A home and community care career can be challenging and rewarding. That’s because no two days are the same, especially considering the work being carried out is fast-paced and unpredictable. At the same time, work of this nature offers people a unique and valuable opportunity to constantly learn and grow.
While many of their peers can become bogged in their everyday careers, home and community care workers are exposed to a greater variety of situations, tasks, duties and experiences. As a result, they acquire new skills, a broader knowledge of society and its functions, and the qualities of a good carer.
Apart from making for great conversation starters, there is a huge benefit to possessing diverse and unique knowledge. So, what are some invaluable skills that individuals acquire through a home and community care career?
A greater sense of cultural awareness
A big part of the role is exposure to a cross-section of society, which asks workers to expand their own cultural horizons. Moreover, in a society as diverse and multicultural as Australia, workers support those of various ethnic backgrounds. Along with this comes different languages, cultural traditions and religious beliefs. It’s not uncommon for a home and community care worker to be able to speak a few languages or at least know the conversational basics or lingos. However, it does extend beyond knowing a few greetings and phrases. This skill gives workers a unique opportunity to appreciate different cultures’ various mannerisms and behaviours, including what is considered polite or impolite, different dining etiquettes and religious holidays or celebrations.
How to operate calmly and efficiently during an emergency
While many people are fortunate enough to avoid emergency situations during work hours, home and community care, workers are at a higher risk of experiencing a sudden change of circumstances whilst on the job. This is largely due to the environment and nature of the work, where things can move quickly and change unexpectedly. As a result, workers learn how to deal with these unforeseen situations calmly and rationally so that they can provide the best assistance possible. Much of the experience comes from simply being in the workplace and experiencing the situations firsthand. This can be anything from a medical emergency to a workplace health and safety hazard (you will learn how to identify these in your training). This level of practice means that home and community care workers become able to think quickly on their feet, provide support for a wide range of needs and are always prepared to face the unexpected.
Knowing how to deal with various physical, physiological and emotional illnesses
To the average person, understanding disorders of the body or mind can feel like a totally foreign realm. For home and community care workers, however, knowing how to service and support those with illnesses that affect their quality of life becomes second nature. In turn, it produces skilled workers who can navigate the otherwise highly complex intricacies of caring for someone who needs the added support. This unique insight gives home and community care workers a special opportunity to learn invaluable skills they can apply beyond their day jobs.
That’s the key takeaway here! Home and community care workers are multi-skilled individuals with experience in fields and sectors that others are not exposed to in their own roles. This knowledge and experience can be used anywhere, anytime. For example, you could be travelling in a foreign part of the world and remember that it is customary to bow before your elders within that region, thanks to a client you once provided care to.
How to get started in a career in home and community care
Insight Training offers three excellent courses that provide a solid foundation for anyone looking to start a career in home and community care. The CHC22015 Certificate II in Community Services equips students with essential skills and knowledge for working in the community services sector, a field with high demand in the current job market. The CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) focuses on providing individualised support to senior individuals, while the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) prepares students to support the independence and wellbeing of people with disabilities. These courses cover a wide range of fundamental aspects of home and community care, making them great starting points for those interested in pursuing a career in this field.
Is it an avenue you’d like to explore for yourself? Or maybe you’re tired of the same old routine day in, day out? For more information on how to get started in a dynamic and fast-paced career in home and community care, contact one of our Course and Careers Advisors today and learn more about our Community Services courses.
