Amid acute workforce shortages, more people should be encouraged to consider caring as a career, says disability support service CEO Andrea Cooper.
In my time working in the disability sector, recruiting carers in Perth has never been more difficult.
The tight labour market has meant finding new carers is a real challenge, but also know there are people considering a career change that will give them real personal satisfaction. Caring more than fits that bill.
I would never sugar-coat it – it can be tough at times – but the people who are cut out for it would never think of doing anything else. It’s a job where you can genuinely change someone’s life for the better and deliver a real and tangible benefit to the WA community.
Anyone sick of the sight of their computer screen and longing for a job that gets them up and about should consider caring, which by its nature involves real human interaction
There are also low barriers to entry. While there are certain skills that make someone a good carer, like being observant, diligent, empathetic and organised, the qualifications and certificates required can be achieved relatively quickly.
Many opportunities also present for career progression. Being an effective carer stands you in good stead to take on many other roles, train other carers, look at systems and processes and move up the salary ladder.
A lot of people see caring as ‘just a job’, with a static salary, but it can be a profession or a career that leads to managerial roles.
There is a gap in the quality of care between what is offered by the NDIS and what anyone living with a disability truly deserves. Our entire mission is based around filling that gap, and supporting our carers is integral to that.
ED: Andrea Cooper is the CEO of disability support service New Chapters, New Beginnings.