Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

About this course

Health care is one of the most in-demand industries in Australia. In this course you will learn how to support clients and staff in hospitals and other health care settings. You'll be supervised by medical and health care professionals.

The course will cover technical skills and procedural knowledge, including:

communicating in health or community services
medical terminology
infection prevention and control
patient transport and movement
preparing patients for procedures
equipment and supplies handling
food serving
clinical cleaning and maintenance.

You will also learn to provide safe care with empathy and respect.

Health service assistance roles include:

orderly
ward assistant
patient support assistant
ward clerk
operating theatre technician
nurse’s aide.

This qualification is recognised nationally under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

This course can be done as a traineeship. You’ll get technical knowledge through coursework and hands-on experience through paid work. On completion you will receive a nationally recognised qualification.

To enrol as a trainee, you’ll need:
1. a job in a relevant workplace in the same field as your course, and
2. an employer willing to sign a Commonwealth Government ‘Training Contract’ and support your learning at work.
To get started:
- contact an Apprentice Connect Australia Provider for information on finding an employer and for ongoing support
- find a course provider that delivers the course as a traineeship.
To get help:
- contact the TAFE and Training Line
- visit our apprenticeships and traineeships page
- visit Apprenticeships Victoria.

Units of study

Core units

Unit title	Unit code
Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately	BSBMED301
Organise personal work priorities and development	BSBWOR301
Communicate and work in health or community services	CHCCOM005
Work with diverse people	CHCDIV001
Recognise healthy body systems	HLTAAP001
Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control	HLTINF006
Participate in workplace health and safety	HLTWHS001

Elective units

Unit title	Unit code
Contribute to team effectiveness	BSBFLM312
Promote innovation in a team environment	BSBINN301
Facilitate the empowerment of older people	CHCAGE001
Provide support to people living with dementia	CHCAGE005
Work in an alcohol and other drugs context	CHCAOD001
Work with clients who are intoxicated	CHCAOD002
Assist with movement	CHCCCS002
Facilitate responsible behaviour	CHCCCS009
Maintain a high standard of service	CHCCCS010
Prepare and maintain beds	CHCCCS012
Provide individualised support	CHCCCS015
Respond effectively to behaviours of concern	CHCCCS020
Transport individuals	CHCCCS026
Facilitate the empowerment of people with disability	CHCDIS007
Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety	CHCDIV002
Work with people with mental health issues	CHCMHS001
Engage with health professionals and the health system	CHCPRP005
Work with forced migrants	CHCSET001
Work with people experiencing or at risk of homelessness	CHCSOH001
Organise and monitor cleaning operations	CPPCLO4022A
Contribute to client flow and client information management in medical imaging	HLTAHA025
Support the medical imaging professional	HLTAHA026
Provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation	HLTAID009
Provide basic emergency life support	HLTAID010
Provide First Aid	HLTAID011
Assist with nursing care in an acute care environment	HLTAIN001
Provide non-client contact support in an acute care environment	HLTAIN002
Transport non-emergency patients under operational conditions	HLTAMB014
Follow basic food safety practices	HLTFSE001
Provide ward or unit based food preparation and distribution services	HLTFSE002
Perform kitchenware washing	HLTFSE003
Serve cafeteria customers	HLTFSE004
Apply and monitor food safety requirements	HLTFSE005
Prepare foods suitable for a range of client groups	HLTFSE006
Oversee the day-to-day implementation of food safety in the workplace	HLTFSE007
Conduct internal food safety audits	HLTFSE008
Apply cook-freeze and reheating processes	HLTFSE009
Perform general cleaning tasks in a clinical setting	HLTHSS003
Handle and move equipment, goods and mail	HLTHSS004
Handle medical gases safely	HLTHSS007
Provide or assist with oral hygiene	HLTOHC004
Clean and disinfect reusable medical devices	HLTSTE001
Handle and care for operating theatre equipment	HLTTHE001
Assist with preparation of clients for operative procedures	HLTTHE002
Provide intra-operative equipment and technical support	HLTTHE003
Transport and store food	SITXFSA202
Develop and implement a food safety program	SITXFSA401

Course providers

This course is offered by the following providers. Click on the links to the provider websites for the latest information on course details, fees and how to apply.

Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Elgar (Box Hill), City (Melbourne), Nelson (Box Hill), Lilydale Lakeside (Lilydale), Whitehorse (Box Hill)
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit Box Hill Institute for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Moorabbin
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit Holmesglen Institute for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Broadmeadows, Essendon
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit Kangan Institute for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Wantirna
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit Swinburne University of Technology for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Leongatha, Warragul, Morwell, Port of Sale (Sale), Bairnsdale
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit TAFE Gippsland for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: East Geelong, Werribee Princes (Werribee)
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit The Gordon for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Footscray Nicholson (Footscray), Sunshine, Werribee
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit Victoria University for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Wodonga (West Wodonga)
Delivery modes: Full time on-campus
- Visit Wodonga TAFE for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Melbourne
Delivery modes: Flexible delivery
- Visit SWC Training for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider
Government funding for eligible students:
Locations: Coburg, Braybrook, Epping, Werribee, Craigieburn
Delivery modes: Online/off-campus, Flexible delivery, Full time on-campus
- Visit VICSEG New Futures for course details, fees and how to apply
- Check our FAQs on choosing a course and provider