Take the next step in your aged care career
Study a qualification that open doors to a range of job opportunities in the aged care industry, whilst giving back to the community.
This qualification builds on the skills and knowledge you would have gained in Certificate III in Individual Support or Certificate III in Aged Care. The units of study are more demanding and provide a deeper understanding of the issues concerning aged clients and service provision for this target group. Graduates will be able to enter the workforce as direct service providers in an agency that provides services to seniors.
Want to find out more about this industry?
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- plan, develop, implement and monitor programs and services for seniors
- assess the needs of older people with complex circumstances
- plan and conduct group and recreation programs for seniors
- monitor services, implement and monitor health and safety policies and procedures and organise an effective work environment
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
- good listening and writing skills
- be able to deal with physical demands of manual tasks including personal care work and lifting
- 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
This course will be FREE from 1 January 2023. The course fees are 100 per cent subsidised by the WA State Government.
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.
This course requires vaccination, police clearance and working with children check prior to work placement. See the important information tab for instructions.
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Entrance requirements
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Is this course right for you?
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Study requirements
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Important information
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Job opportunities
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Further study
| School Leaver | Non-School Leaver | AQF |
|---|---|---|
| C Grades in Year 11 WACE General English, and OLNA; or NAPLAN 9 Band 8 | C Grades in Year 11 English and Maths or equivalent | Certificate II or Certificate III |
- Completion of CHC33015 – Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing or Ageing, home & community) is a requirement for this course.
- Those who have the older version of the Certificate III in Aged Care and are working in industry, we encourage you to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning and taking units in this course one to two days a week while you work
- Students under the age of 18 might not be able to meet the workplace assessment requirements of this qualification if a place cannot be found for work placement.
New students who have not studied the Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing or Ageing, home & community) must apply instead for the lower level qualification due to pre-requisite skills/knowledge requirements. Students that have already completed Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing or Ageing, home & community) are eligible to apply for a credit transfer to reduce the study load and overall course cost.
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.
Attendance in class
You will need to attend class for two days a week for one semester when studied full-time.
As well as the in-class component, you will need to complete approximately 5 hours of additional study each week outside of class hours, including private study, assignment preparation, research and using Blackboard.
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.
Work placement
150 hours of work placement is mandatory for completion of this course, which will be timetabled as 5 days per week for 4 weeks. The additional hours have been provided to ensure that students can undertake the range of learning and assessment opportunities required for successful completion of the course.
Students will be required to have a flu vaccination (no more than one year old) to be eligible to go out on community placement.
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).
Clean clothing suitable for an office work place must be worn.
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 are placed with.
For more information visit:
https://workingwithchildren.wa.gov.au(opens in a new tab)
https://www.police.wa.gov.au/Police-Direct/National-Police-Certificates(opens in a new tab)
Mandatory 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.
Please note this list should be used as a guide only as job titles and qualification requirements may vary between organisations.
Work placement is mandatory for completion of this course. SM TAFE will arrange a suitable work placement within industry for you which will involve your attendance at a workplace.
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.