Career Spotlight: Aged Care
It’s well-known that Australia’s population is aging. According to the Australian Government, the percentage of Australians over 65 is projected to increase to 18.7 per cent by 2031 — that’s a big jump from the recorded 13.8 per cent in 2011. As a result, the aged care sector is one of the fastest-growing industries in Australia.
A career in aged care can be demanding and challenging, but many report that it’s an overall enjoyable and rewarding experience.
Are you patient and empathetic with good communication skills? Do you have a desire to help others to live a healthy, dignified life? Here are five of many reasons a career in aged care could be for you:
You’ll be helping to improve lives
The variety of tasks you’ll do will include providing social support to people who need your help. Your work is crucial to people in care — improving their everyday lives and overall quality of life.
You’ll get plenty of variety
Although the role of an aged care worker includes offering domestic assistance, there’s much more to it. You could be providing social support, physical or mental health care, depending on your role.
Aged care workers are in high demand
Working in community service provides a lot of job opportunities to young Australians. There is a need for qualified people to work in homecare-based service centers and with Australia’s ageing population, the job is highly demanded. An Australian aged care support worker earns an average of $55,000 per annum and applicants are not required to have a relevant degree to apply for the role.
You’ll sharpen your communication skills
Working in aged care is much more than assisting with the physical health and wellbeing of people in care. You’ll be involved in many aspects of a patient’s life while you’re on the job and you’ll learn to engage and connect with them while building strong relationships.
You’ll never stop learning
Forget the usual nine-to-five desk job, aged care work is a great option if you want to be kept on your toes. You will consistently be working on your healthcare skills and will have to grasp on essentials skills around mental health, personal care, orthopedics, diabetes and general social work.
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