The healthcare industry in Australia and internationally is constantly growing and changing.
Emerging technology, the expanding and ageing population, increased and new demands on services as well as changing approaches to healthcare mean qualified professionals will be in demand even more in the future.
Federal Government research shows that in the next decade health professionals will retire in larger numbers than newly qualified replacements hitting the job market. Employment services market specialist Clarius reported in November 2011 that for every 110 health professionals who retire, only 84 qualified people join this workforce.
If the health field interests you, why not investigate courses available through Open Universities Australia (OUA)? Their courses can lead to careers including nursing, nutrition, health promotion and management, epidemiology, environmental health and biostatistics. Studying can also provide the extra skills or qualifications you may need to further your career or head in a new direction.
Nursing is a trusted and respected profession and qualified nurses are always in demand.
The Acting Head of the University of South Australia’s School of Nursing and Midwifery, Associate Professor Carol Grech, says that nursing graduates have more career opportunities than ever before.
“Nurses can find work in areas such as chronic disease management, mental health, aged care services and rehabilitation, as well as more traditional hospital nursing roles,” she says.
The University of South Australia’s Bachelor of Nursing, which is offered through OUA, can also lead to careers in community centres, the defence forces, schools, health and welfare organisations, and even private homes.
“Nursing is a global profession and while there are some differences in registrations in other countries, Australian nurses work in many countries around the world,” Grech says. “Nurses now also have a career pathway for experienced, highly specialised nurse practitioners, who have an extended scope of practice which can lead to research, nurse education and academia. The diversity is unlimited.”
Grech says that studying nursing online can be particularly useful for people in remote and rural areas, who can then work in their own communities.
“We also have a number of students who have had other careers and decided to switch to nursing,” she says. “They bring a richness of experience to the profession, which is wonderful.”
Other health-related courses available through OUA range from a Diploma of Community Services to a Master of Sports Coaching, or a Graduate Diploma in International Health. They are with highly regarded institutions such as University of South Australia, Griffith University, Curtin University and Central Gippsland Institute of TAFE.
Research shows that healthcare will generate more jobs than any other industry in many developed countries in the next decade, largely due to the rapid growth of the ageing population.
The need for nurses, aides, and community and social workers will grow as families rely more on long-term care facilities. Advances in medical technology and improvements in diagnostic tests and surgical procedures will result in a greater demand for experts in other health and science fields.
Aspiring biotechnologists might be interested in a Bachelor of Science (Applied Sciences) from RMIT University. However, with an education in health and science your options are limitless: graduates could also find work in areas as diverse as science journalists, industrial consultants, health and safety advisors, and science teachers.
To find out more, please phone 1300 881 548 or visit www.open.edu.au/thinkdone
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