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.
Gain these skills:
- 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
Mandatory vaccination requirements
The Commonwealth Department of Health and the Western Australian Department of Health have advised that it will be mandatory for residential aged care workers to have a COVID-19 vaccination from 17 September 2021, this includes students undertaking work placements.
Want to find out more about this industry?
Students in community services benefit from sharing information about organisations, initiatives and leading expertise in our Community Services Facebook page.
This qualification is directly aligned with priority industry areas where the jobs are today, and into the future. As part of the state government Lower fees, local skills initiative, from 1 January 2020 through to 31 December 2025 you'll only pay half the course fees, capped for each year at $1,200; or $400 (plus resource fee) if you're aged 15—24 or eligible for a concession. Find out more
-
Entrance requirements
-
Is this course right for you?
-
Study requirements
-
Important information
-
Job opportunities
-
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
The Commonwealth Department of Health and the Western Australian Department of Health have advised that it will be mandatory for residential aged care workers to have a COVID-19 vaccination from 17 September 2021, this includes students undertaking work placements.
Students will also be required to have a flu vaccination (no more than one year old) to be eligible to go out on community placement.
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.
Study options and next steps
Click on your preferred study mode below to get started with your application.
All year round
eCampus - Online
| When | All year round | ||||||||||||
| Where | eCampus | ||||||||||||
| How | Online | ||||||||||||
| Fee |
|
Indicative fees and charges
Visit our Fees page for all you need to know about fees at SM TAFE.
Call 1800 001 001 to get a more accurate fee indication based on your eligibility and study plan before applying.
More information about fees – at a glance
Fees and charges published on our website are indicative. The fee for this course is displayed in the table above, showing tuition fees, resource fees and total fees for general and concession fee types for qualifications and skill sets, and one total fee for short courses.
Your fees will depend on your eligibility for government funding or a concession rate, and the units you choose to study or seek to be recognised under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Our Indicative fees lists show fees that are:
-
Based on the full possible study plan of units, including the recommended electives
-
Based on full time study in 2021 for Semester 2 study options
-
Based on full time study in 2022 for Semester 1 study options
-
Charged at the government funded rate for over 18 years of age students
-
Based on unit electives designed to meet localised industry demand for skills
-
Made up of course fees and resource fees, or RPL fees. Course fees are the cost of your tuition, while resource fees pay for consumables provided to you to aid your study (such as printing and paper). You may also be required to purchase text books or equipment that are not part of our tuition or resource fees. Short course fees include both tuition and resource fees as one total fee.
Fees may vary between students and between educational providers. Other charges may apply.
Lower Fees, Local Skills fee caps
The annual fees cap on Lower fees, local skills qualifications means that regardless of how much course fees are, you will not pay more than a set total amount per qualification or course in any one calendar year. The annual fees cap is set at $400 for eligible concession students, and $1,200 for non-concession students, plus resource fees. If you begin study in Semester 2 and your course runs longer than one semester, you should expect a new calendar year cap to begin in the next semester of your study, as your further study will be considered in a new calendar year.
Skills Ready skill sets
Skills Ready skill sets are free for eligible students. For those who are not eligible, tuition, resource and other fees are payable. Find out more about the initiative.
VET Student Loans
Selected Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses are VET Student Loan eligible courses. A VET Student Loan creates a debt that must be repaid to the Commonwealth and is only available to students who are eligible. Student Loan fee caps apply. To find out if you are eligible, to see the list of eligible courses or view the loan caps visit our Student Loans page.
International students
Selected courses are available to International students for full time study only. Fees, charges, available locations, applications and enrolment procedures for International students are different to those for students who have Australian permanent residency. For more information or to find a course visit the TAFE International WA website.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) enrolments are charged at $3.25 per nominal hour of study.
No concession fees apply to RPL enrolments. Refer to the institutional or apprenticeship/traineeship fee list above for an indicative RPL course fee.
To get started with RPL, visit the Recognition of Prior Learning page.
College Discretionary Fee (CDF)
For all on campus and online and on campus students an annual $20 discretionary fee is payable to cover items like security and other onsite facilities once per semester.
Semester 1
Rockingham - Full time - On Campus
| Duration | 1 Semester | ||||||||||||
| When | Semester 1 | ||||||||||||
| Where | Rockingham | ||||||||||||
| How | On Campus | ||||||||||||
| Fee |
|
Indicative fees and charges
Visit our Fees page for all you need to know about fees at SM TAFE.
Call 1800 001 001 to get a more accurate fee indication based on your eligibility and study plan before applying.
More information about fees – at a glance
Fees and charges published on our website are indicative. The fee for this course is displayed in the table above, showing tuition fees, resource fees and total fees for general and concession fee types for qualifications and skill sets, and one total fee for short courses.
Your fees will depend on your eligibility for government funding or a concession rate, and the units you choose to study or seek to be recognised under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Our Indicative fees lists show fees that are:
-
Based on the full possible study plan of units, including the recommended electives
-
Based on full time study in 2021 for Semester 2 study options
-
Based on full time study in 2022 for Semester 1 study options
-
Charged at the government funded rate for over 18 years of age students
-
Based on unit electives designed to meet localised industry demand for skills
-
Made up of course fees and resource fees, or RPL fees. Course fees are the cost of your tuition, while resource fees pay for consumables provided to you to aid your study (such as printing and paper). You may also be required to purchase text books or equipment that are not part of our tuition or resource fees. Short course fees include both tuition and resource fees as one total fee.
Fees may vary between students and between educational providers. Other charges may apply.
Lower Fees, Local Skills fee caps
The annual fees cap on Lower fees, local skills qualifications means that regardless of how much course fees are, you will not pay more than a set total amount per qualification or course in any one calendar year. The annual fees cap is set at $400 for eligible concession students, and $1,200 for non-concession students, plus resource fees. If you begin study in Semester 2 and your course runs longer than one semester, you should expect a new calendar year cap to begin in the next semester of your study, as your further study will be considered in a new calendar year.
Skills Ready skill sets
Skills Ready skill sets are free for eligible students. For those who are not eligible, tuition, resource and other fees are payable. Find out more about the initiative.
VET Student Loans
Selected Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses are VET Student Loan eligible courses. A VET Student Loan creates a debt that must be repaid to the Commonwealth and is only available to students who are eligible. Student Loan fee caps apply. To find out if you are eligible, to see the list of eligible courses or view the loan caps visit our Student Loans page.
International students
Selected courses are available to International students for full time study only. Fees, charges, available locations, applications and enrolment procedures for International students are different to those for students who have Australian permanent residency. For more information or to find a course visit the TAFE International WA website.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) enrolments are charged at $3.25 per nominal hour of study.
No concession fees apply to RPL enrolments. Refer to the institutional or apprenticeship/traineeship fee list above for an indicative RPL course fee.
To get started with RPL, visit the Recognition of Prior Learning page.
College Discretionary Fee (CDF)
For all on campus and online and on campus students an annual $20 discretionary fee is payable to cover items like security and other onsite facilities once per semester.
Semester 2
Rockingham - Full time - On Campus
| Duration | 1 Semester | ||||||||||||
| When | Semester 2 | ||||||||||||
| Where | Rockingham | ||||||||||||
| How | On Campus | ||||||||||||
| Fee |
|
Indicative fees and charges
Visit our Fees page for all you need to know about fees at SM TAFE.
Call 1800 001 001 to get a more accurate fee indication based on your eligibility and study plan before applying.
More information about fees – at a glance
Fees and charges published on our website are indicative. The fee for this course is displayed in the table above, showing tuition fees, resource fees and total fees for general and concession fee types for qualifications and skill sets, and one total fee for short courses.
Your fees will depend on your eligibility for government funding or a concession rate, and the units you choose to study or seek to be recognised under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Our Indicative fees lists show fees that are:
-
Based on the full possible study plan of units, including the recommended electives
-
Based on full time study in 2021 for Semester 2 study options
-
Based on full time study in 2022 for Semester 1 study options
-
Charged at the government funded rate for over 18 years of age students
-
Based on unit electives designed to meet localised industry demand for skills
-
Made up of course fees and resource fees, or RPL fees. Course fees are the cost of your tuition, while resource fees pay for consumables provided to you to aid your study (such as printing and paper). You may also be required to purchase text books or equipment that are not part of our tuition or resource fees. Short course fees include both tuition and resource fees as one total fee.
Fees may vary between students and between educational providers. Other charges may apply.
Lower Fees, Local Skills fee caps
The annual fees cap on Lower fees, local skills qualifications means that regardless of how much course fees are, you will not pay more than a set total amount per qualification or course in any one calendar year. The annual fees cap is set at $400 for eligible concession students, and $1,200 for non-concession students, plus resource fees. If you begin study in Semester 2 and your course runs longer than one semester, you should expect a new calendar year cap to begin in the next semester of your study, as your further study will be considered in a new calendar year.
Skills Ready skill sets
Skills Ready skill sets are free for eligible students. For those who are not eligible, tuition, resource and other fees are payable. Find out more about the initiative.
VET Student Loans
Selected Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses are VET Student Loan eligible courses. A VET Student Loan creates a debt that must be repaid to the Commonwealth and is only available to students who are eligible. Student Loan fee caps apply. To find out if you are eligible, to see the list of eligible courses or view the loan caps visit our Student Loans page.
International students
Selected courses are available to International students for full time study only. Fees, charges, available locations, applications and enrolment procedures for International students are different to those for students who have Australian permanent residency. For more information or to find a course visit the TAFE International WA website.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) enrolments are charged at $3.25 per nominal hour of study.
No concession fees apply to RPL enrolments. Refer to the institutional or apprenticeship/traineeship fee list above for an indicative RPL course fee.
To get started with RPL, visit the Recognition of Prior Learning page.
College Discretionary Fee (CDF)
For all on campus and online and on campus students an annual $20 discretionary fee is payable to cover items like security and other onsite facilities once per semester.
Mandurah - Full time - On Campus
| Duration | 1 Semester | ||||||||||||
| When | Semester 2 | ||||||||||||
| Where | Mandurah | ||||||||||||
| How | On Campus | ||||||||||||
| Fee |
|
Indicative fees and charges
Visit our Fees page for all you need to know about fees at SM TAFE.
Call 1800 001 001 to get a more accurate fee indication based on your eligibility and study plan before applying.
More information about fees – at a glance
Fees and charges published on our website are indicative. The fee for this course is displayed in the table above, showing tuition fees, resource fees and total fees for general and concession fee types for qualifications and skill sets, and one total fee for short courses.
Your fees will depend on your eligibility for government funding or a concession rate, and the units you choose to study or seek to be recognised under Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Our Indicative fees lists show fees that are:
-
Based on the full possible study plan of units, including the recommended electives
-
Based on full time study in 2021 for Semester 2 study options
-
Based on full time study in 2022 for Semester 1 study options
-
Charged at the government funded rate for over 18 years of age students
-
Based on unit electives designed to meet localised industry demand for skills
-
Made up of course fees and resource fees, or RPL fees. Course fees are the cost of your tuition, while resource fees pay for consumables provided to you to aid your study (such as printing and paper). You may also be required to purchase text books or equipment that are not part of our tuition or resource fees. Short course fees include both tuition and resource fees as one total fee.
Fees may vary between students and between educational providers. Other charges may apply.
Lower Fees, Local Skills fee caps
The annual fees cap on Lower fees, local skills qualifications means that regardless of how much course fees are, you will not pay more than a set total amount per qualification or course in any one calendar year. The annual fees cap is set at $400 for eligible concession students, and $1,200 for non-concession students, plus resource fees. If you begin study in Semester 2 and your course runs longer than one semester, you should expect a new calendar year cap to begin in the next semester of your study, as your further study will be considered in a new calendar year.
Skills Ready skill sets
Skills Ready skill sets are free for eligible students. For those who are not eligible, tuition, resource and other fees are payable. Find out more about the initiative.
VET Student Loans
Selected Diploma and Advanced Diploma courses are VET Student Loan eligible courses. A VET Student Loan creates a debt that must be repaid to the Commonwealth and is only available to students who are eligible. Student Loan fee caps apply. To find out if you are eligible, to see the list of eligible courses or view the loan caps visit our Student Loans page.
International students
Selected courses are available to International students for full time study only. Fees, charges, available locations, applications and enrolment procedures for International students are different to those for students who have Australian permanent residency. For more information or to find a course visit the TAFE International WA website.
Recognition of Prior Learning
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) enrolments are charged at $3.25 per nominal hour of study.
No concession fees apply to RPL enrolments. Refer to the institutional or apprenticeship/traineeship fee list above for an indicative RPL course fee.
To get started with RPL, visit the Recognition of Prior Learning page.
College Discretionary Fee (CDF)
For all on campus and online and on campus students an annual $20 discretionary fee is payable to cover items like security and other onsite facilities once per semester.