COMMUNITY and Personal Service Workers are on the increase, according to figures from the 2016 National Census.
With a workday that includes fishing, sing-a-longs and road trips, healthcare and social assistance workers Bob Costin and Tanya Lucas are hardly surprised.
“It’s not like a normal job where you do the same thing day in, day out,” Mr Costin said.
“I do housework and help out with the heavy side of things like vacuuming and mopping and also take people out just for a drive.
“I take two gentleman fishing and two gentleman golfing who really look forward to it because they’re not able to drive.
“At the end of the day, I get to go home and I know I’ve made a small difference in someone’s life.”
Mr Costin, a home support worker and Ms Lucas, a social support coordinator are among Millicent’s most rapidly rising occupation group – care workers.
Care workers assist people who are ageing, or those with a disability to improve their quality of life and wellbeing.
In addition to helping individuals with housekeeping, social activities or shopping, care workers provide important physical, social and emotional assistance to a people living in their own homes.
Mr Costin, a former brick labourer, said he was motivated to join the industry after talking to a friend.
“One of the blokes I used to work with had a partner who had got into aged care and she told me about what she did and I thought it was something I want to have a go at,” Mr Costin said.
“I did my certificate three in aged care and got a job.
“At the time, there were no blokes working in the role at all, but now a few more have come on.
“I must have talked about the job at home so much because my wife joined 12 months later.
“It’s very rewarding.”
The Australian Bureau of Statistics found community and personal service workers are on the increase across Australia, with a 19pc rise between the 2011 and 2016 census.
The rise was reflected across the healthcare and social assistance industry, which showed the biggest growth over the past five years.
Ms Lucas attributed the rise to an ageing population and increased collaboration with health service providers.
Ms Lucas heads a team at the Banksia Friendship Group, a day centre which provides recreational and social activities for senior citizens.
“We run meaningful, interactive and fun activities of people’s choice to help support and maintain friendships as well as providing respite for loved ones,” she said.
“Within their own home, a lot of our clients don’t have contact with people their own age and our group tries to encourages laughter and movement.
“It’s all consumer-driven care, so our activities focus on what our clients are interested in.”
Ms Lucas said activities range from barbecues, Italian days and an overnight trip to Monarto Zoo.
“Our activities help create a distraction from any pain the clients might have,” she said.
“I like running the program because at the end of the day, you see how happy everyone is.
“You do walk away feeling you have made a whole group’s day better.”
