Working in Aged Care
Why work in Aged Care?
If you have a heart to help people and you’re a community minded person; if you want to work in a growing industry with opportunities for career diversity, specialisation and development; if you’d like to work with like-minded individuals, then the Aged Care sector could be just the place for you.
- You value caring for others. If you would like to use your skills to help add value to the lives of others and would like to work in an industry with like-minded people, then Aged Care could be just the place you’re looking for.
- You value the elders in our community. Looking after the frail and aged takes patience and compassion, but the rewards are immeasurable. If you love hearing stories of a time gone by; if you can see beyond a frail body to the amazing life of the person within; if you feel that it’s a privilege caring for our older generations, then working in this sector will give you countless days of satisfaction.
- A career in Aged Care can be close to home. Just as you like to work close to home, the frail and aged in our communities often seek to remain in their local communities when they move into care. Finding a job in aged care could possibly see your commuting time reduce in comparison to other employment opportunities. It’s likely that wherever you live, employment in the aged care sector will exist in your local area.
- Aged Care is a great place to transfer your skills. Thinking of using your skills in a different industry? The Aged Care sector has a place for you. In a world where many industries are in decline, the Aged Care sector is a world where almost every skill is in demand. Whether you work in manufacturing, construction, nursing or marketing, the expansion of the Aged Care sector provides opportunities for workers from industries in decline to transition to alternative employment.
- Education on the job. The chance to gain entry level qualifications, while you earn a living is not common anymore. Aged Care is one of the few places left where if you bring us a caring positive attitude, we will give you the education.
- Working in the Aged Care sector is a clever move for your career. Australia’s population is ageing. As a result, the aged care sector will continue to grow in response to increased demand for services.
The Australian Human Rights Commission has highlighted that “the number of Australians aged 65 and over is projected to more than double by 2054-55, with 1 in 1,000 people projected to be aged over 100. In 1975, this was 1 in 10,000 … Australians will live longer and continue to have one of the longest life expectancies in the world … The increase in the number of older Australians will therefore result in an increased demand for aged care services.”1
The Department of Employment projections for employment growth show that the broader health care and social assistance industry (which includes Residential Care Services) is projected to make the largest contribution to employment growth (up by 258,000 or 18.7 per cent) over the five years to November 2019. Focusing on the Residential Care Services sub-industry, employment is expected be grow by 46,700 (or 21.6 per cent) over the same period.2
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1 Australian Human Rights Commission Inquiry into the Future of Australia’s Aged Care Sector Workforce – 2015, p5-8.
2 ibid
Staff Testimonials
I am always telling people that I have the best job in the world. There is so much history and life experience in every person we care for in the Village. I truly feel it is a privilege that these wonderful residents chose to share their days, time and stories with me and I am grateful to their families for allowing us to share their parent or grandparents with us. I love spend time with residents doing the activities, we laugh so much and I have learnt that Bingo must be taken very seriously! I love that I get to laugh with residents everyday, to help them and their families through difficult times and also cry with them in times of sadness and loss. I get to spend my days with wonderful people who share their life stories with us. This is why I have the best job in the world.
Hi, my name is Taylor Farrell and I’m one of the care staff at Roy Wotton Gardens. I was born in Pambula in 1995 and I have always lived in Eden. Before I became a carer I completed an apprenticeship in hairdressing. I then decided to go back to school and become a Registered Nurse. I am now about to start the second year of my Bachelor of Nursing out of the University of Wollongong Bega campus. I am really enjoying the career path I have chosen with nursing and look forward to many more opportunities and experiences in the future.
I have had a few different jobs over the years including real estate, slaughter floor in the abattoirs and bartending. I finally found my place in Aged Care 25 years ago. I have an honest compassion and respect for the elderly and I feel honoured that I can come to work each day and leave knowing I have made a difference in someone’s life. My lovely partner in life also works at Teloca so not only do I get told what to do at home, I get told what to do at work as well, and believe me she enjoys it.
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