What does a personal care assistant do?
Personal care assistants are hired to support people who are unable to perform day-to-day tasks due to sickness, injury, disability or old age. In addition to performing basic household tasks such as tidying or cleaning, a personal care assistant helps clients with grooming, washing and feeding. Sometimes, a personal care assistant may take clients to medical or other appointments or complete physical rehabilitation exercises with them. Providing clients with assistance with taking their medication may also be part of the role.
Personal care assistants are typically required to record and report details on their duties and their clients’ condition and progress to other medical professionals such as doctors or nursing staff.
Personal care assistant skills and qualifications
To perform their role well, a successful personal care assistant should have the following skills and aptitudes:
- Empathy and a caring nature
- Respect for a client’s independence and choices
- Patience and flexibility
- Excellent communication skills to effectively liaise with clients, their families and healthcare professionals
- Stamina and a thick skin
- An appropriate degree of physical fitness to lift or support clients if needed
Personal care assistant experience requirements
Some work experience is usually required before a personal care assistant is able to work independently. Applicants may have gained initial experience as part of a traineeship, or they may have previously volunteered with aged care or disability services.
Naturally, applicants with several years of practical experience as a personal care assistant will have an advantage over less experienced candidates and are highly sought after by employers.
Personal care assistant education and training requirements
Working as a personal care assistant in Australia requires a vocational qualification such as the Certificate III in Individual Support offered by a TAFE or other registered training organisation. There is the option to specialise in either Ageing or Disability. Many personal care assistants complete their qualifications alongside a traineeship.
Before you hire a personal care assistant, you also need to ensure that they have completed all relevant certifications and checks, specifically a first aid certificate, a police check and, if required, an NDIS Worker Screening Check. Candidates also need to provide evidence of their up-to-date vaccinations in line with Government guidelines before commencing employment.
Personal care assistant salary expectations
According to Indeed Salaries, the average salary for a personal care assistant is $32.46 per hour. Reported personal care assistant salaries are largely consistent across various cities in all states and territories, with rates generally within up to $10 above or below the national average.
Job description samples for similar positions
There are several roles that are similar to that of a personal care assistant. Read the descriptions to decide if you need to hire one of these professionals in addition to or instead of a personal care assistant:
Personal care assistant job description FAQs
Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions employers have asked about the personal care assistant role:
What makes a great personal care assistant?
A great personal care assistant is passionate about their job and genuinely wants to help clients. Empathy and a genuine desire to make a difference will make a good personal care assistant stand out. In addition, clients will appreciate a personal care assistant who accepts their choices and treats them with respect.
Is personal care assistant a physically demanding role?
The personal care assistant role can be physically demanding because some clients may need assistance with standing up, moving about or getting dressed. A personal care assistant may also need to perform rehabilitation exercises with clients, which requires a reasonable level of physical fitness. In addition, a personal care assistant will need to be able to travel to various clients and locations, so they need to be able to be out and about and get around with ease.
Who might hire a personal care assistant?
Personal care assistants can be independent contractors but are usually employed by an organisation or an agency providing support services. Typically, personal care assistants work with elderly clients in care facilities, or with injured or sick patients after accidents or illness, for example, to help them regain their mobility. Personal care assistants may be asked to execute rehabilitation plans compiled by occupational therapists, physical therapists or other healthcare providers.
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