Fastest growing job roles in Australia for 2026: How Kirana Colleges can help you get there

Role overview

An aged care worker supports older Australians to maintain independence and quality of life by assisting with personal care, daily living tasks, wellbeing, companionship and more.

Job growth

Aged care roles remain among the fastest-growing occupations in Australia, with employment projected to increase by around 28% over five years to 2026, as the population continues to age and demand for quality care rises.

How to get started in Aged Care

Kirana Colleges offers relevant qualifications, including:

• CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) This entry-level course equips you with the core skills needed to provide care and support to older people. You’ll learn to assist with personal care, mobility, nutrition, daily living tasks, and wellbeing activities, preparing you for work in aged care facilities, in-home care, or community programs.
• CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing & Disability) If you’re unsure whether you want to focus on aged care, disability, or both, this course offers training across both streams. You’ll gain practical experience supporting older adults and people with disabilities, helping you develop a broad skill set that is highly valued in the community services sector.

Next steps

Both courses include work placements, giving you hands-on experience and building confidence for your first role. Completing either course provides a strong foundation for career progression within aged care or transitioning into other community support roles, including disability or mental health support.

Role overview

Disability support workers assist individuals with physical, intellectual or developmental disabilities to live fulfilling, independent lives by providing tailored support.

Job growth

As Australia’s population ages and disability services expand, professionals in disability support continue to be in strong demand, with growth similar to other care roles as service delivery models evolve to meet needs. While precise forecasts vary by occupation, community and personal service roles, including disability support, are among the fastest-expanding groups in the Australian labour market.

How to get started in Disability Support

• CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) This course equips students with the practical and theoretical skills to provide care and support for individuals with disabilities. You’ll learn to assist with daily living tasks, promote independence, and apply person-centred support strategies. Graduates are prepared to work in disability services, group homes, or community programs, helping clients live fulfilling and independent lives.

Role overview

Welfare support workers provide advocacy, assistance and resource navigation to individuals and families in need, strengthening community wellbeing.

Job growth

Welfare workers and related community services roles are forecast to keep growing robustly as services expand to support health, ageing and social equity outcomes.

How to get started as a Welfare Support Worker

• CHC42021 Certificate IV in Community Services The course provides a strong foundation for entering support roles across community settings, performing person-centred service delivery under supervision.

Role overview

Mental health support workers assist people facing mental health challenges by offering emotional support, practical assistance and guidance to help clients manage daily life and access appropriate care.

Job growth

While exact official projections for this specific role to 2026 are limited, broader evidence shows continued expansion of services in mental health and psychosocial support. Roles in this space are part of the broader community and personal services workforce, which is projected to grow strongly in the coming years.

How to get started in Mental Health Support

Kirana Colleges offers flexible training pathways to help you start and grow your career in mental health support.

The CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health provides the essential skills and knowledge to support individuals experiencing mental health challenges. Students learn how to communicate effectively, provide practical and emotional support, implement crisis intervention strategies, and work within legal and ethical frameworks.

For those looking to move into more complex support or coordination roles, Kirana also offers a dual qualification pathway: the CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health combined with the CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services. This pathway equips students with advanced skills in case management, service coordination, and leadership, helping you broaden your career opportunities across the mental health and community services sectors.

Role overview

Community support workers engage with local communities to address social challenges, facilitate engagement with services and promote inclusion.

Job growth

Community and personal service occupations, which include community support roles, are projected to expand significantly, reflecting ongoing investment in health, social services and community development.

How to get started as a Community Support Worker

The CHC42021 Certificate IV in Community Services is an ideal entry-level qualification for those starting out. It prepares students to support individuals and communities by delivering person-centred services, undertaking advocacy work, and assisting clients under supervision across a range of community settings.

For those seeking more responsibility or wishing to progress into advanced support or coordination roles, the CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services builds on this foundation. This qualification focuses on working with more complex client needs, service coordination and leadership within community services environments.

Role overview

Early childhood educators nurture children’s development in formative years, providing care, learning and supportive environments that shape lifelong outcomes.

Job growth

Child care and early childhood education roles are among the health and care occupations expected to continue strong growth through 2026, reflecting population trends and family workforce participation.

How to get started as an Early Childhood Educator

Kirana Colleges offers clear training pathways to help you enter and progress within the early childhood education and care sector.

The CHC30121 Certificate III in Early Childhood Education and Care is the minimum entry-level qualification required to work in most early childhood education settings. This course prepares students with the foundational skills needed to support children’s learning, development and wellbeing in a safe and nurturing environment.

For those looking to take the next step in their career, the CHC50125 Diploma of Early Childhood Education and Care is the recommended pathway for advanced educator and leadership roles within early learning services.

Kirana Colleges also offers a dual qualification pathway, allowing students to complete both the Certificate III and Diploma. This provides a clear career pathway for students aiming to build skills, improve employability, and progress into senior roles.

Role overview

Counsellors provide guidance and therapeutic support to individuals facing personal and emotional challenges, contributing to mental wellbeing and community resilience.

Job growth

Counselling and allied mental health roles continue to be in demand as services expand across Australia.

How to get started as a Counsellor

• CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling equips students with micro-counselling, interviewing and therapeutic support skills.

At Kirana Colleges, we recognise the importance of these growing job sectors and are committed to providing high quality vocational education tailored to industry needs. Our courses are developed by professionals with sector experience, ensuring you receive relevant and practical training that supports your career goals.

If you’re ready to start your journey into one of these meaningful and in-demand roles in 2026, contact our Course and Career Advisor for more information about course options and enrolment pathways.

Job growth insights in this article are informed by national employment projections published by Jobs and Skills Australia. and Jobs and Skills Australia 2025 Employment Projections.