If you’re looking for your very first career or perhaps even a career change, you might want to consider going in the direction of aged care and becoming an aged care worker. Under the general umbrella of community services work, this sector of the Australian workforce is currently thriving, so many opportunities are up for grabs.
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in aged care, here are some things you should know, so you can determine if it’s the right career path for you.
#1 – You’ll Be Making a Difference In the Lives of Others
When you choose a career in aged care, it’s far more than just a job. Each and every day, you’ll be making a positive difference in the lives of others. This leads to immense job satisfaction, making this career path one of the most personally rewarding job roles available.
#2 – There Are Many Opportunities Available
In the introduction, it was mentioned that aged care is part of a burgeoning industry in this country, and that means there are many opportunities for people seeking work in this field. Once you’ve established yourself in aged care, it can also open the doors to other career advancement opportunities with further training and qualifications.
It’s always good to have options and that’s what you’ll find are on offer in aged care and related industries.
#3 – There Is a Lot of Flexibility
Rather than seeking a job or career in a field that has rigid working hours that can hamper your lifestyle, you’ll find you not only have a lot of variety in the aged care industry, but it comes with some flexibility as well.
There are many options for working part time or full time, or at varying hours throughout the day, evening or on weekends. It’s not always a classic 9 to 5 job role, which means you often have the opportunity to choose hours that fit in with your lifestyle.
#4 – A Career In Aged Care Provides a Comfortable Income
While aged care offers you a rewarding career on a personal and professional level, it also provides workers with a comfortable living as well. Even when you’re first starting out in your fledgling aged care career, the salary is respectable and as you gain experience and your career advances, you can expect to be earning over $60k annually.
Of course, if you undertake further study and achieve more qualifications where you move into management positions, you can expect your salary to increase significantly.
#5 – You Will Develop Both Professional and Personal Relationships
To be truly successful in this industry, you’ll naturally be a people person, someone with empathy and an interest in others. This will lead to you developing relationships with your coworkers and peers, as well as the clients you are assisting on a daily basis.
This is yet another way that a career in this field can be extremely rewarding. You’ll forge many positive ongoing relationships and this will make going to work each day a pleasure.
#6 – Formal Qualifications Are Not Required To Get Started
As an entry-level position, you don’t necessarily need any formal qualifications to get started on your career path in aged care. Having said that, you will naturally improve your employment prospects if you do undertake a certificate course focused on aged care training.
As your experience accumulates and your career advances, further education can lead to securing your employment as well as giving you more job options to choose from in the future.
#7 – Aged Care Recruitment In Australia
When looking for a career in aged care, it’s best to team up with a specialised recruitment company that focuses on aged care recruitment. While you can search for vacant positions on online job boards or even in the newspapers, a recruitment agency that specialises in jobs and careers in the medical profession will shortcut the process and help to ensure you find a suitable position sooner.
In Conclusion
Careers in aged care have a lot to offer, so if you’re looking for something new or even your first career, aged care just might be the right career path for you.