← Certificate III qualifications
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing)
CHC - Community Services
Entry qualification for aged-care work in residential and home-care settings. Covers personal care, dementia support and safe medication assistance under supervision.
Entry requirements
- Year 10 or equivalent
- National Police Check
- NDIS Worker Screening (jurisdiction dependent)
What you will learn
The CHC33021 with the ageing specialisation prepares workers for aged-care roles in residential aged-care facilities and home-care delivery. Core units include providing individualised support, supporting independence and wellbeing, communicating and working in health or community services, recognising healthy body systems, working with diverse people, and following safe work practices for direct client care. The ageing specialisation adds units on supporting older people with cognitive decline and dementia care under the Aged Care Quality Standards administered by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission. You also complete first aid and infection control training.
Skills you build
- Personal care (showering, dressing, toileting)
- Safe manual handling and transfers (slings, hoists)
- Medication assistance under enrolled nurse supervision
- Dementia care and behavioural support strategies
- Communication with families and substitute decision-makers
- Documentation in care plans and progress notes
- First aid and emergency response in aged-care settings
How the course runs
Most students study full-time over 12 months or part-time over 18 to 24 months. Around 480 hours of formal training plus a mandatory minimum 120 hours of work placement in an aged-care service. Theory and practical split roughly 50/50, with skills lab sessions on transfers, personal care and emergency response. Some RTOs offer it as a traineeship in partnership with major aged-care providers.
How you will be assessed
- Practical demonstrations in TAFE simulation labs
- Workplace observations by a registered nurse or supervisor
- Written knowledge tests per unit of competency
- First aid practical assessment (HLTAID011)
- Case study presentations on dementia care strategies
Workplace and placement
Minimum 120 hours of supervised work placement is required in a residential aged-care facility or community home-care service. Placements arranged through RTO industry partnerships. You hold an NDIS Worker Screening and Police Check before placement begins. Aged care wages are set under the Aged Care Award and were lifted by the Fair Work Commission's 2022-2024 work value case decisions.
Typical employers
- Residential aged-care providers (Bupa, Regis, Estia, not-for-profits)
- Home-care package providers
- Community Home Care Packages (CHSP) providers
- State-government aged care services
- Hospital discharge and transitional care teams
- Indigenous aged care and disability service providers
Pay after this qualification
$55,000 - $70,000 per year
Source: https://www.jobsandskills.gov.au/explore-careers/occupation/aged-or-disabled-carers. Last reviewed 2026-05-21.
Is this the right course for you?
You probably thrive here if
- You have genuine patience and empathy for older people
- You can handle bodily fluids and personal care tasks
- You can take direction from registered nurses
- You can communicate clearly with families
- You can pass a Police Check and NDIS Worker Screening
It is probably not for you if
- You react badly to bodily fluids or end-of-life care
- You have a back condition that limits manual handling
- You cannot tolerate shift work and weekend rosters
- You cannot cope with regular client deaths
After you finish
After Cert III you can progress to Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CHC43015) for senior personal care, leisure and lifestyle officer roles. Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121) gives credit for the Cert III and leads to enrolled nurse registration with AHPRA. Bachelor of Nursing programs at Charles Sturt, ACU and others recognise the Cert III as part of mature age entry portfolios.