Aged Care Courses

What will I learn?

The Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council says there is currently a huge demand for aged care workers. And this will skyrocket by 272% over the next 35 years. Studying aged care also gives you the opportunity to do something with your life that really makes a difference to other people’s lives. And few careers can offer a greater reward than that. Aged care courses give you the practical work placement skills you need – whether you’re just finishing school, looking for a career change, or want to get back into the workforce and do something meaningful.

Choose a nationally recognised TAFE or college certificate to study online or in class. You’ll learn how to provide personal, physical and emotional support to the elderly or disabled in their homes, at residential aged care centres, and as a community care worker.

A career in Aged Care can be an incredibly fulfilling profession. Your days will be filled by helping those vulnerable members of society who often need it the most, our elderly. You will make a huge difference to the lives of many people, and there aren’t many careers that can offer that kind of intrinsic reward. It’s an attractive career for parents who are returning to the workforce, as well as young people who wish to work part-time while studying online.

Generally speaking an Aged Care worker will provide assistance for an elderly person in their home, or at an aged care facility. Duties can include helping them get dressed, assisting with their personal hygiene needs, providing social and emotional support, and accompanying them on outings. With Australia’s ageing population, not only will you enjoy a personally rewarding career, but you will always be in high demand for the foreseeable future.

Career Outcomes

A career in Aged Care can take you in many directions, from working on the frontline assisting the elderly, to behind the scenes in administration and management. Over 93.5% off Aged Care workers provide health care and social assistance. The remainder consist of Public Administration and Safety, Administrative and Support Services, and Education and Training. Here are a few of the opportunities that await you.

• Aged Care Assistant
• Aged Care Nurse
• Assistant in Nursing (AIN)
• Community Support Worker
• Home Care or Personal Care Assistant
• Care Supervisor or Team Leader
• Residential Care Work
• Respite Care
• Aged Care Management

Job Outlook for Aged Care Professionals

With Australia’s ageing population, you’ll never be short of opportunities to work in Aged Care:

• There are expected to be more than 50,000 new job openings created for Aged and Disabled Carers between 2013-2018
• The most common level of qualification level is Certificate III and IV
• Average Full-Time Salary: $46,800 per year
• 9% of Aged Care workforce are female

Types of Aged Care Courses

By far the most common courses taken by those wishing to enter the industry are Certificate III and IV aged care courses. Many Aged Care employees enter the industry with no qualifications, but may wish to formalise their education to progress further in their careers, or who want to work in aged care facilities and care for the elderly. Both Certificate III and IV qualifications can be taken online or in-class. The flexibility of online courses means they are increasing in popularity all the time.

Completion of your Certificate III and IV courses will provide you with enough knowledge and expertise for the majority of careers in Aged Care. However, should you wish to take the next step in order to become a nurse, step into managerial roles, or provide workplace training, further study will be required. This could include other Certificate and Diploma level studies, or an undergraduate university degree if you wish to become a Registered Nurse.

Certificate III

A Certificate III in Aged Care is an entry level qualification that will equip you with the skills required to assist the elderly with their personal care and hygiene needs, provide social and emotional support, and help them to maintain independence where possible in their daily lives. You’ll learn how to understand healthy body systems and assist with medication administration, and support people with dementia and other concerning behaviours. There are no prerequisites for this course and you can study at your own pace online. With a Certificate III qualification you’ll be employed in roles such as Aged Care Assistant, Assistant in Nursing (AIN), Care Worker, Home Care Assistant, Personal Care Assistant (PCA) and in Residential Care Work.

Certificate IV

The Certificate IV in Aged Care is an extension of the education you will have received from the Certificate III course. It will further equip you with the skills to care for an elderly individual, including those who require complex management and special assistance. You will be able to work with groups of older people to promote independence and community participation, and liaise with health care professionals about the individuals in their care. You may, under supervision, design and implement programs that will increase the quality of life for the elderly in residential or community environments. Upon completion of the course you will be qualified to fill roles such as Accommodation Support Worker, Assistant Coordinator, Care Team Leader, Personal Care Worker and in Respite Care.

Aged Care Courses Online

Qualifications are not limited to studying in-class. Many education providers offer aged care courses online with interactive learning materials. To assist students with the practical, hands-on element of the job, some courses include a work placement to give students some experience before entering the workforce.

The flexibility of an online course means students can study at their own pace around other commitments like children or work. This makes it a popular choice for many.

Is Aged Care right for you?

Working in Aged Care can be emotionally and physically challenging. Every day you will be working with elderly individuals who face their own unique challenges. It will be your role to assist them as much as possible to ensure they have the best quality of life they possibly can. This challenge, and the personal rewards you will experience from making a positive difference in their lives will be incredibly satisfying.

You need to be comfortable providing assistance with personal needs such as going to the toilet, showering and eating meals. Housework such as cleaning, making beds, washing dirty laundry and many other chores often come with the job. The information taught in aged care courses will ensure you are well equipped for the job.

You will build close relationships with many of your elderly clients along with their friends and family, so you may become emotionally attached. As such you will need to have good communication skills to work with everyone in their lives.

If you’re looking for a profession that is highly rewarding from a personal point of view, and where no two days are the same, then a career in Aged Care may be for you.