Healthcare & Aged Care Pre-Employment Medicals & Drug Testing in Sydney
PART 1 — hero intro: Wellworx Workplace Solutions provides on-site occupational health services for Healthcare and Aged Care employers across Sydney. Led by an AHPRA-registered physiotherapist, we deliver pre-employment medicals, functional and manual-handling assessments, drug and alcohol testing to AS 4308 (urine) and AS 4760 (oral fluid), and health surveillance screening. We come to your facility, so your nurses, carers and support staff stay on shift while we complete their assessments.
Why Healthcare & Aged Care Workplaces Need Health Screening
Healthcare and Aged Care work is physically demanding. Staff lift, transfer and reposition patients and residents throughout every shift, and health care and social assistance records the highest number of serious workers' compensation claims of any Australian industry, with body stressing from tasks like lifting and moving patients the single most common cause of injury. Pre-employment medicals and functional assessments help you match a worker's physical capacity to the genuine demands of the role before they start.
The work also carries infection and safety risks. Staff have direct patient and resident contact, exposure to blood and body fluids, and the risk of vaccine-preventable disease transmission. Under the WHS Act 2011, a PCBU owes a duty of care to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and others. On-site medicals, health surveillance screening and drug and alcohol testing give you consistent, documented evidence that you are meeting that duty.
Our Healthcare & Aged Care Screening Services
We provide a full range of occupational health screening, delivered on-site at your Healthcare & Aged Care workplace or office anywhere across Sydney.
Pre-employment medical assessments
Each worker is assessed against the physical demands of their role with pre-employment assessments — musculoskeletal screening, cardiovascular and vision checks, and a fitness-for-duty evaluation matched to the job.
On-site drug and alcohol testing — AS 4308 / AS 4760
We deliver drug and alcohol testing at your workplace, in accordance with AS 4308 (urine) and AS 4760 (oral fluid). Pre-employment, random, blanket and for-cause programs, with rapid screening results on the spot.
Functional capacity evaluations
Functional capacity evaluations measure a worker's ability to perform the specific physical tasks their role requires — lifting, carrying, sustained postures and manual handling — useful for physically demanding Healthcare & Aged Care roles.
Audiometry, spirometry and health surveillance
Where workers are exposed to noise or airborne hazards, we provide audiometric and spirometry testing as part of an ongoing health surveillance program, with scheduled monitoring and reporting. For Healthcare & Aged Care roles, this commonly applies to direct patient and resident contact, exposure to blood and body fluids, and the risk of vaccine-preventable disease transmission, which is why workers are screened for and vaccinated against hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, plus annual influenza and tuberculosis screening
Injury management and return-to-work
When a worker is injured, injury management and graded return-to-work support help them recover safely and get back to productive duties, reducing claim duration and lost time.
Ergonomic and manual-handling support
Ergonomic assessments and manual handling training reduce the strain injuries that drive workers-compensation costs in Healthcare & Aged Care workplaces.
How It Works
We keep the process straightforward so screening doesn't slow down your hiring.
Send us your role requirements
Tell us the roles you're hiring for, their physical demands, and any compliance requirements from your clients or sector. If you have a job task analysis, share it; if not, we can help you build one. This sets the screening criteria for each role.
We come to your Healthcare & Aged Care workplace
We bring all equipment to your site or office anywhere across Sydney and set up in a suitable space. For ongoing hiring, we can schedule regular sessions to screen new starters as they come on board.
Workers assessed against role-specific criteria
Each worker is assessed against the demands of their specific role, with drug and alcohol testing and any other components included as required. Each assessment takes roughly 30–45 minutes depending on the role.
Reports delivered within 24–48 hours
You receive a clear fit, unfit or conditional recommendation with supporting findings for each worker. Drug and alcohol screening results are available on the spot; same-day report turnaround is available for urgent clearances.
Compliance & Duty of Care
Under the WHS Act 2011, every business operating in NSW (a PCBU — person conducting a business or undertaking) has a duty of care to manage workplace health and safety risks, which includes making sure workers are fit for their roles and not impaired at work. Pre-employment medicals, drug and alcohol testing, and health surveillance are the frontline controls for managing that risk.
Our drug and alcohol testing is conducted in accordance with the Australian Standards AS 4308 (urine) and AS 4760 (oral fluid). Healthcare & Aged Care workplaces may also carry additional, sector-specific requirements: NSW Health Policy Directive PD2026_004, Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases
We confirm the exact requirements that apply to your roles when we scope your program, and design screening that integrates into your existing onboarding so compliance doesn't become a bottleneck.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a pre-employment medical for Healthcare and Aged Care staff usually include?
A typical assessment covers general health history, a functional and manual-handling evaluation matched to the role's physical demands, and health surveillance screening relevant to the sector. Drug and alcohol testing to AS 4308 or AS 4760 can be added. We tailor the assessment to the specific position, whether clinical, personal care or support, and provide clear fit-for-duty reporting.
Can you help us meet immunisation and infection-related screening requirements?
Yes. Healthcare and Aged Care workers are commonly screened for and vaccinated against hepatitis B, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis, with annual influenza and tuberculosis screening. In NSW, requirements are set out in NSW Health Policy Directive PD2026_004, Occupational Assessment, Screening and Vaccination Against Specified Infectious Diseases. We coordinate screening and documentation to support your compliance.
Do you conduct testing on-site so we avoid taking staff off the floor?
Yes. We attend your facility across Sydney and complete medicals, health screening and drug and alcohol testing on-site. This keeps rostered nurses, carers and support staff available for their shifts rather than travelling to an external clinic. We arrange visits around your roster and can assess multiple workers in a single attendance where required.
Key Benefits for Healthcare & Aged Care
- On-site screening anywhere across Sydney
- AS 4308 / AS 4760 compliant drug & alcohol testing
- Role-specific assessments, not blanket testing
- Audiometry and spirometry on-site
- Same-day drug screening results
- Reports within 24–48 hours
- AHPRA registered physiotherapist
Get a Quote for Healthcare & Aged Care Screening
Tell us about your workforce and screening requirements and we'll put together a tailored proposal.
Contact Usor call 0431 092 829
Content reviewed by Jovi Villanueva, AHPRA Registered Physiotherapist, SIRA Approved Provider, Principal Physiotherapist at Wellworx Workplace Solutions.
Last updated: July 2026
Ready to Set Up Healthcare & Aged Care Health Screening?
Contact us for a tailored quote based on your workforce size, roles and compliance obligations. We'll set up a screening program that keeps you compliant without slowing down your hiring.