Do you want to make your community a better place to live in?
Are you looking to make a real difference in the lives of people in need?
Is supporting others your calling?
If you answered YES to these questions, then becoming a community services worker may be the perfect career for you (and a worthwhile one at that!).
With Australia’s aging population growing, demographics shifting and approaches to community services evolving, now is an opportune time for you to pursue a rewarding role in an expanding industry that can help you develop both professionally and personally.
In this article, we’ll explore what a career in the Community Services profession looks like and some of the steps to becoming a community support worker.
What is a community services worker?
Also known as support workers, people in the community services industry help others in their time of need. This includes any service provided by the government, private company or not-for-profit organisation to the general public, often to care for and support those who are disadvantaged in some way.
Others may focus on specific groups that may benefit from societal aid, such as elderly individuals or people living with disabilities. Community service workers may also actively provide a voice to these groups by reaching out to local and national policymakers.
What working in community services looks like
Community services deliver much-needed help when it comes to providing emergency housing, food relief, counselling, health clinics, childcare services, aged care and other services that can benefit the community’s most vulnerable members.
A career in community services can be challenging, but also incredibly fulfilling. If you’re the kind of person who has a passion for social justice, an optimistic and patient nature and is determined to help people by making a positive difference in their lives, then a career in community services might be an excellent fit for you.
Tasks and duties of a community services worker
- Assessing the needs of clients and the nature and extent of their difficulties.
- Planning, developing and implementing support programs.
- Monitoring and reporting on the progress of clients.
- Referring clients to agencies that can provide additional help.
- Providing personal home care assistance such as dressing and bathing.
- Assisting with domestic activities such as washing and vacuuming.
- Preparing meals and assisting with eating.
- Interacting with clients and arranging various activities to help stimulate them physically and
Another reason why working in community services is a good choice is that it pays well. On average, someone working in the sector in Australia will be paid around $30 per hour, which works out at an annual salary of around $60k – $70k.
It’s nice to know that when you’re helping people, you’re also getting appropriately rewarded yourself!
3 ways to become a community support worker
The community services sector is a comprehensive industry and there are so many different opportunities available.
Here are 3 steps you can follow to start a career in the community services industry:
1. Study a community support course to earn a relevant qualification
There is usually a prerequisite to becoming a community service worker. You can either choose to study community services or a community development course. Whatever your choice, your education may need to meet the Australian Social Work Education and Accreditation Standards (ASWEAS).
Here are some institutions which offer Community Services and Aged Care Courses:
Getting a qualification will help you learn the best techniques and practical skills to deal with day-to-day situations that can arise on the job, preparing you for a great career in a growing community services industry.
2. Become an ACWA member
It’s advisable to become a member of the Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA) to enter this career. Obtaining an approved degree or two-year diploma in community service work, human services, community welfare, community development or a similar discipline that is recognised by the ACWA is usually a prerequisite.
A connection with ACWA allows you to officially start a career as a community service worker.
3. Apply as a community support worker and gain work experience
Getting a diploma course will require you to perform the tasks of a community service and case management worker in the vocational placement that aims to give you actual work experience.
Once you have completed your studies and become a member of the ACWA, the next step is to start looking for job vacancies and applying for roles. Write a resume and cover letter, create your MPLOI profile, prepare yourself for possible interview questions, network within the industry and apply to all the vacant roles you feel interest you. You can then begin applying for positions within your area.
There is another way to connect with community services providers and secure roles – through the MPLOI recruitment app, which is ideal for job hunters like you.
It pays to be proactive when job hunting for community services roles
To help you get noticed by the right employer that matches your core strengths and work ethics, our intuitive and revolutionary recruitment platform, MPLOI allows proactive job seekers like you to start your career as a Community Support worker on your terms.
What is MPLOI?
MPLOI is an innovative employment app that matches like-minded employers and potential employees based on similar values, qualities and skills through a career alignment algorithm.
With MPLOI’s modern approach to proactive recruitment, we empower job seekers and business professionals to pursue new career opportunities by simply swiping to start a conversation with a potential employer.
This recruitment platform gives you instant access to a plethora of potential community service employers offering the ultimate stress-free recruitment solution for business professionals like you.
Register your interest below and get notified of our upcoming launch! HERE MPLOI