HomeCoursesIndividual support and disability careCertificate III
Certificate III · national qualification
Certificate III in Individual Support
This qualification prepares you to work in aged care, disability support or home care, helping people with daily tasks under the guidance of a care plan and a supervising team.
- How long it takes
- 4 to 8 months
- full time at TAFE NSW
- What it costs
- From $255
- Subsidised at TAFE Queensland, full fee up to $14,837
- How you can study
- Online, on campus or on the job
- Includes a work placement
- Main job
- Aged Care Worker
- $91,600 median pay, In demand
- Taught by
- 51 providers
- Every state and territory
Is this course right for you?
What the Certificate III in Individual Support asks of you, and what you might want to check first.
It helps to have
- an interest in supporting people's independence and wellbeing
- patience and a calm approach to daily care tasks
- clear communication skills for working with clients and health professionals
- respect for people from diverse backgrounds and life situations
Before you start
Each provider sets its own entry requirements, so check the ones you are considering.
Where this course can take you
Jobs this qualification is a recognised route into, and the study that can follow it.
Jobs you can do with it
Aged Care Worker
Aged care workers help older people with the daily tasks that frailty or illness make hard, from showering and dressing to meals and getting around, in a care home or in the person's own home.
What else you need
Select the relevant ageing or disability specialisation and complete required placement and employer checks.
Median pay$91,600
In demand
Assistant in Nursing
Assistants in nursing support registered and enrolled nurses with the daily care patients need, helping them wash, eat, move and stay comfortable.
What else you need
The certificate includes 120 hours of work placement. It does not confer any registration, and employers set their own hiring requirements, so check the provider and employer.
Median pay$65,000 (estimate)
Disability Support Worker
Disability support workers help people with disability manage daily tasks and personal care, and get out into the community, so they can live as independently as they choose.
What else you need
Select the relevant ageing or disability specialisation and complete required placement and employer checks.
Median pay$91,600
In demand
Pay is the median for everyone in the job, and “In demand” means the job is on the national shortage list. Pay marked as an estimate is our own analysis, not a published figure.
What it costs
Subsidised place
From $255
at TAFE Queensland. Whether you get a subsidised place depends on your state, residency, age and earlier study.
Paying the full fee
$4,695 to $14,837
across the TAFEs listed below. Private providers set their own fees.
| TAFE | State | Subsidised | Concession | Full fee | How long |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAFE NSW | NSW | $1,450 | $240 | $9,920 | 4 to 8 months |
| Chisholm Institute | VIC | $4,584 | $917 | $13,089 | |
| GOTAFE | VIC | $6,332 | $1,266 | $14,837 | |
| Holmesglen Institute | VIC | $5,434 | $1,087 | $9,639 | |
| The Gordon | VIC | $4,252 | $850 | $10,518 | |
| TAFE Queensland | QLD | $255 | $75 | $4,695 |
TAFE NSWNSW
- Subsidised
- $1,450
- Concession
- $240
- Full fee
- $9,920
- How long
- 4 to 8 months
Chisholm InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $4,584
- Concession
- $917
- Full fee
- $13,089
GOTAFEVIC
- Subsidised
- $6,332
- Concession
- $1,266
- Full fee
- $14,837
Holmesglen InstituteVIC
- Subsidised
- $5,434
- Concession
- $1,087
- Full fee
- $9,639
The GordonVIC
- Subsidised
- $4,252
- Concession
- $850
- Full fee
- $10,518
TAFE QueenslandQLD
- Subsidised
- $255
- Concession
- $75
- Full fee
- $4,695
Fees as each TAFE shows them on its website, read 20 September 2026. Private providers set their own fees.
Where you can study this course
There are 51 places you can study this course. When you compare them, check they teach it the way you want to study, how far you'd be from a campus, what it will cost you and what past students say about the teaching and support. They're listed by how often people search for them, and none of them pays to be here or to move up.
- Website for Melbourne Polytechnic (opens in a new tab)
Melbourne Polytechnic
13 campuses, VIC
3.7from 485 Google reviews
What students like
- Some teachers are supportive and go out of their way
- Student services offer understanding and compassion
What to weigh up
- Messages to staff can go unanswered
- Enrolment mistakes can take time to fix
- Course page for TAFE NSW (opens in a new tab)
TAFE NSW
36 campuses, NSW, SA, VIC
4.0from 2,410 Google reviews
- How you study
- On campus
- How long
- 4 to 8 months
- Fee
- From $1,450 subsidised
What students like
- Teachers are supportive and ready to help
- Staff are helpful and friendly
- Course content is practical and industry relevant
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Some find front desk staff less helpful
- Website for Victoria University (opens in a new tab)
Victoria University
11 campuses, NSW, QLD, VIC
3.9from 1,562 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are friendly, supportive and approachable
- Studying one subject at a time through the block model
- Staff are welcoming and ready to help
What to weigh up
- Admin can be hard to reach after you finish
- Website for Stanley College (opens in a new tab)
Stanley College
4 campuses, SA, WA
4.3from 882 Google reviews
What students like
- Finance staff are patient and explain fees clearly
- Student services staff are friendly and helpful
- Trainers explain clearly and give practical examples
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- Website for Charles Darwin University (opens in a new tab)
Charles Darwin University
12 campuses, NSW, NT
4.2from 619 Google reviews
What students like
- Admin and support staff are helpful
What to weigh up
- Units vary depending on the lecturer
- Feedback on assessments can vary
- Website for Swinburne University of Technology (opens in a new tab)
Swinburne University of Technology
8 campuses, VIC
4.0from 1,190 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers and tutors are supportive and want students to succeed
- Student HQ and support staff are helpful and responsive
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
- You may be passed between departments
- Website for TAFE Gippsland (opens in a new tab)
TAFE Gippsland
11 campuses, VIC
3.9from 113 Google reviews
What students like
- Lecturers are approachable and care about learning
What to weigh up
- Enrolment and admin can be slow
What you’ll learn
15 units: 9 that everyone takes and 6 you choose.
- Following individualised care plans
- Supporting independence and wellbeing
- Communication in health and care
- Working with diverse people
- Infection prevention and control
- Safe work practices in care
See all 9 core units
Core units
Everyone completes these. Select a unit to see what it covers.
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Questions to ask before you enrol
Providers run this course differently, so the answers change from one to the next.
- When is the next intake, and how many are there each year?
- What is the total cost, including materials, checks and any placement costs?
- Can I study part time or online, and how does that change the length?
- Who arranges the work placement, and how many hours does it involve?
- Do the units count towards a higher qualification if I go on to study further?
Questions people ask
Who is this qualification for?
It prepares you to work in aged care, disability support or home care, helping people with daily tasks under a care plan and a supervising team. You work under supervision and delegation as part of a multi-disciplinary team, following an individualised plan.
Do I need experience or other qualifications first?
Entry requirements are set by each provider, so you should check with the provider you choose.