Our top 4 reasons why you should work in aged care

Have you recently finished school, and can’t decide what you want to do next?

Or perhaps you’re decades into a career that you’re starting to feel is leading you nowhere, and is no longer giving you the fulfilment you crave.

Aged care work is always a career option that you should consider, either now or into the future!

You don’t have to worry about missing out on a job when it has a universal demand. And best of all, you may be eligible to study a free aged care course with Academia!

Academia is a tertiary education institute that offers aged care courses in Melbourne to help you become an outstanding aged care worker. Read on to discover why this could be your next great career move!

Why choose to work in aged care?

So maybe you’re considering aged care work as a career but are still unsure of what it looks like or where it can take you.

Well, we outline just four good reasons of what you can discover in aged care that you won’t find anywhere else.

1. Enjoy a career that offers a true feeling of fulfillment

There aren’t many careers that require you to give direct aid to someone in need everyday.

A lot of people often choose a career out of personal enjoyment, and as time passes, they lose that feeling. Similarly, others yearn for a career that enables them to truly make a difference in someone else’s life.

Civil engineers help cities to grow and electricians create electrical currents for cities to thrive. But aged care work allows you to experience the direct, personal effects of meaningful relationships and interactions every single day.

That could be as simple as a conversation with a resident, or helping them complete a task during their day.

You will also feel accomplished from the long term effects of building relationships with people over a long period of time.

2. Job demand

People aren’t having large families like they used to. 50 years ago, a family of five children was commonplace in Australia.

But over time, households are getting smaller: in 1911, the average number of people in a household was 4.5 105 years later, in 2016, that number has dwindled to 2.6.

This means that as time goes on, there are less young people to account for the older generations.

Combine this with Australia’s ageing population (in 1901, 4% of the population was 65+ but by 2015, that number had soared to 15%!) and it makes sense that the aged care industry is continuing to grow.

This means the demand for aged carers is getting higher and higher each year. There are estimated to be approximately 184,000 job openings in aged care in 2022.

By studying an aged care course and becoming an aged care worker, you are filling in one spot out of the hundreds of thousands that need filling.

3. Variety of work

There are a lot of settings that aged care workers can work, in such as:

In-home care
Nursing home care
Assistant in a retirement village
Care for other marginalised groups, such as the physically disabled
Teacher of age care course at an institution
Other positions at an aged care facility like a receptionist or a management position

Each role is highly valued and is vital to ensuring we can continue to provide quality care to those who need it most!

Whether you find your passion working in a particular niche, or want to spend some time exploring different settings, aged care offers a variety of work where you can develop your strengths and identify your passions.

4. No two days look the same in aged care!

With a range of people to care for, as well as a tight-knit community of work colleagues of all ages and from all walks of life, the aged care industry offers a diverse work environment, every day of the week!

A range of tasks and duties required on a daily, weekly, or otherwise rotating basis are always changing, keeping you energised and engaged.

What qualities make a good aged care worker?

There are a few standout qualities we think befit an aspiring aged care worker, including:

Patience
Respect
Compassion and care
Resilience
Good communication skills

You may face certain challenges in this line of work, but a patient, positive, and caring outlook will help you manage them effectively.

How can I become an aged care worker?

The first step to becoming an aged care worker is the right qualification.

Aged care training services in Melbourne like Academia offer the Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home and Community) and the Certificate IV in Ageing Support.

If you are an Australian, or New Zealand citizen, or a permanent visa holder, you may be eligible for our government funded courses in Melbourne.

Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home and Community)

Our Certificate III course involves written and practical work, as well as simulated workshops in class with equipment.

The Certificate III also involves placement in an aged care facility where you can put your newly acquired skills into practice!

Certificate IV in Ageing Support

The Certificate IV in Aged Care also covers the Certificate III, and additionally includes training for workers who will complete more specialised tasks in aged care.

Many students choose to enrol in the Certificate IV with the goal of reaching a managerial or leadership position within an aged care setting.