In this post
4 Healthcare Careers Where You Can Help People Live Fulfilling Lives
Some people naturally want to help others. Caring-types are naturally empathetic and practical; want to make a difference; and ensure the maximum safety, comfort, and wellness of those around them.
The health services industry has some of the most meaningful job options available for people who want to help maximise the health of clients.
The demand for health professionals is high. As the population ages and the National Disability Insurance Scheme continues to be rolled out, there’s an increasing number of healthcare jobs for workers who can perform key roles in keeping people well. This makes medical recruitment a lively area, including for people with qualifications in:
- Nursing
- Aged and disability support
- Occupational therapy
- Speech pathology assistance
Many jobs within these professions offer stable full and part-time employment opportunities. They involve working with a wide variety of people with a range of issues and needs where no two days are the same.
Nursing
Nurses provide valuable care and advice for patients in hospitals, aged care facilities, clinics, and in the community such as through home visits.
Roles in nursing can vary, but some of the key responsibilities of the job include:
- Preparing patients for procedures and administering after-care.
- Assessing and managing patient health concerns, and setting up treatment plans.
- Observing patients’ vital signs such as pulse, blood pressure, temperature, and blood sugar levels.
- Making sure patients are comfortable.
- Providing first aid and assisting in emergency treatment.
- Administering medication.
Getting qualified
There are different courses and career paths to the nursing profession depending on the kind of work you’d like to do, the level of responsibility you want to have, and how long you’d like to study.
Becoming an Enrolled Nurse involves completing either a Diploma in Nursing – a qualification that will take around 18 months to 2 years. Enrolled Nurses are guided and supervised by a Registered Nurse
Registered Nurses have greater responsibilities and generally higher pay, and will hold a bachelor’s degree, such as a Bachelor of Nursing qualification, which takes 3 years of full-time study to attain.
Beyond that, nurses can undertake further study such as master’s degrees in specialisations that interest them, although this isn’t necessary to gain employment. Specialisations include acute care nursing, aged care nursing, anesthesiologist nursing, cardiac nursing, nursing alongside general practitioners, mental health nursing, public health nursing, and many more.
Industry statistics
Enrolled nurse
11.9%
projected job growth in the next five years
$71,300
median full-time non-managerial salary in australia
Registered nurse
11.7%
projected job growth in the next five years
$95,450
median full-time non-managerial salary in australia
The ideal candidate
Aside from formal qualifications, nurses have the following attributes:
Diligence and professionalism
Nurses are scrupulous when it comes to hygiene, making sure medication dosages are correct, keeping patient records accurate and updated, and offering high-quality care at all times.
Unflappability
Nurses encounter a huge range of medical issues and reassure patients when they respond to them non-judgmentally and calmly, focusing on the facts with a practical, problem-solving approach.
Nurses who work in emergency settings will also need to respond to emergency calls quickly and constructively, and all nurses are able to administer first aid if the need arises.
Locum nurses – who receive temporary assignments – need to be able to quickly learn how each clinical setting works and what their role is. Nurses may also have to deal with a range of bodily fluids like vomit and blood without getting grossed out.
Great interpersonal skills
Nurses treat everyone with dignity and respect and clearly communicate with patients and other staff. They need to get along with a variety of people – often acting as a friendly face, and doling out humour where appropriate – and don’t take the words or behaviours of difficult patients personally.
Empathetic
Nurses provide comfort and compassion to patients under their care, understanding their health issues, and reassuring them about concerns they may have.
Endurance
Some nursing jobs require you to work long shifts late into the night and often be on your feet the entire time. Nurses have the energy to stay engaged, diligent, and empathetic through these exhausting conditions.
A trusted, and rewarding profession
Surveys have found that nursing is the most trusted profession in Australia. This is because they build rapport with patients and offer them helpful care, advice, and treatment. They’re seen as knowledgeable and competent, as well as friendly and compassionate.
They often provide reassurance for patients and their loved ones at some of the most challenging times in their lives. For these reasons, there are many satisfying nursing job opportunities across Australia’s health care system.
Aged and disability support
Aged care workers and disability support workers look after clients who live in either for-profit or non-profit residential care facilities such as nursing homes or help clients living in their own homes to maintain their independence. Key responsibilities include:
- Understanding clients’ individual needs, and assisting them with daily living tasks such as grooming or shopping.
- Developing treatment plans for clients. Often these are designed in conjunction with other members of their medical team such as medical doctors, community service and social workers, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, dietitians, and others.
- Offering clients support and company, supporting their mental health and emotional wellbeing.
Getting qualified
There is a range of vocational courses in both aged and disability support which take around 6 to 18 months to complete, depending on the qualification.
Industry statistics
25.5%
projected job growth in the next five years
$63,250
Median full-time non-managerial salary in australia
The Ideal Candidate
People who thrive in the aged and disability support sectors have the following qualities:
Person-centred
Understanding your clients’ specific needs and being flexible in your approach to them. This may involve creative problem-solving to address idiosyncratic needs.
Patient
Clients may take time to build their skills and daily tasks may take a long time, but care workers will be consistently encouraging.
Excellent communication skills
Care workers communicate clearly and sensitively with their clients as well as with the clients’ loved ones, other members of their treating team, and their employers and colleagues.
High job satisfaction and work/life balance
People who work in these sectors report high job satisfaction, although payscale satisfaction is much lower. The reasons for high satisfaction include:
- The work is rewarding. You help people in significant ways.
- Good job security. As the population ages, increasingly more people require disability and aged care support. There are jobs available for qualified workers and strong growth in the sector in line with changing public health needs.
- Good work/life balance. Many employers offer flexible working arrangements, casual jobs, or permanent part-time contracts which allow you to fit this rewarding job around family commitments and leisure time.
- Opportunity to use your skills. Workers generally draw on their training, knowledge, and skills in their daily work, supporting people’s lives.
- Autonomy. Workers tend to enjoy the freedom of being able to decide how to help their clients.
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapists help clients perform their daily tasks and roles that are important to them. They can be employed in a range of settings, including hospitals, schools, community health centres, and residential care facilities.
They offer advice and guidance on how clients can work with their health conditions, disabilities, injuries, or impairments to:
- Take care of themselves: such as showering, brushing their teeth, or preparing food.
- Manage their household: like going grocery shopping, cleaning, and budgeting.
- Be fully involved in education and workplace settings.
- Participate in leisure activities.
The work involves:
- Helping clients identify their goals and use their strengths to reach them.
- Introducing clients to adaptive technologies such as prosthetics and environmental modifications like ergonomic workspaces.
- Helping clients develop their skills and confidence in a wide range of tasks like time management, household management, and navigation.
Getting Qualified
Occupational therapists generally require a 4-year bachelor qualification in Occupational Therapy.
Another pathway to the profession is a 12-month vocational degree in Allied Health Assistance which enables you to work as an Occupational Therapy Assistant – which is a similar role that allows you to have a hands-on approach helping clients – and explore the career further.
Industry statistics
Occupational therapist
22.7%
projected job growth in the next five years
$78,450
median full-time non-managerial salary in australia
Occupational therapy assistant
14.3%
projected job growth in the next five years
$60,000
median full-time non-managerial salary in australia
The Ideal Candidate
Occupational therapists are:
Flexible
OTs respond to the unique needs of each client – remembering that no two people will be exactly the same.
Creative, holistic problem-solvers
Some treatment plans will require you to be creative as you work with idiosyncratic challenges. OTs also have a wide range of therapies and techniques available to them such as manual therapies, exercises, adaptive devices, and others.
Passionate
Drawn to the field to help people gain independence and find confidence through their everyday tasks.
Patient
Sometimes improvements are made gradually, and often there’ll be trial and error in figuring out what works for the person. Sometimes the client will be frustrated, and OTs will be able to reassure them that they’re on the right track.
Empathetic
OTs understand their clients and their challenges, and consistently encourage them.
Strong job growth, variety, and satisfaction
There is increasing demand for OTs as there’s greater recognition of the role: the healthcare system has realised that the holistic skills of OTs can help people stay independent for longer, prevent health issues from deteriorating, and even lower hospital admission rates as recovering patients are less likely to seriously injure themselves. OTs help people increase their quality of life.
The role is also satisfying for a number of reasons. Because each client is so different, OTs also benefit from lots of variety, and the exciting challenge of helping people through creative problem-solving. As well, there are lots of opportunities for expanding your knowledge and skillset through professional development.
Finally, you get to watch people gain independence or successfully go through difficult transitions such as coming home from hospital, or recovering from major injuries or strokes, knowing that you played a big role.
Speech pathology
Within this extraordinary field, speech pathology assistants support speech pathologists in diagnosing and treating clients who experience issues with verbal communication.
Speech pathologists deliver services such as:
- Administering hearing tests and analysing the results.
- Providing advice and counselling to clients.
- Recommending adaptive devices including hearing aids.
- Showing clients speech exercises.
Speech pathology assistants provide valuable support in delivering these services.
Getting qualified
Vocational training in allied health assistance takes a year. After that, you also have the option to do further training in speech pathology.
Industry statistics
Speech pathologist
24.5%
projected job growth in the next five years
$91,350
median full-time non-managerial salary in australia
Speech pathology assistant
38.9%
projected job growth in the next five years
$25 per hour
median hourly non-managerial salary in australia
The Ideal Candidate
Speech pathology is a related field to occupational therapy, although with a distinct focus on speech and/or swallowing. As such, speech pathologist assistants similarly require:
- Flexibility
- Empathy
- Patience
- Great problem-solving skills.
Each client will have different needs and different conditions, and your job will be to use your training to address their unique situation.
Helping people speak
Speech pathology has some incredibly satisfying moments. You can choose your own caseload, for instance working with paediatric or adult clients, or working with specific conditions; or you can have a variety of clients. You could be involved with helping a child say their first words, or helping clients recover their speech after a stroke.
Speech pathology is an important job because everyone needs to communicate to be understood and to understand the world around them.
The sheer scope of how speech pathology can make a positive impact on people’s daily lives is enormous. From saying a loved one’s name, or ordering a coffee, to delivering a conference presentation – our ability to communicate allows us to express ourselves, get what we need, and advance in our careers.
Want to join one of the most rewarding fields of work?
Healthcare workers are highly skilled, compassionate, and patient people who improve the health and life outcomes of their patients and clients. These are satisfying, meaningful jobs.
Although each role has real challenges, they are also rewarding careers that are increasingly important as Australian age demographics shift and healthcare needs grow.
Browse Results
Certificate IV Celebrancy CHC41015
Are you looking for a rewarding career that will give you both financial and emotional fulfilment? When you study the Certificate lV in Celebrancy course with Rose Training you will gain the skills needed to become a professional marriage celebrant, wh...
Diploma of Counselling CHC51015
The CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling will teach you a range of therapy techniques that you can use to get the best result for your clients. It will also give you the skills necessary to communicate effectively, work within a case management framework, a...
Certificate IV in Business (Administration) BSB40120
Business clerical roles are one of the largest occupations in Australia. Duties involve general administrative and core business operation skills, which are applicable across a range of industries. In fact, the outlook until 2025 is for over 342,500 ne...
ITIL® 4 Direct Plan and Improve (DPI)
Why choose the ITIL® 4 Direct Plan and Improve (DPI)? The ITIL® 4 Direct Plan and Improve (DPI) enables professionals to align governance and strategy with service management activities, encourage a culture of collaboration and continual improvement, a...
Agile for Software Development
Why choose Agile for Software Development? Agile software development methodology focuses on flexibility, collaboration, and efficiency and allow teams to deliver quality products. In our Agile for Software Development course you’ll explore Agile...
ITIL® 4 Digital and IT Strategy (DITS)
Why choose the ITIL® 4 Digital and IT Strategy (DITS)?
The ITIL® 4 Digital and IT Strategy (DITS) certification provides you with the necessary skills to lead the development and management of IT products.
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Why choose the AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner? Amazon Web Services is trusted by millions of organisations worldwide. Becoming an AWS Certified Practitioner demonstrates your commitment and motivation to succeed and improve your skill set. It also de...
Cyber Security Analyst Pathway
Why choose the Cyber Security Analyst Pathway? Whether you have experience of IT and Cyber Security or are completely new to both, the four course Cyber Security Analyst Pathway will ensure that you learn the fundamentals of computing, networking, and...
ITIL® 4 High Velocity IT (HVIT)
Why choose the ITIL® 4 High Velocity IT (HVIT)? Stay ahead with ITIL® 4, the latest IT service management framework. Obtain the ITIL®4 High Velocity IT (HVIT) certification to drive change, align governance and strategy, and encourage collaboration for...
CompTIA CySA+
Why choose the CompTIA CySA+? Ideal for IT professionals, this certification empowers you to identify, prevent, and respond to Cyber Security threats effectively. Through comprehensive training in Behavioural Analytics, Data Analysis, and Threat Mitiga...
Business Analyst Pathway
Why choose the Business Analyst Pathway? As companies increasingly rely on data to guide strategic decisions, the need for skilled Business Data Analysts continues to grow rapidly, intensifying competition for available positions. By completing this pa...
Agile Pathway
Why choose the Agile Pathway? Covering Scrum, Change Management, and Agile, our Agile Pathway is designed to elevate your ability to approach Project Management with agility and self-sufficiency. By completing this pathway, you’ll be equipped with the...
ITIL® 4 Create Deliver and Support (CDS)
Why choose the ITIL® 4 Create Deliver and Support (CDS)? ITIL® 4 Create Deliver and Support (CDS) certification provides you with a comprehensive understanding of IT service management, principles, practices, and processes. This knowledge gives you the...
Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)
Why choose the Certified Information Security Manager (CISM)? The CISM certification is globally recognised and highly regarded by employers in the information security field. Holding the CISM certification demonstrates a comprehensive understanding of...
Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert
Why choose the Azure Solutions Architect Expert? The Microsoft Certified: Azure Solutions Architect Expert course elevates your expertise in designing and implementing Azure solutions. The course teaches you to craft solutions tailored to specific busi...
Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)
Why choose the Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP)? Becoming a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) is an objective measure of excellence and a globally recognised standard of achievement that many organis...
CAPM and Change Management Pathway
Stand out to employers with the ultimate collection of project management and change management certifications This collection aims to make individuals with no project management experience, ready to take on a role as Project Manager. When you finish t...
IT Project Management Pathway
Why choose the IT Project Management Pathway? Split into 3 levels of competency, the IT Project Management Pathway is suitable for individuals with all backgrounds of of experience – choose from entry, intermediate, or advanced level course pathways as...
Data Analyst to Data Scientist
Why choose the Data Analyst to Data Scientist? Transitioning from a Data Analyst to a Data Scientist is a logical career progression, as both roles involve working with data and extracting insights. While there are similarities between the two roles, D...
Cyber Security Career Starter Course Pathway
Why choose the Cyber Security Career Starter Course Pathway? Whether you have experience of IT and Cyber Security or are completely new to both, the three course Cyber Security Career Starter Course Pathway will ensure that you learn the fundamentals o...
Online courses also available
Latest Articles
How to Apply for Work Placement: Tips & Resources
Congratulations! You’re about to embark on an exciting journey where you will practise and develop t...
11 Hobbies That Can Make You Money: Use Your Passion for Profit
Hobbies often get a bad rap. They’re seen as just a way to kill time, a mindless escape from t...
Is The Job You Hate Killing You? Why You Need to Make a Change
Do you hate your job? Studies show that staying in a job you hate has negative health effects and ev...
Want to read more?
How To Turn Your Passion For The Environment Into A Career
Do you care about the environment? Want to make a difference? Well, a career in environmental scienc...
What is Early Childhood Education? Make a Difference in a Child’s Life
After a role that supports the wellbeing and development of children during the most formative years...
11 Hobbies That Can Make You Money: Use Your Passion for Profit
Hobbies often get a bad rap. They’re seen as just a way to kill time, a mindless escape from t...