If you've ever thought about a career in healthcare, your first step should be a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (HLT33115). With this course, you'll gain the necessary practical skills to work in a number of roles within an acute care environment, including in clinics, hospitals and residential care homes. Assisting with nursing activities across wards or allied health, you could be preparing patients for procedures, helping to transport patients, or assisting with basic nutrition and hygiene needs.
Why Train in Health Services Assistance?
With the recent turmoil in the world, many people are hunkering down and remaining in a stable role. Choosing a career with stability and strong opportunities for advancement is a good choice at a time when the economy is delicate. Healthcare provides one of the best opportunities and stable careers around, particularly due to the demand for qualified professional health staff in an ageing population.
In the five years between 2015 and 2020, there was a 40% increase in the number of practitioners working in allied health. In fact, professionals in all healthcare categories saw a positive increase, as the demand for care and support workers boomed.
There has never been a better time to consider launching a career in Health Services Assistance. Fortunately, the pathway there isn’t as expensive or time-consuming as a typical undergraduate degree. A Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (HLT33115) provides the ideal stepping stone.
What to Expect
Helping to care for others is a rewarding career, and you’ll be able to help people with some of the biggest challenges they’ll face. As such, it takes specialist knowledge in how to carry out your daily responsibilities. The Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (HLT33115) covers a broad variety of key subject areas to familiarise you with healthcare roles and duties, which include:
- Direct patient contact under supervision.
- Supervision and/or coordination a small team
- Clinical cleaning / infection, prevention and control
- Food preparation and distribution
- Patient transport
- Assistance with movement
- Inventory
- Waste handling and handling of medical gas cylinders
- MET calls
In addition to developing new practical abilities and knowledge, you’ll also develop your soft skills. Working in healthcare is a perfect way to strengthen or start building on your communication, critical thinking and decision-making skills, which are applicable in almost every industry.
With state-of-the-art practical training provided in simulated environments, you’ll learn essential hands-on healthcare skills that are impossible to get from behind a screen. For those who require a little more flexibility in their learning, All Health Training provides this course via a combination of classroom and blended/virtual learning, which means we offer courses to suit all different lifestyles, including yours.
Entry Requirements
You won’t need an extensive academic or health industry background to qualify for the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (HLT33115). In order to be eligible for this course, and to be capable of carrying out day-to-day healthcare duties in subsequent roles, you'll need to meet some basic requirements:
- You’ll need to show your proficiency in reading and writing skills by completing a “Language, Literacy & Numeracy skills (LLN)” evaluation to be considered.
- You’ll have to undergo a “Pre-Training Review” to ensure that you are suitable for the program.
- You must be at least 18 years old.
- You’ll be expected to undergo a police check, which will be arranged for you. Bear in mind that any Disclosable Court Order could hamper your chances, as the industry requires a clear record.
- You will be required to get hold of a volunteer Working with Children's check (WWC) before starting any placements.
- It’s expected that you have the needed digital skills and equipment to follow the program requirements online.
- You’ll need to provide evidence of a number of vaccinations, which can be found in the course literature.
Once eligible students have gained the requisite knowledge and skills, they'll be able to find work in a number of roles across the healthcare industry. Below, we look at some of these positions in more detail.
Potential Careers
Depending on the kind of healthcare facility you're working for, your official title and day-to-day duties could differ within an acute care setting. Three of the most common roles available to those with a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (HLT33115) include Nursing Assistant, Ward Assistant and Patient Services Assistant.
Patient Services Assistant
A Patient Services Assistant attends to a range of tasks for patients in a hospital or another type of healthcare facility. Tasks that fall under a Patient Services Assistant’s purview include helping patients check in, taking them to where they will be treated by health professionals assisting them with filling in necessary paperwork or helping with self care tasks such as dressing.
Ward Assistant
Ward Assistants typically work in a hospital setting, on a ward. Their responsibilities are much the same as Nursing Assistants, but may also include basic administrative and clerical activities, delivering linen and equipment, and keeping the ward clean.
Nursing Assistant
Nursing Assistants work within a medical facility, assisting patients with a range of basic and medical needs. Working with other professionals, you'll upkeep the care of clients by checking patients' vital signs and recording them in their charts, transporting patients around the facility for treatments, and ensuring that patients’ basic care needs are met, such as bathing, eating and cleaning tasks.
Further Education
While gaining experience in your new role, you could also consider additional qualifications that can expand on your newfound knowledge. If you're thinking about further career opportunities, a Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (HLT33115) could lead naturally into courses after successful completion in areas such as aged care and disability:
- Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CHC43015): This specialised qualification will help you to provide more complex care in aged services, such as community-based or residential home facilities. You'll help older adults to maintain their independence, remain active in social activities and remain mobile.
- Certificate IV in Disability (CHC43115): The Certificate IV in Disability focuses on the role of healthcare workers in homes and community settings, where patients have a disability. You'll learn to empower and support patients struggling with complex needs such as physical movement while working without supervision.
- Course in Supporting People with Complex Needs (22540VIC): With the introduction of the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme), courses like this one became necessary. It addresses the need for specialist training in healthcare professionals working in the disability sector. This is a strong addition to Certificate IV in Disability, as it focuses on more complex personal care requirements.
Other Further Education Pathways
Depending on the kind of additional courses you consider, you could potentially access other support or even leadership roles with qualifications from All Health Training.
- Diplomas and Advanced Diplomas in Division 2 Nursing, Allied Health and Management, in a number of settings.
- Associate Diploma, Bachelor’s Degree, Graduate Diploma and Master’s degrees in:
- Division 1 Nursing (within Hospitals, Midwifery, Mental Health and more)
- Health Services (Environmental Health, Exercise Science, Health Promotion and more)
- Management (Human Resources, Business, Finance, Marketing and more)
Next Steps, and How to Apply
If All Health Training’s Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (HLT33115) sounds appealing to you, then the quickest way to find out more is to book a chat. We can answer any questions that you might have about the course itself or the options open to you after completion.
The certificate is more affordable when compared to bigger commitments, such as a bachelor's degree or higher and is within a thriving industry. In total, registration for the course is $2,000; however, government funding can reduce the total service fee to $250. Use our handy Government Funding Eligibility Checker to see if you qualify!
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