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Study a qualification that open doors to a range of job opportunities in the direct care industry, whilst giving back to the community. This formal qualification provides the skills and knowledge to empower people with disability to achieve greater levels of independence.
This qualification reflects the role of individuals in a range of community settings and peoples’ homes, who provide support in a manner that empowers people with disabilities to achieve greater levels of independence, self-reliance, community participation and wellbeing. Workers promote a person-centred approach, work according to and may contribute to an individualised plan, and work without direct supervision.
Want to find out more about this industry?
Students in disability services benefit from sharing information about organisations, initiatives and leading expertise on our Community Services Facebook page.
- working effectively in the direct care industry and caring for people with disability
- enabling clients to maintain independence
- safety procedures and ethical behaviour
- infection control practices
- working with cultural diversity
- workplace health and safety
- using augmentative and alternative communication strategies
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
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 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
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.
| 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 |
Please note that this course is currently only available to students who are working in the industry. Applicants must be over 18 years old and have completed:
- CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)
OR - CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)
OR - CHC30408 Certificate III in Disability PLUS the CHCSS00125 Entry to Certificate IV in Disability Support Skill Set.
New students who have not studied the Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) must apply instead for the lower level qualification due to pre-requisite skills/knowledge requirements.
This course is available as a traineeship.
Entrance requirements for traineeships
You must be employed in a training contract by an appropriate organisation to study an apprenticeship or traineeship.
In a traineeship you also gain hands-on skills and work experience, and improve your employment prospects, while earning a wage. On successful completion you will gain a nationally recognised qualification which can lead to rewarding career options. The difference between a traineeship and an apprenticeship is that a traineeship can be either a full time or part time employment based training arrangement, usually for a nominal duration of 12 months or more, generally in a non-trade related area.
To find out how to arrange a traineeship and study at South Metropolitan TAFE, please contact the Jobs and Skills Centre closest to you.
Online study
Students completing the online study option will complete two units at a time, with progress monitored by their lecturer. This can be done at a pace suitable to you but for each group of units you have 4 months to complete, so we recommend you use our schedule provided to you at enrolment to assist you in avoiding having to re-enrol in the unit.
Students must be able to demonstrate practical skills to achieve this qualification when studying fully online. For each unit there is a requirement to demonstrate performance tasks and skills, these will need to be simulated, recorded and submitted for assessment.
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
120 hours of work placement is mandatory for completion of this course. All work placement requirements will need to be completed with your employer.
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.
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)
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.
Select your preferred campus and apply
Click on your preferred campus and study mode below to get started with your application.