Purpose of Qualification:
This qualification reflects the role of individuals in the community, home or residential care setting who work under supervision and delegation as a part of a multi-disciplinary team, following an individualised plan to provide person-centred support to people who may require support due to ageing, disability or some other reason.
These individuals take responsibility for their own outputs within the scope of their job role and delegation. Workers have a range of factual, technical and procedural knowledge, as well as some theoretical knowledge of the concepts and practices required to provide person-centred support.
The skills in this qualification must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.
To achieve this qualification, the candidate must have completed at least 120 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of the units of competency.
No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.
Learner Characteristic/ Client Cohort:
Target groups for Certificate III in Individual Support are international students who are:
- • Seeking a career as an individual support worker in aged care, disability services, or home care
- • Seeking to enter the growing community services sector in Australia with a qualification that is recognised nationally
- • Seeking a pathway to higher qualifications such as the Certificate IV in Ageing Support, Certificate IV in Disability, or Diploma of Community Services
- • Seeking internationally transferable skills that open doors to employment across Australia, New Zealand, and the UK
Clinton Institute's individual support students benefit from hands-on training in our simulated care environments, practical placement in established care providers, and mentorship from trainers with real industry experience. The course is designed to give graduates the confidence and competence to work sensitively and effectively with vulnerable people across diverse care settings — from residential aged care facilities to community home care and NDIS-funded disability support.
RPL is available to ensure that those with existing skills and knowledge are recognised and the amount of training is adjusted accordingly.
Pathways:
This qualification will provide a pathway to work as an individual support worker in a community services industry in small and large organisations, such as: NDIS providers, In-home support or group services, residential aged care facilities, and disability support agencies. Clinton Institute has established partnerships with leading disability and aged care providers in Melbourne to support student placement and graduate employment pathways.
Possible job titles include:
- • Disability support worker
- • Support Worker / Carer
- • In-Home support worker
- • Personal care support worker
- • Youth support worker
- • Aged care worker
- • Community care assistant
- • Home care companion
Students who complete this course may also wish to continue their vocational studies by undertaking CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support, then progress to the CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services, or specialist certificates in mental health, youth work, or leisure and health. University pathways into Social Work, Nursing, or Allied Health are also accessible following completion of the Diploma level.
Qualification Entry Requirements
There are no certified qualification requirements for this qualification. To enrol in this course, students must provide evidence that they:
- • Are at least 18 years of age
- • Have successfully completed Year 11 in Australia, or an equivalent overseas
- • Meet one of the following English proficiency requirements:
- • Have appropriate Language, Literacy and Numeracy (LLN) levels, as determined by Clinton Institute via the LLN test administered prior to enrolment.
o Evidence of a valid IELTS score of 6.0 or other equivalents in English Language tests including Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT), Pearson Test of English (PTE), Doulingo English Test, and Cambridge English (CAE).
o Successfully complete the pathway with recognized ELICOS providers, as determined by Clinton Institute via exit score of IELTS score of 6.0 equivalents.
o Student have successfully completed their Year 12 or equivalent in English Language
The LLN test will be conducted by a suitable Trainer and Assessor or the Director of Studies.
The LLN assessment includes a written test and interview to complete the verbal component of the test. For international students applying from their home country this will be completed during a skype interview. For all students applying within Australia the test will be completed during an interview at the RTO.
The LLN test assists the RTO to assess whether or not students’ LLN skills are at a level suited to the course requirements. It also assists our trainers to prepare individual learning plans for each successful applicant where skill weaknesses are identified. The RTO will work with successful applicants to ensure their skills are at the required level by the completion of their training.
For international Students, it is a condition of entry that upon acceptance, students provide evidence of having an Australian Student Visa (subclass 500). Please refer to the government website for information about applying: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/student-500
Simulated Care Environments — Practical Skills Training
Clinton Institute's CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support is delivered through a combination of theory classrooms and fully equipped simulated care environments at our Melbourne CBD campus. Students practise real-world care skills including manual handling, infection control, safe transfer techniques, and personal care delivery using purpose-built training equipment and simulated care settings that replicate aged care and home care environments. All practical sessions are delivered by qualified nurses and experienced aged care practitioners who bring current industry practice into every training session.
Workplace Training — Structured Placement in Aged Care Facilities
As part of the CHC33021 qualification, all students complete mandatory practical placement in registered aged care facilities across Melbourne. Clinton Institute arranges placement with our established partner organisations including Arcare, Opal HealthCare, and Benetas, where students are supervised by qualified care staff and assessed by Clinton Institute trainers during on-site workplace visits. Placement provides hands-on experience in residential aged care, home care, and community service settings, preparing graduates for immediate employment in Australia's growing aged care sector. Students complete a minimum of 120 hours of supervised workplace training as part of the qualification requirements.