Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Disability)

Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Disability) - CHC33015

VOCATIONAL

Become a carer and provide expert and compassionate support to those who need it the most. 

Student type:
Learning mode:
On campus
Entry score:

Not applicable

Duration:
Full-time 1 year
Next intake:
February
Location:
Melbourne City
Learning mode:
On campus
Entry score:

Not applicable

Duration:
Not applicable
Fees:

Not applicable

Next intake:
Not applicable
Location:
Not applicable

Overview

Do you want to work as a carer, or formalise your carer qualifications?

There is increased demand for aged care workers through changes to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Launch your career in this expanding industry, and gain the skills to provide expert individual support in aged care and disability settings.

Gain this qualification through an innovative combination of face-to-face training and increased work placement hours. You'll gain experience in both leading aged care and disability service spaces and online study, including virtual reality technology. 

Co-designed with industry, aged care residents, people with disabilities and carers, with the aim of raising the quality of care in the sector, this certificate course is designed to prepare you for a broad range of careers and pathways within social services.

Subject clusters have been developed using four vocational streams delivered over 10-week terms, with a weekly commitment of 2-3 days, allowing you to study and manage other commitments. You'll learn about:

  • ethics of care vocational stream
  • enabling technologies
  • human rights
  • power and abuse
  • working with diverse people.

You will also complete work placements at leading social service organisations in both aged care and disability.

This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding.

Please note: this certificate is not available for international students intending to study on a student visa. If you are holding a temporary visa (other than a student visa) and your visa has a full study entitlement, you may be eligible to apply. For more information, see the international students with other temporary (non-student) visas.

Why study individual support (ageing, disability) at RMIT?

Industry input

Our Program Advisory Committee has significant input into course content, ensuring industry relevance.

Work placement

Build hands-on experience in leading social service organisations, covering both aged care and disability.

Sector partnerships

Offered in partnership with the Victorian Council of Social Services, and supported by the Workforce Innovation & Development Institute.

Details

Throughout this course, you will receive personalised education and training to develop work practices for better client outcomes.

Learning clusters are delivered over 10-week terms, with a weekly commitment of 2-3 days. 

In addition to this, you will undertake a supported placement at an accredited aged care facility with the guidance of an RMIT trainer. In these sessions, you will practice skills in an industry context and be assessed across a range of settings and tasks. 

You will also undertake an independent, 120-hour work placement in an aged care facility and in a disability service setting. You will receive ongoing support while completing these placements, gaining hands-on experience at leading social service organisations. 

Assessment will be based on demonstration of skills, the application of knowledge in a workplace context, and how you integrate these skills in preparation for the contingencies and demands of a busy workplace.

Learning at RMIT

The types of classes you have will depend on the course you’re studying. Classes are offered in various formats designed to provide meaningful engagement with staff, industry and peers and provide for access and use of spaces where learning can be applied and active, including an array of specialised equipment.

Most RMIT courses do not include passive large-scale classes such as lectures, instead the content traditionally provided in lectures is made available online. This may be in the form of readings, videos or other on-demand learning materials. This content will also support the basis of interactive learning that takes place in on-campus classes.

The Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Disability) has been developed with significant industry input.

All course content, delivery and assessment is informed by industry through a Program Advisory Committee.

The disability specialisation was added to this qualification to introduce you to disability work as demands increase with the roll out of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). The program also includes specialist content provided by Women with Disabilities Victoria, Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and experts by experience.

The knowledge and skills you will acquire throughout this certificate and how they can be applied in your career are described in the learning outcomes.

View the learning outcomes for each stream:

This qualification requires the completion of 15 units – 7 core units and 8 elective units.

Your core study will focus on safe, ethical and inclusive work practices. You will develop an understanding of healthy body systems and learn how to support the wellbeing of those in your care.

The ageing specialisation introduces you to the specific needs of older people and teaches you how to provide empathetic support for those living with conditions such as dementia. The disability specialisation will help you to develop strategies to promote social inclusion and facilitate the empowerment of people with disabilities.

In addition to developing skills to effectively work in roles that involve service delivery, client work and/or community education, this program aims to help you to develop broad employability skills.

Individual Support workers are empathetic, patient and detail-oriented people with strong communication skills. They follow individualised plans to meet the specific needs of those in their care, in both community-based and residential settings. You’ll study topics including how to support and empower older people and those with a disability, and safe work practices.

The Certificate III in Individual Support reflects the role of support workers in the ageing and disability sectors, who provide person-centred support to older people, as well as those with physical, developmental or cognitive disabilities. This program is offered by RMIT in partnership with the Victorian Council of Social Services and is supported by the Workforce Innovation & Development Institute (WIDI). This is an entry level certificate that offers blended learning, including face-to-face training, work placements and online study (including virtual reality technology).

Course structure

Choose a plan below to find out more about the subjects you will study and the course structure.

Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Disability)
Program code: C3402
National curriculum code: CHC33015

Title
Location
Duration
Plan code
CRICOS
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability)
City Campus
12 Months
C3402
Location
City Campus
Duration
12 Months
Plan code
C3402
CRICOS
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability)
City Campus
12 months (4 x 10 week terms)
C3402NCO
Location
City Campus
Duration
12 months (4 x 10 week terms)
Plan code
C3402NCO
CRICOS
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Disability)
City Campus
12 months (4 x 10 week terms)
C3402NCO22
Location
City Campus
Duration
12 months (4 x 10 week terms)
Plan code
C3402NCO22
CRICOS
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Disability)
City Campus
12 Months
C3402P22
Location
City Campus
Duration
12 Months
Plan code
C3402P22
CRICOS

Career

This certificate qualification sets you up to work in roles such as:

  • disability support officer
  • aged care worker
  • personal care assistant
  • home care worker
  • school support officer (disability)
  • family support worker
  • accommodation support worker
  • community house worker.

Previous graduates have gone onto work for companies including the Department of Health and Human Services, Annecto and Milparinka.

Admissions

You need to satisfy all of the following academic (entry) requirements to be considered for entry into this course.

There are no minimum requirements.

There are no prerequisite subjects required for entry into this qualification.

A selection task is not required for entry into this qualification.

Additional information

If you are successful in obtaining a place in this program, you must meet a number of professional compliance requirements upon commencement of your studies.

Working with Children Check*

You will be required to hold a Victorian Working with Children Check valid for 5 years, prior to undertaking clinical components as part of this program.

Note: For clinical components undertaken interstate a valid Working With Children Check for that state is required.

National police record check*

You will be required to present evidence of a successful National police record check prior to undertaking the clinical components of this program (this is an annual requirement for the duration of your program). Checks are conducted via fit2work. An account with fit2work will be created using your name and your RMIT issued student email address once studies in the program have commenced. Further information will be provided once enrolment has been completed.

NDIS Worker Screening Check*

Applicants will be required to apply for, and receive an acceptable NDIS Worker Screening Check prior to undertaking professional placement as part of this program.

COVID19 Vaccination*:

You will be required to undertake COVID19 Vaccination as part of this program. Further information will be provided once enrolment has been completed.

Influenza Vaccination*:

You will be required to undertake annual influenza vaccination as part of this program. Further information will be provided once enrolment has been completed.

*All relevant screening and compliance check fees are the responsibility of the student. 

Non-academic abilities you’ll need to complete this program

The following information outlines the tasks you will be required to undertake during professional experience placement and on-campus learning activities.

The non-academic abilities listed are provided for your information only and are not entry requirements.

If there are any activities outlined which may be difficult for you to undertake, there are a range of adjustments to your study conditions available to enable and support you to demonstrate these abilities. Please contact the Equitable Learning Service to discuss any adjustments you may require.

By understanding the types of activities you’ll participate in, you can:

  • understand more about the program
  • determine if you may need support during your studies
  • make an informed decision about whether the program is suitable for you

If you are living with disability, long-term illness and/or a mental health condition, we can support you by making adjustments to activities in your program so that you can participate fully in your studies.

To receive learning adjustments, you need to register with Equitable Learning Service

The University considers the wellbeing and safety of all students, staff and the community to be a priority in academic and professional experience placement settings.

Pathways

Understanding pathways

Undertaking a certificate, diploma, advanced diploma or associate degree can help you meet the entry requirements for your preferred degree. These qualifications often provide credit, reducing the duration of your bachelor degree.

Even though there are no formal pathways into this course, there are often other ways you can gain entry.

Credit, recognition of prior learning, professional experience and accreditation from a professional body can reduce the duration of your study by acknowledging your earlier, relevant experience.

Credit and exemptions will be assessed consistent with the principles of the RMIT Credit Policy.

When you successfully complete this program you may be eligible to undertake further studies in the Certificate IV in Community Services at RMIT University.

Fees

Free TAFE for priority courses

The Victorian Government is currently waiving tuition fees for this program for students who meet eligibility requirements for government subsidised places.

Visit Free TAFE for priority courses for further information on what this means and whether you may be eligible.

If you have any questions you can contact Study@RMIT.

The tuition fees below will apply if you are not receiving a Free TAFE fee waiver.

2023 fees

The tuition fees you will pay for this program will depend on whether you are offered a Victorian Government subsidised place or a full-fee place. To find out if you are eligible for a government subsidised place, follow the steps at How to check if you are eligible.

Cert III in Individual Support (Ageing, Disability) 

  • 2023 government subsidised place (with concession): AU$700.00* per annum
  • 2023 government subsidised place: AU$3,500* per annum
  • 2023 full-fee place: AU$7,750* per annum

Cert III in Individual Support (Ageing, Disability) (plan C3402NCO)

  • 2023 government subsidised place (with concession): AU$723.00* per annum
  • 2023 government subsidised place: AU$3,615* per annum
  • 2023 full-fee place: AU$7,750* per annum

*Fees shown are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at the time of enrolment.

Fee finder

Use our fee finder to get an estimate of your fees for this program.

Additional expenses

  • Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$326 maximum fee for 2023.
  • Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.

Annual fee adjustment

The student tuition fees as displayed by the fee finder are indicative only and subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.

Eligibility Exemption criteria

**The Victorian Government is currently waiving three (3) eligibility criteria around prior qualifications. This means that more people who want to study a vocational education program at RMIT, and who have studied previously, will be able to access a government subsidised place in a program. Find out how to check your eligibility

Payments and refunds

For information on how to pay your fees or how to apply for a refund, please see Paying your fees and applying for refunds.

In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student.

The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2023 is $326. 

For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.

You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.

You may be entitled to apply for a fee concession or exemption if you are in a Victorian Government subsidised place and you meet the eligibility criteria.

If your application for a fee concession is approved, you will be charged 20% of the standard government subsidised tuition fee for your program. You will also be charged a lower rate on your student services and amenities fee (SSAF).

RMIT awards more than 2000 scholarships every year to recognise academic achievement and assist students from a variety of backgrounds.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Looking for answers or more general information?

Use our Frequently Asked Questions to learn about the application process and its equity access schemes, find out how to accept or defer your offer or request a leave of absence, discover information about your fees, refunds and scholarships, and explore the various student support and advocacy services, as well as how to find out more about your preferred program, and more.

Sorry, this program is not available for international students intending to study on a student visa.

If you hold a different visa type, you may be eligible. Please contact Study@RMIT for more information.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.