Being bilingual is an extremely useful skill to have in most careers, and it’s no different for Aged Care. It can open up new doors and job possibilities for you, so it’s something that you should put out there. Definitely don’t hide it, as it can give you a leg-up when it comes to getting employed.
Australia has always been a multi-cultural society, and that is only going to increase – according to the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) there are over 1 million Australians, over the age of 50, who come from backgrounds where English was not their first language. That’s a huge proportion of the population, which means that there will be more and more of those who will need Carers to speak their language in order for them to receive quality personal care. So if you are bilingual, then you are perfectly poised to help these people – especially the aged.
Below are some of the key benefits of being a bilingual Professional Carer.
There is a strong demand for bilingual carers
With Australia being such a multi-cultural country, there is naturally a very high demand for Professional Carers that can speak other languages. Employers in this sector are always on the lookout for those who can speak languages such as Greek, Italian, Mandarin/Chinese or Vietnamese. This is because of Australia’s large contingent of people who are from countries that speak those languages as their native tongue.
But that’s not to say any other language you might speak isn’t worthwhile! At Newly we work with several clients who often have requirements for several other languages too, so there will always be something for you. For example, we’ve recently had some requirements for Carers that can speak Arabic, Somali (and other African languages) or Turkish.
Potential to build a strong rapport with clients
The ability to speak the language of your client means that you can quickly build rapport with them when you otherwise may not have been able to.
The ability to speak the same language, can help greatly with the delivery of person-centred care. Being able to understand each other immediately means that you can both be on the same level from the beginning. So being able to work with clients who are on the same wavelength to yourself is very beneficial to them, and crucial for the delivery of quality care.
Ability to be more dynamic and flexible
Speaking a second language gives you the ability to be far more flexible and dynamic in the work you can do. You can do Home and Community Care for clients who speak the same language and you can also work in facilities that specialise in providing care to those from different cultures. And those are just some of the opportunities available to you.
On top of that, within the workplace, you could also be tasked with helping to facilitate communication between certain residents and the other staff. To employers, a Carer who can provide that assistance with communication is invaluable. For you, that means a more dynamic workplace in which you might have a few extra responsibilities outside delivering personal care. It’s a great way to get noticed and become an important part of the team.
Rewarding experience
Speaking another language means that you will often be providing personal care to those who aren’t familiar with the English language. With this, comes a lot of responsibility as you look to help them attain their goals and live a fulfilling life through the care that you provide. It’s an incredibly rewarding experience to be able to help them achieve these things and be front and centre in the process.
You also play a very important part in providing the best quality personal care that they can receive. For them, it will be extremely satisfying to be able to accurately communicate their care needs, as they will be able to speak their native language with you.
Voila! The key benefits of being a bilingual Professional Carer. We hope those of you out there who can speak a language other than English now have the drive and confidence to nominate that you speak another language. The Aged Care industry needs you!