Covering Children’s Education and Care, Community Sector Development, Direct Client Care and Support and Client Services, community services are relied upon by millions of Australians every day.

The sector sits within the Health Care and Social Assistance industry. As Australia’s largest and fastest-growing industry, health care and social assistance currently employes over 1.5 million people according to joboutlook.gov.au.

If you’re currently working within community services or looking to enter the sector, here are the top five in-demand jobs with the strongest projected growth until 2023.

Aged and Disabled Carers

Also known as Personal Care Worker, or Personal Carer, aged and disabled carers work one-on-one with aged and disabled persons in their residential homes. Duties include emotional and physical support, general household assistance and companionship.

Quick facts:

  • 35,800 new jobs a year until 2023
  • $1265 average weekly full-time wage
  • 33% work full time – plenty of opportunity for part-time work

While no formal qualifications are required to work as an Aged and Disabled Carer a Certificate IV in Ageing Support can help advance your career.

Child Care Centre Managers

Child Care Centre Manager roles have had moderate growth over the past few years but are now predicted to move into a period of very strong growth. Centre Managers are responsible for the planning, strategy, operations and activities of child care centres.

Quick facts:

  • $1,272 average full-time wage
  • 2000 job opportunities each year until 2023
  • 71% of managers work full time

You normally need a Diploma of Early Childhood Education to be eligible as a Child Care Centre Manager. If you have senior child care experience you may be able to use Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) to have your existing experience and skills certified without further study.

Other things you may need include:

  • Police check
  • Working With Children’s Check
  • First aid certificate

Child Carers

Child carers can work privately in residential homes or in non-residential child care facilities. There are currently 156, 300 childcarers working in Australia as nannies, in daycare centres and as out of school hours care workers.

Quick facts:

  • 36, 800 job opportunities every year until 2023
  • $953 average full-time wage
  • 47 % of Child Carers work full time

You normally need formal qualifications in early childhood learning. Skills Certified offer recognition of prior learning pathways for a range of early childhood learning qualifications here.

Counsellors

Counsellors work across a wide range of industries including Education and Training, Health Care and Social Assistance, and Public Administration and Safety. Counsellors need to hold a formal qualification in psychology, social work or counselling to work in the field.

Quick facts:

  • 4,400 projected job opportunities every year until 2023
  • $1584 average full-time adult wage
  • 51% of counsellors work full time

Recognition of prior learning can help those with existing skills and experience in social services to get qualified with a Diploma of Counselling.

Health and Welfare Services Manager

Roles in Health and Welfare Services Management require you to plan, coordinate and execute strategy and operations of health and welfare services. These roles are in high demand and require high skill levels.

Quick facts:

  • $2,148 average weekly adult wage
  • 3000 job opportunities projected each year until 2023
  • 85% health and welfare service managers work full time

Areas of experience and qualifications required may include:

  • Business management
  • Health administration
  • Nursing
  • Other related fields

Look into the Advanced Diploma of Community Services Management to see if you can have your existing community service and administration skills certified through recognition of prior learning.

Find out if you can get certified for your existing experience through recognised prior learning (RPL) by completing the free 60 second skills test.

To find out more about RPL or to get started call our team on 13 17 75 or leave your details on our enquiry form.