Healthcare and social service workers are the superheroes of the real world. They make sure our population is healthy and looked after, from the wider public to those with specific health needs. There are a range of health professionals that specialise in an aspect of health, such as mobility, vision, hearing, mental health, and general wellbeing. This industry also includes services that cater for disadvantaged groups in society, such as the aged, disabled, or those with low socioeconomic status. 

WILL IT SUIT ME?

The best health care professionals are patient, practical and excellent at communicating. But the most important trait is empathy – you’ve got to care deeply about people, enough to see them at their worst and help them through it. While healthcare is an extremely rewarding vocation, it can also be very labour intensive and in some cases, quite stressful. After all, peoples’ lives are on the line. So you’ll need strength and a passion to help people in order to keep on keeping on.

HOW CAN I GET THERE?

There are a few different ways into the health and social services industry, but for the most part, you’re going to need a qualification. Many roles in healthcare require a university degree; for reference, it generally takes 4 years to become a registered nurse, 7 years to become a doctor, and most surgeons train for at least a decade. Similarly, psychologists, psychiatrists, dentists and most medical practitioners will need a degree. However, there are a lot of roles that don’t require you to attend university. A Diploma of Paramedical Science (paramedics) takes three years to complete, while a Diploma of Cert IV in Nursing through TAFE will qualify you to be an enrolled nurse. Nursing assistants, dental assistants, counsellors, child carers, social workers and aged/disabled carers can be qualified with a Certificate or Diploma. Some are even trained on the job.

WHAT SKILLS WILL I LEARN?

The employability skills you will develop include the ability to:

• Draw together, analyse and critically evaluate information.
• Communicate effectively with individuals, groups and organisations.
• Produce accurate records and make informed decisions.
• Think logically and propose reasoned solutions.
• Work as part of a team and take on responsibility.
• Interpret, use and evaluate various types of data.
• Manage time wisely.

There are some massive draw cards to working in health – it can be lucrative, it’s an industry in high demand and it’s a very noble vocation. Health care workers typically work in hospitals, doctor’s practices, nursing homes, care facilities, laboratories, pharmacies and clinics. Healthcare provides a diverse and sometimes stressful working environment. It can also be very social, and provide a lot of opportunities to work all over the world.