Certificate IV in Ageing Support CHC43015

• You will be supported in your learning by expert trainers. A structured workplace learning component will give you the practical, hands-on experience and knowledge you need in this high demand sector.
• If you have experience within the industry, the Certificate IV in Ageing Support is a great way to expand on your knowledge and skills. Or, if you have completed the Certificate III in Individual Support, you can continue your studies with the Certificate IV in Ageing Support. It will provide you with the relevant skills to give person-centered support in both the aged care and disability sector.
• You will learn how to effectively liaise with other healthcare professionals and take your career to the next level by supervising fellow workers. Other skills covered in this course include how to respond holistically to client issues, and how to provide services to elderly people with complex needs.

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.

Entry Requirements

There are no mandated education entry requirements for this qualification as per the CHC Community Services Training Package.

To successfully complete this course, it is recommended that students

• Be over 18 years of age
• Have language, literacy and numeracy skills that ensures the ability to read and comprehend technical terms and communicate effectively through email. These skills are equivalent to those that would be required to successfully complete year 12
• Have access to a modern computer with high speed internet
• Have access to a device with audio/video playback capabilities.
• Have basic computing skills, including the ability to make a short video.

Equipment and tools required

Audio-Visual Requirements:

Learners need access to a digital camera, and related software, for taking photos for tasks, projects and documenting assessment requirements.

Other:

• computer 
• internet access

Physical Requirements

Learners need to have a reasonable level of fitness, as the role may involve a variety of physical tasks, such as providing personal care, assisting clients with mobility and transfers and considerable time standing and walking.

Language, Literacy and Numeracy

Our free online assessment tool can help give you an idea of the language, literacy and numeracy skills needed to study a VET course. This tool can also help you determine your learning level and help you plan your future studies. You can access the Language, Literacy and Numeracy tool here.

• 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.

You’ll need to find a work placement yourself and ensure it’s approved by Open Colleges. When looking for a suitable work placement host organisation, have a think about the following:

• Are you already working or volunteering in the industry your course is related to? You could potentially do your work placement at your current place of work or have contacts that could recommend a suitable work place. Ask around!
• If you’re entering a new industry, do some research and start thinking about organisations you could approach. We have plenty of resources available to help with approaching and finding a suitable work placement organisation.

All costs of work placement, including any placement fees charged by the host organisation (whether to the student or Open Colleges), cost of statutory checks and vaccinations, travel, accommodation, and uniforms are the responsibility of the student. These fees will vary and are dependent on your location within Australia.

• Costs for statutory checks will range between $50 - $250 dependent on the type of check you select and your state.
• Costs for vaccinations will very between practitioners, please refer to your GP for approximate costs.
• Placement fees will vary, please discuss this with your intended host organisation for approximate costs.

You will be required to complete a minimum of 120 hours of work placement in 2 blocks. This may be completed as a block or part-time depending on organisation requirements. 

Work placement block 1 can only be commenced after successful completion of Modules 1 – 4 inclusive. Work placement block 2 can only be commenced after successful completion of Modules 6 – 8 inclusive. You will not be able to achieve competencies until you have completed some of your work placement hours. 

A work placement is a highly stimulating and rewarding part of the course. It will enable you to participate in a real workplace and put into practice the new skills and knowledge that you are learning in the course.

The workplace will need to be able to provide you with access to specialist equipment and resources and different clients.

You will need to secure your own Work Placement, however Open Colleges can provide advice and direction.

Workplace assessment observations are conducted via live stream. When looking for placement facilities students need to ensure that live stream observations are accepted by the organisation. The organisation will not be suitable if assessor visits are a mandatory term of their contract. If students are existing workers and want to do their placement at their workplace, it is recommended that the student check this before enrolling.

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 needs to be:

• An individual currently employed in delivering aged care services (including home and community services) in a relevant workplace with a Certificate IV in Aged Care, or equivalent

For the units HLTHPS006 Assist clients with medications and HLTHPS007 Administer and monitor medications the supervisor needs to be:

An individual currently employed in delivering aged care services in a relevant workplace with a current AHPRA Registration as a Registered Nurse / DIV 1.This will be verified online by the OC Academic Support team during the Work Placement approval process.