Dozens of aged and disability care jobs are available locally with leading care support organisation Wendy's Home Care - close to home, with flexible hours and opportunities to link into training to help build a career.
The company's annual recruitment blitz emphasises life experience, character and attitude, not just qualifications, and targets those seeking meaningful work that helps their community, yet also gives them an ideal work/home balance.
The organisation, which offers in-home aged and disability care, needs more than 20 new casual staff to meet increasing demand in The Hills, Penrith, Blacktown, Blue Mountains and Parramatta regions.
Information sessions will be held at:
- Castle Grand, Wexford Room, Castle Hill Cultural Centre, Pennant St, Castle Hill, from 10.30am to 12.30pm Wednesday, August 21.
- Vikings Club, 35 Quarry Rd, Dundas Valley, from 10.30am to 12.30pm Friday, August 30
- Penrith Library Theatrette, High St, Penrith, from 10.30am to 12.30pm Wednesday, August 28
Operating between Parramatta and Lithgow, Wendy's Home Care is an approved service provider for many non-government agencies, government services including the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and Veterans' Home Care and is an aged care provider approved by the Federal Government.
It also services private clients and now offers government subsidised home care packages through MyAgedCare.
Wendy's Home Care general manager Alannah Norman said the casual positions are ideal for people wanting a career or lifestyle change which offers a more flexible work/home balance but involves learning new skills in a rewarding community role.
"Our staff are the best in the business, which is why we have such demand for our services. We just need more.
"People new to the industry often underestimate themselves - life skills and experience are extremely important and we can then provide training to build your knowledge and competencies. One of our team was a swimming coach for fifty-five years before joining us, John was in retail, Sandra was a hairdresser.
"And don't use age as an excuse - most of our staff are aged over35, one is 71 and many came to us in middle age from other industries without previous aged and disability experience.
"What's more important to us are practical people with a great attitude and life skills, who love people and want to help them.''
Staff are matched to clients to suit their needs, which may vary from domestic assistance (housework, shopping and meal preparation), personal care, respite, emergency or short-term care, monitoring and supervision, social support and transport.
"Care support work is an opportunity to make connections, especially in areas where there are lots of new people looking to forge relationships and find their place in the community,'' Ms Norman said.
Community care roles would especially suit people who had worked in a high intensity facility such as a nursing home, who would like to work more flexible hours close to home and give one-on-one support to clients. However, people new to the industry were also encouraged to apply, as were those from varied cultural backgrounds, especially people with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds.
Care workers must have a reliable vehicle, a mobile phone, a current driver's licence and a first aid certificate with additional opportunities available to those who have Certificate III in individual Support, Aged, Home Care or Disability Care and/or other industry qualifications. Register on (02) 4587 5999 or at hradmin@wendyshome.com.au
