Certificate III in Health Services Assistance HLT33115

If you are looking to start a career in healthcare, and get a taste of what the industry has to offer, Open Colleges’ Certificate III in Health Services Assistance is perfect for you.

Please note: This course is not suitable for students wishing to obtain employment as an Assistant in Nursing (AIN) in NSW and Western Australian hospital settings. Students wishing to become an AIN in NSW and WA will need to complete HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (Assisting in nursing work in acute care). Unfortunately, Open Colleges does not offer this course.

The HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance will equip you to assist Nurses and health professionals in the treatment of patients who are struggling with illness and injury. During your study you will learn how to:

• Communicate effectively and build relationships with health professionals and clients.
• Effectively work within the health and community services sector.
• Understand the human body and how it works.
• Provide first aid.
• Perform general cleaning tasks in a clinical setting.
• Help and assist clients with movement.
• Provide transportation for clients unable to transport themselves.
• Help clients to maintain oral hygiene.
• Respond effectively to behaviours of concern.
• Organise and prioritise your workload.

• Case studies
• Demonstrations
• Knowledge tests
• Portfolio
• Presentations
• Short-answer questions
• Work Placement Final Feedback
• Workplace Portfolios
• Written reports

The duration for the course is maximum 18 months. As a self-paced online course, the time it will take you to complete is flexible and dependent on ability and time available.

Recommended Local Entry Requirements

Students will need to be at least 18 years old. Students under 18 will need a parent or guardian to complete the parent or guardian declaration on the Enrolment Form. 

Students residing in WA/NT under the age of 18, who are not currently studying for their year 12 certificate cannot be enrolled.

Students are recommended to have the language, literacy, and numeracy skills that ensure the ability to read and comprehend technical terms and communicate effectively through email.

These skills are equivalent to:

• Successfully completed Year 10 OR
• Certificate II or higher OR
• 2 years of experience in a health-related role

This course requires learners to read comprehensive online written content, read provided course textbooks, undertake a range of written assessments, undertake independent research activities and engage in online forums and discussions. Furthermore, the delivery mode relies on the extensive use of written communication.

Tools, equipment, and skills required:

• Access to up to 3 people to participate in role plays and assessments
• Access to a device with audio & video capabilities to record simulated role-play tasks for submission
• A simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions for role-play with facilities and equipment
• Tripod to provide a stable and secure platform to mount the digital recording device• Basic computing skills
• Access to a modern computer with high-speed internet
• Access to Microsoft Office

Students will be required to purchase the following:

• Oxford Minidictionary for Nurses (Martin, E. & McFerran, T.) - $13.25 (Booktopia)
• Nursing Student’s Clinical Survival Guide (Reid-Searl, K., Dwyer, T., Moxham, L. & Ryan, J.) - $23.75 (Booktopia)

Each individual host organisation may have different requirements regarding vaccinations. Please discuss these with your Work Placement provider before beginning your placement. Please note – there are mandatory vaccination requirements within each state, and it is up to the student to ensure they are complying with their own state, territory legislation and workplace organisation policies and procedures.

State/Territory Health departments, clinics and hospitals across Australia will require students to provide a notice of immunisation, completed by a registered GP, to verify current and active immunisation prior to the commencement of their clinical placement. It should be noted that immunisation against Hepatitis B consists of a series of three injections taken over a 5 month period and you will not be deemed to be immune until such time as serology is provided post the 5 months to indicate your current status.

Additional Requirements:

• Students will need to be reasonably physically fit as the role involves providing direct physical manipulation whilst assisting with movement or exercise requirements, assisting clinical staff with procedures, and transporting clients.

ATTENTION:

To work in a hospital as an AIN in NSW and WA, students are required to study the Cert III in Health Services Assistance (ACUTE CARE) which Open Colleges no longer offer. Students can refer to their local hospital or health district for more information on the qualification requirements.

• By undertaking a work placement you’ll get a chance to put the knowledge you’ve learned on your course into practice.
• You’ll also develop practical, on-the-job skills and could make contacts that could help you find a job once you graduate.
• Work placement is often the most rewarding part of a student’s course. Working face-to-face with clients and colleagues in your chosen field makes a huge difference to your career confidence.

Focus on your studies while we handle your work placement. Through our partnership with SkilTrak, our Guaranteed Work Placement ensures you gain hands-on experience in your dream career—right in your local area. Learn more

• Meet with SkilTrak – Their team will discuss your skills, goals, location, and travel preferences to arrange the best placement for you.
• We’ll do the work – While you continue your coursework, we’ll be behind the scenes securing the perfect placement match.
• Get the details – Have a quick chat with us to go over what to expect from your work placement experience.
• Start your placement – Gain real-world experience while we check in along the way to ensure everything is running smoothly.
• Complete your course – Once your placement is done, upload your workbooks, finish your final assessment, and receive your certificate.

The Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) will require a minimum of 120 hours in the workplace.

The Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) is completed at the end of the course. Learners should start looking for placement facilities once they have commenced their studies. Once they have completed 75% of their course, they can submit their workplace approval form. 

There will also be specific assessment tasks including a logbook and portfolios to be completed at the workplace.

Workplaces suitable to undertake SWL include:

• Public/Private Hospital ward
• Out Patient Clinics
• Aged Care Facilities
• Rehabilitation Clinics

Students will need to be involved in the delivery of professional health services to clients and will need to have access to specialist equipment and resources, relevant to the delivery of healthcare assistance. Complete details of the requirements of the workplace are available in the Workplace Assessment Guide.

For students to be able to undertake the practical component of the course, approved workplaces must be able to provide students with the required equipment, environments, policies & procedures, documentation, appropriate supervisor, and clients. If host organisations are unable to provide the necessary equipment, resources, and access to clients the student may be required to undertake SWL within 2 (or more) organisations.

The workplace may require the student to meet workplace-specific requirements. These will vary by state and by organisation. Some of the statutory checks and requirements the student may need to provide to commence work placement are:

• Commission for Children and Young People Student Declaration (CCYP)
• Police check/National Criminal Record check
• Occupational Assessment, screening and vaccination against infectious diseases, including COVID-19
• First Aid - certified and current Senior First Aid Certificate, Workplace Level 2 or Level 2 qualification from a Registered Training Organisation to demonstrate competency for HLTAID003 Provide first aid
• Health Code of Conduct
• Confidentiality Agreement
• Manual Handling Certificate
  
  

Please note that your host organisation may require you to provide an up to date immunisation history prior to the commencement of your work placement. Open Colleges has no control over this requirement so if you are unable to provide this, you will need to discuss it with your intended Host Organisation.

It should also be noted that some immunisations, such as Hepatitis B and COVID-19, need multiple injections to be administered over a specific time period before you are deemed immune. It is important that you consult with your GP as soon as possible to avoid delays in starting your work placement.

The workplace supervisor will need to have one of the following qualifications:

• Registered Nurse/Div 1 Nurse
• Endorsed Enrolled Nurse (EEN) or AIN Supervisor (Clinical Educator)

Learners are required to be supervised in the workplace by a Registered Nurse/Division 1 nurse. This is in line with current industry practice, where the assistant in nursing (or equivalent) is always the responsibility of the Registered Nurse on duty. Registration status of the Workplace Supervisor will be verified online through the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA) website.