Certificate III in Pathology Collection

Full Fee-paying student—$4 800

View the schedule of fees for students commencing in 2022.

View the schedule of fees for students in 2021.

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—$1 986

Concessional student Co-Contribution—$1 383

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.

Government funding - JobTrainer

This qualification is approved for subsidies under JobTrainer, a jointly funded initiative of the Australian and state and territory governments. JobTrainer provides a government subsidy to allow eligible Queenslanders to obtain a qualification currently in demand.

To be eligible for the JobTrainer funding you must meet the following criteria:

• Reside in Queensland, and
• 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, and
• have finished school or no longer be at school (including homeschool), and
• not already be enrolled in training (includes VET an higher education courses), and
• have not previously completed a qualification funded under the JobTrainer fund, and
• either be a jobseeker or a school leaver or a young person.

A jobseeker means an individual aged 15 years or older who is out of work or in receipt of income support payments.

A school leaver or a young person means an individual who is aged 16-24 years, regardless of employment status.

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

If you are not eligible for a subsidy, Mater Education offers a payment plan for some Pathology Collection 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
• Vocational placement at a non-Mater collection centre ($300) (limited number of places available) 

Cancellation and refund policy.

Duration

This course is delivered over 15 weeks plus vocational placement. Classes are delivered through a hybrid delivery, including both: 

• 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 2022
• March 2022
• May 2022
• August 2022

* 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. 

Mater Education is proud to offer rare scholarship opportunities for some eligible students from an Indigenous or refugee background, as well as those facing financial hardship.

Scholarships are awarded on merit, and are available to eligible students.

If you think you are eligible, we encourage you to apply for the course and make a clear note in your application form that you’re also applying for the scholarship (list under “other relevant information”).

Find out more about our scholarship opportunities here.

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.

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.

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.
 

Elective units

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.

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.

HLTAAP001 Recognise healthy body systems

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

BSBTWK201 Work effectively with others
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.