A psychology qualification can lead to meaningful careers that make a real difference. While some graduates become registered psychologists, others apply their expertise in health and human services, supporting individuals through life’s challenges and helping to create inclusive, thriving communities.
Explore career opportunities in health and human services, including the roles, responsibilities, skills, qualifications and potential employers.
Health and human services consultants drive meaningful change by shaping policies and programs that improve community wellbeing. Working with government and not-for-profit organisations, they research, analyse and strategise to create solutions that make a real impact.
Health and human services consultants help shape policies and programs that improve community wellbeing. They assist with research, stakeholder engagement and project management for government and not-for-profit clients. Roles may involve preparing tender documents, conducting literature reviews, developing surveys, supporting public consultations and drafting reports.
To succeed in health and human services consulting, you’ll need a strong passion for social policy and a keen interest in public policies that impact communities.
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills will help you engage with diverse stakeholders, from government officials to community representatives. A mature approach, broad social awareness and the ability to collaborate effectively in teams are also highly valued.
Strong research and analytical skills, including experience with literature reviews and quantitative data analysis, will be essential for assessing policies and providing strategic advice.
Crucially, you’ll need to be a self-starter with a high level of personal accountability. The ability to adapt, manage multiple projects and apply commercial business acumen will help you navigate the complexities of consulting in this field.
Health and human services consultants typically come from a wide range of discipline backgrounds, including psychology, health sciences, public policy and law. An undergraduate degree in one of these fields is commonly required, with further study often beneficial for career advancement.
Graduates working in this area often find opportunities with large professional services firms, which offer a broad range of consulting services. These roles typically involve project work for government and not-for-profit clients and are recruited as part of regular graduate intakes, with opportunities being limited.
Aged care workers play a crucial role in supporting elderly members of the community, helping them live with dignity and comfort in a variety of settings, including their homes, retirement villages and nursing homes. They address age-related challenges, including disability, illness, Alzheimer’s disease and feelings of depression or isolation. By providing both physical and emotional support, they enhance the quality of life for older adults, enabling them to maintain independence and wellbeing.
Aged care workers play an essential role in supporting elderly individuals, helping with case management and coordinating care plans for both individuals and their carers. They liaise with agencies, conduct home visits and ensure access to necessary services. Their work also involves identifying service gaps and advocating for vulnerable groups, while maintaining up-to-date records and following policies.
To thrive as an aged care worker, you'll need strong communication skills to connect with individuals, carers and service providers.
A commitment to person-centred practices is essential, ensuring care is tailored to each individual’s needs.
The ability to work autonomously with initiative will help you navigate complex cases, while experience collaborating with diverse groups will support inclusive and effective care.
Aged care roles often require an undergraduate degree in psychology, social work or a related field. Additional qualifications, such as counselling courses or relevant undergraduate units may be required, alongside volunteering experience, a police check, first aid certificate and CPR training.
Aged care workers are typically employed by not-for-profit organisations, community agencies and local government services. Employers range from large organisations like St Vincent de Paul to smaller, issue-specific groups. A variety of opportunities can be found through the Careers Vic job portal.
Disability support workers empower individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities to live independently and participate fully in their communities. They provide essential support in areas like employment, accommodation, life skills and respite care. Through advocacy and hands-on assistance, they help individuals build confidence, develop new skills and navigate daily life with greater independence.
Disability support workers play a crucial role in empowering individuals with intellectual disabilities, acquired brain injuries and physical disabilities, such as cerebral palsy or paraplegia. They provide essential support by assisting with client assessments, care plans and referrals. Their tasks also include maintaining case files, delivering training, liaising with service providers and developing community education strategies to raise awareness and foster inclusivity for people with disabilities and their families.
To succeed in a disability support worker role, you'll need excellent interpersonal and communication skills, allowing you to connect with individuals from diverse backgrounds and with a wide range of abilities.
Experience working with people with disabilities or in human services will help you develop a deep understanding of their needs and the programs and services available to support them.
You’ll also need strong problem-solving skills, the ability to work collaboratively as part of a team, and a solid understanding of policies like the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 and the home and community care system.
Crucially, you’ll need a passion for advocacy and empowerment, a commitment to quality care and the ability to manage multiple tasks effectively under pressure.
This role typically requires an undergraduate degree in psychology, social work or a related field. A counselling course, relevant undergraduate units in applied counselling skills, experience volunteering with a community organisation, a Working with Children Check, Police Check and a current first aid certificate may also be needed.
Employers in disability support are often not-for-profit organisations, community agencies or local governments. These can range from large national organisations to smaller, issue-specific groups dedicated to supporting people with disabilities. Some examples include Department of Health, St Vincent de Paul, MacKillop Family Services, Scope and Yooralla.
Drug and alcohol support workers play a vital role in helping individuals affected by substance use challenges. They offer compassionate support, guiding clients through assessments, interventions and recovery processes. By promoting health education and facilitating community-based programs, they empower individuals to make lasting changes, supporting their journey towards better health and wellbeing.
Drug and alcohol support workers play a key role in supporting individuals facing challenges with substance use by providing tailored withdrawal services, responding to emergency situations and offering needle exchange programs. They also help implement awareness and education campaigns while identifying and supporting at-risk individuals, including children and young people. They also advocate for clients, coordinate specialist referrals and help secure funding for health promotion projects.
To thrive in this role, you'll need excellent communication and interpersonal skills, enabling you to engage effectively with clients from all walks of life.
A background in assessing needs and designing treatment plans will be key, along with a creative approach to problem-solving for the unique challenges your clients face.
Understanding the complexities of drug and alcohol use, as well as the impact on individuals, families and communities, is essential.
Above all, your ability to advocate for clients, stay organised under pressure and work collaboratively with other professionals will set you up for success.
This role typically requires an undergraduate degree in psychology, social work or a related field. A counselling course, relevant undergraduate units in applied counselling skills, experience volunteering with a community organisation, a Working with Children Check, Police Check and a first aid certificate may also be needed.
Employers in the drug and alcohol support field are typically community-based services, not-for-profit organisations, referral services and health services. These can include larger organisations, private clinics and telephone or online counselling services. Examples include the Department of Health, Salvation Army, St Vincent de Paul, Uniting Care Australia and Mission Australia.
Psychology professionals in health and human services play a vital role in supporting individuals and communities through roles such as aged care workers, disability support workers and drug and alcohol support workers.
These rewarding careers offer opportunities to create positive change by enhancing wellbeing, advocating for vulnerable populations and providing essential services that improve lives.
Find out more about studying psychology and mental health at Deakin.
