You can work as a Special Care Worker without formal qualifications, however, they may be useful. A course in residential care, community services, social services, child, youth, and family intervention, or related studies might be helpful.

Did You Know? In 2003 the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimated that 3,958,300 people or 20% of the Australian population had a disability. (Source: Disabled World) Has this figure changed?

Aged and Disabled Carers provide general household assistance, emotional support, care and companionship for aged and disabled persons in their own homes.

Aged care workers provide care, supervision and support for aged people in residential establishments, clinics, hospitals and private residence. They assist with the maintenance of personal care, domestic duties and management of illness. They also provide companionship and emotional support, and promote independence and community participation.

ANZSCO ID: 4231

Alternative names: Care Service Worker; Aged Care Worker; Home Care Worker; Personal Care Worker (Aged Care); and, Residential Care Worker

Knowledge, skills and attributes

• Patient, flexible and understanding

• Supportive and caring nature

• Commitment to the rights of the elderly to live dignified lives

• Able to accept responsibility

• Good communication skills

• Able to work as part of a team

• Able to cope with the physical demands of the job

• Able to perform domestic duties efficiently
  

Duties and Tasks

• accompanying aged and disabled persons during daily activities

• assisting clients with their mobility

• preparing food for clients

• arranging social activities

• performing housekeeping tasks such as vacuuming and cleaning

• assisting in personal hygiene and dressing

• providing companionship, friendship and emotional support during daily activities

• may do shopping and run errands

• may live in with the person

• assist people with self-medication

• implement care programmes for those in residential establishments

• provide in-home support with health issues and daily living tasks such as washing, dressing, eating, transport and budgeting

• assist with the delivery of activities to enhance the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of those in their care

• ensure those in their care are washed, dressed, fed and ready for educational and recreational activities

• assist during domestic activities such as eating meals and showering

• cook and serve meals, clean premises, wash, iron and perform other household tasks

• organise refuge accommodation

• implement appropriate strategies for managing problems related to dementia

• work with a team of health professionals, family, friends
  

Working conditions

Aged care workers work in private homes and community establishments and may be required to work evenings, weekends and public holidays, or live on the premises. Aged care workers may work in a variety of settings, including residential aged-care facilities, day therapy centres and special dementia care units. They may visit clients in their homes. Some positions may be casual.

Education and training/entrance requirements

To become an aged care worker you usually have to complete a VET qualification in ageing support or individual support. As subjects and prerequisites can vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen institution for further information. You can also become an aged care worker through a traineeship.

To work as an aged care worker, you must obtain a National Police Certificate and a Provide First Aid Certificate. An additional employment screening is conducted in South Australia. A drivers licence is essential for those providing community and home support care.

Disability support workers provide care, supervision and support for people with disabilities in the home, residential establishments, clinics and hospitals. They also work with other health professionals to maximise the individual's physical and mental wellbeing. They also provide companionship and emotional support, and when possible, promote independence and community participation.

ANZSCO ID: 411712

Knowledge, skills and attributes

• Patient, flexible and understanding

• Supportive and caring nature

• Commitment to the rights of people with disabilities to live dignified lives

• Able to accept responsibility

• Good communication skills

• Able to work as part of a team

• Able to cope with the physical demands of the job

• Able to perform domestic duties efficiently

(Source: Good Universities Guide)

Duties & Tasks

• assist people with self-medication

• implement care programs for those in residential establishments

• provide in-home support with health issues and daily living tasks such as washing, dressing, eating, transport and budgeting

• assist with the delivery of activities to enhance the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of those in their care

• ensure that those in their care are washed, dressed, fed and ready for educational and recreational activities

• assist those in their care during domestic activities such as eating meals and showering

• provide companionship and support during daily activities

• cook and serve meals, clean premises, wash, iron and perform other household tasks

• organise refuge accommodation

• work with a team of health professionals, family, friends and carers to implement a program of support.

Working conditions

Disability support workers work in private homes and community establishments. They may be required to work evenings, weekends and public holidays and may be required to live on the premises. Some positions may be casual.

Education and training/entrance requirements

You can work as a disability support worker without formal qualifications. You will probably get some informal training on the job. Entry to this occupation may be improved if you have qualifications or experience working with people who require care. You may like to consider a VET qualification. As subjects and prerequisites can vary between institutions, you should contact your chosen institution for further information. You can also become a disability support worker through a traineeship.

To work with children, you must obtain a Working with Children Check, National Police Certificate and Provide First Aid Certificate. A drivers licence and form of transport is essential for those providing community and home support care.

Orientation and mobility specialists teach people who are blind or have low vision to move around their environment safely and with confidence. They usually work on a one-to-one basis. People with low vision may need training in how to use technology like GPS to find their way to destinations, and an orientation and mobility specialist helps with that as well as instructing the blind in how to find locations at school or work.

They assist blind people in learning how to use guide dogs, and provide motivation and encouragement towards exploring and mastering new fields of activity. Orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists teach individuals with visual impairments to travel safely, confidently and independently in their environment. They work with infants, children and adults usually on a one-to-one basis in a home, school, hospital or in the community. Orientation and mobility specialists are different from physical therapists, because they focus on people with vision loss.

These specialists may also work in a consultative role, helping architects, city planners, and traffic engineers to make buildings, intersections, and other areas more accessible and safe for visually impaired people.

• good physical health - must be able to be physical for many hours to help their patients as needed. They must be able to bend, twist, lift, crouch, kneel, push/pull, and the agility to move quickly and ensure patient safety.
• a desire to work with people with disabilities
• observant, patient and reliable
• strong communication skills 
• record keeping - must be able to collect and integrate patient histories to solve problems and develop treatments.
• emotional stability - must be able to handle the emotional stress of working with impaired patients in need of compassionate health care.
• multitasking - the ability to prioritize and manage multiple tasks simultaneously.
• interpersonal - must be able to interact with patients and their families regardless of background.
• reasoning - must be able to apply facts and principles to issues to determine conclusions and solve problems. They must use knowledge and logic to find patterns in injuries and determine causes and provide solutions.
• communication - must be able to clearly convey thoughts and ideas to gauge patient's issues and convey to them the best path to treatment.
• empathy - must be compassionate and able to empathize with a patient's pain and other difficulties. They are able to make people feel comfortable and meet them at their emotional level to humanize themselves and let people know they care.
• patience - they must understand it takes time to see results and be willing to put in that time. They also must help their clients have patience--especially if they are trying to overcome a difficult injury.
• problem solving - must be able to use knowledge to gauge issues and determine the best route to autonomy.
• dexterity - must work well with your hands and be nimble. You will be put in situations where physical therapy is a must.

(Source: Explore Health Careers)

Duties and Tasks