Certificate III in Business

Looking to gain valuable workplace skills while still at school? The business VET DSS course is a great starting point for anyone interested in working in an office, running a business, or exploring careers across a wide range of industries.

This course gives you hands-on experience in business operations, customer service, digital technology, and workplace communication. You’ll learn how businesses work and develop the confidence to contribute as part of a professional team.

Whether you're aiming for a job straight after school or planning to continue your studies, this qualification will give you transferable skills that employers look for.

• Using business software like Microsoft Office
• Customer service and professional communication
• Working in teams and managing tasks
• Organising schedules and workplace information
• Applying critical thinking in a business context
• Understanding workplace health, safety, and sustainability

• Administration assistant
• Customer service
• Receptionist
• Accounts clerk
• Executive assistant
• Sales support officer

Once you finish this course, there are a variety of study options to gain more skills for a career in business. 

At South West TAFE:

• Certificate IV in Accounting and Bookkeeping - you may choose to expand your skills in bookkeeping or financial and become qualified to be a BAS agent or work as a bookkeeper
• Certificate IV in Human Resource Management - you can complete a traineeship to develop human resource management skills and knowledge while working within a business environment

At university:

While this course does not provide a direct university pathway, it can provide a foundation to support future study at university with a degree in business, commerce, management or accounting.  

SWTAFE Warrnambool campus

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

SWTAFE Colac campus

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

SWTAFE Hamilton campus

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

SWTAFE Portland campus

Thursday afternoons (1pm - 5pm) 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.