Community healthcare is the service concerned with the study and betterment of the overall health of a community. Health jobs are incredibly varied, ranging from medical care and treatment, to mental health, natural therapies, and even medical technologies.
There are many community health based jobs which all require different skill sets and knowledge, suiting many personalities and temperaments. Medical and community health based jobs are usually in demand and are well remunerated, with some areas, like aged care, being more in demand than others.
Working in a medical or health job
Your work environment as a health professional would vary widely, depending on your specialisation and circumstances. For example, doctors can work in private family practices or public hospitals. Mental health specialists, like psychologists, can work in community health centres or in a consultancy.
Working conditions also vary widely depending on your role. Certain medical specialists, like obstetricians, may work long hours delivering babies. Other specialists, like natural therapists, may have roles that fit within a 9-5 framework.
It is worth doing some research to see what kind of health care job has the qualities that you are looking for in a career.
Studying for a health care job
Working in different medical fields will always require some tertiary training, and usually in-depth specialisation in the form of undergraduate and postgraduate study at university.
Many health related courses may have prerequisites, requiring their students to possess some knowledge of biology, maths, chemistry or physics, and this can be important to include in your year 12 studies.
Once enrolled in a university degree, such as a Bachelor of Health Science, or Bachelor of Medicine, studies may continue for three to five years in duration, and may need to be supplemented by postgraduate study. It is important to research your options to ensure you take the right path to a career in health.
Working as a health care specialist is a rewarding and necessary role in a healthy society, and one with facets to suit all kinds of expectations and personalities.