Advance your career in the rewarding world of aged work

This qualification supports you to pursue a career in the aged care industry, where you will facilitate the empowerment, interests and rights of aged care clients.  When you complete this course, you will be ready for a career in the role of a support worker. You will have the skills and knowledge to complete specialised tasks and functions in aged services; either in residential, home or community based environments.

Workers will take responsibility for their own outputs within defined organisation guidelines and maintain quality service delivery through the development, facilitation and review of individualised service planning and delivery. Workers may be required to demonstrate leadership and have limited responsibility for the organisation and the quantity and quality of outputs of others within limited parameters.

To make an informed choice about the suitability of this course, please consider the essential skills and knowledge below. You must: 

• Want to work with people who are older.
• Be able to work independently and within a team.
• Be able to observe and identify changes in behaviour, ability and environment.
• Have strong communication and listening skills to liaise and work with a range of people.
• Have strong empathy and caregiving skills to support dignity and privacy while providing care.
• Be able to meet the physical demands involved in manual care work, including: assisting individuals from bed into wheelchairs and shower chairs; pushing a wheelchair; showering a person; dressing and/or repositioning a person.
• Be a problem-solver with the ability to respond to immediate safety risks.
• Be tolerant, patient and willing to work with people from various backgrounds, cultures and cognitive ability.
• Be willing and able to assist with the *personal care needs of both male and female clients, within all aspects of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), including: showering, dressing, toileting.

*Personal care includes but is not limited to: changing continence aids and ensuring proper disposal; intimate cleaning of genital areas to maintain hygiene and prevent infection; assisting clients who may have mobility or cognitive impairment(s); recognising and responding to signs of injury, infection or discomfort.