What are the benefits of working in aged care?
Regardless of whether you are interested in Residential Aged Care or Home Care, there’s never been a better time to start a career in aged care. According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the demand for aged care services is set to double by 2050, providing long-term job security and an exciting period of growth for those working in the sector. With this growth comes the need for more committed, compassionate individuals to take on the job of caring for the elderly, and in return, reap the benefits of deeply rewarding work, career progression opportunities, and the chance to make a genuine difference in people’s lives.
Work life balance
At BaptistCare, we understand the importance of family and a healthy work-life balance. That’s why we offer flexible options, including weekdays, weekends, and permanent part-time roles, so you can choose what works best for you. Enjoy the freedom to spend quality time with your loved ones while making a meaningful difference caring for older people in your local community.
Residential Aged Care qualifications
Carers in Residential Aged Care support people who live in an aged care facility, sometimes referred to as a nursing home. Working as part of a multi-disciplinary team, they take care of elderly residents who commonly have higher care needs than those living at home, for example, those living with advanced dementia.
- If you choose to work in residential care, you’ll need a minimum of a Certificate III in Individual Support or equivalent
- Some providers (such as BaptistCare) offer paid traineeships to support you in obtaining this qualification.
Home Care qualification
Home care workers support older people in their own homes by providing personal care (such as showering and dressing), domestic assistance (meals, cleaning, laundry), and transport to appointments.
Most roles don’t require formal qualifications, with training provided instead. You’ll need an insured vehicle, a valid driver’s licence, current vaccinations, relevant experience or transferable skills, and a willingness to learn.
There are also opportunities to gain further aged care qualifications or move into specialised roles as your career grows.
Can I learn on the job?
If you’re keen to get started but aren’t yet qualified, you can begin your career as a trainee, working towards gaining your Certificate III in Individual Support through a fully funded government traineeship program.
BaptistCare proudly delivers such a program in partnership with TAFE NSW.
The traineeship program provides eligible applicants with a supported online course, complemented by fully supervised on-the-job training. You can find out more by making an enquiry at the bottom of this page.
Jen’s story
Meet Jen, a Care Worker with our BaptistCare Home Care team. She has proudly worked for BaptistCare for an incredible 26 years in both residential services and home care.
Jen’s love of working with seniors started when she was a hairdresser. She enjoyed working with her senior clients, listening to their stories, diving into their history, gleaning their wisdom, looking at their family photos and learning about their lives. It wasn’t long before she realised she wanted to work more closely with seniors. So, she joined BaptistCare and has never looked back!
Rosy’s story
“When I first joined the Maranoa team, I requested to work in the dementia wing,” says Rosy. “Many people were surprised as this work can be challenging, but I find it special and deeply rewarding.”
“I just love bringing a smile to their faces. It brings me joy to bring them joy,” she says.
“When it’s my day off, I miss going to work – I love being with my residents and caring for them.”
Adam's story
Adam is a Care Worker for BaptistCare at home and has spent over ten years supporting local older people to stay connected to their community through BaptistCare’s social club activities.
“I just started building these connections to our clients and I wanted to do more for them.”
“It’s the clients that have kept me here all these years – they are amazing.”
Josh’s story
Josh always thought he’d be a banking ‘lifer,’ working his entire career in the sector until he retired. So it was a surprise when he woke up one day and told his wife he couldn’t face another day in banking.
“Aged care had always appealed to me,” says Josh. “So many older people in our communities are lonely and isolated, and I saw the tangible difference that some additional support could make. I was keen to contribute to that.”
