Career Profiles

Career Profiles

Health

The health industry is made up of a range of organisations providing a variety of services to the public. There are obviously a wide range of occupations within the sector, with the most common being medical practitioners, nursing, pharmacy, occupational therapy and physiotherapy. Health professionals are found in private practice, hospitals and other public and private organisations, including nursing homes, surgeries, community health centres and clinics.

The work

Many graduates begin their careers in the public health system, expanding their skills and knowledge base before moving into a community setting or private practice. Working in a large institution gives graduates broad experience and the opportunity to work closely with other health professionals.

Private practice is becoming more popular as a long-term career option; it offers greater control and flexibility in hours, and the opportunity for practitioners to apply their own approaches to treatment.

There are shortages of many health professionals – particularly nurses, GPs and medical imaging specialists – which are projected to continue. With an ageing population, demand on health services will increase.

Lifestyle factors can vary considerably between occupations and fields within the health sector. Many professionals, especially those working in hospitals, are required to work after-hours shifts and be on-call for emergencies.

What you need

For many health-related occupations, graduates must gain registration with the relevant associated board before being permitted to practise. Some disciplines, such as medicine, medical imaging technology, nuclear medicine technology and radiation therapy, generally require graduates to undertake a year of clinical practice before they are eligible for registration.

Entry into some specialisations requires postgraduate study, hospital experience and the passing of examinations that lead to membership of the appropriate professional college.

As well as the knowledge and technical skills required for each specific occupational area, people working in this industry need to have effective interpersonal skills.

Money matters

The health sector encompasses a diverse range of occupations, for which salaries differ markedly. Four of the most common occupations are nurses, pharmacists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists. In 2006, the Australian Graduate Survey showed half of all bachelor graduates employed full-time as nurses were earning $36,000-$42,000 four to six months after completing their qualifications. This applies to all registered nurses, including those working in the areas of mental health and developmental disability. While the survey showed the equivalent range for unregistered pharmacy graduates was $30,000-$36,000, further research indicates salaries for pharmacy graduates increase by an average of over 90 per cent in the year after registration (registration usually occurs after one year in the work force). Approximately half of all new bachelor graduates working as occupational therapists in 2006 earned $40,900-$44,000, while the equivalent range for those working as physiotherapists was $42,000-$45,000. See www.gradsonline.com.au for current salary information.

Significant stats

• More than one million people work in the health and community services industry.
• The industry grew by over 156,600 jobs in the five years to February 2007.
• Strong job growth is expected to continue due to an ageing population and developments in medical technology – approximately 163,900 new jobs projected in the next five years.
• Almost 46 per cent of workers in the industry are aged over 45, which is will lead to more opportunities for graduates in coming years.
• Nearly four in five workers in the sector are female.

Source: except where indicated, figures from www.skillsinfo.gov.au and Australian Jobs 2007, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.