How to become an Aged Care Worker (and why you’ll love it!)

“It’s predominantly about the feel-good factor,” says Rebecca. “Many of our care workers get a real kick out of improving the quality of life for others, in whatever small form that might be.”

Whether it’s serving lunch, helping someone get washed and dressed in the morning, or simply lending a caring ear over a cup of tea, the day-to-day work of an aged care worker has a huge impact on their clients’ lives.

Aged care staff also tend to build stronger connections with co-workers than in other industries, bonding over a shared passion for their work. It’s not uncommon for staff to develop long-lasting friendships, boosting their sense of job satisfaction.

Working in aged care will help develop skills that are highly transferrable, opening up pathways for professional development.

“Many senior managers in aged care began their careers as care workers,” says Rebecca. “They worked their way up using their extensive knowledge and experience of front-line service delivery.”

Some care workers go on to become an expert in a specific field such as palliative care or pain management, allowing them to provide specialist care in the area they are most passionate about.

“The aged care sector is never shutting down.”

With recent developments in healthcare, people are living significantly longer, and by 2044, there will be 14 times as many people over the age of 85. Aged care workers can enjoy long-term job security, with no shortage of work over the coming years.

As Rebecca told us, “the aged care sector is never shutting down.”

“COVID-19 sparked ‘the great resignation,’ with many people re-evaluating their career choices,” says Rebecca. “After all that instability, many chose to move into more meaningful work like aged care which offers that long-term stability.”

Most older people live at a slower pace, often with reduced physical mobility, hearing loss, or a memory that’s not quite as sharp as it used to be. Aged care workers are respectful and patient, taking time to listen carefully and repeat themselves when needed.

Showing empathy is also a crucial skill for care workers. Elderly clients might be lonely or in pain, and their care worker could be the only person they have meaningful interaction with all week. In this way, care workers need to have positive, cheerful temperaments that can help boost their clients’ mental health.

If you’ve provided care for someone previously, whether in your personal or professional life, chances are you have highly transferrable skills that will stand you in good stead for aged care.

“Care workers are often like an extension of the family,” says Rebecca. “Being warm and personable is a must - at BaptistCare we consider a person’s skills holistically, looking at their overall life experiences and their personal motivations for moving into aged care.”