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5 Things You Should Know About Working in Aged Care
Are you interested in becoming an aged carer but not sure if this industry is for you?
In this blog are listed all the things you should consider while choosing to pursue aged care.
Make sure to read till the end, as each point listed within this blog will make doubts disappear and help make the right decision.
Aged Care is a Growing Industry
The demand for skilled individual support workers has been increasing rapidly. According to the Australian Industry and Skill Committee, the Health Care and Social Assistance industry, the employment numbers for Aged and Disabled Carers are expected to grow from over 214,100 in 2020 to 222,300 by 2024.
After you’ve completed your qualification, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get a job in the aged care industry and start building a successful and rewarding career.
Working as an Aged Care Worker is Extremely Fulfilling
A career in aged care is enriching. As you are working in service of senior people who most need support and wouldn’t otherwise be able to live wholly. The feeling that comes from serving them is very fulfilling.
These seniors often struggle to move around, run errands, or live independently.
While the support we provide to them seems minor to us, it makes a world of difference for the elderly. It’s not hard to imagine how devastating a loss of independence can be.
While the support we provide to them seems minor to us, it makes a world of difference for the elderly.
You thus became a cause of happiness for not only the aged people but also their families because of the positive impact you make in their lives.
While spending time with the elderly you will have a new appreciation of life and family and develop meaningful relationships along the way.
As you might know, a satisfying career is not only challenging but also rewarding. Many miracles happen while working in aged care, such as a stroke patient relearning to speak or a dementia patient remembering a loved one who has come to visit. Your life will be filled with many such heartwarming experiences.
Plenty of Career Opportunities
A qualification in Individual Support  (Ageing & Home and Community Care) gives you a range of career options to choose from. You can select any of the following paths according to what suits your preferences –
- Support Worker
- Assistant in Nursing
- Care worker
- Nursing Assistant
- Personal Caregiver
- Aged Care Worker
You can start where you feel comfortable and advance within the industry, picking from the plentiful options you desire.
Flexible Working Hours
Working hours within the aged care sector are rarely 9 to 5. Most senior care industry employees work part-time, allowing more considerable flexibility in working conditions and enabling working hours to fit around family commitments.
Given that you are not required to commit to a rigid work schedule, you’ll enjoy an excellent work-life balance. Carers find this industry particularly attractive because of the additional advantages of penalty rates for night shifts and weekend jobs.
After all, it makes the job twice as rewarding as you get time to enjoy your life while making other lives better.
The Ageing Population Need you
There are surprisingly few people employed in aged care compared to other healthcare areas. The demand for senior care and associated services far outnumbers the availability of available carers, which bodes well for your employment prospects.
In a research publication, The Parliament of Australia estimated that the aged care workforce would need to increase between two and three times before 2050 to provide care to the growing number of aged care residents.
With such high demand for the workforce in the aged care sector, you can expect a good amount of job security in the future. Another benefit is the enormous amount of government funding available to study within these roles.
Then why not get started a little earlier? Study aged care today to get a foot in the door of this burgeoning industry!
