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Author change of career

rebeccaL

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  • Joined: Jul 2012
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  • Posts: 5

Mon Jul 30, 2012 1:07 pm

Hi everyone,

I am currently a dental nurse in QLD but my passion is aged care. I have looked into the online tafe course and i think that will be the best option for me as I can't afford to have time off work to go to classes as my current employer works around my husbands roster and my son's school hours, so I need to be at work whenever i can to make up for the hours that i'm doing pickup/drop off.

one of the other mum's at my son's school is working in an aged care facility and she loves it, i've asked her about the courses etc but i feel uncomfortable asking her about the pay rates.

I cam currently on $220 per day ( some times i work 5 hours if i have to pick our son up but other times i work over 12-14, that's why she pays me a good day rate) and i'm sure that with aged care i won't make nearly that much but can you all please give me a round about figure for the morning, afternoon, night shifts? how much is it per hour or a week?

I need to work out if i can afford to do this, i would love to but i also need to think about my family.

Thanks

Rebecca

MissyA

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MissyA
  • Joined: Jan 2012
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  • Posts: 19

Jul 30, 2012, 02:19 pm

Hi Rebecca, I read your message and had to reply because I know of at least 5 AIN work colleagues working in aged care who are super keen to get out of the industry and do dental assisting work! They would love your job!

I would suggest thinking very carefully about your change of career. Hourly rates for Assistant in Nursing work varies (depending on the workplace and the enterprise bargain agreement they are under) from roughly $16 to $19 (AINs are paid $18.76 at my workplace): and there is 12.5% loading for afternoon shifts. Bear in mind also it is shift work and roughly the shift hours are : 06.00 to 14:00 - 14:00 to 22:00 and overnight shifts 22:00 to 06:00. It can be difficult to pick up permanent full time shifts and the trend is to employ on a casual pool basis or PPT and only have 2-3 permanent shifts per week. For this reason, a substantial number of AINs I know work several jobs or are also doing agency AIN work as they need more hours to get more money. Your wage could also start off low because you do not yet have a Certificate III in Aged Care but you can always study externally and still do shifts  or your workplace could actually accept you and put you through the Certificate as you work in their facility. There are options available. It's wonderful that you have a passion for aged care: it is very meaningful work and you do need to have a love for it. I think aged care nurses work incredibly hard and are real heroes. Ask the other mum at school you know for more advice and suggestions, they could be looking for AINs where she works and most jobs are word of mouth. It's all about WHO you know today!! Good luck...

rebeccaL

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  • Joined: Jul 2012
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  • Posts: 5

Jul 30, 2012, 03:41 pm

Thanks for the reply!

Your friends who want to get into dental should just apply for dental assistant jobs. i had no experience and a lot of dentists love that because they can train you to only suit them. I now have my cert 3 in dental assisting which i did through the ADA for around $1800, i paid it off at $160 per month. you don't need to know anything to get a dental assisting job which is great

 i earn more by having my cert but my current boss does pay me above board as we have an agreement. I do like dental but I don't LOVE it if that makes sense. I know i am on a good run with my boss but i want to love going to work, i wants to help people, i want to make a difference to someone. 

I was planning on working in dental while i study online then applying for aged care jobs when i have my cert 3, i was hoping to do night shifts so i can earn more??

jerrysmith

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  • Joined: Aug 2012
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  • Posts: 1

Aug 30, 2012, 07:51 pm

Aged care is a good field for making career and you should make career in this field surely. Sorry I don't have any idea about charges of per hour or week. But it is nice filed and Aged care gives very happiness and relaxation in our mind and heart both. I think you should not focus on money.

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