What skills does an aged care worker need?

First published: November 2024

Aged care workers are essential healthcare professionals that provide daily high-quality care to residents in aged care homes. To become an aged care worker, having the right skills and traits is just as important as obtaining the correct aged care certifications. Mastering both will lead you on the path to success.

To find out more about what aged care skills you need, read on below.

Six top aged care skills that are needed in the industry

Skilled aged care workers demonstrate their ability to:

1. Show excellent communication skills

In aged care, you are going to interact with people from a diverse range of cultural and ethical backgrounds. Their first language may not match your mother tongue, and residents will have varying abilities when it comes to verbal communication. Being able to communicate effectively and efficiently and tailoring your communication method to the person who you are talking to will be invaluable to your job role.

2. Keep cool in high pressure situations

In aged care, and healthcare in general, each day is different. Something in your day can turn unexpectedly, so having the ability to adapt yourself to the situation and environment at hand will prove invaluable to yourself and your residents. Being the pillar of stability will allow your residents to feel at ease in their surroundings, remember – they are not in your workplace, you are in their home, so making them feel comfortable at all times is a must.

3. Be physically fit

Aged care can be a physically demanding job. You need to be able to manouvere residents who need assistance moving, and you will be on your feet for most of the day. Keeping active and having a degree of physical fitness will go a long way in this job role.

4. Manage multiple tasks at once

There’s never a dull moment in aged care, and you may have to wear multiple hats. At time of writing, we are seeing a rise in the demand for aged care workers, and by 2066 21%-23% of the population in Australia will be aged 65 and over. The need for aged care workers is growing exponentially so you may need to look after multiple clients with varying needs each day. Juggling all your aged care duties and responsibilities is a great skill to have.

5. Display empathy and care

Delivering care on a holistic level is the standard that needs to be met for all residents. Transitioning to an aged care home can be a difficult process for some, so showing a degree of emotional support can go a long way. You need to be able to balance this, as it is important you remain professional and exert a work role boundary with this. However, as your job is to meet your residents needs on every level, some may require more social input than others.

6. Maintain a degree of professionalism

In an aged care role, you are going to learn about your residents on a very deep level. They may indulge in personal and private details about themselves, especially as it is likely you will form a bond with them because you are seeing the same residents each day. It is part of your duty of care to keep this information confidential, and it is only to be shared with the relevant personnel if you believe the resident is in danger. This keeps everyone safe and respected.

What about aged care educational requirements?

Working in aged care requires you to have a certification. As a baseline, this could be a:

• Certificate III/IV in Individual Support (Ageing)
• Certificate III/IV in Health Services Assistance
• Certificate III/IV in Ageing Support

And for higher clinical roles, you would need a:

• Diploma of Nursing for enrolled nurses
• Bachelor of Nursing for registered nurses

As well as the necessary clinical teachings, the modules are designed to incorporate vital skills that you need. Examples of these are:

• ‘Work with diverse people’
• ‘Work legally and ethically’
• ‘Provide individualised support’
• ‘Support community participation and social inclusion’

These courses incorporate a placement of 120 hours in a residential aged care home, so you get hands on experience before accepting a paid aged care position. There are both core and specialty units, core being those which are necessary to the qualification, and specialty being ones you can choose which can customise your studies, tailoring it to a pathway that’s right for you.

A full breakdown of the courses and their modules can be found on the TAFE website.

Considering a career in aged care?

The aged care industry is a fantastic place to kickstart a diverse and fulfilling career. The magnitude of pathways that you can take and the wonderful people you meet along the way make it a favourable choice for many. After you have qualified, building a great aged care resume will be sure to open up a wealth of opportunities for you.

Interested in a new role? Visit our aged care jobs board or contact our team below for more information