Hello ims.
Im a mum if 2 girls age 5 and 1.5.
I havent worked in 2.5 years. Im 25 almost 26 and my biggest fear is having no career and no future prospects. I dont want to have to rely on any form of government benefits at all even with my partner working. (Im only entitled to ftb a+b).
As my partner and i sink further into debt and me failing to find a job, an opportunity has come up for me to do a cert 3 in aged care. Upon completion i should be in work by the end of july this year.
My problem is this. Aged care is not my career of choice, its a tough industry and u need a stomache to match...but it is a very easy industry to get into and their is room for growth through tafe/uni opportunities.
I HAVE to get a job and i need one that is sustainable long term. Is it wrong if me to go into an area of work im not passionate about just to start getting an income??
I think in my head i see it as an opportunity to work while eventually studying my field of choice which is youth work/child psychology.
For those who work in aged care, what is it like?? Rewarding, tiring, what is the pay like?? If u started by doing a cert 3 how far have you grown in the industry since then.
7 Replies
I started a Cert III in Aged Care but never did finish it. Instead I took a factory job (let's face facts, NO-ONE is passionate about factory work lol) and worked my way up the ranks to senior management which I love, I've inadvertently learned that I have a passion for logistics and that's the role I fell into. I did finish a Cert III in Education Support specialising in disability education while working at the factory (to keep my mind active in those early years more than anything else) and picked up a second job (part-time) before I'd even completed it! I was the most mildest-mannered Preppy Teacher Aide by day and the life-of-the-party feral factory production worker by night you ever could imagine.
Just because you do the course and get a job in Aged Care there's no law that says that's it for the rest of your life. It'll take a while to build up to be ready to do the study you want, then the study itself, then get a job in that field. You would be giving years to the industry so it's hardly wrong to do it.
Most of us are not working in our dream job, just for a pay cheque. That's life, take the opportunity and see where it leads, good luck.
I've done my cert 3 in aged care and I hated it. My advice would be since you want to do youth work eventually perhaps do a cert 3 in childcare instead as there is work for that as well. Or another option could be get a job at Kmart or somewhere easy like that while you do your studies at uni or tafe for your dream job. That way your still getting an income while studying
The money in Aged Care is decent if you can get onto overnight shifts/on call shifts. If you are desperate, I would be going for it (some places also allow you to work whilst studying so you could find a job sooner) and then maybe looking into eventually doing Div 2 nursing (diploma qualified). You can still work in Aged Care but rather than doing the icky stuff you can gain a more senior role in management.
Personally, I don't think it's worth doing childcare if you have young children of your own currently, the money is crap and there isn't really room for growth/development. You don't really get anywhere on a Cert 3 as most places now require a Diploma as a minimum unless you have already worked in the industry, have your cert 3 and are currently enrolled in a Diploma course.
Also, as a side note what about a Cert in Disability Services? You can work driving them around to appointments, taking them out for meals etc. There's generally a fair bit of work in this industry also.
I've just started a diploma in community services (part time) which would tie into youth services! I can not speak from experience about aged care however i think there's nothing wrong with getting a coles/woolies type job and studying part time to reach the job your passionate about! I think you'd be wasting your time by studying from scratch when that time could be spent getting towards the career your passionate about. Good luck
Hi I work in aged care I have been for the past 6 years.. I done my cert 3 and I got a job almost immediately..of course it's not my dream job but I do enjoy it most days.. I'm 27 and I have a 2.5yr old daughter..this job is good because it's very flexible it allows you to work morning shifts, afternoon shift or night shifts..I live in Sydney (australia) and I Am permanent part time so I got $22 an hour.. if you are casual it's more like $26 an hour.. and weekend work on a Saturday is usually about Ann extra $10 and hour and do Sundays even more...yes you do need a stomach that can handle it but in saying that my stomach isn't the strongest..it's not all about poo etc ..it is good because you are working with people and it can be rewarding as you are helping people that need it the most...and you don't feel like you have a boss on your back or constantly watching the way you work it's more like a home environment.. also with a cert 3 there is plenty of work everywhere you go and you can also do community care which is good if you drive as you can usually choose the jobs you want an land the area you work at..sometimes community care isn't as hard as care inside of a facility as most of the people in their own homes are pretty able..I think it is definitely worth a try and if it's not for you then find something else but it will always be something you have for back up and something that will look good on your resume..it's only a short course...it's also had no other qualifications before this job and it has given me something.. I've been able to save also lot of money over the years which has helped me and my fiance buy our 1st home together... good luck x