With a population that is aging, and constantly growing, as well as an Indigenous population with poor health outcomes, the demand for medical and health care jobs is high. Those who work in the health care sector provide a huge range of services to their community, with a focus on preventing and treating illness and injury.
Health care specialists can choose to focus their skills on many specific areas, from nursing, to mental health, or even pharmacy, depending on their skill set and interests. Training and study for different health jobs varies quite widely, depending on the intended career.
Training for health care jobs
Most jobs in the medical and health care sector require at least an undergraduate degree at university. Doctors require at least a Bachelor of Medicine, and will undergo much more training within their career once they graduate from formal tertiary training.
Postgraduate study is also highly valued, especially for careers like those wishing to become psychiatrists, who have a prerequisite of a postgraduate degree before they can practice. Therefore some health jobs will require at least four or five years of full time study. However, some health jobs such as counseling, first aid and health and fitness require only study at a Diploma or Certificate level, which can be obtained at a TAFE institution and take much less time to complete.
Working in the health sector
There is high demand for those interested in working in community health and medical professions. With an aging population in Australia, medical and health care jobs will increase dramatically in the next few decades as health issues increase. Working in a health care job requires commitment and an enjoyment for caring for people, and can be a thoroughly satisfying and fulfilling job.