Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (Assisting in nursing work in acute care)

Full Fee-paying student—$4,490

View the schedule of fees for students in 2025

Government funding—Certificate 3 Guarantee

This qualification is approved for subsidies under the Queensland Government's Certificate 3 Guarantee program. Certificate 3 Guarantee provides a government subsidy to allow eligible Queenslanders to obtain their first post-school Certificate III level qualification. To be eligible for the Certificate 3 Guarantee funded by the Queensland Government you must meet the eligibility criteria, as outlined below.

Non-concessional student co-contribution: $150
Concessional student co-contribution: $75

Co-contribution is payable prior to commencement.

To be eligible for the Certificate 3 Guarantee you must meet the following criteria:

• not hold or be currently enrolled in a certificate III or higher-level qualification (does not include qualifications completed in secondary school)
• be 15 years or older
• have completed or left secondary school
• be an Australian citizen or permanent resident residing in Queensland, or New Zealand citizen permanently residing in Queensland (including humanitarian entrants), or a temporary resident with the necessary visa and work permits on the pathway to permanent residency.

You are eligible for the concession fee if you are eligible for subsidised training and are listed on an Australian Government Low Income Health Care Card or Pensioner Concession Card, if you are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, you hold a Department of Veterans' Affairs Pensioner Concession Card, or if you have a disability.

Students will no longer be eligible for a government subsidised training place under the Certificate 3 Guarantee program once they complete the qualification.

For more information about eligibility, see Queensland Government Certificate 3 Guarantee Student Fact Sheet, or Certificate 3 Guarantee FAQs.

If you are not eligible for a subsidy, Mater Education offers a payment plan for the Health Services Assistance course fees. To pay your fees this way you’ll need to make three to five non-refundable payments—the first before the start of the course. There are no administration fees or interest charges, and no extra charges for credit card payments. Please contact us to find out about our payment plan.

Additional costs

As part of your enrolment, you will need to buy:

• Mater Education Uniform shirt (approximately $60 - $80 per shirt)
• Closed-in black shoes
• Black business pants or knee-length black skirt (preferably with pockets)
• Criminal history check 'Fit2Work' ($29)
• Any additional vaccinations you may require

Cancellation and refund policy.

This course will take 15 weeks plus 80 placement hours to complete. Classes will be blended in delivery, including both: 

• Onsite: Delivered at Mater Education (Up to two days per week).
• Online: Students will need to allocate additional self-guided learning outside of class (est. 10 hours per week).

Within these modes, a range of class styles are utilised, including classroom work, group discussions, tutorials, online videos and practical simulation events.

Training times

• Mater Education typically delivers classes between Monday and Friday from 8.30am to 3.30pm.
• Students will be provided with a timetable for their studies to assist in planning ahead for their training upon commencement.

Class timetables

Upcoming dates for this course are to be advised and the indicative timetable and study expectations for students commencing study will be published here.

This qualification comprises 15 units in total, including 7 core units and 8 elective units.

Core units

BSBMED301 Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately
This unit contains the knowledge and skills you need to:

• understand and respond to instructions
• carry out routine tasks and communicate with a range of internal/external clients in a medical environment
• use appropriate medical terminology.

CHCCOM005 Communicate and work in health or community services
This unit gives you the skills and knowledge you need to work effectively in a health setting with clients, staff, visitors, suppliers and others to meet established work requirements.

CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
This unit gives you the skills and knowledge required to work respectfully with people from diverse social and cultural groups and situations.

HLTINF006 Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to follow organisational infection prevention and control procedures, including implementing standard and transmission-based precautions and responding to infection risks.

HLTWHS001 Participate in workplace health and safety
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required for workers to participate in safe work practices to ensure their own health and safety, and that of others.

HLTAAP001 Recognise healthy body systems
This unit provides the basic level of knowledge of anatomy and physiology needed to recognise healthy body systems.

BSBWOR301 Organise personal work priorities and development
This unit equips you with the skills and knowledge to organise your own work schedules, to monitor and obtain feedback on work performance and to maintain required levels of competence.

Elective units

CHCCCS002 Assist with movement
This unit provides the knowledge and skills you need to support clients who need assistance with basic physical movement.

CHCCCS020 Respond effectively to behaviours of concern
This unit describes the skills and knowledge you need to respond effectively to behaviours of concern in clients and others.

CHCCCS026 Transport individuals
This unit describes the skills and knowledge you need to transport of clients from one location to another at a particular site (or to other sites) safely, quickly and efficiently.

CHCCCS012 Prepare and maintain beds 
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to apply bed making and cleaning practices to a range of beds to ensure that people can safely occupy a clean bed.

CHCCCS010 Maintain high standard of service
This unit describes skills and knowledge you’ll need as a care assistance worker (or other worker who has contact with clients) to deliver and maintain a high standard of service.

HLTAID009 Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in line with the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) guidelines.

HLTAIN001 Assist with nursing care in an acute care environment
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide nursing care assistance in an acute care environment.

HLTAIN002 Provide non-client contact support in an acute care environment
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide a range of non-client contact support to a nursing team delivering nursing care in an acute care environment.

Should you leave the course before you complete it, you’ll receive a Statement of Attainment for any units of competency you’ve completed and where your course fees have been paid in full.