The right aged care training for you

If you’re new to aged care but want to thrive in the sector and deliver much-needed support to our ageing population, let’s look at what you need to know to choose an aged care course that will ensure you achieve your career goals.

Pursuing a career path in the aged care sector provides an opportunity to discover a rewarding role that gives back to the community. An important step into this valuable sector is deciding on an aged care course that will take you where you want to go. When it comes to choosing the right aged care training for you, it’s essential to think about what you need to succeed. For most, factors including support, flexibility, quality and relevance of course material and commitment to a learner’s success are key.

Aged care training that works for you

Whether you have all the time in the world for studying, or you need to fit it in around existing life commitments, there is an aged care training approach to suit you.

Finding a work/life/study balance that meets your individual needs and circumstances is really vital. Everyone’s needs are different, and with flexible training you can make your aged care course integrate with your life.

Choosing a distance learning delivery mode means you can study in your own time. Better yet, you can study at the best time for you. This also means that you’re maximising your training outcomes by doing it your way. This might mean getting stuck into your coursework in the evenings at the local library, or perhaps you work best first thing in the morning in your home study area. Either way, aged care training that offers flexibility and distance training can help you create a study approach that is just right for your life.

Support when and how you need it

While studying with flexibility can sound appealing, it doesn’t mean you’re undertaking your training alone. Support is a key factor to ensure learner success in aged care.

At Selmar every aged care learner is matched with a dedicated trainer during their course. This trainer gets to know you, helps you establish your goals in aged care and guides you through your coursework, offering one-on-one help as needed. Phone calls, emails, texts, video calls and face-to-face catch ups are all on offer for learners to lean in to the support offered by their trainer.

Selmar trainers, such as Ming Choo, are committed to helping learners achieve a great outcome from their studies and make a difference in the sector. The support that trainers like Ming offer can have a notable positive impact on the training journey. Ming finds that the learners he supports in entering aged care discover a meaningful career:

“When you come from work as an aged care worker you feel good about yourself because you have been helping others and the rewards come in many forms. There is also so much to learn from the elderly as they share their experiences with you.”

Studying with Selmar, you will find that your trainer is an expert in the aged care sector. Each has their own wisdom to share from their experience working in the aged care sector. Their personal journey can help to inform your career and study choices, and give you invaluable insights into aged care work.

Setting up for career success

While hearing about what it’s like to work in aged care is one thing, getting out there and giving it a go is another. Gaining on-the-job experience in aged care work should always be part of the training journey. That’s why simulation days and practical placement are incorporated into your Selmar aged care course. We intend on everyone learner to graduate with sector knowledge combined with hands-on skills and confidence that they know what they need to do to provide the best care for the elderly.

A simulation day provides a time where learners can get hands-on with the physical elements of aged care work such as making beds and using hoists and other equipment in a simulated environment. This happens prior to commencing practical placement and gives you the preparation needed to head into placement confident in your abilities.

Practical placement hours take place in a real workplace so you can get a feel for being an aged care worker. Our team helps you get set up with an aged care organisation that is suited to you, doing our best to fit in with your circumstances. Your trainer will even pop by for added support when you’re on placement to check in and see how you’re getting along.

Selmar’s Practical Placement coordinator Michelle Gleeson sees firsthand just how important placement is for learners, explaining that it gives learners the hands-on training to complement what they are learning and take their knowledge into a real-world setting.

“I see the learners gain confidence in themselves. At the beginning they’re just watching and assisting people. Then they begin to build rapport with the residents and the staff. It really sets them up to start their career well.”

Selmar’s commitment to a learner’s practical skillset helps to make sure they can achieve their career goals in aged care.

Inspiring career outcomes via aged care training

Gaining meaningful outcomes for learners is a priority. For those entering aged care, finding a rewarding career with real job prospects is a must.

With gaining employment a key focus area for most learners, the NCVER survey found that 90.1% of Selmar learners were employed or enrolled in further study after training with us.

So, what job outcomes can you expect when you start a career in aged care? A Certificate III in Individual Support is the best place to commence your aged care career, and this will lead you to find employment working in either residential care or home care.

In residential care aged care workers support elderly residents who are living in aged care facilities. You might find yourself undertaking responsibilities such as:

• Assisting individuals with personal day-to-day care activities.
• Providing much needed companionship and emotional support during daily activities.
• Executing strategies for managing mental health and other health issues.
• Arranging transport to take the client to medical appointments and outings.
• Liaising with the client’s family and other health care professionals to maintain their care plan.

In home care, the role involves visiting elderly people in their own homes to provide care and support. Home care typically involves:

• Take care of clients’ physical health by showering, dressing and other personal hygiene needs.
• Assisting clients with home duties like shopping, cleaning and tidying.
• Accompanying clients to medical appointments
• Offering companionship and emotional support through visits and conversation
• Furthering clients’ social lives by supporting them to attend outings or attending with them.

From whichever area of aged care you begin your career, there are plenty more doors to open and career options to progress towards throughout your aged care journey.

The best aged care training with Selmar

With our population ageing rapidly, the aged care sector needs caring, compassionate individuals to support elderly Australians. Everyone deserves the right to age with dignity, and as an aged care worker you ensure that quality of life is maximised for every elderly person in your care.

For more information about an aged care career, check out our step by step Guide to an Aged Care Career.

To get started on your aged care career journey, contact Selmar.