A call has been put out for young people across Australia to consider aged care as a career.
Minister for Aged Care, Ken Wyatt made the call, saying there were opportunities for diverse and exciting careers in the rapidly growing aged care sector.
Speaking at a Next Gen Young Leaders Forum in Perth, Mr Wyatt said strong, long-term demand and the promise of new professional pathways made the sector an ideal employment choice.
“We are entering a golden age of ageing,” Mr Wyatt said.
“In Western Australia alone the projected employment in health, aged care and social assistance will reach more than 180,000 by 2022, as our population ages and the sector becomes increasingly diverse,” he said.
“To put this in perspective, this is around 50 per cent more workers than were in Western Australia’s mining industry at the peak of the resources boom in 2012.”
He said approximately 15 per cent of Australia’s population – or 3.7 million people – were aged 65 and over and the figure was expected to grow to 25 per cent by 2050.
“Today, Australia’s aged care workforce is around 366,000 people but by 2050 we will need that to grow to nearly one million to meet demand,” Mr Wyatt said.
“Opportunities are growing, from health professionals to project management, administration, robotics, information technology, marketing, specialised construction, horticulture, interior design, fitness, catering and languages.”
He said Australia’s first aged care workforce strategy was due to be completed by 30 June this year, containing career and training pathways and requirements.
