Up to 5600 jobs are anticipated to be available between now and 2015 in the disability and community care sector of northern New South Wales.

The sector is expected to boom in the next five years with employers looking to recruit 40,000 people; it is estimated that the number of people needing to access these services in New South Wales will rise to 350 000.

“There are several misconceptions about what it is like to work in this sector, yet most people simply aren’t aware of the benefits including: job security, flexible hours, varied and creative work, and on-the-job training,” says Patrick Maher, Chief Operating Officer of National Disability Services NSW.

To hear more about what working in the disability and community care sector is really like, read True Stories on carecareers.

Alstonville resident Sarah Jurd started working in the disability and community care sector 13 years ago and has held a variety of roles in that time: respite carer, teacher’s aide, support worker in vacation care, and most recently as a speech therapist with Cerebral Palsy Alliance.

“My parents were respite carers so I got involved at a young age because of them. We had a little girl with disabilities who came and lived with us for a while, and I learnt to help her and found that I enjoyed it,” says Jurd.

On the growth in the sector she says, “I have definitely seen an increase in the demand for our services in the last few years.

“There are a lot of children that need a lot of support, and it seems like there are not enough resources to meet that need, even now”.

For those who are considering a career in the sector Jurd says, ”It’s important to remember that clients are people who would like to be independent and just need some support to achieve that.”
 
“One of the benefits of working in the disability sector is that I work as part of a bigger a team no matter what area I’ve worked in; as a speech therapist I work closely with both occupational therapists and physiotherapists to find solutions to problems.

“I love working with the kids and their families; no child is ever the same and each client presents a new challenge for the team,” says Jurd.

“The work is also personally rewarding; I started out working with one family as their Respite Carer about 12 years ago, to support them and their children who have a disability. The family is as much a part of my life now as my own family is, and spending time with the children over the years has been great fun”.

More than 100 positions based in Lismore and the surrounding areas have been advertised through carecareers since its launch 12 months ago. Search for jobs now.

carecareers was developed by NDS to help meet the demand for new workers in the disability and community care sector. Head to carecareers and search for jobs now, or contact our Careers Centre online or by calling the help-line for job seekers on 1300 637 637.

Read Sarah's True Story about working in the disability and community care sector:

"I work at the Australian Foundation for Disability (AFFORD) as a Team Leader for the Community Participation Program, Jamisontown. The Community Participation Program gives adults living with disability the opportunity to learn valuable life skills such as cooking, shopping and using public transport, whilst also having a great time with music, art, sport and community activities. Each person in the program is encouraged to be the best they can be and to have fun while achieving their goals. Jamisontown has 20 clients and 6 staff.

I haven’t always worked in disability. When I left school I went to Business College and became a secretary, progressing after 5 years or so to the level of executive secretary in a company which manufactured metal cutting tools. While I really enjoyed the work, I was over the office politics and felt I needed to try something new.

Growing up, my grandmother had lived with us all my through my childhood and we had cared for her, and my mum spent her working life as a Registered Nurse in an aged care facility. I was familiar with the industry and I thought I’d give it a try. I began working in a nursing home and studied to gain a Certificate III in Aged Care. I’d always respected older people and I found the work there really enjoyable.

I progressed to community work in aged care, then I worked with people who had paraplegia or quadriplegia, and then I worked in respite and accommodation for children and adults. Across those years I completed a Certificate IV in Disability. 5 years ago I started with AFFORD..."

Read Sarah's full carecareers story or learn more about frontline support roles in the disability and community care sector.

Firstchance Inc. is a not-for-profit organisation based in the Special Education Centre at the University of Newcastle. The Early Intervention Program at Firstchance is seeking a pool of motivated and talented Casual Early Intervention Teachers to support the services the team are providing.

This is an opportunity to work in a supportive team environment with excellent potential for career and personal growth.

Key roles and responsibilities

• Work effectively with others in the Early Childhood Intervention Program
• Maintain Documentation
• Participate as a valued member of the Early Childhood Intervention Program
• Maintain professional knowledge
• Maintain Confidentiality
• Work as an effective member of the Firstchance team

Essential criteria

• Early Childhood and/or Special Education Teaching Qualifications
• Experience in providing individual educational programs for children with disabilities (0-6 years)
• Demonstrated knowledge and /or experience working within a Family Centred Practice
• Demonstrated experience in working in a Strengths Based Approach to practice
• Experience supporting the inclusion of children with additional needs into mainstream early childhood communities
• Ability to work as part of a team
• Ability to relate well to a diverse range of families and professionals, while maintaining professional boundaries
• Well developed interpersonal, written and oral communication skills
• A working knowledge of Microsoft Office applications
• A current driver’s licence and use of own comprehensively insured car
• First Aid Certificate

Closing date: 15 April 2011

Learn more about the Casual Early Intervention Teacher positions at Firstchance in Newcastle or search for more frontline support roles in the disability and community care sector.

Media release: 18 February 2011

The disability and community care sector is set to grow rapidly in regional centres across New South Wales, including Wagga Wagga in the next five years.

Kurrajong Waratah and the state-wide carecareers employment campaign has organised a forum today for more than 40 local residents and service providers to learn about how they could transition into a rewarding job in the disability and community care sector.

“The disability and community care sector is looking to recruit 40,000 people across NSW in the next five years because the number of people using these services is expected to rise to 350,000,” says Dr Kate More, State Manager of National Disability Services (NDS), NSW.

More than 110 local positions - based in Wagga Wagga and the Riverina have been advertised through carecareers since its launch 12 months ago.

carecareers is a NSW government-funded initiative launched to help carer job seekers connect with the thousands of opportunities in the sector.

Read the full media release (pdf)