For the average Australian, there are a lot of career choices and opportunities available. If you were to go online and research possibilities, thousands of options would show up in the search results. With so many choices available, it can become confusing which career path to actually take. What you want to consider are things like the opportunity for career progression, variety in your work, job satisfaction, how much money you can expect to make and more.
Community services is a career path that’s often overlooked or not even thought about, but that’s unfortunate. A career in community services has so much to offer, and that’s going to be the subject of this article.
#1 – Job Roles In Community Services Are Varied
As the title of the career suggests, community services is people-focused. It’s about helping others and bettering the community as a result. If you’re a people person, then you’ll love a community services career.
The job opportunities as a community service worker are broad and varied. Again, if you were to go online and research this, you’ll discover just how many different job opportunities come under the umbrella of community services.
Let’s just quickly list a select few options:
- Social worker
- Child care practitioner
- Parole officer
- Crisis intervention worker
- Community services manager
- Caseworker
- Aged care worker
- Career counsellor
- And so many more…
#2 – The Pay Rates Can Be Very Handsome
While many community services roles can be volunteer roles, there are copious amounts of paid employment opportunities in the field. The amount you’ll be paid will depend on the job role you have, along with your qualifications and experience. Some positions can be very lucrative indeed, leading to you living a very comfortable and prosperous lifestyle. If you would like to learn more about potential pay rates, just check out this community services salary guide.
#3 – Job Satisfaction Is Assured
There’s nothing more life-sucking than going to a job day after day that really bores you to tears. Fortunately, careers in community services are not only varied, but offer something new each and every day. You’ll be presented with unique challenges that keep the role interesting. In fact, no two days are likely to be the same.
When you’re helping others and making a positive difference in someone’s life, it won’t even feel like work. Job satisfaction will be assured. And that’s something many people in other jobs and careers don’t achieve. Community services certainly offers up loads of interesting and challenging roles.
#4 – Upgrade Your Skills and Upgrade Your Job Role
With so many different job opportunities in this industry, often all you have to do is upgrade your skills and education to advance to another position.
Many roles within the community services industry are somewhat interchangeable as well, meaning you can switch between jobs without necessarily having to undergo further study to be eligible for consideration.
There are not many other industries where there are so many varied job roles on offer. In community services, workers are very spoilt for choice.
This also lends itself to flexibility in the workplace. A lot of roles are in positions that cover a 24 hour period, often 7 days a week. This gives you the opportunity to vary your shifts to fit in with your lifestyle and other things you may have to take care of.
Flexibility is something that makes any job far more enjoyable, as you feel you have options and are more in control of your time.
Getting Started In a Community Services Career
If you’re interested in getting started with a career in community services, a good starting point is to complete the entry-level course of Certificate III In Community Services. This course will get your foot in the door to start job hunting. As you progress and gain experience, you can undertake further study to land job roles that are higher up the ladder.
The course takes 12 months to complete and also includes 120 hours of workplace training to give you some hands-on experience.
A career in community services is well worth considering, so keep it in mind when deciding on the right career path for you.
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