The Career Side of Care: What Jobs Allow You To Help Those in Need?

There is nothing better than coming home from a day of work knowing that you have helped someone in need and done something to benefit the community.

You may be the right fit for a care and support job if you’re empathetic, generous, and find joy in helping those who need it most. Here are 12 jobs that put the “care” in “career”. 

Nurse

Nurses are desperately needed in Australia, and it is a fast-paced career with many benefits for those who love to help those who need it most. Nurses perform some of the most intimate tasks for patients while offering them dignity, kindness, compassion, a hand to hold or a shoulder to cry on. 

Nurses happen to be the #1 most in-demand profession in Australia currently, so if you choose this career path, you’ll be filling a position that desperately needs to be filled. Whether you’re working in someone's home or a bustling hospital, you’ll be rewarded with the satisfaction that you’ve helped someone who needed it.

Becoming a nurse is now easier than ever with online ABSN programs and incentives for new nurses in Australia.

Aged Care Worker

Supporting people with age-related support needs is a little like nursing, but aged care work is not always medical-related. Their needs may be emotional, social, cognitive, or physical, and, working alongside other professionals that may be involved in their care, you will aim to have them live as independently as possible.

Aged care workers may do anything from reading to patients, accompanying them on outings, or helping them shower and dress. Like nurses, aged care workers need to treat their patients with dignity, care, and sensitivity, and with an awareness of some of the things older people may face, such as ageism, loneliness, physical or language-related limitations, and even depression. Your patients may impart wisdom, humour, and kindness on you in return for you treating them like dignified adults deserving of respect. 

Support Worker

Disability support workers get people out into the community or help them in their own homes, whether that means helping with domestic tasks or advocating for them during appointments and meetings. Your clients will likely have an NDIS plan specifying their goals and you will help them achieve those goals while providing companionship, respect, and support.

Teacher

A passionate, kindhearted teacher can change or greatly improve a student's life. Teachers can work in public or private schooling, tertiary or university settings, or in something like teaching English as an additional language.

Working with young people means you’re literally helping to shape the next generation. In addition to providing a positive learning environment and shaping how they feel about education as they grow up, you’ll also have the opportunity to shape them in other ways that are unrelated to school. After all, if you’re working in a mainstream schooling environment, you’ll be spending hours each day with these kids. 

Firefighter

Firefighting is the epitome of helping others at the expense of your own safety. In addition to being first responders at accident scenes, rescuing people from burning buildings, and generally saving lives, you’ll have the opportunity to connect with the community by participating in events and talks that teach people about fire prevention and safety.

Firefighters should be able to work well under pressure. Firefighting isn’t just about fires- they help with search and rescue, assist with car accidents, and perform basic first aid. This job is best suited to those who are physically fit or seek to become physically fit, and there is no formal qualification involved, just a 14-week intensive induction.

Social Worker

Social workers can work in a number of areas, including aged care, healthcare, and child protection. Advocating for the human rights of those who need it most can be an emotional and deeply rewarding career. You’ll be working with children, individual adults, families, and community groups, improving their well-being, and making sure everyone is safe, supported, and free from social injustice and abuse.

Animal Attendant 

Humans aren’t the only ones who need compassion and care! If you’re an animal lover you may find satisfaction in working with animals who need love and attention. You can help shelter animals who are waiting for their forever home by providing care and love, as well as helping shelters.

Youth Worker

Children from disadvantaged backgrounds often miss out on a lot. They may miss out on the emotional and physical support they need to thrive and some of them lack the knowledge required to live independently or get an education. This can lead to homelessness, mental illness, and substance abuse problems later in life.

If you’re empathetic and passionate about helping young people, you may be able to help these children to develop a sense of identity as well as know that they are valued and cared-for members of society.

AOD Worker

Those struggling with substance abuse problems, like drug and alcohol abuse, face a lot of stigma and misunderstanding. To recover from their addictions they need compassionate and well-informed people working in the field of Alcohol and Other Drugs. AOD workers may help by offering support as well as practical techniques to overcome substance abuse issues.

Cleaner

Cleaning isn’t necessarily associated with care work, but it can certainly improve the overall quality of life of those who cannot clean their home due to limited mobility, age, or physical/mental health issues.

Speech Pathologist

Speech pathologists are highly in-demand in Australia, and it can be incredibly rewarding to help your patients communicate, whether in traditional or untraditional ways. Working with children or adults with speech impediments, delays, or physical issue that affects the way they communicate is a deeply important job.

Psychologist 

Mental health professionals are essential in Australia and may be a great career path for those who have a passion for mental health and helping people in a variety of poor circumstances or with mental health issues learn healthy coping mechanisms and practical solutions. You may be helping individuals or families of a variety of ages and lifestyles, and experiencing a number of issues. 

Counsellors can work in any number of special interest areas including school counselling and grief counselling, and psychologists generally use talk therapy and cognitive behavioural therapy with patients who are suffering mentally and emotionally. If further help is needed or someone is at risk a psychologist may also be responsible for referring patients to a psychiatrist or reporting them to the appropriate authorities.