Welfare Worker Career and Immigration options for Australia

Profile Title: Welfare Worker Career and Immigration options for Australia

Alternative Title:Welfare Case Worker

ANZSCO Code: 272613 | Unit Code: 2726

Skill Level: Level 1 | Work Experience: 5 Years

Assessing Bodies: Australian Community Workers Association (ACWA)

Skill Occupation List (SOL): STSOL

Specialization: Not Defined

Profile Description: Assists individuals, families and groups with social, emotional or financial difficulties to improve quality of life, by educating and supporting them and working towards change in their social environment.

Job Duties:

• researching and analysing community issues, needs and problems
• developing, evaluating and maintaining community resources and programs
• evaluating data and writing reports such as submissions requesting funding for continuing programs and new projects
• identifying issues of local need, concerns and aspirations through community consultation
• organising local sporting, cultural and recreational events and activities such as community functions, hobby classes, community arts projects and sporting competitions
• providing support while exploring alternatives with clients who experience difficulties such as marital problems, unemployment, illness and drug abuse
• assessing risks and providing intensive short-term crisis counselling for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, disasters and other crises
• assisting to establish and administer neighbourhood houses, community groups, employment training programs and other services

Skill Level Description: In Australia and New Zealand: Most occupations in this unit group have a level of skill commensurate with a Bachelor Degree or higher qualification. At least five years of relevant experience may substitute for the formal qualification. In some instances relevant experience and/or on-the-job training may be required in addition to the formal qualification (ANZSCO Skill Level 1).

Available Visa Options (As on February 2024):

• 190 - Skilled Nominated (subclass 190)
• 407 - Training visa (subclass 407)
• 489 - Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) - State or Territory nominated
• 482 - Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) - Short Term Stream
• 187 - Regional Sponsor Migration Scheme (subclass 187)
• 494 - Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (provisional) (subclass 494) - Employer sponsored stream
• 491 - Skilled Work Regional (provisional) visa (subclass 491) State or Territory nominated

Registration or Licensing: Not Required

Industries: Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers are mainly employed in: Health Care and Social Assistance; Public Administration and Safety; and Other Services

Education Profile: The most common level of educational attainment for Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers is Bachelor degree (27.3 per cent).

Job Opening: Over the five years to November 2019, the number of job openings for Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers is expected to be average (between 10,001 and 25,000). Job openings count both employment growth and turnover (defined as workers leaving their occupation for other employment or leaving the workforce).

Age Group: The main age group is 35-44 years (29.5 per cent) and the median age is 41 years (compared to 40 years for all occupations).

Gender: The female share of Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers is 71.6 per cent and 62.5 per cent of Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers work full time. Average weekly hours for full time workers are 34.3 (compared to 40.2 for all occupations).

Earning: In August 2014 (latest available data) weekly earnings full-time before tax (and not including employer superannuation) were $1,203 (compared to earnings for all occupations of $1,200).

Employment: Employment for this occupation rose strongly (in percentage terms) in the past five years and rose strongly in the long-term (ten years). Looking forward, employment for Welfare, Recreation and Community Arts Workers to November 2020 is expected to grow strongly.