Certificate III in Health Services Assistance
HLT33115
Length
9 Months (full time)
2 Years (part time)
Certificate III in Health Services Assistance - HLT33115
Course Overview
Course start dates are indicative and are subject to change. Students will receive information from their teacher upon enrolment including a confirmed start date and timetable. If applicable, students will also receive information about a course induction and directions on where to go on the first day.
This qualification reflects the role of a variety of workers who use a range of factual, technical, and procedural knowledge to provide assistance to health professional staff for the care of clients. Health services assistance involves the worker in direct client contact under supervision.
This course can be delivered as part of GOTAFE’s VET Delivered to School Students (VDSS) program. Students interested in undertaking this course need to enrol through their school.
Skills First subsidised funding is not available for VDSS programs. Contact your school for VDSS Fee information.
This course is currently available as part of the Free TAFE scheme but is subject to eligibility requirements and may change in the future.
Careers & study pathways
Where can this course take me?
Roles graduates may be eligible for include:
- Allied Health Assistant
- Therapy Assistant
- Podiatry Assistant
- Physiotherapy Assistant
- Speech Pathology Assistant
- Occupational Therapy Assistant
- Nutrition or Dietetics Assistant
- Community Rehabilitation Assistant
Further study
After graduating, participants might like to undertake further study in the:
Course details
Study units
Take a look at some of the subjects you’ll be studying when you take this course.
This course requires a total of 15 units: 7 core and 8 elective.
Core units
7 unit(s)
- BSBMED301 Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately
- BSBWOR301 Organise personal work priorities and development
- CHCCOM005 Communicate and work in health or community services
- CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
- HLTAAP001 Recognise healthy body systems
- HLTINF006 Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control
- HLTWHS001 Participate in workplace health and safety
Elective units
12 unit(s)
- CHCCCS002 Assist with movement
- CHCCCS012 Prepare and maintain beds
- CHCCCS020 Respond effectively to behaviours of concern
- CHCCCS026 Transport individuals
- CHCDIV002 Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety
- HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- HLTAID011 Provide First Aid
- HLTAIN001 Assist with nursing care in an acute care environment
- HLTAIN002 Provide non-client contact support in an acute care environment
- HLTFSE001 Follow basic food safety practices
- HLTHPS001 Take clinical measurements
- HLTWHS006 Manage personal stressors in the work environment
Attendance & commitment
Traineeship blended delivery | 1-year course length | Part-time study load
Students are expected to:
- Attend campus two days per week for classes (Monday and Tuesday), 6 hours per day.
- Spend approximately 10 hours per week working through their course materials, research, revision, and completion of assessments.
- Attend regular virtual catch-ups with their trainer, timing is arranged directly with the trainer.
- Meet with their trainer at their place of work at least four times per year.
- Attend a minimum of 80% of scheduled classes.
- Consolidate their learning in the workplace.
- 80 hours of work experience will be completed in the trainee's workplace after successful completion of all theory components of HLTAIN001 and HLTAIN002.
General public face-to-face delivery | 9 months course length | Part-time study load
Students are expected to:
- Attend campus two days per week for class (Monday and Tuesday), 6 hours per day.
- Spend approximately 20 hours per week working through their course materials, research, revision, and completion of assessments.
- Attend a minimum of 80% of scheduled classes.
Complete 80 hours of mandated work placement, as outlined in the placement details below.
Placement
- Placement is organised by GOTAFE.
- A practical placement agreement is entered into between GOTAFE, the student, and the host provider and is signed prior to the commencement of placement.
- Students are required to complete 80 hours of mandated work placement.
- Placement is conducted over a 3-week block at the end of the course. Students will need to be available for this period to complete their placement. The hours and days will vary depending on the placement provider's requirements.
- 100% attendance is required for placement.
- Students may be required to travel throughout regional Victoria.
- A GOTAFE polo shirt is required to be worn during placement.
Assessment methods
Assessment methods may include:
- Knowledge questions
- Simulated demonstrations
- Workplace observations
- Case studies
- Simulated role plays
Before you begin
Entry requirements
GOTAFE entry requirements
Before being accepted into this course applicants must:
- Complete a Basic Key Skills Builder (BKSB) online test to ensure the required literacy & numeracy levels for the course are met.
- Undertake a Pre-training Review by interview to ensure the course suits their needs and aspirations, and that they are likely to complete the course successfully.
- Prospective Traineeship or Apprenticeship students are required to apply through an Apprenticeship Network Provider with their employer to organise their apprenticeship contract before applying for this course.
- Prospective VDSS students are required to apply through their School's VET Coordinator or Careers Advisor.
Placement requirements
Students entering this course must be immunised against the following before attending placement:
- Hepatitis B
- Measles/Mumps/Rubella
- Varicella (Chicken Pox) Boostrix
- COVID 19 vaccination as per Government guidelines
Students must also obtain:
- A current Working With Children's Check (Volunteer acceptable).
- A valid Police Check, dated within the last 6 months.
Inherent requirements
Students must have:
- Physical stamina to carry out manual tasks.
- Empathy and resilience required for working with vulnerable patients.
Student resources
Students must provide:
- A laptop/computer with internet access.
- Access to a digital camera or video camera for visual and audio assessment tasks.
- General stationery (pens, pencils, rulers)
Enrolment
Please note: Eligible individuals who wish to access a government-subsidised place, must participate in a Pre-training Review. This will consider your:
- Aspirations/career goals
- Educational attainment and capability
- Literacy and numeracy skills
- Suitability for Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer
Skills recognition / Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Skills Recognition is an assessment only process that may result in credits towards a part or full qualification. There is no formal training involved, although you may choose to complete further training as a result of the assessment process.
You can apply for Skills Recognition before you enrol in the qualification you are seeking. You can apply for Skills Recognition through one or both of the following processes:
- Credit Transfer for formal training that might be equivalent to a new qualification or partial qualification.
- Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) for people who have relevant and current skills and knowledge that they have gained through non-formal or informal learning i.e. work or life experience.
Fees and payments
This course is available as part of the Free TAFE scheme for eligible students.
Fees and costs
GOTAFE offers a range of payment options to help you pay your tuition fees, so you can get on with your studies.
This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding to eligible individuals.
Please note that the fees on this webpage, for this particular course:
- are correct at the time of publishing for those enrolling in 2025 and may change without notice.
- will be discussed with applications as part of the application process to ensure it is understood what is being paid for and which fee rates they may be eligible for.
Course Fees consist of three different components:
- Student Tuition Fee - covers the costs of training and assessment. These fees vary across courses and are calculated based on a rate per nominal hour enrolled in. The student tuition fees as published are subject to change given individual circumstances at enrolment. Circumstances may include:
- an individual’s eligibility for Victorian (Skills First) and Commonwealth government-funded training
- an individual’s eligibility for concession rates on Victorian (Skills First) and Commonwealth government-funded training
- ineligible individuals who are required to pay the full fees for tuition and other costs.
- Material Fee - where applicable, cover the costs of classroom consumables, handouts and booklets, e-Learning resources and associated license access fees and excursions.
- Student Services Fee (SSF) – contributes to the provision of student engagement, learning and support services. SSF is a non-refundable annual fee that does not apply to short-course participants.
Additionally, some courses require students to purchase or supply textbooks, kits, tools, uniforms and personal protection equipment. Some specific materials may be purchased through the GOTAFE Bookshop. A full list with associated costs will be provided to you at your course information session, induction session, or during the pre-training review interview.
GOTAFE offers a range of payment options to help you pay your fees.
Learn more about fees, charges, refunds and payment options
Student support
As an enrolled student at GOTAFE you may access a wide range of academic support services to assist you to meet the academic challenges of your course from our Learning Support Unit.
Learning support
A free and confidential service to help you build the foundation skills you need to be successful at TAFE. Improve your english language, maths and/or writing skills; enhance your computer, exam and study skills.
Learn more about our learning support services
Library
Our library team are passionate about supporting students to achieve their study goals. They have subject guides, referencing help, and online resources to assist you with you assessments.
Find how to reach out to our library in Shepparton
Jobs and study options
Our Skills and Jobs Centres can assist and talk through options for courses, careers, assistance with job applications and more.
Reach out to our Skills and Jobs Centres
Contingent Study Arrangements
Where a situation arises that prevents campus attendance (such as COVID restrictions, natural disasters, etc.) and it is deemed an appropriate response in protecting the health and safety of staff, students, and visitors, this course will adapt to alternative training arrangements, possibly using online methods of teaching and/or communication while students engage from home with their Trainers. Any required practical components of the course will be moved to a more appropriate time.
Whether you need support with time management, your mental health, grief and loss, a diagnosed disability, financial hardship, or any other challenge life throws your way, we are here to help.
Support for personal issues
We have a dedicated team to ensure students have the help they need with personal issues impacting studies such as homelessness, family problems & setting up payment plans.
Find out how the Student Experience Team can help you
Disability support
Get access to the supports and adjustments you need for your disability or medical condition to be successful in your studies.
Seek support from our Equitable Learning Advisors
Counselling services
We offer free counselling services to help you work through life's challenges including grief and loss, mental health or relationships.
Learn about our Student Wellbeing Advisors
Koorie Unit
The Koorie Unit is a culturally safe space on our Shepparton Fryers Street Campus for all Koorie students enrolled and studying through GOTAFE, or with one of our education partnering organisations.
Refer to the Student Handbook for information regarding Learner’s Rights Student Handbook.
Further information is provided at course induction.
This course is government accredited and has national recognition.
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