As the demand for aged care is forecasted to significantly increase within the next 40 years, it is also anticipated that there will be a rising need for personal care assistants. What are the responsibilities and work expectations of a personal care assistant, and how do you become one? Let’s explore through this blog.
Main responsibilities of a personal care assistant
A personal care assistant performs the following tasks:
- Assists with their client’s day-to-day personal care tasks such as showering, grooming, dressing, feeding, movement, communication.
- Takes part in care planning tailored to each patient’s needs.
- Carries out therapy plans for patients with mental or behavioural conditions.
- Monitors and makes a record of patient’s conditions.
- Assists with patient’s medical needs which might include doing rehabilitation exercises and taking medications.
Salary expectations
According to the latest pay guide updates from the The Fair Work Ombudsman, the full-time hourly pay rate for an entry-level personal care assistant is $27.57, which equates to $1,047.60 per week. Senior personal care assistants can earn up to $33.40 per hour, which is $1,269.10 per week. Weekend rates range from $41.36 – $58.45 and public holiday rates range from $68.93 – $83.50 depending on your level of seniority.
How to become a personal care assistant
Becoming a personal care assistant is an enduring yet extremely rewarding learning process, where you are attaining skills to help improve the quality of others’ lives. To embark on your journey to becoming a personal care assistant, take your first step to attain the essential qualifications and enrol in the Certificate III in Individual Support today.
The Certificate III in Individual Support course structure provides students with both the understanding of theoretical aspects and the procedure practices involved in person-centred support, which are the foundations for achieving proficiency in caregiving.
With units covering a wide range of different topics regarding personal care assistance such as providing support for people with dementia, complying with infection prevention, or implementing person-centred behaviour support, students are equipped with the understanding of fundamental aged care practices and the knowledge to tackle multiple challenging real-life situations when working with patients.
A personal care assistant’s work proficiency also depends largely on work experience, which is directly proportional to accumulated problem-solving knowledge and judgment abilities in unanticipated events. Participating in the Certificate III in Individual Support, students will undergo 120 hours of placement as part of assessment requirements. Through this chance of directly working with clients, students will gain hands-on experience and practice of daily care tasks that will help them be job-ready for their future career as a personal care assistant.
Ready to enrol and start your journey to becoming a personal care assistant? Get in touch with us now via enquiries@gbca.edu.au.
Recommended reads:
How an Individual Support Course Prepares You for a Job in Aged Care