In demand and growing: The future of aged care and the aged care workforce

March 7, 2019 George Petrides Latest News
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Head shot of an older ladyAustralia’s population is ageing and our life expectancy is increasing. Whilst our health is generally improving some cases of predominantly age-related illnesses are expected to spiral. To meet the needs of older Australians the aged care workforce will need to triple in size.

Those are the predictions for Australian society as we head toward the middle of the 21st century.

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare a person born today can expect to live around 35 years longer than someone born in the 1890s – to an age of around 85 years.[1]

The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that the proportion of people aged 65 years and older has increased from 12.2% to 15.7% over the past 20 years. In the same period the proportion of people aged 85 years and over increased by more than 125% (compared to a total population growth of around 34%).[2]

Whilst our health improves overall some age-related diseases like dementia are expected to soar. In a recent news report InNewWindow the chief executive of Aged and Community Services Australia (ACSA) told the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety that over the next 30 years the numbers of people living with dementia is anticipated to increase from 436,000 to over 1.1 million.

To ensure adequate staffing levels the sector is preparing to encourage younger people to enter the aged care workforce. ACSA told the Commission that the sector needed to grow the number of people working in aged care, and that millennials, particularly those who are “socially conscious”, were a primary focus.[3]

In the immediate term the Australian Government’s Job Outlook InNewWindow website predicts very strong growth for the number of jobs in the aged and disability sector of between 175,800 in 2018 to 245,000 by 2023.

 

So what does an aged care worker do?

The role of an aged care worker can be crucial for positive ageing and the aim of care is to support the person to be as independent as possible. In this context an aged care worker may provide an older person with a range of supports including personal, physical, social and emotional.

Depending on need an aged care worker may provide assistance with everyday practical tasks such as dressing, maintaining good hygiene and eating meals. Often assisting with social activities and supporting the person to do tasks in the community will be part of the job.

 

Qualifications

It is a community expectation, as well as being a government requirement, that people working in aged care are appropriately qualified. This means that aged care workers must have a range of factual, technical, and procedural knowledge as well as some theoretical knowledge of the concept and practices required to provide individualised and person-centred support.

In the nationally recognised vocational education and training (VET) space minimum qualifications to enter the aged care sector begin at Certificate III level and progress through level IV and diploma level.

Advance Community College offers the CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home and Community)[4], which provides an entry into aged care and disability sector work and a pathway to higher level qualifications. This course focusses on the practical tasks associated with personal support and provides the theory and background to ensure good practice. It is a highly regarded course by industry.
In brief:
  • Australia’s population is ageing and our life expectancy is increasing.
  • Over the next 30 years some cases of age-related diseases like dementia are expected to soar.
  • The aged care sector workforce will have to triple in size to keep up with demand.
  • There are excellent job prospects, including for younger people.
  • Advance Community College offers the CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home and Community) InNewWindow, which is highly regarded by industry.
[1] https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/life-expectancy-death/deaths-in-australia/contents/life-expectancy

[2] https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Latestproducts/3101.0Feature%20Article1Jun%202018?opendocument&tabname=Summary&prodno=3101.0&issue=Jun%202018&num=&view=

[3] https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-02-19/socially-conscious-millennials-needed-in-aged-care/10824502

[4] Advance Community College. RTO Code 4016
* This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. 
** Eligibility criteria apply