Certificate III in Individual Support

Full Fee-paying student—$4 150

View the schedule of fees for students in 2020.

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—$854
Concessional student Co-Contribution—$442

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.

For more information about eligibility go to Certificate 3 Guarantee Student Fact Sheet or the Certificate 3 Guarantee FAQs. 

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.

Mater Education offers a payment plan for the Individual Support 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 may 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)
• CPR currency ($50 - $60)
• Any additional vaccinations you may require

Cancellation and refund policy.

Duration
This course is delivered over six months. Classes are delivered through two main modes of delivery:

• Campus: Onsite at Mater Education campus (Up to two day per week*).
• Online: Theory sessions and tutorials delivered online (est. 10 hours per week).

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

Training times

• The Mater Education delivers classes between the hours of 8 am and 6 pm.
• Classes are typically between Monday to Friday.
• Students will be provided with a timetable for each term to assist in planning ahead for their training upon commencement.

Class timetables

View the indicative timetables and study expectations for students commencing study in:

• January 2020
• July 2020
• July 2020 - gap program
• October 2020
• 2021

* Please note: Adjustments to the delivery mode may occur while COVID-19 restrictions remain in place. Theory sessions will move to an online delivery depending upon government restrictions and community expectations. 

Vocational placement consolidates your knowledge within the real healthcare environment by giving you the opportunity to apply theory to practice. It happens at the end of the course and must be successfully completed to achieve an award.

Students are to complete up to 120 hours of work placement. Timetable will vary and is dependant upon workplace delivery. Your placement could be in: 

• aged care facility, or
• community care centre.

This qualification comprises 13 Units of Competency.

Core units

CHCCCS015 Provide individualised support
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to organise, provide and monitor support services within the limits established by an individualised plan. The individualised plan refers to the support or service provision plan developed for the individual accessing the service and may have many different names in different organisations. This unit applies to workers who provide support under direct or indirect supervision in any community services or health context.

CHCCCS023 Support independence and well being
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide individualised services in ways that support independence, as well as, physical and emotional wellbeing. This unit applies to workers in a range of community services contexts who provide frontline support services within the context of an established individualised plan.

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.

CHCLEG001 Work legally and ethically
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to identify and work within the legal and ethical frameworks that apply to an individual job role. This unit applies to community services and health workers who play a proactive role in identifying and meeting their legal and ethical responsibilities.

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

HLTWHS002 Follow safe work practices for direct client care
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required for a worker to participate in safe work practices to ensure their own health and safety, and that of others in work environments that involve caring directly for clients. It has a focus on maintaining safety of the worker, the people being supported and other community members.

Compulsory Elective units for ageing specialisation 

CHCAGE001 Facilitate the empowerment of older people
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to respond to the goals and aspirations of older people and provide support services in a manner that focuses on improving health outcomes and quality of life, using a person-centred approach. This unit applies to support workers in residential or community contexts.

CHCAGE005 Provide support to people living with dementia
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide person-centred care and support to people living with dementia. It involves following and contributing to an established individual plan.This unit applies to workers in a residential or community context, including family homes. Work performed requires some discretion and judgement and may be carried out under regular direct or indirect supervision.

CHCCCS011 Meet personal support needs
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to determine and respond to an individual’s physical personal support needs and to support activities of daily living.

HLTINF001 Comply with infection prevention and control policies and procedures
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.

Elective units

HLTAID003 Provide first aid
This unit describes the skills and knowledge you need to provide a first aid response to a casualty.

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.

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