The Reasons Why a Career in Aged Care Might Be the Right Choice for You

by Alice Garten Writer

In this article, we explain how you can start a career in aged care, and what types of roles are available in aged care and healthcare settings.

What is aged care?

In 2015, over 72,000 people were aged and facility-based in Australia. The number of people aged over 85 increased from 3,250 in 2009 to 4,120 in 2014. These people make up 3.7 percent of Australia's population and are rapidly becoming an increasingly valuable market. By 2031, this number is expected to grow to 10.1 percent.

The amount of health care now provided in aged care facilities in Australia is huge. Aged care homes are often huge, with facilities like St John of God Adelaide, Woodville Lodge, Coolamon Lodge, Yatala Lodge, Trevethan Lodge, and Wilmot Lodge to name a few.

Why do you need a career in aged care?

With the rapidly aging population, the need for services in aged care facilities is increasing rapidly.

The rewards of a career in aged care

In Australia, there are more than 2,600 care facilities that provide assisted living to people in the latter stages of their lives.

Care in these facilities is focused on helping people live the best lives they can, while also creating meaningful experiences for people and families.

In the Australian economy, the demand for aged care is forecast to grow more than three times faster than the population aged over 65, and almost double as fast as the national housing market.

With an ageing population, the need for aged care has reached unprecedented levels, as more people need it to provide companionship, physical support, activities and meal provision.

Aged care facilities must always focus on the individual and ensure that their services are right for that person.

Choosing aged care as a career

There is much more to aged care than housekeeping or kitchen duties. As a career, it allows you to pursue a variety of roles which may have interests you have not discovered.

Healthcare careers

Registered nursing
Registered practical nursing
Registered nursing assistants
Personal care aides
Attendant carer
Vaccination management staff
Personal care assistants
Carer
Hospital porter
Hospital resident
Basic support worker

It’s important to remember that aged care is a medical profession. All the jobs listed above require you to have a license to practice your work. There is a legal process to achieve this. You are also entitled to sick leave, annual leave and other entitlements.

These are your basic qualifications.

Types of careers in aged care and healthcare settings

The United States Bureau of Labour Statistics (BLS) has provided some of the information about aged care and healthcare in the United States. The BLS identifies the occupations that currently require the greatest numbers of workers and the occupations that are projected to require the most workers by 2022.

This is according to the BLS. To see the occupations that are projected to have the greatest number of workers, go to the BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook.

Ageing population

The aged-care sector will grow from 20 million workers in 2015 to 43.2 million by 2025 (Fried, 2011; The Queensland Department of Communities and Ethnic Affairs, 2015). At the same time, the proportion of the population aged 65 or older is projected to grow from 14% to 19% of the total (from 41.2 million to 49.

How to start your career as an aged care worker

When deciding what type of career to take up, there are some key steps to consider.

The first is to decide where you want to live and work. If you want to be close to your loved ones, live in the suburbs of a larger city. Read up on websites, related blog post topics and magazines about lifestyle options. If you prefer having your own space, then consider a townhouse or flat in a small town or a suburb of a larger city.

If you need to be close to a hospital or a healthcare centre, your choices are more limited. You might have to move to an inner city.

Each state or territory has a different minimum age to apply for a job in aged care. Under the state or territory legislation, aged care must be the main occupation for anyone aged over 18, however some aged care employers offer part-time roles to people over 45 years old.