CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support


This qualification requires the completion of at least (120) hours of work in a direct support role in an aged care, home and community care, disability or community service organisation.

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COURSE DURATION

13 Months
(Part-Time)

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DELIVERY MODES

Classroom, Traineeship,   Online (Virtual Classroom)

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STUDY COMMITMENT

Approx. (4-6) hours per week outside of class to complete learning activities and assessments

COURSE OVERVIEW

This nationally recognised qualification is perfect for people who want to make a real difference in the lives of others. You’ll learn practical skills to provide person-centred support in settings like aged care, disability support, home care, and community services. This course prepares you to assist people who need help due to ageing, disability, or other circumstances and is a great starting point for a rewarding career in the care sector.

Make a real difference in someone’s life and start a career you can be proud of. Enrol today and take the first step towards a rewarding future in aged care, disability support, or home and community care!

WHO SHOULD DO THIS QUALIFICATION?

This course is ideal for people who are:

  • New to the care sector and want to start a meaningful, hands-on career in aged care, disability support, or home and community care
  • Existing care or support workers, or volunteers looking to formalise their experience and gain nationally recognised skills
  • Anyone looking for a stepping stone into further study in community services or related qualifications

IS THIS THE RIGHT COURSE FOR ME?

To make an informed decision about whether this course is right for you, it’s important to consider the essential skills, attributes, and knowledge required to work effectively in the care sector. Successful care and support workers at this level are:

  • Compassionate and patient, with a strong sense of empathy
  • Respectful and supportive, valuing the rights, choices, and dignity of others
  • Observant, able to identify changes in behaviour, abilities and environment
  • Reliable and responsible, able to follow care plans and maintain professional boundaries
  • Effective communicators, able to connect and engage respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds
  • Physically capable, to perform manual handling and other physically demanding tasks
  • Team-oriented; willing to collaborate with colleagues, supervisors, and other services to support positive outcomes
  • Committed to confidentiality and professionalism; maintaining trust and integrity at all times
  • Emotionally resilient, able to manage and respond to physical, emotional, or behavioural challenges
  • Comfortable with providing personal care, for both male and female individuals

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

This qualification can lead to a range of career opportunities in Aged Care, Home and Community Care or Disability Service Organisations in direct support roles.

Possible job roles include:

Assistant in Nursing
Care Service Worker
Community Care Worker
Disability Support Worker
Home Care Assistant
Support Worker

These roles exist across a range of care settings and typically involve providing personal support, promoting independence, and delivering high-quality, person-centred care to older people, people with disability, or those needing assistance at home or in the community.

Please note this list is intended as a general guide, as job titles and qualification requirements may differ across organisations and service settings.

COURSE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

To enrol in this course, you must meet ALL entry and study requirements, including having suitable technology access and digital skills to engage in online learning and complete assessments.

This course is designed specifically for those already currently working in the care sector.

CONTENT ADVISORY: This qualification includes topics and scenarios related to ageing, disability, palliative care, personal care, dementia, abuse and mental health, which are central to working in community services. Please be aware that these topics may be emotionally sensitive and distressing for some learners. We encourage you to prioritise your wellbeing and speak with your Trainer or our Student Support Team if you feel distressed or need support at any time during your course.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

There are no formal entry requirements for CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support.

STUDY REQUIREMENTS

  • Be over 17 years of age
  • Have a Unique Student Identifier (USI)
  • Have the Language, Literacy, and Numeracy (LLN) skills sufficient to read and follow care plans, complete workplace documentation such as progress notes and incident reports, communicate clearly with individuals and colleagues, and use basic numeracy to manage time, follow schedules, and carry out simple measurements. This will be tested through a LLN assessment as part of the course entry process.
  • Be employed in an Aged Care, Home and Community Care or Disability Service Organisation, in a role that involves providing direct support to individuals e.g., Assistant in Nursing, Care Worker, Community Care Worker, Disability Support Worker, and have the support of the workplace supervisor or employer to participate in this training.
  • Physically capable to perform manual handling and other physically demanding tasks
  • If HLTAID011 Provide first aid is chosen as an elective unit; be able to perform at least 2 minutes of uninterrupted CPR on an adult manikin placed on the floor.

NOTE: If you do volunteer work in these organisations, or work in other roles such as kitchen or laundry, and aiming to transition to an assistant in nursing job role, may also be considered for entry into the course, as long as you can gain experience in a ‘direct support’ role for at least (120) hours to meet the performance evidence requirements of this qualification.

TECHNOLOGY ACCESS

  • A desktop computer, laptop, or tablet capable of running modern applications and accessing the internet
  • Reliable internet connection so you can access your results online and study without interruptions
  • An email account to receive course communications
  • A webcam and microphone to participate in the virtual classroom (if applicable)
  • Microsoft Teams to participate in the virtual classroom (if applicable). Free download here, the App Store or Google Play
  • It is recommended that you have the latest version of Google Chrome and Adobe PDF Reader for optimum compatibility with accessing course materials and assessments.

DIGITAL CAPABILITY

  • Internet Skills such as navigating websites and using search engines (e.g. Google) to find reliable information, logging in to and using online web-based systems, and completing digital forms
  • Computer Skills such as open, save, upload and download documents
  • Email Skills such as accessing and reading emails, sending and replying to emails, attaching files to emails, and downloading or opening email attachments

COURSE STRUCTURE

The course is delivered in the following modes;

CLASSROOM

Attend fortnightly, daytime interactive trainer-led workshops in person at our Warabrook NSW Training Campus, onsite at your workplace, or at another location arranged with your employer.

ONLINE (VIRTUAL CLASSROOM)

Attend fortnightly, interactive trainer led workshops, delivered online in the virtual classroom. All learning and assessment resources will be available online in your Student Portal.
PLEASE NOTE: Your camera and microphone must be turned on during virtual classroom workshops.

TRAINEESHIP

This course is available as a traineeship. A traineeship allows you to earn while you learn, combining paid employment with structured training. It’s a great way to build real-world experience in the community services sector while working towards a nationally recognised qualification.

Eligibility criteria and government funding may apply. Click here for more information.

COURSE DELIVERY AND ASSESSMENT

Student Portal 
On enrolment you will receive access to your Student Portal. This is where you will find all course information, links to virtual classroom workshops (if applicable), learning and assessment materials, and where you will access your assessment results. Virtual Classroom students will also complete and submit their assessments through the Student Portal. Classroom-based students will be provided with paper-based assessments during their face-to-face sessions.

Assessment Strategies
Each unit will comprise of a number of assessment tasks which may include short knowledge tests, case studies, research, written questions and participating in practical activities such as observations, roleplays, simulated assessments and presentations.

Workplace Observations 
As part of this course, you will be required to complete practical observations in the workplace. These tasks must be signed off by an appropriately qualified person in your workplace, such as a supervisor or team leader. Where possible, our trainers will also visit your workplace to conduct direct observations and support your learning.

Workplace Hours
This qualification requires the completion of a minimum of (120) hours in a direct support role within an aged care, home and community care, disability, or community service organisation. During this time, you must safely support at least (3) individuals to enhance their independence and wellbeing, as outlined in the relevant units of competency.

You are required to record your hours on the provided timesheet and demonstrate how these hours align with specific assessment requirements. If you are currently employed in a suitable care role, you may complete your work hours with your existing employer, provided they support your training and your role meets the required workplace conditions for this qualification. If your employer is unable to support this, a separate work placement will need to be arranged.

Training Plan
Regardless of your study mode, you will be issued with a personalised training plan that outlines your units of study and assessment due dates. This helps you stay organised and on track to complete your qualification within the expected timeframe.

Study Commitment
Students should allow additional time outside of class to complete assessments. While the time needed may vary depending on your experience, learning style, and support needs, as a general guide, you should allow an extra (4) – (6) hours per week to stay on track with your coursework.

 

UNITS OF COMPETENCY

This qualification consists of (15) units in total, including (9) core units and (6) elective units.

CORE UNITS

CHCCCS031 Provide individualised support
CHCCCS038 Facilitate the empowerment of people receiving support
CHCCCS040 Support independence and wellbeing
CHCCCS041 Recognise healthy body systems
CHCCOM005 Communicate and work in health or community services
CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
CHCLEG001 Work legally and ethically
HLTINF006 Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control
HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct client care

ELECTIVE UNITS

Elective units will vary depending on the specialisation chosen. All our upcoming intakes will complete the following electives:

AGEING SPECIALISATION

CHCAGE011 Provide support to people living with dementia
CHCAGE013 Work effectively in aged care
CHCPAL003 Deliver care services using a palliative approach
CHCAGE007 Recognise and report risk of falls
HLTAID011 Provide first aid
CHCMHS001 Work with people with mental health issues OR
HLTHPS006 Assist clients with medication * (Conditions Apply)

DISABILITY SPECIALISATION

CHCDIS011 Contribute to ongoing skills development using a strengths-based approach
CHCDIS012 Support community participation and social inclusion
CHCDIS020 Work effectively in disability support
CHCCCS044 Follow established person-centred behaviour supports
CHCMHS001 Work with people with mental health issues OR
HLTHPS006 Assist clients with medication * (Conditions Apply)

Alternative elective options are outlined in our course brochure.
Students completing this course through employer-arranged or Traineeship delivery may undertake different elective units that better align with their workplace needs. Electives are selected on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the employer and must be agreed upon before enrolment is finalised.

COURSE FEES

Subsidised Training

The price for this qualification will vary and is based upon specific eligibility requirements for government subsidies available at the time of your enrolment. As part of our Enrolment Application and Pre-Training Review process, we will assess your eligibility for any applicable funding or concessions. Once this is complete, you will be provided with a formal quote outlining your exact course fee before your enrolment is finalised.

Outlined below is the approximate fee range for this qualification:

Full Course CostNew Entrant Traineeship
(NSW Only)
NSW Smart and Skilled
(NSW Only)
$6,000$0
Eligibility Criteria Apply
$0 – $1,750
Eligibility Criteria Apply

Your fees are always protected, and we have safeguards in place to keep your payments secure. All transactions are processed in Australian Dollars (AUD) through trusted gateways like eWAY and Stripe, with your card details encrypted and never stored by us.

For extra convenience, you can also pay quickly and securely using Link, Apple Pay, or Google Pay.

GOVERNMENT SUBSIDIES

Eligible students may be able to access government-funded training support through one of the following programs:

NSW Smart and Skilled – For NSW residents, this program may cover part or all of your course fees, depending on your eligibility.

NSW Traineeships – If you are employed and enrolled through a traineeship arrangement, your training may be fully subsidised under the Smart and Skilled program

Funding availability is subject to eligibility criteria and government guidelines. We’ll assess your eligibility during the enrolment application process and provide you with a course fee quote based on your circumstances. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact our office for more information.

PAYMENT PLANS

We offer flexible payment plans to make it easier to manage your course fees. You can choose to pay in weekly or fortnightly instalments, helping to spread the cost over time. Our team is here to support you in setting up a plan that works for your budget.

Click here for more information.

REFUND POLICY

We understand that circumstances can change. Our refunds policy outlines your rights and options if you need to withdraw from your course. It includes details about eligibility, notice periods, and how to request a refund.

Click here for more information.

ENROLMENT PROCESS

There are (4) steps involved in our enrolment process. This process helps us ensure the course is suitable for your learning needs, check your eligibility for any available Government subsidies, and identify if any additional support is needed, so we can assist you right from the start.

The steps are:

  1. Complete an Online Enrolment Application. This form captures your personal details, course selection, and helps us begin preparing for your enrolment.
  2. Complete an Online Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) Assessment. This is an important part of the process as it helps us understand how best to support you during your training and ensures the course is the best fit for you. You will need about (30) minutes to (1) hour of quiet, uninterrupted time to complete the assessment. It must be done on a computer or tablet—not on a mobile phone.
  3. Complete a Pre-Training Interview. One of our friendly Customer Relationships Officers will contact you for a quick chat to discuss your goals, course suitability, eligibility and any support you may need.
  4. Accept Your Course Fees Quote. Once your enrolment application has been reviewed and accepted, you’ll receive a course fee quote. Simply review and accept the quote to finalise your enrolment and secure your place.

To secure your place in the course, all (4) steps of the enrolment process must be fully completed. We encourage you to complete these steps as soon as possible to avoid delays in starting your training and to help ensure a smooth enrolment experience.

Government-subsidised places are limited and not guaranteed. If you don’t complete your enrolment application promptly, you may miss out on securing a place. 

If your enrolment is not accepted, we’ll contact you to explain the reasons and explore other course or support options that may be more suitable for you.

We are unable to enrol International students at this time.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are undertaking this qualification as a traineeship, you cannot commence training until your training contract has been formally approved by Training Services NSW.

SUPPORT SERVICES

As a student, you’ll have access to a range of support services to help you succeed in your studies. This includes one-on-one trainer support, access to learning resources, help with technology, and guidance with study or personal challenges.

Click here to access our Student Support Services Guide, which provides a comprehensive overview of the support available to you throughout your course.

HOW TO APPLY

Our upcoming course intakes are listed below. To apply, simply click ‘Apply Now’ next to the course date you wish to start.

Please note: You will not be charged any fees until we have been able to assess your eligibility for funding. A $0 amount will be shown in the online application. The Customer Relationships Officer will provide you with a quote for your course fee as part of the Pre-Training Review process. On acceptance of the quote, a deposit will be required to finalise your enrolment.

International Students
Unfortunately, we are not an approved provider on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS). If you are in Australia on a Study VISA, you are unable to enrol with us. However, if you are in Australia on any other VISA and you can provide a Visa Entitlement Verification Online (VEVO) Statement that states that your VISA allows you to study in Australia, you may be able to enrol with us. Please note that even though you may be able to enrol with us, you may not be eligible to receive course funding.

STUDY PATHWAYS

Completing this qualification may open the door to further study in community services or related areas. Depending on your career goals you may choose to continue your education with:

CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support
CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support
CHC42021 Certificate IV in Community Services
CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health
CHC43415 Certificate IV in Leisure and Health

Enhance Your Skills in Complex Care Support

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In partnership with Benchmark Learning, we offer a range of non-accredited, online short courses developed to align with the NDIS Skill Descriptors and Aged Care Quality Standards. Whether you’re looking to upskill or meet compliance requirements, our modules provide practical, industry-relevant knowledge to support safe, quality care. Courses are affordable and designed for care workers and support staff needing accessible, self-paced learning. Check out our full online course library and start learning today.

Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) - Upcoming Courses


Course Start DateCourse End DateLocation
22/10/202525/11/2026Essential Skills Training and Recruitment
05/12/202529/01/2027Essential Skills Training and Recruitment

Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) - Upcoming Courses


Course Start DateCourse End DateLocation
22/10/202525/11/2026Essential Skills Training and Recruitment
05/12/202529/01/2027Essential Skills Training and Recruitment
 

*We reserve the right to cancel or postpone courses when minimum numbers are not met.