Employment Opportunities For Paid Care Staff To Rise In Coffs Harbour

April 9, 2011 - PRLog -- The disability and community care sector is set to grow rapidly in regional centres across New South Wales in the next five years, including Coffs Harbour.

Potential employees including those looking to change careers and work in this sector heard that up to 5,600 jobs are anticipated to be up-for-grabs between now and 2015 in the New South Wales North Coast region, when they attended a forum held at the Chill Out Cafe in early April.

Coffs Harbour Support Services and carecareers, a New South Wales employment campaign, organised the forum so that local people could find out more about how to transition into a rewarding job within the disability and community care sector.

"The disability and community care sector is looking to recruit 40 000 people across NSW in the next five years because the number of people using these services is expected to rise to 350,000," says Patrick Maher, Chief Operating Officer of National Disability Services NSW.

The forum allowed people to talk one-to-one with a 'Talent Advisor' or career counsellor, and hear from: John Costello as the General Manager of Coffs Harbour Support Services; a local person working in the sector Mr Richard Convery; and Mr Maher, representing carecareers.

Guests also had a chance to network with staff from local employer organisations.

The http://www.carecareers.com.au/ employment website functions much like Seek or MyCareer - but also offers a career advisory service and help-line for job seekers on  1300 637 637.

"carecareers is a one-stop shop for those interested in finding out more about a career in the community and disability care sector," says Mr Maher.

More than 71 positions based in Coffs Harbour and the surrounding area have been advertised through carecareers since its launch 12 months ago.

"There are more than 35 local organisations eligible to use carecareers to recruit for staff. Unlike other recruitment avenues, this service targets people who want to work specifically in this sector and it is free," says Mr Maher.

General Manager of Coffs Harbour Support Services John Costello says, "People dreaming of a career change often don't consider that they already have some transferrable skills that could be used as a paid care worker. (http://www.carecareers.com.au/jobs-employment.aspx )

"The disability and community care sector offers employees some enviable conditions including: flexible working hours, on-the-job training, and employment security," says Mr Costello.

"There are lots of misconceptions about what it's like to work in the sector, so carecareers is focused on showing the mutually rewarding benefits of paid care staff supporting their client's goals, interests and abilities in their day to day work," says Mr Maher.

# # #

carecareers is a not-for-profit recruitment initiative aimed at increasing attraction and retention within the community care and disability sector, funded by the Department of Human Services (NSW) and delivered by National Disability Services (NDS).