Overview
Make a positive difference to others with your career in Aged Care or Disability Work! Complete the new Certificate III in Individual Support, specialising in either Ageing or Disability, and become qualified with skills and experience to work in one of Australia's most rapidly growing work sectors.
You will find employment opportunities in the community, home, or residential care settings, where you will work as part of a team to provide person-centred care and facilitate the empowerment of people receiving support.
Your work may involve using discretion and judgement in relation to individual support as well as taking responsibility for your own outputs. As an employee you will have a range of factual, technical, and procedural knowledge, as well as theoretical knowledge of the concepts and practices required to provide person-centred support.
Delivery Methods
- Blended – Teaching and assessment will be conducted on-campus and online.
- Traineeship – Teaching and assessment will be required to be conducted as part of a traineeship
- Workplace/Blended Industry - A mix of on-campus and teaching/assessment conducted at your workplace and during timetabled sessions
Locations
- McKoy Street, Wodonga Vic (Main campus)
When You Can Enrol
On-campus/blended- Apply via the ‘Apply now’ button. Note: If the course is not available for online application, register your details via the ‘Enquire Now’ form to be notified when future dates are scheduled.
Workplace/blended industry for disability stream (Available to people employed minimum of 15 hours per week in industry - apply via the 'Apply now' button.
Traineeship: You will enrol with Wodonga TAFE as part of your traineeship with your employer. The Australian Apprenticeship Support Network (AASN) is your first point of contact
Duration
Ageing specialisation: Full-time 10 months | Disability specialisation: Full-time 12 months (incl end of year term break)
Schedule
Ageing specialisation
- Start February 2025, Wednesday & Thursday, 9:15am-3pm, on campus. Full-time 10 months.
Disability specialisation
- Start February, Tuesday & Thursday. 9.15am-3.30pm, on campus. Full-time 12 months.
Workplace/blended for disability industry:
- Start anytime, Wednesdays 4pm-8pm. Placement is completed in the workplace. Students must be working a minimum of 15 hours per week in industry. Full-time 12 months.
Traineeship delivery for both specialisations
- Traineeship - Individual training plans will be developed in consultation with your employer, as part of your traineeship.
Requirements
This course is delivered as a combination of course work, recognition of knowledge and skills demonstrated in the workplace, online learning, and weekly intensive workshops. There is an expectation that students complete up to 10 hours per week additional study in their own time.
Disability specialisation
Practical classes will require closed in shoes, t-shirts, long pants to be worn, jewellery to be removed, and nails short.
Field Placement
Ageing specialisation
- Students must be a minimum of 17 years of age at the time of their first clinical placement.
- Prior to placement students are required to have a current National Police Records Check; applications are at student’s own cost and the price and process varies depending on the state they reside in. Students will also need to obtain a Victorian Working with Children’s Check and NDIS Worker Clearance Check depending on venue.
- Prior to placement students are required to show evidence of up-to-date immunisation status for the following: Fluvax and 3 x COVID vaccines, however this varies depending on the placement venue and their requirements. Immunisations and serology test may be required at student’s expense. Any concerns can be raised with the course coordinator.
- Students must complete a minimum of 120 hours of work placement. This will be undertaken in 1-week blocks, as negotiated with the course coordinator. Please consider whether you can undertake the placement component as it is a key requirement of the qualification. Work placement will be discussed in more depth at the interview stage and at the orientation session.
Disability specialisation
- A Working with Children Check (Victoria and New South Wales), and a NDIS Worker Clearance Check will be required to undertake your field placement for this course.
- Students must be a minimum of 18 years of age at the time of their first field placement.
- Students must complete a minimum of 120 hours of field education undertaken via 1-day per week placement starting Term 2 of your enrolment. Please consider whether you can undertake the placement component as it is a key requirement of the qualification. Field placement will be discussed in more depth at the interview stage and at the orientation session. Students who have worked or are working in the disability sector can discuss recognition of their skills and knowledge as part of their placement hours. The specific aims of the practical placements are to apply knowledge and skills learned during your studies in the workplace; make contact with employers and become familiar with employers’ expectations; increase your employment options and employability skills; and gain skills recognised by industry.
Assessment
The method of assessment varies and can include (but is not limited to):
- Observation in the workplace or simulated environment
- Written tasks, including quizzes
- Research tasks, including projects
- Portfolios
- Oral presentations
- Group work
Other Information
Regional Disability Worker Scholarships
The Victorian Government is offering new scholarships to support students to complete their unpaid placements. Students studying in 2025 may be eligible for future rounds of the new Regional Disability Worker Scholarships. Payments of $3,500 are available to support student completing the Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability).
Students with disability and from First Nations communities are encouraged to apply. To find out more, visit (www.dffh.vic.gov.au/regional-disability-worker-scholarships)