Career opportunities with a Certificate III in Individual Support
Starting fresh with a new career begins with finding the right qualifications to meet your goals. A Certificate III in Individual Support is the perfect place to start for those seeking a fulfilling career where you can make a difference every day.
Growing older, many of us will need to have a helping hand to get by. A career as an aged care worker means you provide the support elderly people need to get the most from their lives as they age. It’s an inspiring role and one that is vital in every community.
Many reasons to choose an aged care career
The inspiring people who have careers in the aged care sector each have their individual reasons for choosing this career path. Many in the sector wanted to find a career that gave them a sense of purpose and made a genuine difference in the world. For some, they had a special relationship with elderly grandparents or even their own parents which made them want to make a difference for others as they grow old.
Your reason for exploring an aged care career might be similar or something else entirely. One thing is for certain: there are plenty of great reasons to choose to work in aged care. Here are just a few to consider:
Every day is different
They say variety is the spice of life, and in an aged care job you won’t get bored. Each day brings something new and different. You will likely work with a range of people in a variety of environments across either residential care or home care settings.
You’re not stuck at a desk
Visiting different clients, either in their separate room or from house to house, you will stay active during your work day. Being up and about has a range of benefits for your health and wellbeing, making aged care a job that will do you good while you do good for others.
The sector is evolving
Now is an exciting time to join the aged care workforce. The renewed commitment to quality, compassionate care as a result of the Royal Commission into the sector means changes for the better are underway. These changes are set to support members of the workforce to be the very best they can be through regular training and more dynamic approaches to care.
There are plenty of job opportunities
Aged care is a booming industry with a growing demand for highly skilled care workers, offering qualified aged care workers access to a sector with excellent job prospects. While the industry currently employs over 255,000 people, it is forecast that 1 million aged care workers will be required by 2050 due to Australia’s ageing population. When you gain aged care qualifications, you know you will have a successful career waiting for you when you complete your training.
A Certificate III course to achieve your career goals
A Certificate III in Individual Support is the starting point to get qualified as an aged care worker. This 12-month course can be completed online, or you can secure a position undertaking it via workplace training. Either way, the course is designed to be flexible enough to fit in with your life while allowing you to gain all the knowledge and skills you need to be a great aged care worker. Practical placement hours are incorporated too, to ensure you graduate feeling confident and capable in a real-world setting.
With a Royal College qualification, you will have the know-how and support to steer your aged care career the way you want to go. When considering your options, it’s worth understanding that when it comes to aged care, there are two key settings within which aged care services are provided. These are residential care and home care. You might have a preference towards one or the other.
Residential care is usually provided in a live-in aged care setting. In residential care, the elderly clients live at the facility and staff are required around the clock to provide care, companionship and manage the aged care home. Aged care workers will provide assistance with personal care, administering medications and generally enhancing the quality of life of elderly people living at the facility.
In home care, an aged care worker will visit an elderly person’s own home, helping them to maintain independence in their living situation for as long as possible. Visits might be to provide domestic assistance, personal care, support with mobility and medical assistance. Or you might help with shopping, run errands or accompany clients to appointments.
Job opportunities with aged care qualifications
There are many potential career pathways on offer for you to discover when you have the required aged care qualifications.
While they each have shared responsibilities and centre around enhancing the lives of the elderly in various settings, there are different aspects to these care roles:
Home care assistant:
Assist older individuals with daily tasks in within their homes like showering, dressing and eating. You might help prepare or attend outings or appointments, grocery shopping, housework or small tasks they’re struggling to achieve themselves. Being a home care assistant is also about providing companionship for older individuals, so lending an ear or communicating with them is important too.
Residential care worker:
The role of the residential care worker is to older people with provide physical care, emotional support and help with their day-to-day tasks in a residential care facility. Residential care workers aim to improve the quality of life for older individuals by actioning care plans that have been devised with their specific needs in mind. This could include assisting older people with daily activities like dressing, washing, eating and their taking medication. It could also include helping the client to maintain a safe living environment and encouraging them to get involved in activities and social events.
Personal care worker:
As a Personal Care Worker in an aged care facility, your role focuses on taking care of the general needs of ageing individuals residing in the facility. A PCW is responsible for assisting clients with their essential day-to-day needs. This includes grooming, eating, personal hygiene needs, showering and bathing. As a PCW your work will contribute to your clients’ overall wellbeing. You will spend time engaging them in activities, offering emotional support and monitoring their health.
Community care worker:
Community Care Workers can find positions in community centres, assisting older and/or disabled individuals with their physical, social and emotional health. The individuals in your care as a Community Care Worker generally need support with daily tasks like preparing or eating food, maintaining personal hygiene and mobility. Your role is to deliver care that enhances quality of life for your clients. Promoting your clients’ wellbeing is your priority and ensuring they have access to care, engaging activities and social opportunities.
Accommodation support worker:
In this role you will support the elderly or those living with disability to help them live comfortably. You might work in an assisted living facility, aged care facility or respite or short-term care facility and provide care across many areas. This could include personal care, companionship, ensuring a nutritious diet, organising and running activities and more.
If you’re interested in getting qualified for a career that is so much more than a job, a rewarding role in aged care could be the right fit for you.
We can answer any queries you may have – get in touch with Royal College to learn more.
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