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Aged Care and Support

→ 🎓 Aged or Disabled Carer · ANZSCO entry course · Entryway

About 3.5 years3 QualificationsRequest course guide
An aged care worker in a plum care uniform walks beside a smiling older woman using a walking frame in a modern aged care home lounge.
Image generated with AI

Study Aged Care and Support

Aged Care and Support is the package for a first job in care: work in aged care within the first year, then the Certificate IV and the Diploma of Community Services. An aged care student can move to a Diploma of Nursing after the Certificate III in Individual Support, with the English score and Year 12 or equivalent. Each provider sets its own entry.

This career involves caring for people · being there for someone's hard day · being needed every shift. Rostered shifts with evenings and weekends; part-time fits study.

Length
About 3.5 years
English requirement
IELTS 6.0 or PTE 47
English below this score? Study English first
Study locations
  • Adelaide, SA
  • Perth, WA
  • Darwin, NT
  • Brisbane, QLD
  • Sydney, NSW
  • Hobart, TAS
  • Melbourne, VIC
  • Gold Coast, QLD
Studyaway can look for a provider in another city on request.

What you study

  1. Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing Support)
  2. Certificate IV in Ageing Support
  3. Diploma of Community Services

3 qualifications, in this order · About 3.5 years of full-time study. The Letter of Offer sets the length for each provider.

Three qualifications in sequence. The Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing Support) trains a support worker who carries out personalised plans for people needing support because of ageing or disability. The Certificate IV in Ageing Support covers specialised tasks in residential, home and community aged care. The Diploma of Community Services trains a community services worker, case manager or social housing worker.

Entry requirements

  • Direct entry: Year 12 or equivalent, age 18, and the English requirement (IELTS 6.0 or PTE 47)
  • An English course (ELICOS) first: IELTS 5.5 or PTE 39 with at least 10 weeks

Study pathways

Cert III Individual SupportAged care work within monthsYou are here
Cert IV Ageing Support
English requirement
Diploma of Community ServicesCommunity Worker
Diploma of NursingEnrolled Nurse
Bachelor of Social WorkSocial Worker
Bachelor of NursingRegistered Nurse

After the course

  • The Certificate III in Individual Support qualifies a graduate to work as a personal support worker in aged care.
  • The Aged Care Labour Agreement allows an approved employer to nominate a care worker for a visa after work experience in Australia.
  • Aged or Disabled Carer is not an occupation for an independent skilled visa. The Diploma of Nursing is the next step in the Study Pathway, with the English score and Year 12 or equivalent.

A general guide. Only a Registered Migration Agent can assess eligibility case by case.

Career outcome: Aged or Disabled Carer

A support worker in aged care works in residential homes, home care and community services. The roles the three qualifications train for:

  • Personal support worker, carrying out a personalised plan for a person who needs support because of ageing or disability
  • Aged care support worker with specialised tasks in residential, home or community care
  • Community services worker, case manager or social housing worker (the Diploma)

Skills assessment

Occupation: Aged or Disabled Carer (ANZSCO 423111).

Aged or Disabled Carer is not on the Department of Home Affairs skilled occupation list. The Diploma of Community Services at the end of the package leads to Community Worker, which Community Work Australia assesses.

Common questions

Which qualifications are in the aged care package?

Three nationally recognised qualifications, completed in sequence over about 3.5 years: the Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing Support), the Certificate IV in Ageing Support, then the Diploma of Community Services.

What does each qualification cover?

The Certificate III is for a support worker in community and residential settings who carries out personalised plans for people needing support because of ageing or disability. The Certificate IV is for a worker who performs specialised tasks in residential, home or community aged care. The Diploma is for a community services worker, case manager or social housing worker who manages and delivers person-centred services.

Where does the aged care package lead?

The course guide shows the route as: work as a personal support worker in aged care, gain experience and qualify for employer sponsorship, then employer nomination through the Aged Care Labour Agreement. Only a Registered Migration Agent can assess eligibility case by case.

Can an aged care student move into nursing?

An aged care student can move to a Diploma of Nursing after the Certificate III in Individual Support, with the English score and Year 12 or equivalent. Each provider sets its own entry.

What English score does the aged care package need?

The entry requirement is IELTS 6.0 or PTE 47. IELTS 5.5 or PTE 39 with at least 10 weeks of an English course (ELICOS) is the other way in.

What is in the Aged Care and Support course guide?

The course guide is a PDF emailed from info@studyaway.com.au a few minutes after the request. It covers who the course is for, what you study and where, how to get in, registration or assessment after the course, the career, the route to permanent residence, the costs and the upfront payment, the documents to prepare and the first steps.

Related courses

A community services worker shows a brochure to an older man at a community centre desk.Diploma of Community Services→ 🎓 Community WorkerA community services worker in a teal polo runs a group session beside a flip chart of blank sticky notes, a circle of seated adults listening and one raising a hand, in a community centre hall.Bachelor of Community Services→ 🎓 Welfare WorkerA social worker takes notes while listening to a client across a small table.Bachelor of Social Work→ 🎓 Social WorkerA social worker in a blue shirt and lanyard stands and leads a case conference with a nurse, a youth worker and a case manager around a meeting table in a bright community health centre.Master of Social Work→ 🎓 Social Worker

Read more

Sources

This is general information only and may not apply to your personal circumstances; migration policy changes regularly.

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