Special Care Workers

ANZSCO ID 4234

Overview

Snapshot

Employed
4,300
Future Growth
14.2%
Weekly Earnings
$1,296
Full-Time Share
51%
Female Share
69%
Average age
38

Summary

Special Care Workers provide care and supervision for children and young people in residential and institutional facilities, and provide care and support to people in refuges.

Tasks

  • planning and implementing programs of supervision and care for children in residential care

  • supervising and arranging activities to enhance the physical, social, emotional and intellectual development of children in residential care

  • waking children and ensuring they are washed, dressed, fed and ready for educational and recreational activities

  • supervising children during domestic activities such as eating meals and showering

  • maintaining discipline, enforcing regulations and behaviour standards, compiling disciplinary reports and assisting in implementing remedial measures

  • organising refuge accommodation

  • providing emotional support to residents of refuges

  • referring residents of refuges for health and welfare assistance

  • ensuring security of refuge

Characteristics

Job Type
Community And Personal Service Workers
Skill Level
Lower skill
ANZSCO Occupation group
Unemployment Rate
Below average
Industries
Pathway(s)
  • University
  • Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • Informal or on-the-job
Interests
  • Enterprising
  • Helping
Physical Demand
  • Sedentary
  • Light
  • Medium
  • Heavy

Outlook

Employment Outlook

JSA produces employment projections to show where likely future job opportunities may be. The latest data are for the five years from November 2021 to November 2026. Over this period, the number of workers:

  • is expected to grow strongly
  • is likely to reach 5,900 by 2026.

Source: Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.

Notes: The number employed includes people who work in this occupation as their main job. People who work in more than one job are counted against the occupation they work the most hours in.

Employment projections figures are rounded to the nearest 100. Calculations based on these rounded figures may result in differences to the numbers that are displayed on this page. Employment projections data (including occupations) can be downloaded from the Employment Projections page.

Projected Change
14.2%
(or 700 jobs)
From
5,100
in 2021
To
5,900
in 2026

Number of Workers

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.
Year Employment
2011 1,900
2012 1,600
2013 3,500
2014 2,800
2015 2,900
2016 2,800
2017 1,900
2018 2,200
2019 7,700
2020 1,800
2021 5,100
2026 5,900

Source: ABS Labour Force Survey, ABS seasonally adjusted data to November 2021 and Jobs and Skills Australia Employment Projections to 2026.


Earnings and hours

Working arrangements

  • Around 52% of people employed as Special Care Workers work full-time hours, in all their jobs combined. This is 14 percentage points below the all jobs average (66%).

    Full-time workers work an average of 46 hours per week in their main job. This is similar to the all jobs average (44 hours per week).

    Median full-time earnings are $1,296 per week, this is much lower than the all jobs median ($1,593):

    • 3 in 4 workers earn more than $1,071
    • 1 in 4 earn more than $1,813

    Median hourly earnings are $41, this is the same as the all jobs median ($41 per hour).

    Sources: Full-time share and full-time hours: ABS, 2016 Census, customised report. Compared to the all jobs average. Full-time median earnings and median hourly earnings: ABS, Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021. Compared to all jobs median.

Weekly Earnings (Before Tax)

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.
Earnings Special Care Workers All Jobs Average
Full-Time Earnings 1,296 1,593
Total Earnings 0 0

Source: Based on ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2021, Customised Report. Median weekly total cash earnings for full-time non-managerial employees paid at the adult rate. Earnings are before tax and include amounts salary sacrificed. Earnings can vary greatly depending on the skills and experience of the worker and the demands of the role. These figures should be used as a guide only, not to determine a wage rate.


Industries

Main industries

1
Education and Training
56.5%
2
Health Care and Social Assistance
34.8%
3
Accommodation and Food Services
2.2%
4
Public Administration and Safety
2.2%
5
Other industries
2.2%

Regions

Employment across Australia

NSW

20.5% All occupations: 31.6%

VIC

21.6% All occupations: 25.6%

QLD

23.9% All occupations: 20.0%

SA

6.6% All occupations: 7.0%

WA

18.7% All occupations: 10.8%

TAS

1.8% All occupations: 2.0%

NT

5.5% All occupations: 1.0%

ACT

1.3% All occupations: 1.9%

Employment by State and Territory (% Share)

State Special Care Workers All Jobs Average
NSW 20.5 31.6
VIC 21.6 25.6
QLD 23.9 20.0
SA 6.6 7.0
WA 18.7 10.8
TAS 1.8 2.0
NT 5.5 1.0
ACT 1.3 1.9


  • Around 52% of Special Care Workers live outside of capital cities, compared with the all jobs average of 38%.

    Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland have a large share of employment relative to their population size.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Share of workers across Australian states, territories and regions, in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Worker profile

Age and gender

Age In Years
38
All Jobs Average is 40
Female Share
69%
All Jobs Average is 48%
  • The median age of Special Care Workers is 38 years. This is similar to the all jobs average of 40 years.

    A large share of workers are aged 25 to 34 years.

    Females make up 69% of the workforce. This is 21 percentage points above the all jobs average of 48%.

    Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile and gender share compared to the all jobs average.

Age Profile (% Share)

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.
Age Bracket Special Care Workers All Jobs Average
15-19 3.6 5.0
20-24 17.4 9.3
25-34 23.3 22.9
35-44 16.4 22.0
45-54 18.0 21.6
55-59 9.0 9.0
60-64 6.7 6.0
65 and Over 5.5 4.2
Median Age 38 40

Source: Based on ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Age profile of workers in this job compared to the all jobs average.


Employment Pathways

Education, training and experience

Formal qualifications are not essential to work as a Special Care Worker. Although some workers have a Vocational Education and Training (VET) qualification in residential care, community services, social services, child, youth, and family intervention, or related studies.

Visit

  • Course Seeker to search and compare higher education courses.
  • ComparED to compare undergraduate and postgraduate student experiences and outcomes.
  • My Skills to compare Vocational Education and Training (VET) courses, providers and student outcomes.
  • AAPathways website to explore Health Industry and Community Services VET training pathways.

Highest Level of Education (% Share)

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.
Type of Qualification Special Care Workers All Jobs Average
Post Graduate/Graduate Diploma or Graduate Certificate 7.8 10.1
Bachelor degree 19.6 21.8
Advanced Diploma/Diploma 20.6 11.6
Certificate III/IV 18.0 21.1
Year 12 22.4 18.1
Year 11 3.6 4.8
Year 10 and below 8.0 12.5

Source: ABS Census 2016, Customised Report. Highest qualification completed by workers in this job (in any field of study). Qualifications needed by new workers might be different from the qualifications of workers already in the job.


Skills and Knowledge

Employers look for Special Care Workers who are caring, compassionate and empathetic and communicate clearly, with strong people skills.

Skills

Skills can be improved through training or experience.

  • 66%

    Active listening

    Listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions.

  • 64%

    Social perceptiveness

    Understanding why people react the way they do.

  • 63%

    Speaking

    Talking to others.

  • 61%

    Serving others

    Looking for ways to help people.

  • 59%

    Critical thinking

    Thinking about the pros and cons of different ways to solve a problem.

  • 59%

    Reading comprehension

    Reading work related information.

  • 59%

    Writing

    Writing things for co-workers or customers.

  • 57%

    Coordination with others

    Being adaptable and coordinating work with other people.

  • 55%

    Negotiation

    Bringing people together and trying to sort out their differences.

  • 55%

    Persuasion

    Talking people into changing their minds or their behaviour.

  • 54%

    Monitoring

    Keeping track of how well work is progressing so you can make changes or improvements.

  • 54%

    Judgment and decision making

    Figuring out the pros and cons of different options and choosing the best one.

  • 54%

    Time management

    Managing your own and other peoples' time to get work done.

  • 50%

    Active learning

    Being able to use what you have learnt to solve problems now and again in the future.

  • 50%

    Operations analysis

    Understanding needs and product requirements to create a design.

  • 48%

    Instructing

    Teaching people how to do something.

  • 46%

    Complex problem solving

    Noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it.

  • 45%

    Management of personnel resources

    Motivating, developing, and directing people as they work, and choosing the best people for the job.

  • 45%

    Learning strategies

    Figuring out the best way to teach or learn something new.

  • 45%

    Science

    Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.


Knowledge

These are important topics, subjects or knowledge areas.

  • 87%

    Therapy and counselling

    Diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and career counselling and guidance.

  • 71%

    Psychology

    Human behaviour; differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; research methods; assessing and treating disorders.

  • 67%

    Customer and personal service

    Understanding customer needs, providing good quality service, and measuring customer satisfaction.

  • 58%

    English language

    English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.

  • 52%

    Clerical

    Word processing, managing files and records, stenography and transcription, designing forms, and other office work.

  • 49%

    Law and government

    How our laws and courts work. Government rules and regulations, and the political system.

  • 48%

    Sociology and anthropology

    Group behaviour and dynamics, societal trends and influences, human migrations, ethnicity, cultures and their history and origins.

  • 47%

    Philosophy and theology

    Philosophical systems and religions, including their basic principles, values, ethics, ways of thinking, customs, practices, and impact on society.

  • 44%

    Computers and electronics

    Circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.

  • 43%

    Education and training

    Curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.

  • 35%

    Administration and management

    Business principles involved in strategic planning, leadership, and coordinating people and resources.

  • 25%

    Transportation

    Moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road.

  • 23%

    Public safety and security

    Use of equipment, rules and ideas to protect people, data, property, and institutions.

  • 22%

    Foreign language

    Foreign (non-English) language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition and grammar, and pronunciation.

  • 21%

    Personnel and human resources

    Recruiting and training people, managing pay and other entitlements (like sick leave), and negotiating pay and conditions.

  • 21%

    Medicine and dentistry

    Diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities, including preventive health-care measures.

  • 20%

    Mathematics

    Arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, or statistics.

  • 19%

    Communications and media

    Media production, communication, and dissemination. Includes written, spoken, and visual media.

  • 12%

    Geography

    Describing land, sea, and air, including their physical characteristics, locations, how they work together, and the location of plant, animal, and human life.

  • 6%

    Telecommunications

    Transmission, broadcasting, switching, control, and operation of telecommunications systems.


Abilities

Workers use these physical and mental abilities..

  • 63%

    Oral comprehension

    Listen to and understand what people say.

  • 61%

    Oral expression

    Communicate by speaking.

  • 61%

    Problem spotting

    Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong, even if you can't solve the problem.

  • 59%

    Written comprehension

    Read and understand written information.

  • 57%

    Deductive reasoning

    Use general rules to find answers or solve problems logically.

  • 57%

    Inductive reasoning

    Use lots of detailed information to come up with answers or make general rules.

  • 57%

    Written expression

    Write in a way that people can understand.

  • 55%

    Speech clarity

    Speak clearly so others can understand you.

  • 55%

    Speech recognition

    Identify and understand the speech of another person.

  • 54%

    Near vision

    See details that are up-close (within a few feet).

  • 50%

    Sorting or ordering

    Order or arrange things in a pattern or sequence (e.g., numbers, letters, words, pictures, mathematical operations).

  • 48%

    Categorising

    Come up with different ways of grouping things.

  • 48%

    Originality

    Come up with unusual or clever ideas, or creative ways to solve a problem.

  • 46%

    Selective attention

    Pay attention to something without being distracted.

  • 45%

    Brainstorming

    Come up with a number of ideas about a topic, even if the ideas aren't very good.

  • 41%

    Flexibility of closure

    See a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) hidden in other distracting material.

  • 39%

    Far vision

    See details that are far away.

  • 39%

    Multitasking

    Do two or more things at the same time.

  • 36%

    Memorization

    Remember things like words, numbers, pictures, and procedures.

  • 36%

    Perceptual speed

    Use your eyes to quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things.


Activities

These are kinds of activities workers regularly do in this job.

  • 78%

    Building good relationships

    Building good working relationships and keeping them over time.

  • 78%

    Negotiating and resolving conflicts

    Handling complaints and disagreements, and negotiating with people.

  • 74%

    Planning and prioritising work

    Deciding on goals and putting together a detailed plan to get the work done.

  • 72%

    Making decisions and solving problems

    Using information to work out the best solution and solve problems.

  • 70%

    Communicating within a team

    Giving information to co-workers by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 68%

    Monitoring people, processes and things

    Checking objects, actions, or events, and keeping an eye out for problems.

  • 67%

    Communicating with the public

    Giving information to the public, business or government by telephone, in writing, or in person.

  • 66%

    Researching and investigating

    Looking for, getting and understanding different kinds of information.

  • 65%

    Working with the public

    Greeting or serving customers, clients or guests, and public speaking or performing.

  • 63%

    Helping and caring for others

    Providing personal assistance, medical attention, or emotional support.

  • 60%

    Documenting or recording information

    Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.

  • 59%

    Thinking creatively

    Using your own ideas for developing, designing, or creating something new.

  • 58%

    Collecting and organising information

    Compiling, coding, categorizing, calculating, tabulating, auditing, or checking information or data.

  • 56%

    Assessing and evaluating things

    Working out the value, importance, or quality of things, services or people.

  • 54%

    Coordinating the work of a team

    Getting members of a group to work together to finish a task.

  • 52%

    Working with computers

    Using computers to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.

  • 51%

    Checking compliance with standards

    Deciding whether events or processes comply with laws, regulations, or standards.

  • 51%

    Looking for changes over time

    Comparing objects, actions, or events. Looking for differences between them or changes over time.

  • 49%

    Explaining things to people

    Helping people to understand and use information.

  • 48%

    Leading and encouraging a team

    Encouraging and building trust, respect, and cooperation among team members.


Interests and demands

Learn about the daily activities, and physical and social demands faced by workers. Explore the values and work styles that workers rate as most important.

Interests

Interests are the style or type of work we prefer to do. All interest areas are shown below.

  • 100%

    Helping

    Working with people. Helping or providing service to others.

  • 62%

    Enterprising

    Starting up and carrying out projects. Leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes require risk taking and often deal with business.

  • 52%

    Creative

    Working with forms, designs and patterns. Often need self-expression and can be done without following rules.

  • 48%

    Analytical

    Ideas and thinking. Searching for facts and figuring out problems in your head.

  • 43%

    Administrative

    Following set procedures and routines. Working with numbers and details more than with ideas, usually following rules.

  • 14%

    Practical

    Practical, hands-on work. Often with plants and animals, or materials like wood, tools, and machinery.


Values

Work values are important to a person’s feeling of satisfaction. All six values are shown below.
  • 95%

    Relationships

    Serve and work with others. Workers usually get along well with each other, do things to help other people, and are rarely pressured to do things that go against their sense of right and wrong.

  • 86%

    Achievement

    Results oriented. Workers are able to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment.

  • 76%

    Independence

    Work alone and make decisions. Workers are able to try out their own ideas, make decisions on their own, and work with little or no supervision.

  • 71%

    Working conditions

    Job security and good working conditions. There is usually a steady flow of interesting work, and the pay and conditions are generally good.

  • 67%

    Support

    Supportive management that stands behind employees. Workers are treated fairly by their company, they are supported by management, and have supervisors who train them well.

  • 52%

    Recognition

    Advancement and the potential to lead. Workers are recognised for the work that they do, they may give directions and instructions to others, and they are looked up to in their company and their community.


Demands

The physical and social demands that workers face most often are shown below:
  • 100%

    Telephone

    Talk on the telephone.

  • 99%

    Contact with people

    Have contact with people by telephone, face-to-face, or any other way.

  • 98%

    Face-to-face discussions

    Talk with people face-to-face.

  • 96%

    Electronic mail

    Use electronic mail.

  • 93%

    Teamwork

    Work with people in a group or team.

  • 90%

    Contact with the public

    Work with customers or the public.

  • 87%

    Impact of decisions

    Make decisions that have a large impact on other people.

  • 87%

    Unstructured work

    Have freedom to decide on tasks, priorities, and goals.

  • 87%

    Indoors, heat controlled

    Work indoors with access to heating or cooling.

  • 87%

    Angry or unpleasant people

    Deal with unpleasant, angry, or rude people.

  • 86%

    Frequent decision making

    Frequently make decisions that impact other people.

  • 84%

    Being exact or accurate

    Be very exact or highly accurate.

  • 84%

    Conflict situations

    Deal with conflict or disagreements.

  • 83%

    Letters and memos

    Write letters and memos.

  • 82%

    Freedom to make decisions

    Have freedom to make decision on your own.

  • 80%

    Time pressure

    Work to strict deadlines.

  • 74%

    Spend time sitting

    Spend time sitting at work.

  • 73%

    Lead or coordinate a team

    Lead others to do work activities.

  • 73%

    Physically close to people

    Work physically close to other people.

  • 67%

    In an enclosed vehicle or equipment

    Work in a closed vehicle (e.g., car).

Occupational Information Network
O*NET is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.
The skills and importance ratings on this page are derived from the US Department of Labor O*NET Database Version 21.2, 21-1021.00 - Child, Family, and School Social Workers.


Links and downloads

Back to top