The New Year is a popular time to explore potential new career options and make sure you deliver on this year’s resolutions to land your dream job. Finding a new job can be tough, so it’s important to be strategic and think about the big picture when considering your career options for the future.

A good place to start in your career planning process is to do some research into growth areas in the Australian economy. The Australian Government has identified that Health Care and Social Assistance will be the top industry for growth over the next five years. They report that this is Australia’s largest and fastest-growing industry, employing over 1.5 million people across the nation.

A key reason for this is Australia’s ageing population and the subsequent increased demand for healthcare services. The NDIS is also playing a part in the growth of the industry, which is predicted to increase the need of care workers to 163,000 full-time-equivalent positions by 2020.

These growth areas are sure to produce great job opportunities in the coming years – in fact, there are already hundreds of healthcare jobs advertised in Perth right now.

There are lots of worthwhile career pathways which you can explore within this key growth sector, so you’re sure to find something that will suit your individual interests and strengths. If you are deciding between the Vocational Education Training (VET) or University pathway, check out our blog that compares TAFE vs Uni in detail.

Potential Career Pathways in the Health Sector

A career as a Support Worker is your entry into the ground level of the health sector. Support Workers and other related professions (listed in the table below) play an essential role in the industry. They provide general assistance, emotional and physical support, care and companionship to people living with a disability, people who require help at home or elderly people living in aged care facilities.

A career as a Support Worker is perfect for people who have a compassionate and caring nature and who find genuine enjoyment in helping to improve the lives of others and giving back to the community.

Support Workers can expect around $900 average weekly pay (if working full time) and this can be a great pathway into other jobs in the health sector, including many of those listed below. Other jobs which will be in high demand in the health sector into the future include:

• Registered and Enrolled Nurses (our Certificate III in Individual Support can lead to a career in nursing as an alternative pathway to university)
• Receptionists and Administrative Staff (our Certificate III in Business can help you secure jobs like this)
• Ambulance Officers and Paramedics
• Doctors and other medical practitioners

See the full list on the Australian Government’s Job Outlook website.

Education for Jobs in the Health Sector

Education is critical if you want to work in the health sector and most professions require university degrees, such as doctors, nurses, physios, and other higher-level healthcare practitioners. However, if you’re looking to get into the health sector on the ground floor as a Support Worker, a Certificate II or III level VET qualification is more than enough to help you find work in the industry.

Centacare is the perfect place to get qualified to be a Support Worker. Our Certificate III in Individual Support is available with two specialisations – Ageing and Disability. These specialisations can be completed individually if there is a particular sector you are interested in. Alternatively, you can complete a dual qualification in both specialisations to enhance your employability and maximise your chances of finding a job.

Centacare’s Certificate III in Individual Support even includes student mentoring, a free résumé writing workshop and 120 hours’ work experience in your chosen sector. This looks great on your résumé and gives you a taste of what it’s like to work in the industry so you’re fully prepared for employment.