Good health is something most of us tend to take for granted – until of course, we’re sick or injured. Then we rely on skilled healthcare professionals to diagnose the illness or injury. And hopefully (fingers crossed) to help get us back to good health. In Australia, Healthcare and Social Assistance is the largest and fastest-growing industry. This means there’s heaps of incredible career opportunities in all sorts of occupations.
You can make a real difference in someone’s life
In Australia, there are over 2,000,000 workers employed in a range of healthcare professions. That’s close to four times the total population of Tasmania (think about that for a moment – that’s huge!). What’s more, the need for skilled healthcare professionals is only going to grow.
Working in healthcare is more than just a job. Instead, it gives you the chance to help people, and to make a real difference in their lives. You can choose from a wide range of occupations across many different settings. Occupations include:
– Doctors
– Nurses and Midwives
– Paramedics
– Nursing support and
personal care workers
– Aged and disabled carer
– Home health aide
Allied health assistants supporting allied health professionals
Allied health professionals such as:
Audiologists, Cardiac Physiologists, Dietitians, Occupational Therapists, Optometry, Oral Health Therapists, Pharmacists, Physiotherapists, Podiatrists, Psychologists, Radiographers, Sonographers, Speech Pathologists and Social Workers … and more!
Choose your occupation and your pathway
There’s almost as many career pathways in health care as there are career options. From short, practical vocational education and training (VET) to university degrees in specialist areas of study. (and everything in-between including TAFE and private colleges). Often there’s the option of part-time or full-time study. Plus, flexible work and study arrangements. This means you can earn an income while you study.
There’s a huge demand for healthcare skills
The Australian healthcare workforce continues to grow (and it needs to). Australians are living longer. We also have an ageing population, and we’re seeing an increase in chronic disease and complex care needs. Our healthcare system is being challenged like never before. For example, there is a shortage of allied health professionals, doctors, nurses and midwives and other healthcare workers across all of Tasmania. The aged care and disability sector are also struggling to find enough trained carers. In fact, finding workers is a common problem for many other areas of healthcare. So right now, the industry is crying out for skilled people who are motivated and ready to work.
The number of healthcare jobs in Tasmania is growing
More people work in healthcare and social assistance in Tasmania than any other industry. In 2023, 49,500 people worked in this sector. Better still, 10.2% were between 15 – 24 years of age (that’s around 5,000 young adults working in healthcare in Tasmania). What’s more, the workforce is growing at a rapid rate to cope with the increased demand for services.
Let’s look at a few more health-related statistics for Tasmania.
- We have the oldest population of any Australian state or territory
- The aged population will continue to grow at least until 2040.
- Tasmanians have a higher rate of chronic health conditions than the national average.
- Tasmanians have a higher rate of disability than the national average (26.8% in 2022).
- There are higher risk factors including smoking, alcohol and excess weight.
Health care education and training in Tasmania
There are heaps of different healthcare study pathways available in Tasmania. You can gain qualifications in medicine, nursing and a range of allied health professions at the University of Tasmania. Tas TAFE provides training for enrolled nurses, dental assistants, aged and disability support workers.
A snapshot of major employers of healthcare in Tasmania
The Department of Health
In addition to doctors, nurses, midwives and paramedics the Department of Health (DOH) employs a wide variety of allied health professionals such as physiotherapists. podiatrists. occupational therapists. speech pathologists. radiographers. pharmacists. Medical scientists. social workers. psychologists. dieticians, . oral health therapists environment health officers and many more.
DOH also offers exciting options to work in a variety of places such as hospitals, mental health services, oral health services, residential aged care and population health screening services. It’s never too early to start exploring your options. The DOH offers a variety of flexible careers to suit your needs in urban, rural and remote island locations. Learn more about working at the Department of Health.
Primary Health Tasmania
Primary health care is a crucial part of our health system that provides health promotion and prevention and healthcare diagnosis and treatment in the community such as GP practices, community pharmacies, Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, community health centres, oral health and dental services, maternal and child health services, drug and alcohol treatment services and allied health services. Itis often the first service people go to for health care. Primary Health Tasmania works to connect care and support the health and wellbeing of Tasmanian communities with a variety of community-based programs. Learn more about Primary Health Tasmania.
The Department for Education, Children and Young People
The Department employs school social workers. school psychologists. speech and language pathologists. school health nurses. These allied health professionals and nurses work in public schools and Child and Family Learning Centres. They support student health, wellbeing and development to improve health and educational outcomes for children and young people. Learn more about the various professional careers at DECYP.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
In 2023 there were over 13,000 Tasmanians receiving NDIS support. (But guess what?) Jobs in this sector are predicted to grow by 28% across Australia in the next 5 years. Doctors, nurses and allied health professionals and aged and disabled carers all work with people with disabilities to support their emotional, psychological, mental and physical health to help them to live the life that they choose.
In addition to the meaningful and essential nature of working with people with a disability, there are many benefits associated with working in disability services such as flexible and satisfying work in one of the fastest growing industries in Australia. Aged and disabled carers. They support elderly and disabled people by helping them with daily activities and personal tasks. This includes eating, showering and dressing, house cleaning and shopping. They also provide companionship and emotional support. They will will often work in the client’s home or in a residential aged care facility. Formal qualifications are not always required.
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