Do you have a passion for helping others to live their best lives? If so, you might like to consider a career in individual support – and one of the best ways to get qualified is by completing a traineeship.
What is a career in individual support?
A career in individual support involves providing assistance, care, and support to individuals who may need help due to disability, age-related challenges, mental health issues, or any other condition that might affect their ability to perform daily activities independently. Your primary goal as an individual support worker is to enhance the quality of life for your clients and promote their independence and wellbeing.
What skills do I need for a career as an individual support worker?
For a career as an individual support worker, essential skills include empathy and communication to connect with clients, patience and personal care abilities, adaptability, problem-solving, and attention to detail. A career in individual support can be immensely rewarding as it allows you to make a positive impact on the lives of those who need assistance and care. However, it can also be emotionally and physically demanding, requiring dedication, compassion, and a genuine desire to help others.
Why should I consider an individual support traineeship?
Traineeships are a great way to get your foot in the door with an employer and start building valuable skills. There are often lots of opportunities to continue working with your employer after your traineeship is complete, and even advance your career down the track.
As part of an individual support traineeship, you will be doing real work for an employer while completing study with a TAFE or RTO. An individual support traineeship usually takes 1-2 years to complete, depending on whether you work and study full- or part-time.
Here are some common qualifications you might want to look into:
- Certificate III in Individual Support
- Certificate IV in Disability Support
- Certificate III in Health Services Assistance
There are tons of benefits to a traineeship, rather than just work or study alone, including:
- Getting paid while you learn – unlike uni, you can work and study without having to take on an insane work load.
- The opportunity to get hands-on experience, not just endless reading.
- The potential to connect with an employer and continue working with them after your traineeship is finished.
- Your qualification will be nationally recognised, meaning you can go anywhere with it.
Where can I find traineeship opportunities?
Just like searching for a job, there are lots of places you can go to find a traineeship. You can start your search on sites like SEEK and Indeed. Take a look on social media like Facebook or LinkedIn to see if any local businesses are hiring. Sign up with an Apprenticeship Network Provider or Group Training Organisation, or even go old fashioned and take a look in the local paper or give local businesses a call.
Here are some examples of the kinds of opportunities available:
- Individual Support Worker Traineeship (Aged Care), Adelaide SA
- Individual Support Traineeship, Bundaberg QLD
- Individual Support Worker – Aged Care Traineeship, Bairnsdale VIC
- Individual Support Worker – Aged Care Traineeship (SSI/ACA), Sydney NSW
- Personal Carer Traineeship – NEW Earn While You Learn Program, Gold Coast QLD