Working in the health industry is rewarding, flexible and motivating. Every day is different, with a vast array of patients and health professionals working together with each other.

The Certificate III in Health Services Assistance HLT33115 has no entry requirements and is a nationally recognised qualification that will open up the opportunity for you to gain entry level employment working as an assistant in nursing, nursing support worker or patient support worker. This qualification provides you with the skills and knowledge to support professionals such as doctors and nurses in ensuring that health services function effectively when delivering care to patients and clients.

As a nursing assistant you’ll provide support to clients according to their care plan and under the supervision of a health professional. You’ll learn how to perform patient observations, how to work effectively with culturally diverse clients and how to use medical terminology. After completing this course you could work in aged care facilities, hospitals, clinics, private medical practices and home and community care services. The program offers electives to cater to specific work functions including assisting in nursing and working in acute care.

Learn new skills including

• How to communicate and work in health or community services
• Work with a range of diverse clients
• Recognise healthy body systems
• Infection prevention and control procedures
• How to interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately

Employment opportunities with this qualification include:

• Assistant in nursing
• Nursing support worker
• Patient service attendant
• Ward assistant
• Ward support

Course outcomes include

• Completion of a nationally recognised industry qualification
• A First Aid Certificate
• Experience providing care in a care service facility

Available as a Traineeship

This qualification can be completed through a traineeship pathway. Please contact Nadia Louw on 9970 1008 or email nadia@nbmc.nsw.edu.au for further information.. New entrant traineeship: $0.

Course entry requirements

• Telephone or personal meeting with our Training Coordinator who will provide course information and answer your questions to ensure this is the right course for you before you enrol.
• Current National Police Check.
• Current Working with Children Check
• Provide copy of up to date vaccination records
• Unique Student Identifier (see information below).
• Successful completion of an NBMC English language, literacy and numeracy quiz to determine that you have appropriate skills to successfully complete the course.
• Reasonable level of fitness to carry out manual handling tasks and, as part of First Aid training, perform CPR while kneeling on the floor.

PLEASE NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, work placement requirements may change at short notice to include the COVID-19 vaccination.

What you need to know about this course

• The College offers part time day or evening courses. See below for class options.
• Attendance can be in person at a College Campus or online by Virtual Classroom using Zoom. Classes listed with a campus location are face to face and campus attendance is required for the duration of the course. See below for learning requirements for those delivered via Zoom (some face to face campus training may be required, please check with the Coordinator when applying). See below for class options.
• The course is delivered using a blended learning model which includes timetabled classroom or virtual classroom attendance, weekly flexible directed self study hours and 80 work placement hours.
• Students will need to allow regular weekly hours (approx 15-18)throughout the course for directed self study for the completion of learning and assessment tasks.
• There are no classes during school holidays.
• If attending the theory component of the course by virtual classroom, there will be some training sessions when you will need to attend the campus for practical skills training.
• The course is delivered in the College’s fully equipped aged care/nursing training room by our qualified and industry experienced trainer/assessor.
• Work placement hours will differ to normal class hours.
• 15 units of competency must be successfully completed to achieve this qualification. These are listed in the pop up list located above the class options below.
• A timetable will be provided on course commencement detailing theory, practical and work placement training sessions.
• On Campus study during COVID-19 – please click here to learn about the additional safety measures being taken at College Campuses to help protect everyone on site.

About work placement

• A minimum of 80 hours of unpaid work placement in a care service facility is required (arranged by NBMC)
• Work placement provides you with the opportunity to respond to situations and circumstances that cannot be replicated in a simulated environment.
• Your trainer will either accompany you or visit you regularly during work placement hours to guide and support you as well as assess practical skills.

Are there Assessments?

• Competency based assessment of each unit of competency in the course will be conducted through a mix of assessment methods including case studies, theory tasks, projects and practical demonstration.
• Some units of competency require assessment of practical skills during work placement.
• You will receive clear assessment instructions and an opportunity will be provided for resubmission of assessments if required.

Pathway to Further Training

There are many pathways you can follow into more specified fields of nursing once you gain this entry level qualification. The Certificate III in Health Services Assistance provides a clear pathway to the Diploma of Nursing which can then lead to a Bachelor Degree in Nursing.

Eligibility for “NSW Fee Free” Training

The NSW and Federal Governments have signed an agreement to deliver more fee free vocational education places in NSW in 2024 for priority qualifications including Certificate III in Individual Support – training to commence between 1 July and 31 December 2024. Fee-free places are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

To be eligible you must be:

• an Australian Citizen/Perm Resident/NZ citizen/humanitarian visa holder or a partner visa holder whose sponsor is a humanitarian visa holder
• aged 15 years or older, and
• live or work in New South Wales, and
• no longer be at school or equivalent (excluding registered home schooled)

If you meet the above criteria, along with the Course Entry Requirements, you can apply to study this course fee free (includes course resources but students are responsible for the cost of obtaining a police check/Working with Children Check/meeting vaccination requirements).

Course cost

If you do not meet the above eligibility criteria the cost for this course is: $7000 – please contact the College for payment options.

College Trainers

All NBMC Trainers/Assessors are current industry professionals with the required qualifications to deliver and assess this course. Trainers draw upon and share their own experiences in the industry to ensure that the training delivered to you is current and relevant. For information about individual trainers, please click on the trainer name in the class details below for the trainer’s bio.

Student Support

Please advise our Training Coordinator at your initial telephone or personal meeting if you require additional support in your learning. This will allow a support plan to be devised before you commence your course.

Why study at Northern Beaches & Mosman College?

Enjoy smaller class sizes, a personalised relationship with your trainer, face-to face teaching sessions and qualifications that include real life work experience, when you choose to study at the three-campus Northern Beaches & Mosman College (NBMC).

With campuses available across the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore in Narrabeen, Brookvale and Mosman, the College offers increasing numbers of accredited and vocational qualifications. Students include those looking to upskill, to change career direction and school leavers keen to step onto a career pathway. Courses on offer can lead directly to employment and/or go towards future learning opportunities.

Virtual Classroom using Zoom

Zoom is easy to use video conferencing software with a simple set up. You will be able to see your trainer and classmates and interact as though you were in the same room, all from the comfort of your own home!

This is what you need to join a Zoom classroom:

• Understanding the basics of using Zoom – see our free Zoom tutorial by clicking here.
• Access to a computer, iPad/tablet or smartphone; and
• A webcam* so that you can be seen by the trainer; and
• A microphone* so that you can participate in the class and be heard by the trainer; and
• A good Internet connection.

*If you have a laptop computer a webcam and microphone is usually built into the top of the screen frame. Smartphones and iPad/tablets also contain cameras and microphones.

Once you have watched our free tutorial and experimented with Zoom, if you still have questions, we are offering free Q & A Zoom sessions with one of our experienced trainers. See our Zoom page for available dates by clicking here.

National Recognition

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) - is a process of acknowledging previously completed qualifications, skills, knowledge or experience relevant to your course. This may reduce the amount of learning required, reduce your course fees and allow you to achieve your qualification faster. Any student who believes they may be eligible for RPL should discuss this with our Training Coordinator on enrolment.

Unique Student Identifier (USI)

From 1 January 2015 it is a requirement of the Federal Government that all students undertaking nationally recognised training will need to obtain a Unique Student Identifier (USI). This involves an easy online application. See USI Fact Sheet for information on how to apply for a USI go to the Unique Student Identifier (USI) Website for additional information.

Please ensure when completing your enrolment information, that the details relating to your name are identical to those on the identification evidence (eg passport or driver’s licence) used when creating your USI, eg no abbreviations or nicknames should be used. Once created, it is important that you keep a record of your USI and access to your accredited training records in a safe place. You will need this information for any future enrolments into accredited training in Australia. Please contact the College on 9970 1000 if you require assistance.

To Enrol or for Further Information

• Commence the enrolment process by completing the application below.
• Contact Nadia Louw on 9970 1008 or email nadia@nbmc.nsw.edu.au for further information.

Training in priority qualifications is fee-free and fully funded by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments