relevantly qualified Candidates are alerted of your vacancies as you advertise them and provided a link to apply directly to you through our site if they meet the position criteria.

- Advertising your Vacancies: You can enter your contact information including email addresses, phone numbers and your website address into your advertisements for candidates to see when viewing your vacancies (this will however void the accuracy of your statistics).

- Application Process: Choose your preferred method of receiving applicants:

o   Redirect applicants directly to your website when they click "Apply Now";

o   Have applications emailed to up to three chosen email addresses;

o   Have applicants apply through our online application system.

- Vacancy Period: Your advertisements can stay posted to our job board until your positions are filled. Edit or extend the advertisement at any time to suit your hiring needs.

- Statistics: Know in real-time how many candidates have applied for each vacancy and view detailed statistics in your account area. Every Monday you will receive an email informing you how many applicants you have received for the week, and to date, for each active vacancy.

- Targeted Recruitment: Our Recruitment Consultants will monitor the number of applicants for each of your advertised vacancies to deliver you the best results, and will target particular vacancies as and when needed to ensure results and quality candidates are applying for your vacancies.

- Access our Database of Carers: Search and view our database of Jobseeker profiles including each candidate's photo, age, qualifications, employment history, experience, availability, police/WWC checks, first aid certificates and ratings and reviews from previous employers.

- Contact Candidates Directly: Contact unlimited candidates from our database through private messaging, inviting them to send their resume for a job opening, or attend an interview.

- Full Support: At Qualified Carers we will support you every step of the way. If you are not receiving the results you require, call your account manager for extra support or assistance.

- One Set Price: Our service provides you with a very easy to use recruitment system at one low fixed price. Know your advertising budget for the entire year starting from just $99 for Unlimited Advertisements and all of the above features.

Qualified Carers is here to support your business with all of your recruitment needs so if would like to discuss how you can experience the full benefits of our service, please contact us on 1300 768 311 so that we can work with you and support you in gaining the results you require during your Package period.

Q. What are the benefits of Advertising with Qualified Carers?

A. Advertising online with us allows you to reach a large and targeted database of qualified and experience jobseekers within the Care Industry actively seeking employment throughout Australia, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Jobseekers can apply directly to you or via our online application system. You can post unlimited vacancies to our job board and fill as many vacant positions as you require during your selected package period. Log in to your account and post vacancies, edit and make changes to your current advertisements and see who's applied for your positions 24/7. Run your own highly targeted and cost-effective recruitment process as and when you need staff. Our database of Carers will apply for your vacancies directly to you through your account area where you can also save Carers as Favourites for future vacancies. You have total control every step of the way!

Registering with Qualified Carers allows you instant access to our entire database of active Carer profiles who you are able to view, search and contact directly via our site. No matter what your needs are, we are sure to have the Carer for you!  We have Carers experienced in all kinds of industries including Child Care, Aged Care, Disability Care, Babysitters, Nannies, In-Home Nurses, Life Skills Educators, Tutors, Housekeepers, Cleaners, Personal Home Assistants, Pet Sitters, Trainers, Groomers and Walkers, House Sitters and more!  Need Care in a different industry?  Ask us today!  We are here to serve your needs. Qualified Carers provides you with an affordable and effective way to find quality Carers in your local area with an extensive range of Carers looking for full time, part time and casual work with a large range of skills and qualifications. We offer you a great service with value for money. Compare us to other sites and you’ll see that we offer a wider range of services at a more competitive price every time. Take advantage of greater exposure throughout Australia by advertising your vacancies along with your logo on our job board and be a known leader in the Care industry. Qualified Carers is the safe, secure and affordable way to hire the Care you need, when you need it!

Q. Is Qualified Carers an agency?

A. Qualified Carers is not an agency. We offer a Job Site service and do not take part in any communication between Employers and Carers, nor do we offer advice or charge agency fees. Please refer to our Terms of Use for further information.

Q. What information do I need to provide?

A. For registration purposes you will need to provide your personal details including your name, address, email and phone number. These details will be kept confidential and are not displayed on the site or passed on to Carers. If you choose to post an advertisement you will be required to provide all information relevant to the position you are advertising. We do suggest that in order for your company to gain wider exposure that you upload your company logo to promote and advertise your business throughout the Care Industry as a leading Care provider.

Q. Who can apply for my Advertised Position?

A. Anyone who visits the site can view your advertised position however only Carers registered on the Qualified Carers website can apply for your position.

Q. How do Carer’s respond to my Advertisement?

A. Your Advertisement will have an “Apply Now” button. You can choose from three methods of receiving applicants:

o   Redirect applicants directly to your website when they click "Apply Now";

o   Have applications emailed to up to three chosen email addresses;

o   Have applicants apply through our online application system.


When a Carer applies through our online application system they are able to write a message to you regarding your position and attach their resume. To view these messages and resumes you can either go to your inbox in your account area or go to the vacancy in your account area. You can also access the Carer profiles of those who have applied by clicking on their name in the message.

Q. Where can I access my Private Messages?

A. Go to your account area and click on Private Messaging. Your inbox contains all messages sent to you by Carers and you can also access all of your sent messages in your outbox.

Q. What can I do if a carer doesn't respond to me?

A. Some Carers don’t have daily access to the internet and therefore, may not respond immediately to you. Others, unfortunately, may not respond due to their circumstances changing or simply not having time to get back to you. We have a strict policy for Carers to remain registered on the site to avoid this, however we are unable to monitor and ensure that all Carers respond to Employers. If you sent a private message via the site and the Carer didn’t respond, you can try sending an SMS message also, asking them to contact you at their earliest convenience. If you still receive no response it’s best to move on and try other Carer’s. There are many other Carers who are actively looking for work and will be eager to receive your communications.

Q. Will the Carer's provide references?

A. All Carer’s should be able to provide you with references, either written or via a telephone contact. Because Qualified Carers does not interview or background check the Carer’s, it’s important for you as the Employer to do this with every Carer you employ. When you view a Carer’s profile you will see if they have written or telephone references available. It is recommended to check at least 2 references from past employers before hiring the Carer. You can also view the Carer’s ratings and reviews in their profile area to see what other Employer’s have said about the Carer.

Q. What are Police Checks and Working with Children Checks?

A. Anyone working in Child, Aged or Disability Care will most likely have a Police Check or a Working with Children Check. Police Checks outline a person’s criminal history and can be obtained from local police stations or by visiting http://www.policecheck.com.au/. If the Carer does not have a police check you can request they obtain one before commencing employment. Working with Children Checks identifies any child related criminal history and advise if the Carer could be of risk to the safety of your children. The requirements for a Working with Children Check are different in every State. The following websites provide information on Working with Children Checks in each State: New South Wales: www.kids.nsw.gov.au Queensland: http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/employment/whats-new.html Victoria: http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/workingwithchildren Western Australia: http://www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au/default.htm If you are hiring a Carer to work with Children you must comply with the laws in your state in regards to the Carer having a current Working with Children Check before commencing work.

Q. How do I review a Candidate?

A. By law Qualified Carers is unable to pre-screen or interview the Carers or give any advice, other than general tips, in relation to hiring a Carer. However, there are some simple steps you can take as an Employer to ensure the Carer you are hiring is right for you. 1.    Meet the Carer face to face for a formal interview. This gives you and the Carer a chance to spend some time together and get a feel for each other and see whether or not the Carer's personality and demeaner is a good fit for your business or family. 2.    Ask plenty of questions in the interview. Offer them different scenarios to see how they would cope in situations relevant to the position they are applying for. Don’t limit questions to just being related to your vacancy. You can respectfully ask other questions about the Carer’s hobbies, interests, why they do this kind of work and any other questions that will help you to develop a sense of who they are, and if they’ll fit into you business or family. It’s a good idea to have a list of questions ready for when you interview the Carer. 3.    Before hiring any Carer it’s a good idea to check at least 2 references from past employers or volunteer work they have done. If they are new to the industry and have not worked in this field of Care before, you can still choose to hire them but might decide to have them under supervision until you are sure they are competent in their responsibilities. 4.    You may want to check they are an Australian Resident and can legally work in Australia. 5.    You can also check their profile for ratings and reviews left by other businesses or families who have employed this Carer. 6.    You can offer the Carer a trial period so you can evaluate whether or not the Carer is a good fit for your business or family.

Q. Are the Carers Screened by Qualified Carers?

A. Qualified Carers is a job site, not an Agency. We provide a quality service for Employers to advertise and find Jobseekers, however we do not do any screening, interviewing, background or reference checks, or participate in any part of the negotiations or hiring process between the Employer and Jobseeker. Jobseeker's and Employers are fully responsible for their own recruitment and employment process including compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, workplace health and safety requirements and taxation requirements.

Q. How do I know what hourly rate to pay the Carer?

A. All Carers list their hourly rate in their profile. Generally, if you find a Carer through a Carer Search, you would pay the hourly rate they are asking. However this can be negotiated with some Carers if the position is going to be full time or ongoing. If you would like to set your own rate, then it’s best to post an advertisement. That way Carer’s accept your pay rate when they apply for your position. It’s hard to give an exact answer as to how much you would expect to pay, as the hourly rate varies dependant on a Carers age, experience and qualifications as well as the duties they need to perform. Because all of our Carers are 18 years or older the minimum you would pay for a Carer would be around $18 per hour and you could pay up to $40+ per hour for Carers such as In-Home Nurses. For a general overview of what rates you may expect to pay for specific Carer positions you can check the Award in your state.

Q. Whose car does the Carer use for work related transportation or to run errands?

A. In most cases the Employer will provide a car to the Carer during work hours for the purpose of carrying out their duties. However, some Carers are happy to use their own car and this can be negotiated with the Carer during the interview. If a Carer does use their own car then they will need to be paid mileage of around $0.60 per kilometre travelled. You can purchase a log book from your local Newsagency to use to keep track of work related travel. Whichever scenario, ensure that registration and insurances are valid and provide you with the coverage you require.

Q. How does the Carer Rating & Review System Work?

A. Employers are encouraged to leave a rating and review for all Carers that they have hired, to help other Employers gain an overview of the Carer’s work ethic and also to assist the Carer in gaining further employment. You can Rate and Review a Carer by going to their profile page and clicking “Rate and Review this Carer”. You will then be able to select up to five stars for the Carer Rating and leave a few paragraphs about your experience with the Carer and the work they provided.

Q. How much does it Cost to Join Qualified Carers and what do I get for my Package?

A. Prices start from just $29 for Families and $99 for Business Packages. You can view package prices for Families or Businesses to find the package that’s right for you. Once you have purchased a package you have unlimited access to all of the site’s functions and features for the duration of your package period. You may choose to purchase SMS Credits for 20 cents each as an optional extra to use on our site; however SMS credits are not required to be able to contact Carers or use the site. All advertised prices include GST.

Q. What payment methods do you accept?

A. You can pay by credit card or PayPal. If you require an alternative payment method please contact us and we’ll make arrangements for you.

Q. How long does it take for me to access the site after payment?

A. As soon as you have registered and your payment has been processed you have full access to the site and all of its features. It may take a couple of minutes for the registration process to complete so please allow up to 5 minutes when accessing the site for the first time. Once you are logged in you can place advertisements and contact Carers immediately.

Q. What is your refund policy?

A. We offer a 100% money back guarantee within the first month of your package if you do not receive any applications for your posted vacancies. However, if at any time you feel you would like to discuss your results before your package expires, please call us so that we can target these positions immediately to ensure you do receive the results you require.

Q. How Secure is Qualified Carers Site?

A. Qualified Carers operate from their own Dedicated Server secure with Firewalls and Anti-Virus protection. We have security measures in place to ensure that all of your information is kept confidential and you can feel safe and confident using our services. Our IT Department monitor the site on a daily basis to ensure the integrity and security of the site is maintained.

Q. How do I change my Email Notifications?

A. You can change your email preferences at any time by logging into your account area, clicking on “Edit Notifications” and selecting or deselecting the notifications you wish to receive.

Q. How Can I contact Qualified Carers?

A. We are always happy to assist you further and welcome your feedback and questions. You can contact us via our online form at any time. We will respond to you during business hours by either email or phone, depending on the urgency of your enquiry.

 

FAQs for Caregivers looking for a job

Q. What are the benefits of Registering with Qualified Carers?

A. Qualified Carers provides you with a free service to find work with families and businesses Australia wide. You have complete control over your hours, rate of pay and who you work for. Whether you are looking for full time work, part time work, or casual work to boost your income, you’ll find a job that’s right for you here at Qualified Carers.

Q. How does the Qualified Carers Website Work?

A. Qualified Carers is an online introduction site for Carers to find work in their industry with Businesses and Families across Australia. By Joining you’ll be able to create your own profile outlining your skills and experience. Businesses and Families will be able to view your profile and contact you directly regarding vacancies via private messaging here on this site, or SMS messaging directly to your mobile phone. Upon joining you’ll receive instant access to both the Business and Family Job Noticeboards and will be able to apply directly to all jobs advertised on this site. You can conduct your job interviews right here using our Video Interview feature. The better your profile, the more chance of gaining employment, so take full advantage of the website features, upload your video profile, ensure your information is kept up to date, and respond to all employer enquiries as soon as you can.

Q. Is it free to register?

A. It's free for Caregivers to register and once you register you gain instant access to all of the features of the website and are able to apply to current vacancies.

Q. How can I Register?

A. Carers can register for free by clicking here.

Q. What sort of work is available?

A. You can find full time, part time or casual work in a variety of qualified and unqualified Care positions for Babysitters, Nannies, Child Care Workers, Aged Carers, Disability Carers, In-Home Nurses, Life Skills Educators, Tutors, Housekeepers, Cleaners, Personal Home Assistants, Pet Sitters, Trainers, Groomers and Walkers, House Sitters and more!

Q. What requirements are there for this type of work?

A. Depending on what kind of Care you offer you may be required to provide your employer with information such as Police Checks, Working With Children Checks, References, Previous Employment History and any other information relevant to the position you are applying for. If you are hired as a contractor you must also ensure that you abide by any legal responsibilities you may have including paying taxes and being fully insured.

Q. How old do I need to be to use this site?

A. You need to be 18 years of age to register on this site or use any of this site's services.

Q. What information do I need to provide?

A. You need to provide basic information such as your personal details, along with your relevant experience, hours and rates and any other information relevant to the type of work you are looking for. The more information you provide, the more likely an employer will be to contact you for an interview.

Q. How often should I log in to the site?

A. WYou should log in to the site once a day to check for messages from employers and check and update your details once a week. Those that have logged in most recently will appear at the top of the search results in their suburb when employers search for Carers so it is in your best interest to keep yourself at the top of the list. If you have gone a period of 30 days without logging in your account will become invisible until you log in and update your details. This is done to ensure that only people who are actively looking for work are displayed in Employer’s search results.

Q. How often should I update my profile?

A. You should update your profile every time your situation changes. For example, if your availability changes, you have new skills or qualifications or the type of work you are looking for changes. If you have found work or are no longer looking for work, then you should make your profile invisible to ensure employers do not contact you when you are not available.

Q. How Do I update my profile?

A. Simply log in using your email address and password. Click on "My Account" and click "Edit" to make changes then click "Save".

Q. How do I temporarily hide my Profile from Employers?

A. Log in to your account area and click on "Make my Profile Invisible". If your circumstances change and you wish to look for work again, just log back in to your account and click on "Make my Profile Visible" If your account has been inactive for 30 days, your profile will automatically become invisible so please log in often to ensure your profile remains active.

Q. When should hide my Profile from Employers?

A. Log into your account area and click on “Make my Profile Invisible”. If your circumstances change and you wish to look for work again, just log back into your account and click on "Make my Profile Visible" If your account has been inactive for 30 days, your profile will automatically become invisible so please log in often to ensure this doesn't happen. You should hide your profile if you have found employment, are no longer looking for work, or if you are unavailable to work due to illness or being away on holidays.

Q. How do I apply for jobs?

A. You can find current vacancies by searching the Business and Private Job Noticeboards. At the bottom of each advertisement you will see an “Apply Now” button. Click on this button and complete the required information to apply for the position. The employer will receive this information and contact you if they would like to interview you. Employers may also contact you directly without placing an advertisement so make sure you log in to your account regularly to check for messages.

Q. How Can Employers Contact Me?

A. Employers can contact you by sending you a private message through the Qualified Carers website or, if you have entered your mobile phone number, sending you a text directly to your mobile phone. Not all employers will send an SMS message to your phone so it’s important to log in to your account daily to check for messages.

Q. Do I need to have a mobile phone?

A. No. If you don’t have a mobile phone employers are still able to contact you via the website. You just need to make sure you log in daily to check for messages.

Q. What do I need to put in an SMS message when I reply to Employers?

A. Employers may send SMS messages to more than one Carer at the same time so make sure you put your name as it appears on the Qualified Carers website when replying to text messages, so that the employer knows who the SMS message has come from.

Q. How much should I charge for my services?

A. Your hourly rate will be dependent upon your experience and qualifications. If you are unqualified with little experience, you wouldn’t expect to be paid more than $20 per hour. However, if you are qualified with a lot of experience, your hourly rate could be between $20 to $40 depending on the type of care you offer. For an idea of how much a Carer in your industry earns, check the Award Wages in your State. Although you are able to set your own rates in your profile area, most employers will have an idea of what they are willing to pay and will advertise this rate in their advertisements, or negotiate a rate with you, that you are both happy with.

Q. How long will my account remain active?

A. Your account will remain active for 30 days after each time you log in. If you have not logged in for a period of 30 days then your account will become invisible until you log back in to your account area and change your profile status to "Visible".

Q. What types of duties are Carers expected to do?

A. The duties each Carer performs will be dependent upon the position and requirements of the employer. Please check with the Employer for a full overview of what's expected including experience and qualifications to know what each position involves.

Q. Do I need to have a car?

A. Many positions will not require you to have a car. However, some positions will require that you drive. For these positions you may need to use your own car or your employer may provide a car to you. If you do need to use your own car you should be compensated by the employer for petrol and per kilometre driven.

Q. Are my personal details shared with Employers?

A. Your personal details such as surname, address, phone numbers and email address are kept confidential and not shown on the site. Private messages and SMS messages are sent via the Qualified Carer’s site so the Employer does not see your email address or mobile phone number. You may choose to disclose these details to the Employer via private message once you are ready to communicate with them outside of this site.

Q. How do I get a Police Check or Working with Children Check?

A. If you are working in Child, Aged or Disability Care you will most likely be required to have a Police Check or a Working with Children Check. You can obtain a Police Check from your local police station or by visiting http://www.policecheck.com.au/ Working with Children Checks are different in every State. Visit the following websites for information on how to obtain a Working with Children Check in your State: New South Wales: www.kids.nsw.gov.au Queensland: http://www.ccypcg.qld.gov.au/employment/whats-new.html Victoria: http://www.justice.vic.gov.au/workingwithchildren Western Australia: http://www.checkwwc.wa.gov.au/default.htm

Q. What is a Registered Carer?

A. A registered Carer is a Carer who is registered with the Family Assistance Office. The Family Assistance Office provide benefits to some families when they use a Registered Carer so it may be worth your while investigating and registering as there are families who will only hire a Carer who is registered. You can find out more through the Family Assistance Office by calling 13 61 50.

Q. Can I Meet the Employer before I accept the Job?

A. Absolutely. Just as it's important that the Employer hires the right Carer, it's also important that the Carer finds the right Employer. Simply arrange a time to meet with the Employer for a face to face interview so you can meet and ask any questions and get a feel for whether or not the position is the right fit for you.

Q. How many Businesses and Families can I work for at the same time?

A. You can take on as many positions as you like, however you need to ensure you are able to meet all of your obligations with each Employer and be available when you are required by each Employer.

Q. How does the Ratings System work?

A. When you complete a job you should encourage your Employer to Rate you through your profile page for other employers to see. The more positive feedback you get from Employers, the more work you are likely to get through other Employers. You will be rated using a five star system. The more stars, the better the rating. Employers will also be able to write a short review about your work.

Q. What will I need to show Employers?

A. Employers will be interested in seeing your employment history. It is always recommended to have an update Resume ready to forward to Employers outlining your work history, qualifications, experience and two referees able to be contacted via telephone. You may also be required to provide a Police Check, Working with Children Check, First Aid Certificate or any other information relevant to the position you are applying for.

Q. Will I Need a First Aid Certificate?

A. If you are working with Children, Disabled or Elderly then you will most likely be required to have a current First Aid Certificate. If you do not have one, they can normally be obtained quickly by doing a short one or two day course.

Q. How do I know if I have been contacted by a Fraudulent Employer?

A. While we do our best to ensure that all Employers who register are genuine, there is always the possibility that someone who is not genuine slips through and registers on the site. Never give out any personal information such as bank account details or your tax file number without having met the Employer first. If an Employer wants to employ you without having interviewed you or performed reference checks, they may not be sincere and you should contact us immediately with details so that we can ensure the employer is a genuine family or business.

Q. How do I change my Email Notifications?

A. You can change your email preferences at any time by logging in to your account area, clicking on “Edit Notifications” and selecting or deselecting the notifications you wish to receive.

Q. How do I cancel my account?

A. If your account has been inactive for a period of 30 days then it will automatically become invisible making Employers unable to see your profile or contact you. You can change this at any time by logging into your account area and clicking on "Make My Profile Visible" You never need to completely cancel your account as you can go into your account area at any time and make your profile invisible until you are ready to look for work again. This saves you time in reregistering if you decide to use our services again. However, if you do want to completely delete your account, which will remove all of your information from our server, simply log in to your account area and click on "Close My Account".

Q. How Can I contact Qualified Carers?

A. We are always happy to assist you further and we welcome your feedback and questions. You can contact us here at any time. We will respond to you by either email or phone, depending on the urgency of your enquiry.