Certificate III in Individual Support Ageing and Disability (Traineeship)
Sorry, this course is not available for international students.
If you are a local student you may be eligible.
To find a course that's available to international students, please visit the search page:
Overview
12 months full time / 24 months part time
Ongoing
This is the traineeship version of the course. Click here for the non-traineeship.
Earn while you learn!
The Health sector has also been identified as sector that will continue to grow as a result of the pandemic and be crucial to Australia’s COVID19 economic recovery through to 2025.
Aged care and disability workers play a significant role in Australian society, working in a field that cares for and gives dignity and meaning to the lives of older people and those living with a disability. People with empathy, patience, a professional attitude and a drive to improve lives are in high demand.
A traineeship through Melbourne Polytechnic is designed to provide quality training in individual support across the ageing and disability sectors with a program delivered by highly experienced staff in hands-on settings. You will also develop the professional and personal qualities required to provide high quality care to those who need it most. Melbourne Polytechnic provides fully-equipped practical learning spaces including state-of-the-art simulation rooms to complement the workplace setting.
Graduates from Melbourne Polytechnic’s Certificate III in Individual Support CHC33021 can expect strong career prospects in this consistently growing sector.
An Ageing/Disability specialisation is offered to maximise employment opportunities.
Graduate ready to change lives
Graduates of this qualification will be confident and well prepared to work effectively with older people and people with disability in a wide range of care settings. Your career options include working in home and community care, residential aged care, or disability accommodation services. Employment prospects for graduates are strong, and you can feel confident that you’ll be entering the industry with a widely recognised and highly regarded qualification.
The Melbourne Polytechnic program meets the requirements for the specialisation Certificate III in Individual Support CHC33021 (Ageing/Disability).
Career Pathways
Where will the Certificate III in Individual Support - Ageing and Disability (Traineeship) CHC33021 take me?
You will be qualified to work as a:
- Aged Care Support Worker in home and community care and residential aged care
- Disability Support Worker in home and community care and disability accommodation services
- NDIS Support worker
Study Pathways
Graduates of the Certificate III in Individual Support CHC33021 (Ageing/Disability) Traineeship may enrol in the Certificate IV in Disability Support CHC43121, or the Certificate IV in Community Services CHC42021.
Course Details
Delivery methods
This course is taught through a combination of workplace, Zoom virtual classes, and on-campus delivery at Greensborough campus when required.
- Workplace
- Simulation
How you will study
Each course has a dedicated learning method that is designed to let you thrive in your studies.
On-campus / Virtual classroom
A blend of both face-to-face and virtual learning with scheduled classes taking place on-campus and in virtual classrooms. Visit the How You'll Study page for more information.
Assessment Methods
Assessment for each competency will be through demonstration, questioning, and written activities. These assessment methods will consist of a combination of on-the-job and off-the-job tasks.
Units of Study
The hours displayed are nominal, actual classroom hours delivered may differ. Please contact us for the latest student contact hours information.
| Code | Subject | Elective | Hours |
| CHCAGE011 | Provide support to people living with dementia | Elective | 80 |
| CHCAGE013 | Work effectively in aged care | Elective | 65 |
| CHCCCS031 | Provide individualised support | Core | 100 |
| CHCCCS038 | Facilitate the empowerment of people receiving support | Core | 120 |
| CHCCCS040 | Support independence and wellbeing | Core | 80 |
| CHCCCS041 | Recognise healthy body systems | Core | 80 |
| CHCCOM005 | Communicate and work in health or community services | Core | 30 |
| CHCDIS011 | Contribute to ongoing skills development using a strengths-based approach | Elective | 40 |
| CHCDIS012 | Support community participation and social inclusion | Elective | 60 |
| CHCDIS020 | Work effectively in disability support | Elective | 65 |
| CHCDIV001 | Work with diverse people | Core | 40 |
| CHCLEG001 | Work legally and ethically | Core | 55 |
| CHCPAL003 | Deliver care services using a palliative approach | Elective | 70 |
| HLTAID011 | Provide First Aid | Elective | 18 |
| HLTINF006 | Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control | Core | 35 |
| HLTWHS002 | Follow safe work practices for direct client care | Core | 25 |
Individual Support courses at Melbourne Polytechnic
The Course in Introduction to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) 22469VIC offers hands-on experience with NDIS participants and people with a lived experience of disability.
Fees & Costs
| Free TAFE | Concession | Government subsidised fee | Non-subsidised fee | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tuition fee | $0 | $720 | $3600 | $11500 |
| Materials fee | $50 | $50 | $50 | $50 |
| Maximum annual amenities | $250 | $175 | $250 | $250 |
| Total payable | $300 | $945 | $3900 | $11800 |
| Per year | $0 |
| Per semester | $0 |
The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment.
Displayed course fees are indicative only. There are many variables that impact the total amount of your full course costs including qualification for government subsidies, concessions or recognition of prior learning. Tuition fees do not include the cost of student amenities or material costs.
This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. Contact us to find out if you’re eligible for a Government subsidy.
Melbourne Polytechnic offers a range of payment options to help you pay your tuition fees, so you can get on with your studies.
Fees displayed are effective for new applications received on or after 1st of November. Tuition fees do not include textbooks, course materials or overseas student health insurance and visa fees.
After initial deposit, international students are able to pay tuition fees in installments, four times per year.
For more detailed information please read the International Student Fees.
Fees explained
The State Government’s Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative covers the cost of tuition (excluding Amenities Fees and Materials Fees) for students who are eligible for government subsidised training and enrol into one of the Priority listed course.
Free TAFE is available to eligible students for one course enrolment in a lifetime.
Free TAFE places are limited. Please call 1300 635 276 and we can advise you whether Free TAFE places are still available.
Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative covers the cost of tuition fees for students who are eligible. Materials and amenities may still apply.
The Free TAFE for Priority Courses initiative will pay your tuition fees for only one course. Once you have commenced in a tuition-free priority course, you are not eligible for further tuition-free places again, even if you do not finish your first tuition-free priority course.
The fees for those ineligible for a government-funded enrolment.
The cost of tuition for those eligible for government funding.
Concession fees are charged at 20 per cent of the standard fees for enrolments in Certificate I to IV courses. To be eligible students must meet Skills First eligibility criteria and present a valid:
- Commonwealth Health Care card, or
- Pensioner Concession card, or
- Any dependent spouse or dependent child of one of the above cardholders, or
- Veterans Gold card.
The following groups are eligible for concession fees from Certificate I to Advanced Diploma level:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
- Asylum Seekers and victims of human trafficking
Additional expenses
The Student Services and Amenities Fee is charged at forty cents (40 cents) per student contact hour and is capped over a twelve (12) month period, effective from the enrolment date, to:
- $250 for full fee-paying students; and
- $175 for concession-paying students studying Certificate I, II, III, or IV.
Amenities fees are used to improve non-academic services including libraries, counselling services, student support, and recreational activities.
Workplace Traineeships Available
Requirements
Be able to meet the requirements of an aged care facility or home and community care provider i.e- Be over 18 years of age at the time of placement.
- Provide evidence of a current influenza vaccine. Individual aged care facilities may require additional immunisations.
- You must have already received three doses of the COVID-19 vaccine (or have an exemption) to be able to work and undertake placement in a healthcare setting. See www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/worker-vaccination-requirements for recommended vaccination doses.
- (Optional) See health.gov.au for other recommended immunisations for health care workers.
- Provide a clear Police Check*.
- Some organisations may also require a Working with Children check. Documents do not have to be provided at enrolment but must be received prior to placement.
- Some aged care facilities are now accredited NDIS providers and may also require an NDIS Worker Screening Check.
The unit HLTAID011 Provide First Aid requires students to perform at least 2 minutes of uninterrupted single rescuer cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) on an adult resuscitation manikin placed on the floor. Additional units require students to demonstrate and complete manual handling tasks. Students must be able to fulfill these requirements independently.
Language and Literacy
All potential learners will undertake a pre-training review and an LLN assessment A general guide to entry, learners will be best equipped to achieve the course outcome if they have :
- A minimum level of literacy and numeracy skills equivalent to the Australian Core Skills Framework (ACSF) Working Level 3 Reading and Working Level 3 Numeracy
- A good standard of digital literacy
Next Steps
The first step to enrolling is completing the application short form from the Apply Now page.
After you complete that form we will send you an email with a link to an application form webpage. If you don’t receive the email, check your spam and junk folders.
Complete the application form on the application form webpage.
You will be required to complete an online literacy and numeracy assessment.
Once you are ready to enrol, you will be invited to attend an enrolment appointment over the phone or on campus.
For certificate-level courses, you can pay by weekly or fortnightly direct debit using our Tuition Payment Plan. Read more about Tuition Payment Plans here.
If you need assistance with your application and the next steps, you can contact one of our Education and Course Advisors on 1300 635 276 or follow a step-by-step guide to enrolling for vocational education local students.
Individual Support at Melbourne Polytechnic
Giving Back to the Community: Vida’s Story
Vida Rafiedzadeh Kermani was awarded the 2023 Outstanding Human Services and Education Vocational Education Student of the Year.
More Free TAFE Opportunities for Victorians
Recent changes to eligibility criteria for Free TAFE means that more access and study opportunities for Victorians are now on offer at Melbourne Polytechnic.
Learn More
Bianca is shaping the future through Education Support
For Bianca Falcone, home-schooling her three young children during lockdowns ignited a new passion for School-Based Education Support.
Learn More
Pathology Lab
Our true-to-life facility will support you in building the technical skills you need in a lab equipped with industry-standard equipment.
Learn MoreRecognising Organisations
Nationally Recognised Training This course is government accredited and has national recognition.
Local student means; you are an Australian citizen or permanent resident, a New Zealand citizen or a permanent humanitarian visa holder.