The shift to remote work has revolutionised industries in Australia, including the healthcare sector. Healthcare professionals in various fields can deliver quality care while working from the comfort of their homes.
However, can healthcare roles adapt effectively to a work from home model?
This article explores the benefits and drawbacks of working from home as a healthcare professional in 2025. Explore some examples of professions making the transition and learn simple tips to set yourself up for a successful work from home career.
Flexible work options in Australia’s healthcare professions
Remote and hybrid work models are more prevalent in Australia than ever, with a University of Melbourne report revealing that most people now prefer these working models over traditional in-person employment only.
75 per cent of workers under the age of 54 say a lack of flexible work options would push them to leave their current job and find work elsewhere.
This statistic highlights the growing demand for flexible work options across Australian industries and a large workforce demographic. To remain competitive in the job market, workplaces need to adapt by offering flexibility to attract and retain skilled professionals in an evolving healthcare landscape.
Advancements in technology, including telehealth services, electronic patient records and digital health platforms, have enabled healthcare professionals to service the health needs of Australians in a virtual format.
Working from home (WFH) roles offer numerous perks for healthcare professionals. Some broad benefits include a better work-life balance, no workplace commuting and an increased reach towards patient groups.
However, there may be some downsides to a WFH job in healthcare that should be considered. Downsides may arise among disciplines and various health services. These may include concerns around patient privacy, over-reliance on technology and potential limitations on the quality of care offered.
Let’s explore work from home jobs in Australia for a range of professions in the health sector.
Work from home jobs for healthcare professionals in 2025
1. Counsellor
What does a WFH counsellor do?
Counsellors in a working-from-home role provide phone and web-based counselling services to people facing a range of emotional and mental health challenges. For example, they provide guidance and assistance to people struggling with depression, anxiety, trauma and the effects of family violence. Counsellors help clients navigate their difficulties and employ strategies to improve their coping skills and wellbeing.
Their role may include mental health triage, risk assessment, individual counselling sessions, crisis intervention, maintaining confidential client records and offering referrals to other health practitioners. Several positions offer flexible working arrangements with the option to set your own work hours.
What is the minimum education requirement for counsellors?
To become a counsellor in Australia, the typical pathway includes completing a bachelor’s degree in counselling. The counselling profession in Australia is not regulated, meaning counsellors are not legally required to be registered and anyone can claim the title of counsellor, regardless of their qualifications or experience. Therefore, professional registration with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) or the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) is highly recommended. Registration signifies a counsellor’s credibility and expertise and upholds a standard of professionalism and ethics in the industry.
Most telehealth counselling jobs require a bachelor’s degree in counselling, professional registration and at least two years of professional experience in an acute mental health setting.
Benefits and drawbacks of working from home as a counsellor
Depending on the caseload, remote counsellors may find it difficult to continue to provide quality patient care without the physical separation or routine breaks that an office environment might naturally offer. This could contribute to increased emotional fatigue and burnout over time.
Working from home as a counsellor offers flexibility in work hours and the option to create a comfortable setting at home to conduct online consultations. Opportunities to take breaks and enjoy down-time as needed helps reduce the risk of burnout and improve overall wellbeing.
Postgraduate counselling courses can level up your skills as a WFH counsellor. Graduate certificates and graduate diplomas in counselling are an ideal starting point in your postgraduate study journey and can progress to a master’s degree in counselling.
Courses such as the Graduate Certificate of Counselling at Edith Cowan University and the Graduate Diploma in Counselling at the University of Canberra help advance your mental health knowledge, improve cultural competencies and build digital literacy skills that are uniquely applicable to a WFH counselling role. The Master of Counselling at Edith Cowan University and the Master of Counselling at the University of Canberra provide advanced, evidence-based counselling skills that open doors to higher counselling roles.
The courses below are listed by qualification level, from lowest to highest.
2. Telehealth nurse
What does a telehealth nurse do?
Telehealth nurses are registered nurses who work from home and play a vital role in telemedicine, supporting patients in various areas of health, including children, adults and older people. Fields such as mental health, perinatal health, acute and chronic care and injury management are common health areas in which nurses can find a WFH role.
Some typical responsibilities of a telehealth nurse role include assessing and triaging calls to evaluate patients health needs, recording health information using a telephony system database, performing telehealth follow-ups and referring to other healthcare professionals such as dietitians, doctors or other allied health providers where necessary. Many work from home nursing jobs require a minimum of three years of experience in a primary health setting, acute care or experience in a field related to the specific niche health area. Many roles also require flexible working hours across a 24-hour, 7-day or rotating roster.
What is the minimum education requirement for telehealth nurses?
Most telehealth nursing roles require candidates to have a minimum registered nurse qualification and AHPRA registration without restrictions. To become a registered nurse, the minimum education requirement is completing a Bachelor of Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing Science or Bachelor of Science (Nursing), which typically takes at least three years full-time.
Alternatively, if you have an undergraduate degree in another field, you can pursue a Master of Nursing through a graduate entry program. After meeting these education requirements, you’ll register with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia and keep up with your continued professional development requirements annually. Most WFH nursing roles require a Bachelor of Nursing/Midwifery and registration with the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
Benefits and drawbacks of working from home as a telehealth nurse
A possible drawback of this role is the potential isolation from a team environment. Nurses in these roles may miss the collaboration that typically occurs in hospitals or health centres and the interactions with other healthcare professionals outside the organisation. Nurses who usually enjoy a fast-paced work environment may also feel that a telehealth nurse job lacks the vibrancy and dynamism of in-person nursing jobs.
One benefit of a working from home nursing role is the flexibility to balance your professional and personal commitments and having more control over your schedule, especially in telehealth roles that include shift work. There’s also no commuting to busy hospitals or health centres, which can add hours of travel to the work day, especially for agency nurses who may work across multiple settings.
Telehealth nursing roles may suit nurses who enjoy variety and autonomy who also possess excellent problem-solving, communication and assessment skills. These roles could also be ideal for nurses with caregiving responsibilities or parents who may be unable to commit to shift work in hospitals or health centres. Telehealth nursing offers the flexibility of logging on or connecting via phone from home without the stress of potential last-minute shift changes, which is common in traditional agency and casual nursing jobs. The predictability of workload and convenience of working from home make telehealth nursing roles a good option if nurses have these extra personal responsibilities to consider.
Consider upskilling your qualifications with postgraduate study to support your working from home nursing role. Postgraduate courses for nurses such as graduate certificates, graduate diplomas and master’s degrees can help you develop your expertise in specialisations such as acute care nursing, chronic disease and ageing, family health and child and adolescent mental health.
The courses below are listed by qualification level, from lowest to highest.
3. Telehealth nurse practitioner
What does a telehealth nurse practitioner do?
Nurse practitioners are highly skilled registered nurses who can deliver advanced clinical care and play a pivotal role in patient health. They can take on responsibilities similar to those of GPs, including prescribing medications and managing chronic conditions. Nurse practitioners demonstrate strong leadership skills and can work autonomously as primary healthcare providers. They are especially valuable in rural and remote communities, where the demand for healthcare is high due to limited access to services.
Work from home telehealth nurse practitioners can perform duties similar to those of traditional nurse practitioner roles. They typically conduct patient consultations via phone and video, develop treatment plans, contribute to patient education, manage patient data and perform virtual follow-up appointments.
What is the minimum education requirement for telehealth nurse practitioners?
To become a nurse practitioner, you must first become a registered nurse, holding Division 1 registration in Australia without any restrictions or conditions related to professional practice. Nurse practitioners must also have at least 5,000 hours of advanced clinical practice experience within the past six years and complete an NMBA-approved master’s degree to qualify as a nurse practitioner.
Benefits and drawbacks of working from home as a telehealth nurse practitioner
Nurse practitioners working at home may find this role challenging for a few reasons. Along with the requirement to develop your technological skills and the professional isolation similar to other work from home nursing jobs, relying on digital platforms has potential negative impacts on patient care. The inability to perform a physical examination and relying solely on calls, videos and patient-reported information can sometimes make it harder for telehealth nurse practitioners to diagnose and manage certain conditions accurately, potentially impacting quality of care.
Working from home as a nurse practitioner can allow for greater flexibility in managing your schedule, with many jobs offering professional development opportunities that prioritise work-life balance. These nursing jobs improve care for patients in remote or rural areas who may otherwise be unable to access in-person healthcare. These opportunities add value and experience to a nursing resume, boosting further career prospects and higher salary potential.
Enrol in a nurse practitioner postgraduate course to advance your leadership skills, expand your scope of practice and boost your salary potential. You’ll unlock further opportunities in your career as a work from home nurse practitioner.
4. Psychologist
What does a WFH psychologist do?
Psychologists in a work from home role deliver telehealth psychology, using various therapies to help people manage their mental health concerns. They may use other digital platforms to conduct consultations and provide psychology services, including video calls, text, phone, chat and online support groups. These roles are suitable for both general and clinical psychologists and may involve working with children, families, couples and individuals experiencing a diverse range of mental and emotional challenges.
Many telehealth psychology jobs offer administrative and scheduling support as well as networking opportunities in a virtual environment. Most roles require psychologists to register with the Psychology Board of Australia and may be suitable for both entry-level and experienced psychologists.
What is the minimum education requirement for psychologists?
To become a registered psychologist in Australia, the minimum education requirement is to complete a four-year undergraduate degree in psychology accredited by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council (APAC). Then, either a two-year internship or a fifth year of study plus a one-year internship is required to achieve general registration. Alternatively, completing a two-year master's or a four-year doctorate can also lead to registration as a psychologist.
Benefits and drawbacks of working from home as a psychologist
Psychologists undertaking a work from home role face unique challenges related to the virtual consultation process. Without being physically present, psychologists may miss subtle non-verbal cues, such as body language and facial expressions, vital for understanding a client’s emotional state. This can place significant responsibility on the psychologist to ask the right questions in a telehealth environment to provide appropriate mental health care.
WFH psychology jobs offer numerous benefits, including flexible hours, competitive pay and free CPD opportunities. Many roles allow psychologists to tailor their client base to match their niche health area of interest, while providing access to an established referral network. Some roles include full administrative and clinical support as well as shared supervision opportunities. The alleviation of administrative and scheduling tasks also creates good work-life balance and reduces the risk of burnout for psychologists. These roles may also be ideal for psychologists looking to diversify their practice or scale back from in-person clinical work.
Upgrade your qualifications towards a career as a registered psychologist with an APAC-accredited Graduate Diploma of Psychology (Bridging) course or begin study without a prior bachelor’s degree by enrolling in a Graduate Certificate of Psychology. There are many pathways to becoming a psychologist. Explore online postgraduate psychology courses for more information.
The courses below are listed by qualification level, from lowest to highest.
5. Social worker
What does a social worker do?
There is broad variation in the field of social work. At its core, social workers consider a person or community’s access to essential resources, such as schooling, safe housing or employment. They take a holistic approach, asking critical questions about the client’s environment and the systems affecting them to find solutions to improve their safety and wellbeing.
Telehealth social work jobs may include youth workers, case managers or mental health social workers. These professionals support at-risk people, families and the wider community. They can provide crisis counselling and assist vulnerable individuals in accessing financial aid or securing accommodation.
What is the minimum education requirement for social workers?
To become a social worker in Australia, you must complete an Australian Association of Social Workers-accredited bachelor's degree in social work. Another pathway to becoming a social worker is to complete a postgraduate qualification in social work, provided you have an existing undergraduate degree in a related field.
Benefits and drawbacks of working from home as a social worker
A distinct challenge for most social workers may be the limited ability to observe clients' physical environments, which can be crucial for understanding their living conditions and providing appropriate support. Additionally, working with vulnerable individuals who may be at risk of harm requires careful consideration of privacy and confidentiality when working remotely.
Working from home as a social worker offers unique benefits, such as the flexibility to handle multiple cases without needing in-person sessions or travel. Depending on the role, social workers may enjoy variation in their caseload and have better control over their working hours. Non-clinical social work roles, such as engagement officers and policy advisors, may find transitioning to working from home easier than client-facing roles, such as mental health social workers.
For a headstart in the social work industry, discover the Master of Social Work (Qualifying) postgraduate course. You’ll learn important and industry-relevant skills to support the health and wellbeing needs of people in need.
6. Speech pathologist
What does a WFH speech pathologist do?
Speech pathologists help individuals overcome communication challenges, including speaking, listening, language comprehension, reading and writing difficulties. They also work with patients with dysphagia or other issues related to chewing and swallowing. While they often focus on supporting children in developing their speech and language skills, their expertise extends to assisting people of all ages.
Like other clinical healthcare roles, a WFH speech pathologist can utilise telehealth services, where practitioners can conduct clinical assessments, develop appropriate treatment programs and monitor client progress over subsequent visits. Several WFH roles for speech pathologists offer flexible work arrangements, giving you the option to choose the hours that fit with your lifestyle and career goals.
Most roles require tertiary-level qualifications in speech pathology, registration with Speech Pathology Australia and a minimum of two years of work experience as well as the relevant Working With Children, NDIS and police checks and insurance.
What is the minimum education requirement for speech pathologists?
To become a speech pathologist, you must complete an accredited degree in speech pathology, such as a Bachelor of Speech Pathology, which typically takes four years of full-time study.
Another pathway is to pursue a Master of Speech Pathology if you have an undergraduate degree in a related field. After completing the educational requirements, you must register with Speech Pathology Australia to become a Certified Practising Speech Pathologist.
Benefits and drawbacks of working from home as a speech pathologist
Working as a remote speech pathologist commonly offers the flexibility to set your own hours while working with diverse clients locally or around Australia. WFH speech pathology roles often include ongoing supervision and professional development opportunities, contributing to a supportive and encouraging remote work environment.
However, virtual settings can limit the use of physical assessment tools for speech pathologists and may present challenges in delivering high-quality care. Many speech pathologists’ jobs involve working with children, where building rapport and providing a thorough assessment may be more effective in person. For this reason, some speech pathologists may prefer an in-person clinical setting or a hybrid working option to support the needs of their clients.
7. Remote nutritionist
What does a remote nutritionist do?
A work from home nutritionist focuses on working with clients either individually or in groups, offering diet and lifestyle advice to promote better overall health. They may evaluate the health history, dietary patterns and present concerns of the client. They’ll develop a therapeutic plan, which may include tailored meal plans, creating educational content and delivering information on health and nutrition-related topics. Remote nutritionists may work with general health concerns or work in specific health niches, including sports nutrition, women’s and children’s health, pregnancy and weight management.
Working remotely, a nutritionist can conduct telephone or video consultations, working in either private practice or as part of a team within a broader health clinic. These roles can be either part-time or full-time, with some roles giving nutritionists the option to scale their practice as it suits their needs. Nutritionists may refer to other health professionals within their multi-disciplinary team or to others outside of their business, such as doctors, physiotherapists, osteopaths and psychologists to provide optimal care to their clients. They’ll provide follow-up care with online consultations and reassess client health treatment goals for long-term health outcomes.
What is the minimum education requirement for nutritionists?
Like counselling, in Australia, the nutrition industry isn’t regulated, which means there’s no formal minimum qualifications required to practice as a nutritionist. However, nutritionists who hold a minimum bachelor’s degree qualification in nutrition with a clinical practicum component, such as a Bachelor of Health Science (Clinical Nutrition), have higher credentials in human nutrition and may seek professional nutrition association registration.
Nutritionists recognised by a nutrition association work to the professional standards, scope of practice and ethics outlined therein. Learn more about how to become a nutritionist in Australia, including the current demand, earning potential and learning pathways into this profession.
Most remote nutritionist roles typically require at least the above mentioned qualifications, with some roles requiring master’s level qualifications and between one to four years of experience as a nutritionist.
Benefits and drawbacks of working from home as a remote nutritionist
Remote nutritionist roles provide similar benefits to most other work from home healthcare jobs. Most jobs offer great flexibility in work hours with no overhead costs and a supportive team environment. Nutritionists working from home in private practice are responsible for their own bookings and administration. However, roles within a health clinic typically have full administrative and marketing support, which saves time and energy that could be redirected to client care or to personal pursuits. These roles may also suit people with caregiving responsibilities, including parents who want more control over their work hours. Remote nutritionist roles are ideal for people with excellent communication and empathy, looking to maintain a good work-life balance, while making a positive difference in the health of their clients.
A potential drawback of a remote nutritionist role is the potential uncertainty of income. While some roles have a dedicated client-base to work with, such as roles in a health clinic, others may not, such as those working in their own private practice. These roles may not suit people who need the security of full-time employment. Another potential drawback when working in a health clinic may be the requirement to adapt and adhere to the business’ specific clinical processes and systems, which may limit some nutritionists’ autonomy in their practice.
8. Virtual assistant
What does a virtual assistant do?
A virtual assistant (VA) is a professional who provides administrative, technical or creative support to clients remotely. Typical responsibilities of a virtual assistant include responding to emails, answering phone calls, scheduling appointments, managing social media, providing bookkeeping services and performing data entry.
A healthcare virtual assistant is a work from home role applicable to various health sectors, including allied health, psychology and medicine. VA’s are an asset to health professionals, as they provide administrative support and help build positive relationships with clients.
What is the minimum education requirement for a virtual assistant?
If you’re wondering how to become a virtual assistant, the required qualifications can vary depending on the industry or specific job requirements within the healthcare field. Typically, virtual assistants do not have strict formal education requirements.
However, most employers seek a minimum high school certificate, a business administration certificate and relevant experience working in administration or as a virtual assistant. Most virtual assistant job ads highlight the importance of having excellent communication and organisation skills, as well as experience using technology and other digital platforms.
Benefits and drawbacks of working from home as a virtual assistant
Working as a healthcare virtual assistant may come with its own set of challenges. The high-pressure environment of healthcare can be stressful, as it can involve managing urgent and sensitive matters. As the first contact point for patients or clients, virtual assistants need to demonstrate composure when handling complex client enquiries.
The benefits of virtual assistant jobs include the flexibility of working-from-home with some roles offering shifts during school hours. This would suit parents seeking an adaptable work from home role in the healthcare field that fits around family responsibilities. It could be ideal for self-motivated, highly organised people seeking good work-life balance.
Tips for healthcare professionals transitioning to working from home
Healthcare professionals embarking on a successful work from home career require unique skills to thrive in this dynamic environment. Here are some tips that can help you make the most of your work from home healthcare job:
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Organise your workspace
Set up a workspace that helps you focus during your telehealth sessions. Use headphones if necessary and keep your workspace clean with optimal lighting. Doing this can help ensure you remain professional while having a space optimised for delivering quality care. -
Understand Australia's data privacy laws
As a healthcare professional, it is essential to understand and comply with Australia's data privacy laws as outlined by HIPAA Australia when conducting virtual therapy sessions. This includes obtaining informed consent from clients and maintaining the security and confidentiality of their personal information. -
Get familiar with telehealth technology
For clinical roles, familiarity with telehealth platforms like Zoom for Healthcare or any other software programs for health professionals is imperative for working from home. Complete any offered training or workshops so you can provide smooth and professional consultations, making the most of modern technology.
Explore work from home healthcare opportunities today
Remote work is a feature of modern healthcare and professionals in many health sectors are embracing this evolving way of working. Make the most of your work from home job by enhancing your skill set with postgraduate study.
GlobalHealth Education’s university partners have a diverse range of courses suited to different healthcare fields and career goals. Explore courses in social work, public health, counselling, nursing, psychology, leadership and mental health. Plus, every course is delivered online, giving you more flexibility to take on study around your work and personal life.
Explore our course catalogue and choose a course to speak to a Student Enrolment Advisor today to discover the next step in advancing your skills for a rewarding work from home healthcare career.
