You may have noticed a new friendly voice when you call the Career Centre’s advice line? It's Carlos!

With a sector background of 11 years across nursing (AIN), community services (Certificate IV) and hospitality, Carlos is part of the growing and experienced team at carecareers.

He brings hands-on insight and experience in the disability and community care sector and understands how to help and advise you with your next move as a job seeker or employer.

As Carlos puts it, "I want to use my life and work experience, education and training to assist people."

Looking for a role in our sector? Or want to advertise a job in your organisation? Call Carlos or any of the carecareers team on 1300 637 637 or email info@carecareers.com.au if you have questions that need answering. Carlos is never short of a word or….ten!

 

 

 

 

This week's featured job is from the Women’s Activities and Self Help (W.A.S.H) House in Mt Druitt.

The W.A.S.H House provides information, referral, community development, counselling, support services and group work for women in the local area.

They are seeking an enthusiastic and motivated Part Time Information and Support Worker.

Closing date: 20 February 2012

Find out more about more about this Information and Support Worker role or search for other roles in the disability and community care sector.

 

 

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.

When employed in an industry that involves working with people and supporting people, we often need to bring little pieces of our own lives into the workplace. This is what helps us connect with the people we are supporting, their families and other colleagues.

Let me explain.

We support people better when we know who they are, what their likes and dislikes are, who their friends and families are, and what their dreams and aspirations for the future entail. It is not fair for a Support Worker to expect someone they are supporting to share all or even some of this information with them, if that support worker is not willing to share pieces of their own life journey in return. This is how relationships work, and although a support working role is a paid role, it is still a relationship which is built on a level of trust and understanding of both parties.

Relationships are part of almost every workplace, but it is the opportunities we have as Support Workers to really get to know someone that often draws people to the caring or human services sector. This also means that people employed in this sector need to ensure they have their own support networks around them. We become ineffective as workers when we don’t have avenues to seek out support for ourselves and replenish our caring, compassionate and empathetic thresholds. We risk becoming callous in the way we interact with and relate to the people we are supporting. This is why it is so important to have a sense of community and support between staff in the disability and community care sector.

Leaders within the sector need to be urging their teams to rely on, support, encourage and challenge one another. It is these intentional actions of a group of people that fosters a sense of community and allows it to grow. It is this same sense of community that creates an environment of appreciation and acceptance, an opportunity for people to lean on each other when they need support in their roles and even in life outside the workplace.

Current ways of thinking and practice are encouraging us to use person-centred approaches to supporting people. This same approach needs to be extended to our teams, our valued employees. Having a team that feel comfortable and safe in talking through challenges, sharing ideas and celebrating successes will inevitably lead to better support and satisfaction in the workplace. We have so many diverse people working in our sector, who impart a rich level of skill and knowledge. It is our role as leaders to ensure they feel supported in their roles, and continue their career in the caring or human services sector.

Take up this excellent career opportunity as a Preschool Coordinator.

Koorana Child and Family Services are seeking an energetic, experienced and qualified Preschool Teacher to join their Centre Based Preschool program. Koorana is a community owned organisation committed to providing early childhood education, high quality family support and intervention services to families and children in Sydney’s Inner West, Bankstown and Canterbury Local Government Areas.

This innovative and diverse Preschool includes an Early Intervention component supported by an experienced multidisciplinary team. The Preschool coordinator is responsible for the provision of a quality early education program that supports the learning needs of all children, including children who have additional support needs.

The position will join a professional children’s services team who provide a range of flexible and creative family services within a multi-disciplinary framework.

Essential criteria

• Sound understanding of the NSW Department of Community Services Children’s Services Regulations, Occupational Health and Safety, and relevant legislation.
• Knowledge of the Early Years Framework
• A theoretical understanding of child development and proven understanding of evidence based practice in early childhood
• Recognised University Degree specialising in Early Childhood Education and ability to satisfy Authorised Supervisor criteria
• Qualifications and/or experience in Special Education
• Demonstrated understanding of financial and administrative requirements of preschools
• Well developed interpersonal, oral, and written skills
• Previous management experience in a multidisciplinary team and demonstrated ability to work with different cultures and backgrounds
• Minimum 2 years experience working as a Teacher in children’s services
• Current Senior First Aid certificate 

Desirable

• Knowledge of State and Commonwealth funding and reporting requirements

A generous salary package including above award remuneration, superannuation and fringe benefit packaging applies to this position.

Closing date: 22 April 2011

 

Read about the Preschool Coordinator position at Koorana or learn more about frontline professional roles in the disability and community care sector.