Aged care job ads up 21 per cent during Covid lockdowns

While some areas of the jobs market have been hard hit by lockdowns and restrictions, one has recorded a huge surge in demand for staff.

Job advertisements for aged care nurses have increased by 21 per cent on SEEK. Pictured: iStock.

While many parts of the Australian economy have been hard hit by Covid 19 lockdowns and restrictions, one sector has recorded massive demand for staff.

Between January and March to April and June this year, job advertisements for aged care workers have increased by 21 per cent, with 3000 job ads posted on SEEK, according to the online jobs platform.

Job advertisements for aged care nurses have increased by 21 per cent on SEEK. Pictured: iStock.

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Inside the in-demand industry:

Home Instead co-founder Sarah Warner started her business 16 years ago and says demand for at-home care has ‘increased substantially’ over the past two to three years.

“The pandemic has definitely increased the demand for home care because older Australians are preferring to remain ageing in their own home,” she said.

Ms Warner said there is a constant need to employ and train caregivers to support the “rapidly growing ageing population in Australia”.

“We have over 40 franchise offices across the country and each of the offices would employ somewhere between 100 to 300 caregivers,” she said

“Our caregivers provide our clients with the support they need to retain their independence and support them with things they are struggling to do themselves.”

Average day of a caregiver:

Home Instead caregiver Anita Harwood said there’s no such thing as a normal day.

“You take them to doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping, an outing for coffee and for one person I walk their dogs,” she said.

Even though the role involves helping clients with personal care including showering and dressing, Ms Harwood insists it’s the little things that make all the difference.

“I showed a lady how to get Spotify on her phone so she can listen to Elvis Presley anytime she wants,” she said.

Ms Harwood said she has eight different clients that she sees during hours that work around her own schedule.

“Some of them I see once a week for five hours and some of them I see around four to five times a week,” she said.

Anita Harwood became a caregiver in January. Pictured: Supplied.

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Skills and qualities to be a successful caregiver:

Ms Harwood wasn’t always a caregiver.

She made the change January this year after working for 30-years in a large optical retail chain.

A fateful encounter with a caregiver outside her home gave her that extra push to make the leap.

“This job has changed my life, I’m just so much happier,” she said.

Ms Harwood revealed the skills she developed in her retail career helped her transition into the role of a caregiver.

“Dealing with different people and different personalities all the time in retail has prepared me for caring for a diverse range of clients,” she said.

“But empathy, kindness and a sense of humour are essential and you have to be yourself.”

Ms Warner said caregivers need to be ‘caring, compassionate, responsible and reliable”.

“Most people have some kind of experience in providing care and also in looking after a home,” she said.

“The critical thing for us is not formal skills in caring, but somebody who has the right emotional mindset and attitude in wanting to work with older people.”

Home Instead co-founder Sarah Warner started her business 16 years ago. Pictured: Supplied.

Who is best suited for the role:

Ms Harwood encourages anyone to apply for a role as a caregiver, as the ‘laughter and smiles’ she receives from her ‘loving clients’ makes the job rewarding.

“Give it a go. It’s more fun than I expected and I believe anyone can really do it as long as you’re able to listen and make meaningful conversation with others,” she said.

Ms Warner said a caregiver role is suited to people who want to make a difference in somebody’s life and give back to their local community.

“We think care giving could be very attractive to people who are looking to change industry or have lost work through tourism or retail as a result of the pandemic,” she said.

Ms Warner admitted the number one thing she loves about her job is the people.

“Our amazing caregivers and their dedication to their work is really what keeps us going because it’s an absolute joy, it really leaves you speechless,” she said.

This article was created in sponsorship with SEEK