AT A GLANCE
Kick start your career in the community services industry with this entry-level qualification. Gain the practical skills and knowledge to provide individual support in home and community care settings.
JOB PROSPECTS
- Personal Care Assistant
- Personal Care Worker
- Personal Carer
- Direct Care Worker
- Home Help Worker
- Support Worker
- Respite Care Worker
- Disability Support Worker
COURSE OUTCOME
STUDY OPTIONS
- Class
- Duration: Up to 12 Months
- Studying in a class environment is a great way to enjoy the benefits of face-to-face education in a way that is far removed from a typical school. You will be learning in an adult environment where you will be respected and nurtured. Attend a class to learn face-to-face with a teacher in one of our learning spaces; such as a classroom, workshop or simulated environments.
- Courses may have a combination of online and classroom based learning. Students are expected to undertake additional personal study to complete the course requirements.
- Contact Australasian College of Technical Education to find out what classes are running near you.
- Traineeship
- Duration: Up to 12 Months
- For this course you must be employed or gaining full time or part time (Min 15 hrs per week) employment to enrol as an apprentice or trainee with Australasian College of Technical Education.
- If you are in years 10, 11 or 12 you may be able to enrol as a school-based trainee (SAT), please discuss with your schools VET Coordinator.
- Eligible apprentices and trainees that meet the Queensland state funding requirements will be charged a set fee per nominal hour. These fees are calculated at a regulated rate of $1.60 per nominal hour. Concession rates apply for students who hold a current Health Care Card or who identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander.
- Non-funded apprentices and trainees will be charged a fee for service cost as listed below.
- Speak to your employer or VET Coordinator about choosing Australasian College of Technical Education as your Supervising Registered Training Organisation (SRTO) or contact one of our friendly training consultants to discuss your training needs further.
STUDY LOCATIONS
- Milton
- Mackay
- Hervey Bay
COURSE OVERVIEW
Make a start in your career in the community services industry with this entry-level qualification. This course will give you the skills you need to provide individual care to people in home, community, or health care settings.
According to the Australian Government’s Job Outlook service, the number of people working as aged and disability carers is forecast to grow very strongly in the coming years. With around 179,000 job openings expected over the next five years, graduates with skills in this area will be in high demand.
You will learn how to support independence and wellbeing, gain a range of technical skills, and develop a range of transferable skills from communication to teamwork. This specialised course will give you the skills to facilitate the empowerment of older people or people with a disability, and provide home and community support services.
Successful completion of this course will qualify you to work in aged care, and home and community care. It will also prepare you to undertake further studies in the community services and health sectors.
UNITS & PAYMENT OPTIONS
The successful achievement of this qualification requires you to complete all 13 Units (7 core and 6 elective units). You will also be required to undertake 120 hours of vocational placement in an approved setting.
Available Enrolment Options
UP FRONT PAYMENT
This is the total amount you need to pay when you enrol. This may be the full fee for the course, or the student contribution amount if you are eligible for a subsidy or concession. Any upfront fee that exceeds $1500 a payment plan will apply.
PAYMENT PLAN
If you have difficulty paying for the full cost of a course upfront or the course fee is greater than $1500, you may be eligible for a payment plan, which will be negotiated upon enrolment.
For further information relating to Australasian College of Technical Education’s fees and charges and refund policies, please visit our Policies and Procedures page.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
There are no formal entry requirements for this course.
SELECTION CRITERIA
As part of the selection criteria for this program it is highly recommended that students:
- are aged 16 years or older by the course commencement date;
- have successfully completed Year 10 (or equivalent) or are of mature age; and
- have basic English skills (written and verbal communication).
PLACEMENT
If you are not currently employed or volunteering in industry, during your course you will be required to complete vocational placement so you can start practising your new skills in a real-world environment. You’ll be required to work shifts determined by your placement provider, and these can include early mornings or late nights, any day of the week, including public holidays. Australasian College of Technical Education may be able to assist in arranging suitable placements.
Completing placement is compulsory, and you will be expected to manage family and work commitments in order to complete your shifts. You are required to complete a minimum of 120 hours of placement to satisfy this component of your qualification.
Please note: Prior to placement you will need to:
- complete a Federal Police Check
If your police check identifies that you have a criminal history, you may be disqualified from being eligible to undertake placement and assessment, which would affect your course outcomes. If you think this might impact you, please speak to an Australasian College of Technical Education training consultant for further information.
It is also recommended that all students should undertake screening for vaccination against the following Queensland Health Mandatory vaccination requirements such as:
- MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella)
- Influenza
- Varicella zoster virus (chicken pox)
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Hepatitis B
You will be responsible for any costs associated with meeting these placement requirements, which may include travel and/or accommodation costs as well as an additional cost of approximately $35-$45 for a Criminal History Check.
RESOURCES REQUIRED
It is recommended that you have access to a reliable Internet connection to access learning resources, and a computer with up-to-date software, including Microsoft Office, Adobe Acrobat Reader and Adobe Flash Player.
ASSESSMENT METHODS
Skill and knowledge assessments are an essential step in progressing through your course. You may be assessed in a number of ways while you are studying at Australasian College of Technical Education, including observation, written assessment, questioning, portfolios, work samples, third-party feedback, and through recognition of prior learning. Read more about assessment methods.
CREDIT TRANSFERS & PATHWAYS
CREDIT TRANSFER
Australasian College of Technical Education as a Registered Training Organisation recognises the Australian Qualifications Framework qualifications and Statement of Attainments issued by any other Australian Registered Training Organisation.
Students are encouraged to submit any requests for credit from previous studies at the time of enrolment, to ensure they are not enrolling in units they may not need to undertake. In order to apply for exemption/credit transfer from units completed at another training organisation, you will need to notify Australasian College of Technical Education when you enrol.
You will need to submit your documentary evidence (certified copy of Qualification/Statement of Attainment) to support your request for exemption/credit transfer via mail or email. Requests without documentary evidence will not be processed and will be returned to students. There are no fees attached to Credit Transfers.
RECOGNITION OF PRIOR LEARNING (RPL)
RPL is the acknowledgement of a person’s skills and knowledge acquired through previous training, work or life experience, which may be used to grant status or competency in a subject regardless of how and where they were attained.
This can include skills from:
- Previous study excluding courses at a VET/TAFE institution, but including courses at school or college, through adult education classes or training programs at work;
- Work experience (including both work that is paid and unpaid); and/or
- Life experience (for example leisure pursuits or voluntary work).
RPL is a form of assessment. It is used to determine whether a person has acquired, through formal or informal learning, the skills and experience consistent with the stated competency standards that comprise a qualification. RPL isnot time referenced, so there are no parameters on how or when the skills are acquired. However, the skills that have been acquired through life experience etc., must be current and must match the elements and performance criteria contained in the individual unit.
Students seeking RPL need to indicate this when enrolling, fee’s will apply and will be discussed upon enrolment.
STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES
Everyone’s journey is different and sometimes you need some extra support. We’re here to help.
Throughout your training you will have access to support from our student support centre and trainers and assessors via phone, email or in person.
You will be supported in your learning in the following ways:
- Answering queries about assignment questions by phone, email or face to face;
- Explaining assessment processes;
- Arranging contact with a trainer, via telephone or visit;
- Monthly status reports keeping you up to date on your progress;
- Making appropriate arrangements for students with disabilities;
- Organising assignments to be assessed in a timely manner; and
- Advising students of their results and any further required study or assessment.
Talk to our friendly Student Support Services team – 1800 029 466 – info@acte.com.au/healthtraining.com.au or contact us online
HOW TO APPLY
If you have read and understood the student rules, refund policy, understand your fees and payment options, have a Unique Student Identifier (USI) and checked you meet the entry requirements and selection criteria for this course, you’re ready to get started.
APPLY NOW or contact a training consultant on 1800 114 419 to get started!
Disclaimer
All information was accurate at time of publication, however Australasian College of Technical Education’s policies, tuition fees and course content is subject to change without notice. Course commencement is dependent on sufficient enrolment numbers. Timetable information is subject to change prior to commencement and/or during the duration of your course.