A rewarding career: Working in the Aged Care Industry

One of the biggest and most essential growth areas for careers in Australia is the Aged Care industry.

With an increasing percentage of our population living well into old age, there is a growing demand for admission into aged care facilities and for compassionate, reliable and efficient aged care workers.

Whether you’re looking for a new career, returning to work or wanting to enhance your existing skills and experience, study a Certificate III in Aged Care and you’ll have many choices of career direction.

Working in aged care will also provide you with secure, long term employment in an area that will give you a great sense of fulfilment and enjoyment.

Employment opportunities are wide and varied, and range from working directly with the aged, providing support and resources, to working within the community.

Aged Care Assistant

As an Aged Care Assistant you will provide support and assistance to the aged care workers, usually in an aged care facility. You may also become more involved with a higher level of medical care and support as a Nursing Assistant in Aged Care.

You will gain hands-on experience in assisting the elderly with day to day tasks and ensuring their safety and wellbeing. People in aged care facilities often require more care and attention than those who are able to remain at home. Care also extends to ensuring social inclusion, participation in activities offered by the facility, and keeping the elderly mobile.

Other roles in the industry include administrative and reception work, project and activity planning and working in the hospitality side of the facility.

Community Support Worker

Connecting people with facilities, support services and appropriate organisations to ensure adequate care and support for the aged is an essential role within the industry.

Community Support Workers are responsible for working with those who need aged care and with their families to provide practical support, referral and relevant information. This may include referral for appropriate medical care, assisting in the organisation of access to activities and practical support, or putting families in touch with aged care facilities.

Support for families is just as necessary as support for the aged, and you will be involved in supporting families as they make difficult decisions about those they love. You will also be involved in ensuring the aged person in question experiences a smooth and supportive transition to the type of care they require.

You may also be part of a team that visits the aged in their homes, or in group settings, to provide support and care.

Personal Care Worker

Daily tasks can become difficult for the aged to perform on their own. Whether due to physical ailment, deterioration, or loss of memory, sometimes assistance is necessary.

Whether employed by a community or private organisation, Personal Care Workers and Personal Care Assistants work directly with the elderly, providing them with practical support and care, from cooking to assisting with bathing, remaining mobile and active.

This type of care is generally performed in the client’s home and is focused on helping them safely stay in their own home as long as possible. It may also involve teaching family members how best to care for their aging loved one.

Working hands on with clients is a considerable part of the role, however other roles in personal care may include working in administration, administrative support for those working in the field, rostering and communication with and between support services.

Aged Care Accommodation support worker

Support work comes in many varieties, from helping the professional who are providing the nursing and medical care, to maintaining rooms in an aged care facilities. Hospitality, cooking and ensuring a good, nutritious diet for the aged are also essential roles, as is organising and running activities.

Ensuring the aged remain mentally and physically active is very important, just like the practical care, hygiene and safety of the client is. The running of activities and social groups is essential for the overall wellbeing of the elderly.

These activities may be organised and performed within an aged care facility, or at a local community centre. Your role includes helping people to safely travel from the facility to the venue, monitoring and managing accessibility.

By gaining the Certificate III in Aged Care, many different career options will be open to you and each will allow you to make a difference in the world, particularly the world of the aged and their families. Working in aged care gives you the chance to get hands-on in a role in which you will provide immediate care to people who need it.

Regardless of the job you seek within the industry, each and every role is essential and very fulfilling. By choosing to study a Certificate III in Aged Care, you can become part of a service and a team that supports some of the most vulnerable people within your community.