Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

Are you interested in a career where you can make a real difference in people’s lives? The Health Services Assistance VET DSS program is designed to give you a taste of the health and aged care industries while still at school.

In this program, you’ll gain the knowledge and skills to support clients in a range of health care settings. You’ll learn how to assist health professionals, care for patients, and work safely and effectively as part of a team. Through practical sessions in a simulated health care environment, you’ll develop hands-on skills and get a feel for real-world healthcare work.

• to interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately
• health and safety
• to assist with movement
• communicating with health or community services professionals
• general cleaning in a clinical setting
• to respond effectively to behaviours of concern
• to recognise healthy body systems

• Nurse
• Health care professional
• Allied health professional
• Allied health assistant
• Individual or disability support worker

This program is a great starting point if you’re looking to support others and build a future in nursing, disability support, aged care, or mental health.

After completing this program, you can continue your training with:

Further study at South West TAFE:

• Certificate III in Individual Support – gain skills to work in aged care, home care, or disability support
• Community Services at Certificate IV or Diploma level –  build skills to work in case management, youth work, or community development
• Diploma of Nursing – become an enrolled nurse with clinical placements in real healthcare settings

University pathway options:

While this program does not provide a direct university pathway, it can provide a foundation to support future study at university with a degree in the health and community services fields.

• After completing the Diploma of Nursing, you may choose to continue studying at university with the Bachelor of Nursing, fast-tracking your pathway to becoming a registered nurse
• After completing the Diploma of Community Services,  you may choose to continue studying at university with the Bachelor of Social Work 

SWTAFE Warrnambool campus

Thursday afternoons (1pm - 5pm) during school terms.

SWTAFE Portland campus

Thursday afternoons (1pm - 5pm) during school terms.

SWTAFE Hamilton campus

Tuesdays (9am - 1pm) during school terms.

SWTAFE Colac campus

Wednesdays (10am - 2pm) during school terms.

This course is partial completion only. Upon completion of the program, you will receive a Statement of Attainment listing the successful units completed. You may be able to use the Statement of Attainment to receive credit towards a full qualification, reducing the time and cost of further study.

Credit to ATAR score

Students undertaking this VET DSS program are eligible for credit of up to four VCE VET units on their VCE Statement of Results: two units at Unit 1-2 level and a Unit 3-4 sequence. Students may be entitled to 10% increment towards their VCE.

Study score

Students have the option to undertake scored assessment, and the study score can be fully counted as one of the student's best four studies for ATAR purposes, or will count as a fifth or sixth study increment, if it is not one of the student's four highest scores.

VCE Vocational Major

Students undertaking this VET DSS program through the VCE Vocational Major stream will need to complete a minimum of 180 nominal hours of a VET DSS program over a 2-year period.

This course is partial completion only. Upon completion of the program, you will receive a Statement of Attainment listing the successful units completed. You may be able to use the Statement of Attainment to receive credit towards a full qualification, reducing the time and cost of further study.

Any costs and fees associated with completing this course will managed directly with your school. Please contact your school for further information.

Some courses require specific resources or materials necessary for your study e.g. tools of the trade, uniform, etc. Please check with your school's VET DSS coordinator to determine resource costs applicable to you.

There are 5 steps to applying for a VET DSS program with SWTAFE:

1. Look at your options - chat with your school's VET DSS Coordinator and your parents/guardians about a program that will suit you.
2. Apply - complete a short online application form
3. Complete a Language, Literacy and Numeracy Assessment online
4. Chat to our team - your SWTAFE teacher or course specialist will contact you to discuss the course in more detail and ensure the right units of study are selected for you.
5. Enrol - once your school approves your VET DSS application, you will be enrolled in the qualification at SWTAFE.