Certificate III in Pathology

Career Start – General Training Pathway

Career Start is one of the Queensland Government’s core funded vocational education and training (VET) programs managed by the Department of Trade, Employment and Training (DTET).

Eligibility

Under Career Start, you may access up to two funded training places through one of the following options:

1. a qualification in a certificate III under the general training pathway and an apprenticeship or traineeship. If the apprenticeship or traineeship is completed first, you are not eligible to access a general training pathway qualification under Career Start.
2. two apprenticeships and traineeships in either a certificate II or III (school-based apprenticeships and traineeships are included in this total).

Note: Students who successfully complete this qualification under the General Training Pathway will no longer be entitled to access a subsidised training place.

General Training Pathway

To be eligible, you must:

Non-concessional student Co-Contribution — $994

• be an Australian citizen, or Australian permanent resident (includes humanitarian entrant), or a temporary resident who holds a valid visa and working rights on the pathway to permanent residency, or a New Zealand citizen; 
• not already have a certificate III or higher qualification completed within the last 10 years immediately preceding the individual’s enrolment (qualifications completed as a school student and foundation skills qualifications do not impact eligibility); 
• not be enrolled in another DTET-funded qualification, even if it is on hold or deferred, (foundation skills qualifications and self-funded/fee-for-service qualifications do not impact eligibility). 

Concessional student Co-Contribution — $756

All of the above and who:

• hold a Health Care, Veteran, or Pensioner Concession Card, or are the partner or dependent of someone with such a card and are named on the card; 
• have a Commonwealth form confirming eligibility for concessions under a Health Care, Veteran, or Pensioner Concession Card; 
• identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander (First Nations people); 
• have a disability

Scholarship student - $756

A limited number of scholarship places are available to applicants who do not qualify for Career Start funding. Please refer to the scholarships tab for more information on eligibility criteria and how to apply.

Full Fee-paying student - $4,990 

If you are not eligible for a subsidy, Mater Education offers payment plans.

To pay your fees this way you’ll need to make 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 for more information.

Co-contribution and refund information is available on our policies page.

View fee schedule

Additional costs

As part of your enrolment, you will need:

• Mater Education uniform shirt (~$60 - $80 per shirt)
• Closed-in black leather shoes
• Black business pants or knee-length black skirt (preferably with pockets) with stockings 
• Criminal history check (~$30)
• Any additional vaccinations you may require
• Microsoft compatible electronic device and internet access

Students are to apply for credit prior to course commencement for previously completed units of competency.   Where evidence of credit transfer is not provided prior to commencement of the course, tuition fees will apply.

This course is delivered over 17 weeks including a minimum of 35 hours placement. Classes are delivered through blended delivery, including: 

• Campus: Onsite at Mater Education campus (up to two days 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. Students will also need to participate in self-directed learning (take responsibility for your own learning journey outside scheduled training sessions).

Training times

• The Mater Education delivers classes between the hours of 8am and 3.30pm.
• Classes are typically between Monday to Friday.

Class timetables

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

January 2027

This qualification comprises 14 units in total, including 9 core units and 6 elective units.

Core units

CHCCOM005 Communicate and work in the health or community services
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to communicate effectively with clients, colleagues, management and other industry providers.

BSBMED301 Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to understand and respond to instructions; to carry out routine tasks and communicate with a range of internal/external clients in a medical environment; as well as use appropriate medical terminology.

CHCDIV001 Work with diverse people
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work respectfully with people from diverse social and cultural groups and situations, including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

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.

BSBCUS201 Deliver a service to customers
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to deliver all aspects of customer service at an introductory level. It includes creating a relationship with customers, identifying their needs, delivering services or products and processing customer feedback.

HLTPAT001 Identify and respond to clinical risks in pathology collection
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to recognise client risk factors, identify emergency situations and provide emergency or first aid response to client reactions associated with pathology specimen collection.

HLTPAT002 Perform venous blood collections
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to confirm collection requirements, prepare client and equipment, and perform routine blood collections using venous blood collection.

HLTPAT004 Collect pathology specimens other than blood
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to confirm collection requirements, prepare client and equipment and make routine pathology specimen collections.

Electives

HLTPAT006 Receive, prepare and dispatch pathology specimens
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to receive specimens, complete the administrative process to prepare samples for pathology testing, and dispatch specimens. This unit does not cover the dispatch of dangerous goods or the transport of specimens to external facilities.

HLTAID011 Provide First Aid
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to provide a first aid response to a casualty in line with first aid guidelines determined by the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and other Australian national peak clinical bodies.

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

CHCCCS020 Respond effectively to behaviours of concern 
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to work cooperatively with others and deal effectively with issues, problems and conflict.

BSBPEF301 Organise personal work priorities and development
This unit describes the skills and knowledge required to organise personal work schedules, to monitor and obtain feedback on work performance and to maintain required levels of competence.

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 fees have been paid in full.

Mater Education is committed to promoting equitable access to vocational education and training by offering scholarships to students from priority multicultural communities and First Nations people who are not eligible for Career Start funding.

A limited number of scholarship places are available to eligible applicants who identify as belonging to one or more of the following groups:

• Experiencing financial hardship
• Holding refugee or humanitarian status
• Of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.

Next steps

Students who believe they may be eligible for a scholarship are encouraged to contact Mater Education's Student Engagement team for confidential advice and support.

The team can provide information on eligibility, application requirements and the submission process.

To get started:

1. Contact our team via email, phone or fill out this form
2. Discuss your circumstances in confidence
3. Receive guidance on how to apply and supporting documentation required.