1. An abundance of Opportunity
The growing aging population of Australia already preempts the prospective growth of the aged care industry in the country. By 2050, the demand for aged care is expected to double and over the next 5 years, an addition of more than 150,000 job positions will open within the sector.
This entails that taking a track of aged care offers a huge opportunity. It could be a track for a fulfilling and successful career and promises continuous growth and stability in the future.
2. Role of an aged care worker
The aged care sector employs a huge set of positions such as administrative roles, frontline support, and human resources. The sector can open up corporate and managerial roles as well.
Pursuing a career in the track can be on a personal level and community level. Carers can perform duties in a residential aged care facility, community-based aged care provider, or in respite services. Regardless of the designation, carers are required to report to a registered nurse who is in charge of the supervision of the overall care services.
Carers can progress in the career ladder with the necessary development training. They can also manage supervisory roles in their facility of designation.
Here are the types of job in the aged care sector:
· Aged care worker
· Assistant in Nursing
· Community Support Worker
· Residential Support Worker
· Registered Nurse
3. Working in the aged care sector
Working in the aged care sector can be a fulfilling career in the long run. However, one should keep in mind the possible challenges that the career may bring about. From the physical demands of an aged person to the management of difficult behaviors, a worker in the sector is exposed to such tendencies. Also, they can experience feelings of grief and loss from time to time, which necessitates the establishment of a good support system within the unit.
Currently, the Australian aged care sector is composed of 17,800 individuals. 80% of whom are women. 67% of the employment size is employed in a part-time setup. Most of them are qualified to become care workers with either Certificate III or IV qualification.
4. Skills and attributes
Workers in the aged care sector should have a certain set of attributes and skills to ensure a successful career in the field. It is a must for carers to have a caring and supportive attitude, competent communication skills, physically fit, and with a huge amount of patience and discretion. Moreover, employers are looking for workers with a high level of professionalism and natural empathy towards the elderly.
5. Aged care qualifications
Although qualification isn’t always required to work in aged care, it is still a good option to push through because it prepares the worker for any possible career tracks within the field. Another desirable matter about having a qualification is that employers usually look for workers with it because they require less training and supervision.
Here are the qualification types of an aged care worker:
· Certificate III in Aged Care
· Certificate IV in Aged Care
· Nursing Courses
6. Paths to becoming a carer
There are two main paths that one can take to become an aged care worker. Aside from the requirements such as first aid certificate, driver’s license, manual handling training, and national police check, employers will assess your qualification depending upon these two paths:
· Aged Care Studies: pursuing an education relevant to the field
· Traineeship: working while studying under a Registered Training Organisation (RTO)
7. Making a difference
Helping people along the way is a suitable job description for an aged care worker. And if you intend to take this as a vocation, then working in the sector is the best thing for you. As you fulfill the needs of elderly persons for their daily activities, you give them a huge amount of joy.
This career is more than just being a carer but rather it is a life-long commitment of supporting people around you, creating a noticeable difference to their lives.
