Why Joining the Health Sector is a Smart Career Choice

Whether you’re starting your career or looking for a change, joining the health sector is a smart choice. In Australia, the health care and social assistance sector is over 2 million people strong…and growing! At any given time there are tens of thousands of health job vacancies across the country.

In this blog post, we will outline four reasons why we think joining the health sector is a smart career choice.

1. It’s more than Doctors and Nurses

Yes, the health sector includes the professions you would expect, like doctors, nurses, pharmacists, paramedics, and allied health professionals, but it also includes aged care and disability support workers, and a myriad of other supporting roles.

For example there are roles in administration and management, maintenance, food preparation, cleaning and waste management, accounting, quality and assurance, and even transport. Think of just about any job or role and you’ll find it somewhere in the health sector.

2. Job Security

One of the biggest advantages of working in the health sector is job security. As our population grows, the demand for healthcare services in Australia will continue to increase. This means that there will always be a need for healthcare professionals, and the people working behind the scenes to keep hospitals and health services open and operational.

Health sector jobs are usually protected during economic downturns or recessions (and quite often, new jobs are created when times get tough). Most jobs in the health sector are considered essential services, including during a pandemic, making them a stable and secure job choice.

Now more than ever, healthcare professionals are in high demand, which means that they have the freedom to choose where they want to work, who they want to work for, and what they want to specialise in.

3. Competitive Salaries and Conditions

The health sector generally follows state and national award agreements, or works with employees to develop collective bargaining agreements, so entry-level roles can offer good hourly rates. The salaries for healthcare professionals and the complimentary teams that support them (including roles in administration, corporate services, management, facilities, etc.) are competitive and reflect the level of education, training, and experience required to do the job.

On top of great base pay, many health sector jobs include benefits like additional leave entitlements, generous superannuation, and even salary packaging. Some employers in regional remote areas can offer free or subsidised accommodation, a vehicle, and even annual flights to the nearest capital city.

Professional development is embedded across the sector, and health sector employees have opportunities to advance their careers by doing additional education and training, which can lead to even more job satisfaction and a higher salary.

4. Personal Fulfilment

Working in the health sector can be personally fulfilling. No matter the role, all health sector employees contribute to making a difference to people's lives usually when they need help the most.

Healthcare professionals have the enormous privilege of helping people avoid or recover from illness, manage their chronic conditions, maintain their independence, achieve their health goals, and improve their quality of life.

And all the people who work behind the scenes contribute by making sure that people are well-cared for, the premises are clean, the bills and salaries are paid, the equipment is working, the rosters are done, the environment is safe, the referrals are made, and the phones are answered.

Your Health Career Starts Here!

So you see, a career in the health sector can be a fulfilling and rewarding experience that provides you with the opportunity to have a positive impact on people's lives. The health sector is so much more than doctors and nurses. No matter your professional interests or qualifications, you’re sure to find a career path in the health sector that suits you and your lifestyle.

If you are interested in a career in the health sector, check out health-jobs.com.au, and sign up to receive new job alerts.

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