As Australia’s population ages, an increasing number of Australians require assistance with daily activities. These people require compassionate and caring individuals to help support their livelihoods and provide the best care possible to meet their needs. If you have a genuine passion for helping others, ageing support could be the right career path for you.
Working in aged care is a career in an industry that will never underperform. Furthermore, the number of aged care job vacancies in Australia has more than doubled year after year, and there are more jobs than workers. Because of the abundance of available opportunities, finding a job can be extremely simple.
When it comes to the day-to-day realities of working in aged care, many of us may be put off because it can be a difficult job. However, as anyone who has worked in the industry will tell you, there are more rewarding aspects of the job that you would never have imagined.
In this article, we will look at the reasons why the aged care sector is worth considering as a career, what an aged care job involves, and how to get started in the industry.
Why study Aged Care in Australia?
If you are thinking about working in the Aged Care sector after completing your degree, you should know that there are increasing job opportunities. If you’re an international student wondering what to do next, consider taking an aged care course in Australia. As an Aged Care graduate, you’ll have a plethora of career options.
High Demand in Aged Care
As Australia’s population ages, there will be plenty of opportunities for qualified aged care students. If you stay in Australia after finishing your aged care degree, you will have many job opportunities. And that number is expected to rise even higher in the near future, implying plenty of career opportunities.
According to Job Outlook Australia, the employability of this sector will increase to nearly 300,000 workers by 2025. Depending on your qualifications, some possible careers include:
- Community Care Worker
- Care/Home Care Assistant
- Aged Care Manager
- Care Supervisor
- Care Team Leader
A high-quality education in Australia
For numerous reasons, students from all over the world travel to Australia to study. One of the most important factors in Australia is the high quality of education.
Whether you want to study aged care, commercial cooking, or something else, Australian education providers provide international students with excellence and job readiness that will open doors for them all over the world. For example, the Victorian Institute of Education is a nationally accredited Institute of Higher Education and Registered Training Organization that serves both domestic and international students
Being job-ready
Another compelling reason to pursue Aged Care courses in Australia is that they are highly practical and provide you with hands-on experience. Australian aged care courses combine theory with practical workshops to prepare you for success in the field. Furthermore, all aged care courses in Australia must include a mandatory work placement at a certified aged care facility before you can be hired.
Giving values to society
Working in aged care involves assisting your clients with their preferred activities. This career can significantly improve someone’s life while also developing meaningful relationships between people. Making a positive difference in someone’s life is a wonderful experience, as well as an incredible accomplishment that you will remember for the rest of your life.
Aged Care Courses in Sydney
Aged Care courses reflect the role of support workers who perform specialized tasks and functions in aged services, whether in a residential, home, or community setting. Individualized service planning and delivery will be developed, facilitated, and reviewed by students, who will take responsibility for their own outputs within defined organizational guidelines.
CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support
The Certificate III in Individual Support qualification reflects the role of community and/or residential workers who follow an individualized plan to provide person-centred support to people who may require assistance due to aging, disability, or another reason.
Work entails exercising discretion and judgment in providing individual support, as well as accepting responsibility for one’s own outputs. Workers have a broad range of factual, technical, and procedural knowledge, as well as some theoretical understanding of the concepts and practices necessary to provide person-centred support.
The candidate must complete a minimum of 120 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of the competency units in order to achieve this Certificate III in Individual Support qualification.
Employment pathways
- Community care worker
- Care Assistant
- Residential care worker
- Assistant in nursing
- Home care assistant
CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support
This qualification reflects the role of support workers who perform specialized tasks and functions in aged care settings such as residential, home, and community settings. Workers will accept responsibility for their own outputs within defined organizational guidelines and maintain quality service delivery by developing, facilitating, and reviewing individualized service planning and delivery.
Workers may be expected to demonstrate leadership and have limited responsibility for the organization as well as the quantity and quality of others’ outputs within certain parameters.
The candidate must complete a minimum of 120 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of the competency units in order to achieve this Certificate IV in Individual Support qualification.
Employment pathways
The following are the employment outcomes resulting from the completion of this course:
- Residential care worker
- Community care worker
- Care team leader
- Care Supervisor
Reasons For Choosing Age Care as Your Career Option
While it is clear that the aged care industry is expanding, there is more to a career in this field than just growth. A career in aged care has a lot to offer, with jobs in this industry incorporating a variety of beneficial and rewarding aspects.
Diversity in the workplace
Aged care is not only available in one place. For example, you could provide care in an aged care facility with live-in residents or visit a client’s home to help them remain as independent as possible.
Personal hygiene, dressing, eating, and well-being checks are all important in some aged care roles. Other aged care roles may include assisting clients with shopping and housework, as well as providing social support.
Caring for people with dementia or disabilities, as well as providing palliative care, can be part of your job. A career in aged care offers a lot of variety. While some jobs require you to sit at a computer, others do not.
While some jobs require you to sit at a desk all day, you can expect variety in an aged care role, as you may be involved in art, music, and craft or social outings with your clients. Every day is different, and you will most likely interact with a wide range of people during your shift.
Flexible hours
You don’t have to work a standard 9 to 5 job in aged care. As previously mentioned, there are a variety of shifts, job structures, and hours that can accommodate a wide range of lifestyles due to the variety of roles and a growing number of approaches to aged care. Depending on your life commitments and family situation, you can look for night shifts, part-time work, or casual hours.
Reliable job opportunities
Aged care is a booming business with a growing demand for highly skilled care workers, providing qualified aged care workers with access to a sector with excellent job opportunities. While the industry currently employs over 255,000 people, it is predicted that due to Australia’s aging population, 1 million aged care workers will be required by 2050.
When you obtain aged care qualifications, you know you will have a successful career waiting for you once your training is completed.
Meaningful work
The work you do every day on a daily basis improves the quality of life for another human being. You will make them feel more at ease by feeding them and ensuring their health and personal hygiene. Your care will improve people’s well-being and help them stay connected to the world. You will almost certainly hear and be inspired by some incredible stories from those you care about over the years. This career path changes your perspective on life.
An evolving industry
Change in the aged care industry has been long overdue, and now is an exciting time to join the workforce. The commitment to providing high-quality care is critical for aged care, and as the guidelines of the Royal Commission into Aged Care are implemented, we will likely see a variety of modifications that will support members of its workforce to be the best they can be through training sessions and more dynamic approaches to care.
Career Outcomes in Aged Care
There are numerous career paths available in the aged care sector, each offering a unique approach to care or setting for the care provided. Your career in aged care could lead to a variety of different roles in the sector, depending on the qualifications you choose and the path you take.
Personal care worker
A personal care worker, also known as a personal care assistant, provides care to people who are elderly or disabled. Depending on who employs them, care is provided in care facilities or at home. In this role, you may assist people with bathing, dressing, or eating. You could accompany those in your care to appointments, assist them with housekeeping, or even provide social opportunities such as outings.
Community care worker
As a community care worker, you will assist people with disabilities in your community. This could include bathing, dressing, and feeding them, as well as assisting them with these tasks. Your contribution will be critical in increasing the individual’s ability to be active and live a full life.
Home care assistant
The home care assistant role, like that of a personal care worker, assists clients who are elderly or have a disability, but they provide care in the client’s homes. They are responsible for assisting their clients in maintaining their independence. This includes transporting them for social outings, running errands for or with them, administering medications, cleaning, and even providing companionship all examples of what this entails.
Advancing your aged care career
There are numerous ways to advance your career in aged care. Upskilling can provide you with opportunities to advance your career or shift into different areas of care. This could include broadening your knowledge of designing programs to improve the health of the elderly or focusing on leadership and management within the sector.
For example, if you start your aged care career with a Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33015), you might work as an aged care worker providing residential care services for a year or so before deciding to upskill on the job with a Certificate IV in Ageing Support, with the goal of eventually becoming an Aged Care Team Leader in your workplace.
If you already work in the aged care industry, you can further your education while continuing to work, thanks to the workplace delivery mode. This means you can continue to earn while learning, making career advancement possible.
A career you can be proud of
It is not for everyone to be able to say they are passionate and proud of their work. Unless you work in a nursing home. This is a field that requires people who are dedicated to the health and well-being of people who are vulnerable and require extra assistance to get through life. With the aged care sector set to evolve and grow, now is the time to make the switch to a career that truly matters and on which you can rely.
FAQ’s
What does an aged care job involve?
A job in aged care generally involves assisting elderly people with their daily activities and personal tasks. Aged care workers frequently assist their patients with daily needs such as eating, hygiene, dressing, household chores, and attending appointments.
In addition, aged care workers are responsible for improving and enhancing the overall well-being of those in their care – physically, emotionally, and mentally. Whether it’s organizing outings, playing games, getting out in the garden, or encouraging gentle exercise, keeping older people engaged, connected, and happy is an important part of the job.
What to learn from aged care courses?
In aged care training, you will learn about the role of the care process and the expectations of aged care workers who care for the elderly. Furthermore, these courses prepare for more complex care situations, such as dementia or severe injury, which are becoming more common.
Furthermore, these courses introduce students to potential issues that may arise when caring for an elderly person. Nutrition, behavioural issues, personal care, communication, and ensuring that they are comfortable and not in pain are examples of these situations.
What are the Course Structure and Fees of an Aged Care?
The combined certificate is a rigorous program that will help you build on your previous foundation in healthcare while sharpening your newly acquired skills. This is one of the few programs that will provide you with a thorough understanding of the Individual Support space while also allowing you to specialize.
The aged care and disability course in Sydney has been designed to provide as much practical training as possible while also ensuring that the attendees are prepared to perform well at work. As a result, the course allows you to choose between full-time and part-time study. Full-time students may complete the aged care course in 6 weeks, but practical and work placement may take an additional 8 weeks. The part-time option, which will take 24 weeks to complete, is ideal for working professionals who want to expand their skill set.
How to Become an Aged Care Worker
Education – Completing a nationally recognized course, such as CHC33015 – Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home, and Community) from Upskilled, is a must.
Consider doing a traineeship at an aged care facility, where you will be directly supervised and mentored by senior aged care workers.
Volunteering – To gain more experience in the industry, many senior and aged care organizations provide volunteer opportunities.
Developing your skills and knowledge – It may also be beneficial to your career development to look into additional certifications such as advanced first aid or other learning pathways such as CHC52015 – Diploma of Community Services.
What jobs can I do in aged care?
There are numerous rewarding career options in this industry, the most popular of which are:
- Care Assistant
- Aged care support worker
- Community care worker
- Personal care worker
- Direct care worker
- Residential support worker
Because the aged care industry is so large, there is always room for advancement, and you can specialize in areas such as social support, dementia, clinical care, or palliative care. Working conditions are frequently flexible, and you will have numerous opportunities to learn, advance your career, and advocate for the rights of the elderly.
How to succeed in the aged care industry?
Like those in any other job or career that requires a genuine connection with others, successful aged care workers tend to be people with patient, warm, and empathetic personalities. Finding fulfilment in the aged care sector requires, in addition to credentials, experience, and a professional skill set, a willingness to provide care and compassion that extends beyond the position description.
