Thinking about a career as an Aged Care Worker? You’re not on your own.
Every day, compassionate individuals like you are discovering the profound rewards of working in this essential field. But what does it really take to succeed as an Aged Care Worker in Australia?
In this article, we’ll dive deep into the heart of aged care work, exploring the essential skills, the daily challenges, and the incredible impact you can make on the lives of Australia’s older population. Whether you’re just starting out in care work or looking for a meaningful change, read on to find out why aged care could be the perfect fit for you.
Table of Contents:
- What is Aged Care?
- What is an Aged Care Worker?
- Aged Care Worker Duties and Responsibilities
- Essential Skills and Qualities of a Aged Care Worker
- How to Become an Aged Care Worker
- Aged Care Worker qualifications
- Career Opportunities and Salary Expectations
- Is Working in Aged Care Right for You?
What is Aged Care?
The term ‘aged care’ refers to the support services provided to older adults who need assistance with daily activities, health care, and social interaction due to their age. This care is designed to ensure that elderly Australians maintain a high quality of life, receive proper medical attention, and live with dignity and respect whether living at home or in a residential care facility.
Aged care is funded through a combination of government subsidies, user contributions, and private insurance. It spans a wide array of services, such as personal care, nursing, therapy, meal preparation, housekeeping, and social activities, tailored to meet the unique needs of individuals.
What is an Aged Care Worker?
Australian government figures show that a staggering 40% of older people living with their family or in permanent care need daily support.
An Aged Care Worker – also called an Aged Care Support Worker – provides essential support and care to assist elderly people with daily living activities, health monitoring, and emotional and social needs. This highly personalised care takes place in one of two key settings:
- In-home care: Many older adults prefer to live in their own homes but need an aged care worker to support them with daily tasks on a one-to-one basis
- Residential care homes: In a care home setting, aged care workers are involved in supporting all residents with a range of tasks specific to their individual needs
In most cases, an Aged Care Worker is the person who sees their clients the most – more than other professionals, family or friends do. As such, taking on this role is a big responsibility, yet it can be hugely rewarding as you become the carer and confidant to some of society’s most vulnerable individuals.
Aged Care Worker Duties and Responsibilities
As you might imagine, every older person living at home or in an aged care facility has different needs to the next. You will experience many duties when you’re working in this profession, with many tasks changing on a daily basis, depending on the person you are caring for.
Below are some of the typical tasks you can expect when you become an Aged Care Support Worker:
Personal Care
- Assistance with Daily Activities: Helping with daily activities – bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting.
- Mobility Support: Helping clients get in and out of bed, to and from a vehicle, and support using mobility aids.
Health and Medical Care
- Medication Assistance: Assisting clients to take their prescribed medications, monitoring their effects, and ensuring they are taken as directed.
- Health Monitoring: Checking blood pressure, pulse, and temperature, and reporting any health changes to medical professionals.
- Basic Medical Care: Providing wound care, assisting with medical equipment, and supporting clients with chronic health conditions.
- Dementia and Alzheimer’s Care: Providing care and support for clients with cognitive impairments, including memory care and behaviour management.
- Palliative and End-of-Life Care: Offering compassionate care and support for clients and their families during the end-of-life stages.
Emotional and Social Support
- Companionship: Offering emotional support and friendship to reduce feelings of loneliness and isolation.
- Social Activities: Encouraging and facilitating participation in social, recreational, and therapeutic activities.
Documentation and Communication
- Record Keeping: Documenting care provided, changes in health status, and any incidents or concerns.
- Multi-disciplinary team communication: Communicating with health professionals and other stakeholders to ensure a collaborative approach.
Household Tasks (for clients living in their home)
- Meal Preparation: Preparing meals and assisting with feeding.
- Housekeeping: Performing duties such as cleaning, laundry, and maintaining a safe and tidy home.
Essential Skills and Qualities of an Aged Care Worker
Supporting older people is highly demanding. It takes having a broad set of learned skills (acquired through professional training) and personal qualities to work in this profession.
Learned skills include:
- First aid
- Basic medical knowledge
- Time management
- Problem-solving
- Attention to detail
- Physical stamina
- Effective communication
Personal qualities include compassion, respect, reliability, flexibility and patience. When working with older adults, you must be a great listener. More than ever, you need to be aware of cultural sensitivities and know how to respect them. You also need to be able to work independently and as part of a team.
How to Become an Aged Care Worker
Aged Care Worker Qualifications
To become an Aged Care Worker, you are required to complete a formal qualification first.
The most suitable course of study to support older people in their homes or in a care home is the Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing).
This popular course teaches students a range of practical skills to support older people effectively, addressing their physical and mental needs. It includes 15 combined core and elective units, which most students complete in less than twelve months. There is also a work-based placement to provide students with real-life experience ahead of permanent employment.
Career Opportunities and Salary Expectations
With an ageing population like ours in Australia, you will appreciate the scope for work in the aged care sector is colossal. Over 220,000 job openings are expected in the sector during 2024, which includes a projected growth of 25%. This is great news for anyone wishing to pursue a career in aged care, particularly as an Aged Care Support Worker, where in less than a year you can train, gain a qualification and become work-ready.
Once you are qualified, the financial rewards on offer are impressive. According to Indeed, the online job site, an average salary for an Aged Care Worker in Brisbane is $74k annually – exceeding the average salary both regionally and nationally.
Is Working in Aged Care Right for You?
Our article has covered all aspects of an Aged Care Worker, including the responsibilities, skills, qualifications and potential salary.
In summary, this profession will suit you if:
- You are passionate about helping older people
- You are caring, empathetic, reliable and patient
- You are flexible about working independently and in a team
- You want to earn a competitive salary
- You are keen to learn specialist skills for care work
To start your journey in aged care, consider completing the Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) at Collaboration Learning. With expert tuition, you can set yourself up for work in this fast-growing industry and reap the personal and financial rewards for years to come.
