If you’re looking for dependable and fulfilling work, aged care is a rewarding career with guaranteed prospects. According to the ABS, Australia's aging population will only grow, with the number of Australians aged 85 and over expected to double by 2042. This article will cover everything you need to know about working in the Aged Care industry, including responsibilities, skills and qualifications, courses, and job opportunities.

Portrait of smiling young woman helping senior man using walker in nursing home, copy space

What Do Aged Care Workers Do?

Aged care workers typically work in residential aged care or in-home care, supporting seniors with planned daily activities to improve their overall well-being. Aged care workers are in charge of organising the aforementioned activities and provide regular assistance in personal tasks such as hygiene and housekeeping.

Aged Care Duties and Responsibilities

As an aged care worker, you may be responsible for a variety of services, including:

  • Assisting clients with showering
  • Assisting clients with cooking
  • Making meal plans in line with clients' dietary requirements
  • Assisting in budget preparation
  • Transporting clients to social events and essential services
  • Providing essential services such as food preparation, grocery shopping and laundry
  • Providing mobility assistance to clients who have mobility issues
  • Providing basic clinical care and assisting in social and emotional development through educational and recreational activities
  • Providing companionship

With all the duties and responsibilities involved in aged care, there is never a dull moment. As an aged care worker, you will be responsible for various tasks that require many different technical and practical abilities.

Aged Care Worker Skills

Working as an aged care worker will require both technical and practical skills. Technical skills are generally earned through formal studies, but practical skills are something you may inherently have or develop through experience. Some commonly desirable skills for aged care work include:

  • Patience
    • Being adaptable, patient and considerate to the needs and varying capabilities of clients.
  • Responsible
    • Being able to accept responsibility for the well-being of others.
  • Communication
    • Working closely with clients and team members and showing empathy when communicating.
  • Time management
    • Confidently logging, planning and generating things such as rotas, shift patterns and patient care reports.
  • Health care
    • Knowledge of basic health care procedures and hygiene routines such as medication control, safe storage, and administration.

If you have any of these skills, you're already well on your way to an aged-care career. If you're still interested in becoming an aged care worker, we've laid out a basic road map below.

How to Become an Aged Care Worker

Aged care, as a specialised field, often favours some form of formal education and appropriate background checks before application. Most aged care positions request a CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support, which will provide you with the necessary technical skills to work in aged care. Volunteer work and related qualifications, such as nursing studies, can also help advance your aged care career and improve your chances of employment.

Do You Need Qualifications to Work in Aged Care?

A career in aged care does not require formal qualifications; however, an entry-level certification is typically listed in job requirements as it increases your chances of performing the role and shows a dedication to providing quality care to the elderly. Additionally, whilst you do not require formal education, you must meet certain requirements if applying for a position at a government-approved age care provider. This means meeting the following criteria:

  • You cannot be bankrupt or “insolvent under administration”. You will not be eligible until your bankruptcy is discharged after three years.
  • You cannot have a criminal record with an indictable offence (a serious criminal offence).
  • You must pass a National Police Check.
  • You cannot be of unsound mind.

You can work in aged care with the appropriate skills and criteria; however, getting an education and formal qualifications can significantly improve your employability.

Aged Care Courses

At TAFE Gippsland, we offer various pathways into aged care with differing study loads and delivery methods depending on your individual needs. Our courses include:

  • HLT23215 Certificate II in Health Support Services
    • Gain the basic skills to progress into further Health work with this introductory qualification. This Certificate will help you learn how to complete numerous tasks such as infection prevention, individual transportation, bed preparation and food safety. To enter this course, you must have a minimum ACSF level 2 in all levels and adequate physical mobility for manual handling tasks such as patient transferral.
  • CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home and Community)
    • Considered the entry-level pathway into aged care, the CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support will prepare you for work at aged care facilities, community care environments and hospice facilities. This Certificate will teach you how to administer high levels of care with a range of skills such as safe work practices, individualised support, recognising healthy body systems and dementia support. To enter this course, you must meet the requirements listed here.
  • CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home and Community) (Traineeship)
    • This course is virtually identical to the CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home and Community); however, it includes the addition of traineeship-based learning.
  • HLT31120 Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport
    • A perfect compliment to other aged care courses, the HLT31120 Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport will teach you the safest transportation methods available for patients and prepare you for employment with organisations such as Royal Flying Doctors Ambulance Victoria and more. To enter this course, you must have a Victorian Drivers Licence (Full Licence), Police Check, Working with Children’s Check and a flu vaccination during the high peak flu season. You are also required to fulfil inherent requirements in:
      • Strength and mobility
      • Verbal/non-verbal communication
      • Written communication
      • Vision
      • Behaviour
      • Mental wellness
    • You can read more about these requirements here.
  • HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing
    • Finally, the HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing can give you all the qualifications you need to enter into aged care and more, with valuable skills in performing clinical assessments, medication administration and caring for people with complex needs. To enter this course, you must be 18 years or over with proof of the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia English Language Skills Registration Standards requirements. You must also meet the NMBA Criminal History Registration Standard and have a minimum ACSF level of 4 in all levels. Additionally, you must successfully complete a group interview and provide a valid Police Check (in each year of placement) and a Working with Children's Check without disclosures. Finally, you must be able to attend the full-time course 3 to 4 days a week, have a completed vaccination protocol and meet the inherent requirements of the nursing industry.

Doctor sitting on couch in nursing home talking with senior woman with crutches while she's taking her pills.

Jobs in Aged Care

With a TAFE Gippsland qualification, you’ll be able to enter the aged care industry with confidence and a stellar resume, and the opportunities are great! Aged care workers have an excellent job outlook with a projected industry growth rate of 24.7% for the next five years. Additionally, aged care workers are in high demand due to the global pandemic, with many entry-level opportunities available. These opportunities may include residential and in-home care allowing you a greater breadth of choice. Some different jobs you might consider in aged care include:

  • Aged Care Support Worker
    • An aged care support worker is a trained professional who provides personal care and other services to older people in their homes. They assist people with daily tasks such as meal preparation, housework and laundry, dressing, safe physical activity, and medication management.
  • Residential Aged Care Support Worker
    • Like aged care support workers, residential aged care support workers are responsible for assisting elderly clients with activities such as dressing, bathing and eating. These clients cannot live independently without care and may also require assistance with medication management. Residential aged care support workers are different from aged care support workers in that they work exclusively in residential aged care facilities.
  • Nursing Assistant
    • Nursing assistants in aged care perform a wide range of tasks, including assisting residents with personal care needs and monitoring their individual conditions. They also assist doctors and nurses with administrative tasks such as filing medical records and answering phones.

No matter the pathway, as an aged care worker, you will play an essential role in the lives of older Australians and their families and have the opportunity to make a difference in the community.

Aged Care Worker Salary

Not only is aged care a highly employable industry, but it also offers a good salary, with the average annual salary for aged care workers ranging from $50k to $60k, according to seek.com.

Working in aged care is a rewarding and fulfilling career path with fantastic employability and reliable wages. If you are interested in working in aged care, contact us today at TAFE Gippsland to discuss what course might suit you best!