Saturday 30 January, 2010
GROWTH IN NSW PAID CARE: 38,000 JOBS UP FOR GRABS
Thousands of new workers are needed across NSW to meet a growing demand for disability
and community care services and to help fuel a booming sector.
An ageing population and a rise in numbers accessing disability services mean there will be
38,000 job vacancies between now and 2014, with roles ranging from gardeners to CEOs,
physios to cooks.
National Disability Services (NDS), with $4.3 million from the NSW Government, today
launched carecareers, a ground-breaking recruitment and careers service designed to build a
skilled workforce and raise awareness about what it’s really like to work in the sector.
carecareers spokesperson Kate More said, “We know that demand for services will rise in
coming years. That means there will be a huge number of jobs in a variety of roles, offering
workers plenty opportunity to climb the career ladder.
“Thousands of full and part-time jobs will be up for grabs. We’re not looking for angels or
heroes – we’re offering skilled workers rewarding work in providing crucial services that touch
the lives of every one of us.”
Demographer Bernard Salt said, “The need for care escalates rapidly from late middle age
and this is precisely the space that baby boomers are now spilling into.
“Care delivery to ageing boomers will be one of this decade’s greatest labour market
challenges not just in terms of the number of workers required, but also in the quality of care
they will demand.
“This means we need more workers but we also need to build a skilled and diverse
workforce.”
Sally McManus, Secretary of the Australian Services Union, said, “Paid care workers
perform some of the most important and rewarding work in our society. Unfortunately, this
work is often not seen or recognised by the wider community – carecareers brings this varied
and skilled work out into the open. Our members love their work as it really makes a
difference.”
Graeme Innes, Disability Discrimination Commissioner, said, "With 20 percent of
Australians having a disability, and our population becoming increasingly aged, disability is
more and more a part of all our lives. Assisting people with disability to achieve their goals - in
employment, education, recreation, and life in general - is therefore not only of great
importance, but can provide a challenging, interesting and rewarding career."
Alison Peters, Director of the NSW Council of Social Service (NCOSS), said, “Paid care
work is critical and challenging but makes a huge difference for individuals and the
community at large. carecareers is a great initiative that helps meet the growing demand for
skilled workers in this vital, but often overlooked, sector by raising awareness of the work to
be done and the opportunities available.”
carecareers advertisements featuring real paid care workers will be aired across free-to-
air TV networks from 31 January. The careers service can be accessed at
Full media materials from Esther Black on 0410 729 594 or Alana Mew on 0423 377 567.
NEWS 
