Enrolled nurse, personal care assistant, and pathology collector are some of the careers in demand today
With such a sizeable healthcare system in this country, qualified health professionals are essential to keep the healthcare system running smoothly. We shed some light on three important health professions, compare the core differences within each role and explain how you can be part of this industry.
Many may not know that in Australia, one of the most sought-after and a highly-employable professions is a Personal Care Assistant or Care Worker in the aged care system. June 2017 statistics from the Department of Employment indicate that 87,800 persons were employed in personal care worker/nursing support positions in 2015 and employment is expected to grow strongly to 2020.
Nursing is of course, a well-known global profession and in Australia, and a diploma level qualification is the minimum requirement to become an enrolled nurse—HLT54115 Diploma of Nursing
Care Workers provide direct care and support to the ageing population, assisting them with daily activities and tasks, in a residential aged care facility or home/community based setting. Care workers also enjoy the fact that they can often select part-time or full-time work to suit their particular lifestyles. Your first step in becoming a care worker is to obtain a suitable qualification and the CHC33015 Certificate III in individual support is the current industry standard that employers look for.
Pathology collectors on the other hand, work in an environment with no direct patient care, and generally work within business hours. They are usually based in pathology collection centres or pathology labs within general practice or hospitals. Pathology collection involves taking blood and other specimens for testing, and performing electrocardiographs (ECGs).
Pathology is often referred to as the engine room of healthcare—results from pathology tests give doctors the information they need to correctly diagnose and treat patients. To highlight the importance of pathology, 500 million tests are done in Australia every year and 70 per cent of medical decisions rely on pathology, according to information available on the Pathology Awareness Australia website. If you’re interested, a HLT37215 Certificate III in Pathology Collection qualification will give you a good start in this sector.
Nursing is of course, a well-known global profession and in Australia, and a diploma level qualification is the minimum requirement to become an enrolled nurse—HLT54115 Diploma of Nursing. It usually involves a slightly longer study period in comparison to the professions mentioned in this article, but by choosing to become a nurse, you are positioning yourself in a large sector of the industry, with nurses required in a vast range of healthcare settings. Furthermore, the potential career pathway within nursing is truly diverse and you will have wide-ranging choices in the future.
If you’re on the lookout for new career opportunities and you’ve thought about healthcare as a possibility, but you’re not quite sure where to begin, contact Care Training Australia Pty Ltd (CTA) to seek assistance. CTA is a registered training organisation based in South East Melbourne with over 25 years’ experience, and a well-known reputation for providing a supportive learning environment for its students. Call 03 9573-3230 to speak with a friendly officer or visit www.ctaonline.com.au [RTO No. 5052]
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