With over 18 years’ experience, we’re leaders in the delivery of in-home massage for the over 65 age group.
You have your massage qualification, and you know your way around a treatment room. But working with a client who has dementia, fragile skin, limited mobility, and a care plan is a different job. Aged care can involve complex needs, communication challenges, and care environments that standard clinic training may not fully prepare you for.
This guide explores the opportunities available to remedial massage therapists in aged care, why specific training matters, and what to look for when choosing professional development. If you’re ready to explore the training itself, you can also view the Massage with Confidence course details.
Australia’s ageing population is creating a growing need for services that support older people. As of 30 June 2024, around 190,000 Australians aged 65 and over were living in permanent residential care, up 6.3% from 179,000 in 2017 (AIHW). Plus, as of September 2025, 310,363 people had access to a Home Care Package in Australia (GEN Aged Care Data).
Older Australians already use massage, too. Research found that 7.7% of mid-aged and older Australian women had consulted a massage therapist in the previous 12 months (BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies). Remedial massage can also be funded through government-funded home aged care where it meets the relevant program requirements and forms part of an appropriate allied health treatment plan.
Working in aged care can mean regular clients and recurring appointments, rather than relying entirely on discretionary spending.
Working with aged care providers can open up referral pathways and opportunities to become part of a client’s broader care team.
Build ongoing professional relationships with clients, families, care providers, and other professionals.
Aged care isn’t necessarily easier work. It requires additional skills, responsibility, and sound professional judgement, but can also be highly rewarding.
Your Certificate IV or Diploma gives you the foundation to work as a massage therapist, but clinic-based training may not prepare you for some situations you’ll likely encounter in aged care. Massage for elderly training can require additional skills in communication, treatment adaptation, manual handling, and care sector processes.
A geriatric massage course includes specific training regarding:
A therapist entering an aged care facility with only clinic-based training may encounter risks they have never had to manage before. Specific aged care massage training helps bridge that gap, protecting both the client and the therapist.
If you are comparing professional development for massage therapists, look beyond a list of techniques offered. Good aged care training should prepare you for the wide realities of working in a care environment.
Look for training that:
Short courses for massage therapists can help you build specialised skills while contributing towards your ongoing CPE requirements
Online learning has its place, but supervised practical training lets you apply what you have learnt, practice adaptations, and receive feedback
Trainers with current field experience can draw on the situations therapists actually encounter rather than teaching aged care purely in theory
Documentation, care plans, professional boundaries, provider processes, and referral pathways matter alongside hands-on technique
The client groups and skills can overlap, particularly when it comes to communication, mobility, positioning, and adapting treatment to individual needs
Massage with Confidence is Taking Care Mobile Massage’s blended massage course for aged care, palliative care and disability massage settings. It’s designed for qualified remedial massage therapists and myotherapists, as well as late-stage students looking to develop practical skills for care-based work.
The course combines self-paced online learning with hands-on training, covering six key areas:
Complete the online component at your own pace before putting your learning into practice.
Attend two days of practical training in Cremorne, Melbourne.
Professional associations require a minimum of 20 CPE points per year (Massage & Myotherapy Australia, AMT). Massage with Confidence provides 30 CPE points and is Endorsed Education with Massage & Myotherapy Australia and Massage Association of Australia.
For full course information, including the next intake, current pricing, practical dates and enrolment details, visit the dedicated Massage with Confidence course website.
Aged care massage provider first, trainer second
Partnerships with UAC, Australian Unity, Mercy Health, Bolton Clarke, and Benetas
20+ years of combined experience in the field
Graduates can apply to the team
Massage with Confidence is intended for qualified remedial massage therapists and myotherapists, as well as late-stage massage students. It is professional development designed to build on existing massage knowledge rather than an entry-level qualification. If you are currently studying, check the course entry requirements before enrolling to make sure you’re at the appropriate stage.
Yes. Remedial massage is classed under ‘Therapeutic services for independent living’ as part of Home Support according to the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
There is no single separate ‘aged care massage’ qualification that every massage therapist must obtain before working with older clients. However, employers, providers, and funded programs may set qualification, competency, training, and compliance requirements for particular roles. Specific aged care training can help prepare qualified therapists for situations their general massage education may not have covered.
Some aged care massage training can be completed online, but hands-on learning is valuable when developing practical skills for care settings. Massage with Confidence uses a blended format, combining flexible self-paced online learning with a two-day practical in Cremorne, Melbourne, where therapists can apply their learning in person and receive guidance from experienced trainers.
Yes. Australia’s in-home aged care sector is growing fast, with more than 272,000 people aged 65 and over using home care at 30 June 2024 (AIHW). If you’re a qualified therapist, you can apply to join our team.
Screening requirements depend on the setting, provider, and type of work you perform. Massage therapists working within aged care or disability services may need relevant worker screening or police checks before beginning a role.
Aged care offers qualified therapists an opportunity to build specialised skills and use their experience in a growing, purpose-driven area of care. Join our massage team, view our course details, enrol in the next intake, or download the free course guide if you’d like to learn more first.
Fill in the form below to start your application.