Are you all about the dollar-dollar bills, y’all? Do you also have a social-conscience and want to make a direct impact to the lives of those who need a helping hand? PEDESTRIAN.TV has partnered with Swinburne University of Technology to give you the heads-up about the aged-care sector’s impending, profitable explosion (we’ll explain why in a tickle). Swinburne is obsessed with outcomes, and one particular outcome they feel very strongly about is gainful employment. You’ll be confident while studying at Swinburne that there’s a job – a profitable one nonetheless – waiting for you on the other-side. Check out the great courses they’ve got on offer HERE.
We think it’s worthwhile bringing the below information to your attention, ’cause, y’know, it’s hectic:
“In 1970–71, 31 per cent of the population was aged 15 years or younger, while by 2001–02 this proportion had dropped to 22 per cent. The proportion of Australia’s population aged over 65 years has grown from 8 per cent in 1970-71 to 13 per cent in 2001-02,” says The Treasury’s Australia’s Demographic Challenges document.
Don’t worry, the above was a bit hard for us to decipher as well so let’s break it down for ya. Back in the day, Australia’s population was hella young. In addition to that, the portion of it that was old remained quite small. It’s now the reverse of that: our population consists more of elderly people than spritely, energetic citizens. The issues that arise from this, unfortunately, go beyond a shortage of canned chicken soup and influx of knitted goods.
“The IGR [Intergenerational Report] projects that over the next 40 years, the proportion of the population over 65 years will almost double to around 25 per cent,” states the report.
“At the same time, growth in the population of traditional workforce age is expected to slow to almost zero.This is a permanent change.Barring an unprecedented change in fertility rates, the age structure of the population is likely to stabilise with a far higher proportion of older Australians.”
This is where the phrase ageing population stems from, and it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to recognise how it came to be an issue (no offence, rocket scientists).
As a population, we’re not producing babies like we used to. Women are trading strollers for bangin’ stock portfolios, opting to return to the workforce after giving birth. They’re also choosing to have fewer children, rather than juggle six kids as well as a kick-ass career.
The other main factor causing an ageing population is advancements in health care. We ain’t dying. Instead, we’re lingering around like a fart in an unventilated bathroom.
So, what does this situation provide for the opportunistic?
CASH MONEY, BABY.
The best part is we’re not talking about the money that you can make from working in literal aged-care (as in working in an aged-care facility – WHICH IS A HONOURABLE INDUSTRY THAT DESERVES AS MANY RESOURCES AS POSSIBLE), we’re talking about adapting your current career goals to better the state of aged-care in Australia.
GAMING: For those who’re interested in creating the next generation of ways for 15-25 year old men to piss away countless hours in front of a TV/computer, there’s cold-hard-cash to be made in the field of memory aid. As we’re all well aware, as your age increases, your memory goes to the gutter. A great way to counteract this is by using engaging games that trigger memory elements of your brain.
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The next frontier of gaming is obviously virtual reality and the possibilities involved with that are seemingly endless. Using virtual reality, there’s scope for the creation of nostalgic worlds that could improve the living conditions of the elderly by taking them back in time.
ENGINEERING: As more people start to become Palliative Petes, the need for improved mobility assistance tools – like ways to get in and out of bed – as well as the market for artificial limbs, will skyrocket faster than Clinton’s approval rating after the release of Trump’s immigration policy.
NUTRITION: The field in nutrition will need fresh minds to formulate diets for the elderly that don’t resemble the main food groups of a rabbit.
FITNESS: You get sick when you’re old. Devo, etc. Exercising is a good way to reduce this likelihood, but it needs to be suitable for someone of an advanced age. The need for tailor-made exercise regimes will grow as the ageing population does – SMELL THE MONEY, Y’ALL. There’s also a demand for post-op fitness aficionados to help keep old-folk healthy after surgery.
PSYCHOLOGY: There’ll be a leap in demand for psychologists skilled in treating dementia with the care these patients deserve.
MYOTHERAPY/PHYSIOTHERAPY: Just because you *are* old, doesn’t mean you have to look old. This field will see steady growth as the elderly will need help rebuilding muscle tone – in other words, they need help shredding for Stereo, brah.
INDUSTRIAL DESIGN: Graduates in the industrial design sector could help create products that improve the lives of those with limited mobility.
An ageing population may be responsible for the steady decline of our great nation, but as we’ve shown you, there’s plenty of $$$ to be made, and lives to be changed, if you pursue a career in the industry. If that sounds like a good plan to you then head to Swinburne’s website HERE to explore the course that’ll have you making phat-stacks, as well as making you feel 10/10 fulfilled.
