Do you have a passion for helping others? Are you looking for a way to give back to your community, make a positive difference in the world? If so, consider a career in the community service sector.
Studies show that workers in this industry enjoy higher levels of job satisfaction than in other industries – and who are we to argue with that? The reason for this is because community services is about changing and improving others lives and in turn you feel a sense of accomplishment by helping others.
Community services are one of the largest sectors in Australia and the industry is considered Australia’s second-largest employing industry, with over 1.5 million people employed in the industry last year. After the pandemic, there is a growing demand for Community Service Workers in Australia and in fact, LinkedIn’s 2021 ‘Jobs on the Rise’ report listed a number of community services roles as being the most in-demand jobs in Australia right now. For example Youth Workers, Social Services Specialists, Childcare Workers and Case Managers.
Community services deliver much-needed help when it comes to providing emergency housing, food relief, counselling, health clinics, child care services, aged care, and other services that all affect the community’s most vulnerable members.
A career in community services can be challenging at times, but it can also be hugely rewarding. If you’re the kind of person who is passionate about social integrity, has a positive and understanding nature, and is determined to help people enact encouraging changes in their lives, then a career in community services might be an excellent fit for you.
Community service worker; what does your day look like?
As a community service worker there is a variety of areas and work in many capacities. This is the beauty of working in this industry – every day or situation is different. You might find employment in a community centre or charity, long-term care facilities or residential housing units. Some areas you could specialise in include aged care, disability support, mental health and counselling, child protection or family services.
Our organisation’s duties can involve assessing the needs of clients; planning, developing and implementing support programs; providing a personal level of care to clients, such as grooming and feeding; and providing emotional support to clients.
We ask our Case Manager Milo and Psychologist Luke about what they do to make a difference in someone’s lives:
Case Manager – Milo.
“I have worked with a lot of young people about not having a home to go back to, but the one that stood out for me the most was when one of my cases came out of a Juvenile Detention Centre and wasn’t able to go back to his home because of a family disagreement.
I got him into permanent housing, got him an income, encouraged him to read, and got him household items so that he could have a place that looked like a home.
In this story, he was affected by drug and alcohol problems. He became withdrawn and felt lonely.
Getting them home is one thing, but you need to be able to support and guide them in the right direction. And over time, I was able to see a big transformation in him by seeing a change in his mental health and confidence”.
Psychologists – Luke.
“As psychologists, we recognise the importance of providing our clients with strategies and resources to manage conflict in the family home which can be a key contributor to youth homelessness. We understand that most families at some point will face adversity, and experience tension and conflict. Our job is to provide support to the family unit, helping to build stronger relationships and ultimately keep our young people off the streets”
If you’re interested, WAYS offers qualified training in Community Services. For more information, see information on our next course: https://ways.org.au/certificate-ii-in-community-services/