Study Aged Care in Australia
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Study Aged Care in Australia
Turn your Study Abroad Dream to Degrees Abroad
Aged Care Courses for International Students
- Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing)
- Certificate IV in Ageing Support
- Diploma of Nursing (Ageing)
- Bachelor of Nursing (Aged Care)
Why pursue an aged care course?
Aged care courses in Australia
Aged care courses in Australia come in great variations and based on your needs and requirements, you can choose to pursue the one most suitable to you.
Australian academic institutions with accreditation provide VET (Vocational Education and Training) courses. These VET programmes are intended to prepare an individual for a particular profession and feature an immense practical component. For people seeking employment in certain specialised careers in Australia like aged care, VET certificates are the best option as they provide you with enough conceptual knowledge of the field as well as give you plenty of opportunities to get in hand experience in the industry.
While some VET programmes have no admission criteria, others might, depending on the programme, call for completion of the equivalent of the Australian Years 10, 11, or 12. For certain courses, you may also be required to turn in a portfolio, go to an interview, or do an audition.
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing)
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) is a vocational qualification that is designed to provide individuals with the knowledge and skills needed to work in the aged care industry in Australia. The course covers a range of topics, including how to provide personal care and support to older individuals, how to assist with medications, and how to work in a team to provide high-quality care. It is typically offered by technical and further education (TAFE) institutions and other training providers. Upon completion of the course, graduates may be eligible for entry-level positions in the aged care industry, such as care workers or personal care assistants.
Certificate III in Individual Support (ageing): Entry requirements
There are no structured entry requirements to pursue this course. However you are expected to clear A National Police Check (not older than 3 months ago), and a Working with Children Check (WWCC). Both these checks are the benchmark entry parameters to the aged care industry and are required due to the very nature of the work that ensures proximity with children and the elderly who are extremely vulnerable groups and need that extra blanket of security checks and protection.
Additionally, during your vocational training, you are also expected to have the following:-
- Fluency in the English Language
- Completion of Grade 12 or equivalent certificate
- Healthcare worker/student vaccination record card
- Vaccination against infectious diseases
Certificate III in Individual Support (ageing): Course Overview
Certificate III in Individual Support course has a duration of 1 year during which you are required to attain 13 units in total. These are split into:-
7 Core Competency units: Core Units are central to the vocational
6 Specialty units
These 13 units are to be completed in 1 year. Additionally, a minimum set precedent number of practice hours will be attached to your coursework where you will be interacting and working with Aged Care Institutes, Homes, Clinics, and other professional spaces in a supervised role to get in-field experience and prepare you better for actually working in the industry.
Certificate III for aged care will also require you to get a required number of credit points in all the following subjects. It will be helpful to look at the specific credit requirements of the university you choose to pursue this certificate. However, for all vocational certificate courses, the basic requirement when seeking employment is getting a ‘Pass’ in the competency of the course.
Certificate III in Individual Care (Ageing) requires you to study the following subjects:-
Core unit |
Providing Individual Support |
Core unit |
Independence and Wellbeing |
Core unit |
Communication and Health: Community Services |
Core unit |
Working with Diversity |
Core unit |
Legality and Ethics in aged care |
Core unit |
Recognising Healthy Body systems |
Core unit |
Safe Work Practices for Direct Client Care |
Elective unit |
Empowering Older people |
Elective unit |
Supporting people with Dementia |
Elective unit |
Personal support needs for older people |
Elective unit |
Support people with Chronic diseases |
Elective unit |
Palliative Care Approach |
Elective unit |
Infection Prevention, Control and basic procedures |
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing): Career Opportunities
Upon successful completion of the course units along with good recommendations in your practical work as part of the course, you can hope to seek employment in the following areas of work:-
- Residential Aide
- Planned Activity Assistant for the elderly
- Hospice worker
- Senior Personal Care Assistant
- Senior Transport support worker
- Residential support and care worker
- Nurse’s aide
- Personal caregiver
- Community care worker
- In-home respite worker
- Assistant in Nursing
- An adult care facility worker
Certificate IV in Ageing Support
Certificate IV in Ageing Support: Entry Requirements
Certificate IV in ageing support can only be pursued upon completion of certain basic requirements. These include but may not be limited to the following:-
- A National Police Check (not older than 3 months ago)
- Working with Children Check (WWCC)
- Successful completion of Certificate III in Individual Support (ageing)
- Fluency in the English language
- Completion of grade 12 or equivalent certificate
Both these above-mentioned security checks are the benchmark entry parameters to the aged care industry and are required due to the very nature of the work that ensures proximity with children and the elderly who are extremely vulnerable groups and need that extra blanket of security checks and protection.
Additionally, during your vocational training, you are also expected to get the following:-
- Healthcare worker/student vaccination record card
- Vaccination against infectious diseases
Certificate IV in Ageing Support: Course Overview
Certificate IV in ageing Support has a course duration of about 1.5 years during which you will be required to attain 18 credit units. The units will be split into:-
- 15 Core competencies
- 3 Elective units
These 18 units are to be completed in the duration of 1 year or up to 1.5 years. Additionally, a minimum set precedent number of practice hours will be attached to your coursework where you will be interacting and working with Aged Care Institutes, Homes, Clinics and other professional spaces in a supervised role to get in a field experience or will be working very closely with elderly vulnerable people struggling with serious chronic conditions are require expert care.
Certificate IV in ageing support will also require you to get a required number of credit points in all the following subjects. It will be helpful to look at the specific credit requirements of the University you choose to pursue this Certificate. However, for all vocational certificate courses, the basic requirement when seeking employment is getting a ‘Pass’ in the competency of the course.
Core unit |
Facilitating interests and rights of the clients |
Core unit |
Empowering the elderly |
Core unit |
Services for the elderly |
Core unit |
Interventions for older people at risk |
Core unit |
Working with people with dementia |
Core unit |
Individual care and service planning |
Core unit |
Personal support needs of the elderly |
Core unit |
Supporting independence and wellbeing among the elderly |
Core unit |
Client relations and family management |
Core unit |
Working with diversity |
Core unit |
Legal and ethical compliances for aged care |
Core unit |
Palliative Care Approach |
Core unit |
Collaborative partnerships in aged care |
Core unit |
Safe work practices for direct client care |
Elective unit |
Falls prevention amongst elderly |
Elective unit |
Leadership in workplace |
Elective unit |
Develop and implement service programmes |
Certificate IV in Ageing Support: Employment Opportunities
- Accommodation Support Worker
- Respite Care Worker
- Personal Caregiver
- Community Program Coordinator
- Personal caregiver
- Care supervisor
- Residential Care Officer
- Day Activity Worker
- Care Team Leader