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Do you want to build a meaningful career caring for our aged members of the community, assisting to enrich quality of life and making a real positive impact in your role on a daily basis?
This course is an entry-level qualification that will make you job ready to become an aged care assistant or care support worker, equipping you with a skillset to provide a high standard of support to older people and those living with dementia by providing personalised assistance in aged care, residential and community care settings.
Join the community services industry and open yourself up to strong job opportunities in the ever-expanding aged care workforce, where qualified care assistants are highly in demand.
Study in specialised facilities
SM TAFE campuses have training facilities which simulate real-life workplace settings and students can gain hands-on practice developing skills to be workforce ready, using industry specific equipment and following safe work practices. Our Rockingham campus(opens in a new tab) has a state-of-the art purpose-built learning facility for disability home care and aged care, with dedicated areas that emulate rooms in a modified residence or aged care facility.
Gain specialised skills and be guided from our passionate team of experienced lecturers on how to provide physical and emotional support to older people whilst enabling them to maintain independence. Learn how to assist with daily living tasks such as cooking and transport, and provide company and companionship to your client through daily interactions which boost their overall wellbeing.
Build your methods of communicating effectively with a range of diverse groups including families and co-workers, and you’ll also develop some strong one-on-one relationships with the people you are caring for who have had a lifetime of experience and knowledge to share, which can bring job satisfaction as you work regularly together.
Want to find out more about this industry?
Our Community Services at SM TAFE Facebook page(opens in a new tab) has more information from our students about organisations, initiatives and leading expertise.
Good news!
This course is going to transition to a new training package in 2024. This means that students starting in 2023 will transfer during their study to new units developed to meet current and future industry needs.
- Working effectively in the aged care industry
- Caring for the elderly and enabling them to maintain independence
- Learn how to implement effective communication strategies and work with a diverse range of groups of varying cultures and backgrounds
- Understanding and supporting people with dementia
- Providing personal hygiene for people in your care
- Managing manual handling tasks
- Safety procedures, infection control practices and ethical behaviour
- Workplace health and safety
In order to make an informed choice about the suitability of this course, you must take into account the essential skills and knowledge required to undertake this study.
- excellent observational skills - to be able to identify changes in behaviour, abilities and environment
- good communication skills to liaise/work with a range of people - clients families and co-workers
- good listening and writing skills and the ability to follow instructions
- be able to deal with physical demands of manual tasks
- basic problem solving skills and the ability to respond to immediate safety risks
- Tolerance, patience and the willingness to work with people from different backgrounds and cultures
Have you got what it takes to be successful in this career? Our Core Skills guide lists the skills and attributes necessary to study and work in this field.
This course is FREE from 1 January 2023. The course fees are 100 per cent subsidised by the WA State Government for WA residents.
Some eligibility conditions apply for the free training, and other fees may apply for some courses. Please see the FAQs on our Skills Ready page for further information.
Online study is available for this course. Be sure to check the study requirements tab for information about studying this course using eCampus including study assistance and our helpful online study guide, then use the apply now link where you see the online study option.
This course requires flu and COVID-19 vaccination, police clearance and working with children check prior to work placement. See the important information tab for instructions.
| School Leaver | Non-School Leaver | AQF |
|---|---|---|
| OLNA or NAPLAN 9 Band 8 | C Grades in Year 10 English and Maths or equivalent | Certificate I or Certificate II |
Student must be over 18 years of age as the industry generally does not provide work placements for students under 18, making younger people unable to complete the qualification.
Online study
For online study the hours per week will vary. The course runs over two semesters.
You will need to have the basic technical requirements for at-home study. If you don’t have access to a computer and WiFi at home, we recommend using our library computers during library hours.
The nature of online study can involve a significant investment of time and the ability to be a focused, self-motivated learner. You should consider your personal circumstances and past study history before committing to study online. Find out more in our online study info pack below.
Online study info pack (334 KB) (PDF document - opens in a new tab)
Work placement
This course has mandatory attendance at a two-day practical workshop prior to being allocated a work placement.
Work placement is mandatory for completion of this course and will be arranged by SM TAFE. Your work placement requires you to be available to attend during weekdays and you may need to rearrange personal or work commitments to be able to attend.
Students who are under 18 years old are reminded that it will be difficult to secure work placement as a minor, making them unable to complete the qualification.
What you need for your first day of class
On your first day you should bring your SM TAFE confirmation enrolment receipt, your student ID and stationery (pen and exercise book).
Prior to enrolment into this qualification, please consider:
- If you are under 18 years of age
- Any criminal conviction as it will appear on your National Police Certificate (compulsory to obtain)
- Any difficulty in communicating with either workers or clients. (i.e. difficulty with written or spoken English)
- Difficulty with the manual tasks involved in personal care work, including lifting (e.g. 'bad back')
- Ability to set aside between four and five days/week for attendance at classes, work placement and study
- Likelihood of finding it difficult or distressing to provide personal care such as toileting and bathing for clients of any gender and varying ages
- Ability to attend your work placement regularly and reliably
All students enrolled in Individual Support are encouraged to obtain First Aid training (HLTAID011 is preferred). It is your responsibility to organise and pay for the training.
You may be required to obtain a Working With Children Check and National Police Clearance prior to a supervised work placement. This will depend on the organisation you arrange your work placement with.
For more information visit:
https://workingwithchildren.wa.gov.au(opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab)
https://www.police.wa.gov.au/Police-Direct/National-Police-Certificates(opens in a new tab) (opens in a new tab)
To work in the industry, an NDIS clearance is required at an additional cost of $11.00. SM TAFE will support you in applying for your clearance in-class before you graduate.
Under the current guidelines for access to Aged care facilities, there may be a requirement to have evidence of a current flu vaccination.
Vaccination requirements
This course requires you to undertake a mandatory work placement with an employer associated with an industry outlined in the COVID-19 mandatory vaccination policy. This means that you must be triple dose vaccinated prior to your work placement. For the latest information on vaccine requirements for students visit our COVID-19 update page.
- Aged and disabled carer |
- Special care worker | In Home Respite Worker | Residential Care Worker | Residential Support Worker| Residential Aide | Home Care Assistant
- Care Service Employee
- Support Worker
Please note this list should be used as a guide only as job titles and qualification requirements may vary between organisations.
SM TAFE actively promotes the employment availability of course graduates to key industry partners and organisations. We also seek expressions of interest from organisations for the placement of our students into work experience. We endeavour to assist students into a career pathway, but please be aware that neither employment nor work experience placement is guaranteed by us.
To access free career planning and job search assistance, visit the Jobs and Skills Centres page.
Select your preferred campus and apply
Click on your preferred campus and study mode below to get started with your application.
All year round
eCampus - Online
| Duration | 2 Semesters |
| When | All year round |
| Where | eCampus |
| How | Online |
Thornlie - Part Time-WP Delivery-Trainee-Thornlie
| Duration | 12 Months |
| When | All year round |
| Where | Thornlie |
| How |
Indicative fees and charges
The fees quoted are estimates only and are for all units in the course for students enrolling on a full-time basis. If you're a student that has successfully completed a lower-level qualification that is a prerequisite for this course, you'll only pay for the units that you need to enrol in to complete this course. Please view the full list of fee disclaimers.