Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)

NRT LogoCRICOS Course Code: 090829J

VET National Code: CHC33015

Government funded course for eligible candidates

Course Description

The Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) course provides the required training to work in a community and/or residential workplace, offering support to people with disabilities. The growing disability sector is a valuable and fulfilling industry and offers a range of career paths.

Almost 20 percent of Australians have a disability (3.96 million people, or 1 in 5). This may be any condition that restricts a person’s mental, sensory or mobility functions. It may be caused by accident, trauma, genetics or disease. A disability may be temporary or permanent, total or partial, lifelong or acquired, visible or invisible.

People with disabilities are living a lot longer as medical support and resources are readily available in Australia. Therefore, the demand for skilled workers is greater now than ever before. This qualification delivers the skills and knowledge required for working in the community and/or residential settings providing person-centred support to people with disabilities in everyday living tasks, recreation and leisure, accommodation support, skills development, recreation and respite care.

People with disability have the same rights as others to participate in community life. It is important that services and facilities are accessible for them. As a Disability Support Worker you are assisting people to access all services that are available to everybody living in Australia and improve inclusion of people with a disability.

This Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) course is delivered via face to face training in a classroom environment with simulated practical tasks carried our practical room, followed by 160 hours of workplace training arranged by Australian Professional Skills Institute.

Career Outcomes

  • Personal Care Worker
  • Assistant in Nursing
  • Community Care Worker
  • Disability Support Worker

Course Admission Requirements

Australian Professional Skills Institute is CRICOS registered (CRICOS Provider Code 03255G). All students must be over 18 years of age before they can commence this course at APSI.

 

Domestic Australian Students

  • For Certificate level courses, students must have completed a minimum of Year 10 schooling or equivalent or to be a mature age student (20 years of age and above).
  • Students need to demonstrate they have proficiency in English. If students cannot provide documented proof of their English language proficiency, they will be required to sit for a Language, Literacy and Numeracy test (LLN) before a place can be offered.
  • Find out if you are eligible for the government funded Certificate III in Individual Support fees.
  • This course is approved by the Department of Human Services (Centrelink) for student payment. Domestic students who meets the requirements of an approved course of education and study may be eligible to receive student payment from the Department.
  • Additional requirements below.

 

International Students

  • This course is available to international students on a higher education student visa as their concurrent/ secondary course.
  • Students need to demonstrate they have proficiency in English. If students cannot provide documented proof of their English language proficiency, they will be required to sit for a Language, Literacy and Numeracy test (LLN) before a place can be offered.
  • International students are required to have a minimum of IELTS test results of 5.5 (academic) with no individual band lower than 5, or achieve an equivalent in other forms of testing that satisfy the Institute’s requirement. If an international student does not have any current IELTS score or any recognised English language result, they are required to take an English language test.
  • For Certificate level courses, students must have completed a minimum of Year 10 schooling or equivalent or to be a mature age student (20 years of age and above).
  • Additional requirements below.

Note: International student studying a concurrent/secondary course on student visa

An overseas student in Australia on a student visa is permitted to undertake additional study at the same time as the principal course. However, any course undertaken by a student visa holder must be registered on CRICOS. A Confirmation of Enrolment (CoE) is also required for any additional study in a course undertaken by an overseas student whilst in Australia on a student visa. APSI is a registered CRICOS provider which accepts international student undertake this course as their secondary course.

 

Additional Requirements

  • All Certificate III in Individual Support students must be willing to apply, or already hold, a current National Police Clearance (not older than 3 months at time of enrolment). This is COMPULSORY for students/candidates to undertake workplace training. A National Police Clearance can be acquired from any Post Office for a small  fee.  Please allow 3 weeks for delivery.  Students cannot attend work experience without this.

Units of Competency

This Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) course consists of units of competence, including core units and elective units, as listed below:

Unit Code
Unit Name
Core Units
CHCCCS015 Provide individualised support
CHCCCS023 Support independence and well being
CHCCOM005 Communicate and work in health or community services
CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
CHCLEG001 Work legally and ethically
HLTAAP001 Recognise healthy body systems
HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct client care
Elective Units
  
HLTINF001 Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures
CHCCCS011 Meet personal support needs
CHCDIS001 Contribute to ongoing skills development using a strengths-based approach
CHCDIS002 Follow established person-centred behaviour supports
CHCDIS003 Support community participation and social inclusion
CHCDIS007 Facilitate the empowerment of people with disability

Students can also acquire a dual qualification – Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home and Community) by taking the following extra units:

Additional Units
CHCCCS025 Support relationships with carers and families
CHCHCS001 Provide home and community support services
CHCPAL001 Deliver care services using a palliative approach
CHCAGE001 Facilitate the empowerment of older people
Downloads
Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)

Our Teacher Jacky is a very beautiful, supportive, professional and well-experienced trainer and most importantly she has a warm and welcoming heart. She has great passion in what she is doing which set up a role model for someone like who never know too much about age care.

I had a wonderful and happy learning environment in APSI. All the people here are lovely and welcoming. 

I highly recommend anyone who is interested in learning some new skills or if you want to be a carer or be professional in any other professional skills, come to APSI. This is a place that you can improve your skills or into another career and make some new friends

Jen Ni CHIN (Taiwan) – Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home and Community & Disability)

Intake Dates

2021

09 April

13 August

03 December

Course Fees
Mode of Delivery

This program is delivered with a classroom based  face to face training which includes but not limited to utilising the specialised training facilities under the required supervision of the trainer, explanation, demonstrations, presentations and some self-paced studies. Also a minimum of 160 hours of workplace training in an appropriate aged care environment is required.

Facilitators/trainers may provide additional learning materials where gaps exist in participants underpinning knowledge or in the training resources.

Career Outcome
Occupational names may include:

Assistant in Nursing Community Support Worker
Accommodation Support Worker In Home Respite Worker
Personal Care Assistant Personal Care Giver
Personal Care Worker Home Care Assistant
Nursing Assistant Community Care Worker
Disability Service Officer (in some jurisdictions) Care Assistant
Care Service Employee Community House Worker
Field Officer Carer
Course Duration
International students : 1 semester (26 weeks) which includes 160 hours of workplace training in aged care homes or community care facilities

Domestic students: 14 weeks face to face training which includes 160 hours of workplace training in aged care homes or community care facilities.

For students doing a dual qualification with Disability major, there is an additional 2 weeks of studies and additional 120 hours workplace training in  a disability organisation.

Workplace Training / Work Experience

Work based training is a compulsory component of this course for all students. Students are required to work in aged care or community care facilities for 4 weeks to 9 weeks before graduation. There is no guarantee of employment or salary payment during work experience or work based training or work experience. You can apply for police clearance online or in person.

All students must produce a current National Police Clearance before they can be placed in workplace training. You can learn more about police clearance application here.

Entry Requirements

Completion of Year 10 or equivalent with upper immediate level of English, or minimum  IELTS score 5.5 (no band less than 5.0) or pass the Institute’s literacy (LLN) test. No prior work experience is required in this field.

All students must be over 18 years of age before they can commence this course at APSI.

Timetable

Timetables/Delivery Schedules/Classes are subject to change without prior notice due to availability of training kitchens and teaching staff.

Assessment Methods
Assessment is based on the principles of competency based training. Performance of learners is assessed on their ability to perform the task(s) to industry standards. In order to ensure the principles of validity are upheld are variety of learning styles and a range of assessment strategies are used.

Assessment for each unit of competence will be through a combination of classroom based and work placement tasks. Classroom based assessment includes but is not limited to:

  • Classroom Exercises
  • Assignments
  • Practical Demonstrations
  • Group Activities
  • Projects
  • Verbal and/or written questions

Students are advised well in advance of assessment activities and a student may put forward for consideration any special needs they may have. The assessment criterion is documented in all modules, and workbooks. Dates of assessment are provided on the first day of class along with a timetable. Students may be assessed by a combination of continuous assessments and examinations. Continuous assessment may be based on competencies and marks, or a combination of both.

Uniform

Australian Professional Skills Institute will provide a uniform to all Aged Care and Home and Community Care students while they undertake workplace training.

All learners are required to wear an APSI uniform while attending workplace training in accordance with APSI Aged Care and Community Services Dress Code.

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

RPL is available to anyone who has experience working in a commercial kitchen and

  • provides an alternative pathway to achieving a qualification without course attendance
  • is a consultative process between with the candidate and the assessor to determine whether the candidate has acquired the requisite learning, skills and knowledge to demonstrate that they have achieved the required learning outcomes or performance criteria of the course or qualification, for which the candidate is seeking
  • identifies where appropriate additional learning experiences or training gaps are needed to achieve the course or qualification
  • is the conduct of an assessment to confirm competency.

APSI has developed a process that promotes holistic and task-based assessment. It focuses on relating assessment activities to actual job tasks. The intention of this model is to streamline and simplify the process of recognising competency.

Prior to RPL, information is provided to the candidate on the assessment process. Specific advice is given to each candidate on how they can demonstrate their competence and what documentary evidence is required to support their application. Each industry has unique documents that can provide evidence of experience and competence.

The candidate is required to provide adequate information prior to, throughout and after a training and assessment experience. The assessor, in this process, needs to be fully aware of the needs of the candidate and help them identify relevant workplace personnel who can confirm the candidate’s competency.

The focus of the APSI streamlined holistic assessment process is to focus on demonstrated skills and knowledge and not to rely purely on documentary evidence as the main source of evidence.

Some examples of documentary evidence that can support the process include:

  • licences such as First Aid, RSA
  • CV or work history with details of job role and responsibilities
  • previous qualifications from overseas and Australia
  • certificates and records of results or assessments completed with other RTO’s
  • photographs of work undertaken
  • samples of related project work
  • diaries of tasks performed
  • task sheets/job sheets/logbooks
  • site training records
  • pay slips / employment contracts / job descriptions
  • memberships of relevant professional associations
  • references/letters/third party reports from previous employers/supervisors
  • industry awards
  • performance appraisals

An RPL application kit can be obtained here.

Accreditation

This Certificate III in Individual Support program is nationally recognised under the Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) at Certificate level. As a registered training organisation, qualifications issued by APS Institute are nationally recognised. If all units of competency are not achieved a Statement of Attainment will be issued for the units that have been successfully completed.

Articulation
Upon completion of the Certificate IV in Home and Community Care, students can continue to study Bachelor of Nursing with Australian Universities with advance standing. Details on advance standing may vary from different Universities.
Employment Skills
Breadth, depth and complexity covering planning and initiation of alternative approaches to skills and knowledge application across a broad range ot technical and/or management requirements, evaluation and coordination. Self-directed application of knowledge and skills, with substantial depth in some areas where judgement is required in planning and selecting appropriate equipment, services and techniques for self and others.

(Source: AQF Implementation Handbook 2007)

Location of Delivery
Face to Face Classroom learning – Wellington Fair, 40 Lord Street, East Perth, WA 6004, Australia

Workplace Training – at the workplace, as approved by Australian Professional Skills Institute’s workplace assessor

National Police Clearance
A National Police Clearance is compulsory for all students who undertake industry placement or work experience. A National Police Clearance can be acquired from any Post Office for a small  fee.  Please allow 3 weeks for delivery.  Students cannot attend work experience without this.

Disclaimer

The information contained on this website is current at the time of publishing. Australian Professional Skills Institute reserves the right to change the admission requirements, fees, location of delivery and units of competency whenever necessary. Please contact us for the most current information.

Contact Us