10 Reasons to Work in Healthcare

Wondering whether a career in healthcare is right for you?

While this industry isn’t for everyone, there are so many reasons to work in healthcare, and the sheer number of opportunities available is just the start. If you’ve got a caring nature and the desire to make a real difference in others’ lives, healthcare can be an incredibly rewarding career.  

Read on to find out why jobs in healthcare are so fulfilling, some of the roles you could pursue, and what you can do to get there. 

High demand 

Growing populations and demand for optional healthcare treatments make healthcare one of the fastest growing industries in Australia. If you want to get into an industry that can provide high job security and plenty of opportunities, a career in healthcare may be an excellent option for you.   

The overarching industry which includes Aged and Disabled Carers, Dental Assistants, Receptionists, Nurses and Doctors is referred to by the Australian government as the ‘Healthcare and Social Assistance’ industry. According to their Labour Market Insights service, the healthcare job outlook in Australia is bright, with a predicted future growth of 15.8% between 2021 and 2026. 

There are currently 2,112,600 people employed in this huge industry, and that number is expected to see strong growth. An incredible 301,000 new staff will enter into healthcare and social service roles in the five years leading up to November 2026. 

If you want to take full advantage of that demand, the sooner the better!  

High paying jobs  

Outstanding pay rates are just one factor in why working in healthcare is a great choice, but it’s a significant one. As a result of the high demand for healthcare workers, the pay is generous for the level of qualification required, secure, and is expected to continue on an upward trajectory.  

The salaries for most full time healthcare assistant positions broadly sit at around $60,000 per year. But depending on your level of qualification and experience, you could end up in positions with salaries as high as $95,500 a year!

Here are just a few examples of healthcare salaries in Australia: 

• Allied health assistant: $60,000 to $70,000 average annual salary 

• Dental assistant: $55,000 to $65,000 average annual salary 

• Occupational therapy assistant: $50,000 to $65,000 average annual salary 

• Physical therapy assistant: $60,000 to $70,000 average annual salary 

• Practice manager: $75,000 to $95,000 average annual salary 

Get started straight away  

Due to wide-ranging staffing shortages in healthcare, it’s possible to find institutions that’ll gladly offer to pay for your qualifications if you’re prepared to complete them.  

There are also plenty of amazing opportunities for on-the-job training. This means you’ll get hands-on experience in a real work environment right from the beginning of your education. It’s perfect for anyone impatient to get started on a new life path.  

It’s a meaningful career  

The work you do as a healthcare worker matters and your unique skill set will always be needed. Whether you work in a hospital or a small practice, every day involves helping to improve patients' health or simply brightening their day.

In what other professions can you spend your days easing others’ pain or discomfort, bringing new life into the world, helping somebody to leave it in peace, alleviating mental suffering, or making breakthroughs that impact entire communities? It’s one of the most powerful reasons to work in healthcare.

The future of healthcare relies on people who find a greater sense of purpose in this type of work — people who love coming in every day with the knowledge that they’re making a positive impact. If you fit the bill, you could be contributing not only to the lives of individuals but to the standard of care on a larger scale. 

Great promotion opportunities  

With an expanding industry comes expanding opportunities. New roles in healthcare open up every day. If you keep your knowledge up to date, seek new experiences and pursue further qualifications, you’ll be very well-positioned for career advancement.  

Travel opportunities  

Healthcare workers are in demand all over Australia. You can rest assured that if you ever need a change of scenery or if a partner receives a job offer on the other side of the country, you’ll find a job wherever you go.

Many career paths to choose from  

Healthcare is a highly varied industry. There are hundreds of positions available, whether you have a High School Diploma, Certificate III or IV, Diploma, or specialised medical degree. 

Between medical administration, allied health, dental and more, there are so many paths to choose from.

If you’re well-organised and detail-oriented, working in Medical Administration could be a perfect career move. But if you particularly enjoy people-facing roles, careers in Allied Health or Dental are excellent options. Wherever you want to end up, there are likely a number of entry-level positions available to help you get your foot in the door.

It’s also worth noting that this industry is so flexible that many professionals change their positions multiple times to try out different roles before settling on a specialty. So even if you try out one role and find it’s not quite the right fit for you, you can always use your experience and qualifications to head in a new direction.

Here are just a few of the exciting roles you could aspire towards. 

Medical Administration

Medical Receptionist  

Medical Receptionists are the first point of contact in medical settings, so they play a crucial role in helping patients feel welcomed and well looked after. Tasks include managing appointments, greeting patients, and handling administrative tasks. They make sure day-to-day processes are carried out smoothly, provide essential support to healthcare professionals and encourage a welcoming environment for patients.

Assistant in Nursing  

Assistant in Nursing (AIN) is a vital role in the healthcare industry and involves providing limited patient care under the supervision of registered nurses. AINs assist with daily activities like showering, eating and dressing, monitor patient wellbeing, and contribute to the comfort and recovery of individuals in hospitals, aged care, or community settings.

Health Administrative Worker  

Health Administrative Workers contribute to the efficiency of healthcare organisations by managing administrative tasks, maintaining records, and facilitating communication. Without these individuals, healthcare organisations would come to a grinding halt. They ensure all information and documentation is kept secure, accurate, and easily accessed by the right people. Health Administration workers can be found in all kinds of healthcare organisations, from medical clinics to aged-care facilities and hospitals.

Ward Clerk  

Ward Clerks typically work in the administrative arm of a hospital, providing support to doctors, nurses, and other staff members. They juggle multiple responsibilities on a day-to-day basis, including maintaining medical records, answering phones, transcribing notes and greeting patients’ loved ones. Overall, they provide general administrative, clerical and support services for the medical or surgical ward, the ICU, or an emergency department. 

Dental  

Dental Assistant  

Dental Assistants assist dentists and other dental professionals with a mixture of dental procedures. Their responsibilities include but are not limited to preparing for procedures and cleaning up afterwards, assisting through the duration of the treatments, developing x-rays and carrying out general administrative duties. They often have the most diverse role in a dentistry practice, which helps to keep things interesting. 

Dental Hygienist Assistant  

A Dental Hygienist Assistant works with a special focus on promoting oral health and preventing periodontal disease. They assist dental hygienists and dentists in a broad range of procedures. The workload is highly interesting, with day-to-day tasks including assisting with check-ups and teeth cleaning as well as playing an integral part in patient education on proper dental and preventative care.

Dental Receptionist  

Dental Receptionists ensure the dental practice operates smoothly and efficiently. Their responsibilities are wide and varied, ranging from being the first point of contact with patients, managing incoming calls, scheduling appointments, assisting patients with forms and advising them of policies, handling general administration, handling test results and communicating with supply vendors. They need to be highly organised with fantastic interpersonal skills.

Dental Practice Manager  

Dental Practice Managers ensure the dental practice operates smoothly and efficiently. For this reason, they need to be highly organised with fantastic interpersonal skills. Their responsibilities are wide and varied – they’re the first point of contact with patients, managing incoming calls, scheduling appointments, assisting patients with forms and advising them of policies. Outside of patient services, they take care of general administration, staffing, handle test results and communicate with supply vendors.  

Allied Health  

Allied Health Assistant  

Allied Health Assistants support various healthcare professionals with patient care, rehabilitation exercises, and administrative tasks, contributing to the overall wellbeing of individuals receiving allied health services. Allied Health includes occupations such as audiology, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech pathology, but doesn’t include medical or nursing professions.   

With such a broad range of specialties, becoming an Allied Health Assistant is a highly dynamic and varied career choice. 

Occupational Therapy Assistant  

Working as a certified Occupational Therapy Assistant is extremely rewarding as they help people who struggle every day to live a fulfilling and independent life, achieve their goals and improve their well-being. They work under the guidance of certified occupational therapists to help individuals by implementing therapy plans, conducting exercises, and providing support to clients with physical, mental, or developmental challenges.

Physiotherapy Assistant  

Operating under the direction of a physio, Physiotherapy Assistants help deliver rehabilitative care to patients. Patients might be seeing a physiotherapist to treat pain, recover from injury, strengthen muscles, and restore joint mobility, among many other reasons. Physiotherapy Assistants work with people of all ages in a range of settings such as hospitals, nursing homes, private practices, fitness and sports centres, workplaces, and schools.

Ready to investigate the Healthcare courses available to you? Enquire now or speak with one of our friendly Careers Advisors on 1300 616 197 to get your new career in healthcare started.