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Personal Care Assistant

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Find out how to become a personal care assistant in community services. Get information on job prospects, expected salary, essential skills and qualifications needed.

Similar job roles
The current average salary of an Personal Care Assistant is $47,800 - 53,000 annually

 

What does a personal care assistant do? 

A personal care assistant provides help, support and care to patients in their daily activities directly in each client’s homes or in hospitals, aged care or healthcare organisations. Most staff work part time due to the physical and mental demands of the job. This sector will grow strongly over the next 5 years due to an ageing population and a related demand for such staff.

Read more about the Community Services industry.

What skills do you need to be a personal care assistant?

A personal care assistant provides care for patients who are ill, aged or disabled by helping with daily activities like feeding, bathing, dressing, running errands and routine housekeeping.

  • A caring, empathetic and perceptive personality
  • Good time management and organisation skills
  • Physically fit to be able to do manual labour
  • Ability to make sound decisions and work under pressure
  • Good communication skills

Similar job roles

You need resilience and communication skills. You also need to learn how to work in a team and independently, and be able to use your discretion.
Industry Q&A: Community Services with Tom Conley
, President & Executive Managing Director
Read the full testimonial

Personal care assistant quick facts

Personal care assistants provide assistance to clients who are infirmed, aged or disabled. 81% of workers are female. The sector will grow strongly over the next five years from 92,700 jobs in 2017 to 105,900 by 2022.

Outlook
  • Average Hours Worked
    33.9 full-time hours per week vs. all jobs average of 40 hours
    *Source
  • Main Industries
    Healthcare and social assistance; administrative and support services; public administration and safety
  • Average qualification level
    43.8% Certificate III/IV

* All information on this page has been complied using figures from payscale.com.au and the Australian Government's joboutlook.gov.au - all figures are indications only, and are accurate at time of publication. Please do your own research before selecting a course or career.

Study pathways

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