PURSUE A JOB WITH PURPOSE

PEOPLE who care for others will be taken care of themselves, with strong employment forecast for the next five years.

An extra 129,100 carers and aides are expected to be needed between 2018 and 2023, Federal Government data shows.

It is more than twice the number of new business, human resources and marketing professionals (57,000) and more than three times the number of new information and communication technology professionals (44,000) in the same period.

Most of the new carers and aides are expected to work in aged and disability care (69,200), childcare (27,600) or nursing support and personal care (11,400).

ACH Group support worker Melanie Trudgen (pictured) turned her back on a 20-year career in finance to pursue a more people-oriented career and says she has never been happier.

After paying off their mortgage, she and her husband decided to get into jobs that offered a different type of reward. She studied part time to complete a Certificate III in Aged Care and has been employed as a support worker since May.

“One of the great things about being a support worker is that every day is pretty much different,” she says. “You see different people, hear different stories.

“Alongside domestic assistance, shopping and personal care, we always incorporate social support. We get out and about, take people to art classes and social groups.”

Trudgen helps to run Social Links groups in her area, offering a weekly art class, choir and dance group.

“I help with the administration, set up the room, offer support during the class, then stay behind and clean up,” she says. “It’s wonderful being involved in these groups, seeing the enjoyment they bring.”

Trudgen’s employer, ACH Group, was named an Employer of Choice at the 2018 Australian Business Awards.