Kick start your career in the community services industry with this entry-level qualification. Gain the practical skills and knowledge needed to provide individual support in aged care as well as home and community settings. The Certificate III in Individual Support has a core set of competencies and offers specialisations in Ageing Support, Home and Community Support or Disability. The Certificate issued to successful graduates of this course will be CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing). If you wish to study the disability specialisation, you can join the same course but you will study different elective subjects to achieve Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability). As an individual support worker you are employed in a job where you can empower groups in your community. This role is a rewarding job and a great way to give back to your community by making a difference in people’s everyday lives.
Please advise our Training Coordinator at your initial telephone or personal meeting if you require additional support in your learning. This will allow a support plan to be devised before you commence your course. Support services may be available to students with a disability, impairment, or long-term condition and/or learning, language, literacy and/or numeracy difficulties. As set out in the terms and conditions of enrolment, students are invited to contact the College upon enrolment to check if support to meet their individual needs is available.
During your study you may encounter personal problems that may end up affecting your enrolment. This can include stress at home, difficulty with work, financial Issues etc. Our Wellness Coordinator is here to assist you as needed. If you are experiencing stress or difficult issues, please let your Trainer or Training Coordinator know about it and they will refer you to the Wellness Coordinator. Conversations with the Wellness Coordinator will remain confidential unless disclosure is required by law, or you have provided your consent for your trainer to be advised of the discussions. Counselling provides a confidential space where you can discuss concerns that may be impacting on your academic performance or mental health and wellbeing. All NBMC counselling services are free and available to all students. The counselling offered at NBMC is short-term only. If you require longer term support, we may provide you with details for an external provider.
This qualification can be completed through a traineeship pathway. Please contact Mairead O’Leary on 9970 1001 or email mairead@nbmc.nsw.edu.au for further information. New entrant traineeship: $0.
To Enrol or for Further Information
Training in priority qualifications is fee-free and fully funded by the NSW and Commonwealth Governments.
To achieve this qualification, the candidate must demonstrate competency and successfully complete:
15 units of competency – 7 core units and 8 elective units.
Once successfully completed the student will receive the nationally recognised industry qualification – HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (Assisting in nursing work in acute care) and a First Aid Certificate.
| Unit Code | Unit Name |
| CHCCOM005 | Communicate and work in health or community services |
| CHCDIV001 | Work with diverse people |
| CHCLEG001 | Work legally and ethically |
| HLTINF006 | Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control |
| CHCCOM005 | Communicate and work in health or community services |
| HLTWHS002 | Follow safe work practices for direct client care |
| CHCCCS041 | Recognise healthy body systems |
| CHCCCS038 | Facilitate the empowerment of people receiving support |
| CHCCCS031 | Provide individualised support |
| CHCCCS040 | Support independence and wellbeing |
We have selected the following electives which meet industry requirements.
6 elective units, consisting of:
| Unit Code | Unit Name |
| CHCDIS012 | Support community participation and social inclusion |
| CHCDIS011 | Contribute to ongoing skills development using a strengths-based approach |
| CHCDIS020 | Work effectively in disability support |
| Unit Code | Unit Name |
| CHCCCS036 | Support relationships with carer and family |
| HLTAID011 | Provide First Aid |
| CHCCCS044 | Follow established person-centred behaviour supports |
If you have a specific elective in mind which is not listed above, please let us know in your interview process.
To be awarded this qualification, a student must complete and demonstrate competency in all 7 core units and 8 elective units.
Northern Beaches & Mosman College recognises that you may be able to demonstrate a particular competency based on prior learning, skills gained in the workforce, or skills otherwise gained.
Recognition of prior learning (RPL) can be granted if you can demonstrate competency in all the performance criteria in the elements of a particular unit of competency (from a training package) or all the learning outcomes in a particular module (from an accredited course).
If you think you may be eligible for RPL in a prospective course, please contact the College for an initial discussion as to your suitability at least 2 weeks before the course commences, or for late enrolments, you must advise the Training Coordinator on enrolment. Students then have 3 weeks to lodge a fully completed application with all supporting documentation. Supporting and current evidence must be submitted with your application. It is the student’s responsibility to provide the evidence to support their claim for RPL. As RPL must be considered and assessed through one-on-one interaction between the applicant and assessor, the course fee remains the same (unless otherwise determined by a funding contract).
Applications received after this time will not be considered. Please be aware, if any of the training for units of competency for which you are applying for RPL are delivered while your application is still being considered, it is strongly recommended that you attend the related classes as we cannot guarantee that your application for RPL will be successful. As a guide the process will take between 2 and 4 weeks once your application has been submitted.
Steps in the RPL Assessment Process
If you decide you would like to investigate the possibility of RPL further:
Step 1 – Request a formal RPL Application Pack from NBMC
The pack will include an application form and details of the units of competency and competency skills required within the relevant qualification. The application must be fully completed with as much supporting documentation as possible before being returned to NBMC. Ensure that all the evidence that you provide is relevant to the units of competency for which you are applying for RPL. The more comprehensive the evidence is, the easier and faster the assessment process will be. You have 3 weeks on receiving the application to complete and return it to NBMC.
Step 2 – Conversation with Assessor
If required, the assessor will conduct a competency conversation with you. You will be required to answer questions related to the industry area to identify your current skills.
Step 3 – Practical demonstration of your skills
If required, the assessor will conduct a practical skills test at your workplace (if appropriate) or at another suitable venue. This, again, is an opportunity to demonstrate your level of competence. This assessment will be focussed on skills that are required in the qualification. Your assessor will identify the skills that he/she will want you to demonstrate.
Further steps
After the assessment, your assessor will give you information about the skills that have been recognised and whether you have gained any of units of competency applied for through RPL.
Northern Beaches & Mosman College recognises Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualifications and Statements of Attainment issued by other Registered Training Organisations (RTO) where the Training Package guidelines allow it.
If you have a current qualification from another RTO that you wish to seek credit for (towards a course offered by NBMC) you can apply to the College for recognition of this achievement, including Credit Transfer where appropriate. You will be required to give permission to NBMC to verify the authenticity of the qualifications provided by contacting the issuing Registered Training Organisation or by checking your Unique Student Identifier records.
You must make this application within one week of the commencement of the course.
Credit Transfer may only be awarded for whole units of competence that meet the packaging rules of the Qualification they are enrolled in. Where a mapping guide identified a partial credit, this will not be considered for credit transfer, and the applicant will be advised to seek RPL.
The Certificate III in Individual Support can provide a pathway to CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support or CHC42021 Certificate IV in Community Services or other qualifications relevant to the community services and/or health industries.
All NBMC Trainers/Assessors are current industry professionals with the required qualifications to deliver and assess this course. Trainers draw upon and share their own experiences in the industry to ensure that the training delivered to you is current and relevant. For information about individual trainers, please click on the trainer name in the class details below for the trainer’s bio
From 1 January 2015 it is a requirement of the Federal Government that all students undertaking nationally recognised training will need to obtain a Unique Student Identifier (USI). This involves an easy online application. See USI Fact Sheet for information on how to apply for a USI go to the Unique Student Identifier (USI) Website for additional information: https://www.usi.gov.au/students/get-a-usi. Please ensure when completing your enrolment information, that the details relating to your name are identical to those on the identification evidence (eg passport or driver’s licence) used when creating your USI, eg no abbreviations or nicknames should be used. Once created, it is important that you keep a record of your USI and access to your accredited training records in a safe place. You will need this information for any future enrolments into accredited training in Australia. Please contact the College on 9970 1000 if you require assistance.
Enjoy smaller class sizes, a personalised relationship with your trainer, face-to face teaching sessions and qualifications that include real life work experience, when you choose to study at Northern Beaches & Mosman College. (NBMC)
With classes available across the Northern Beaches and Lower North Shore in Brookvale and Mosman, the College offers increasing numbers of accredited and vocational qualifications. Students include those looking to upskill, to change career direction and school leavers keen to step onto a career pathway. Courses on offer can lead directly to employment and/or go towards future learning opportunities.
The NSW and Federal Governments have signed an agreement to deliver more fee free vocational education places in NSW in 2025 and 2026. Funding is being rolled out in stages and for priority qualifications, including Certificate III in Individual Support. The next funding period is for training to commence between 1 July and 31 December 2025.
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT APPLICATIONS TO STUDY IN TERM 3 2025 ARE SUBMITTED BY NO LATER THAN JUNE 2025.
To be eligible you must be:
If you meet the above criteria, along with the Course Entry Requirements, you can apply to study this course fee free (includes course resources but students are responsible for the cost of obtaining a police check).
Fee-free places are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.
| Title | Fee |
| Exempt or NSW Fee Free | $0 |
| Concession | $240 |
| If no prior post school qualification | $1450 |
| If a post school qualification has previously been completed | $1750 |
| Not eligible for Smart & Skilled | $7000 |
If there are no NSW Fee Free places available and you wish to enrol under the subsidised Smart & Skilled Program, the course cost can be paid:
If not eligible for subsidised training course cost is $7,000 – please contact us for payment options.
*Enrolment instalment is payable on acceptance into the course.
Below are our available intakes to the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability). Select the intake you wish to enrol into and complete the Online Enrolment Form
| Name | Course Start Date | Course End Date | Apply |
| 2025 Term 3 - Wed & Fri - 9am to 3pm - Brookvale Campus - Disability | 30/07/2025 | 17/12/2025 | Click here |
If you have any questions related to the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) please enquire here. Alternatively you can email one of our course-cordinators here
Northern Beaches Community College Ltd t/a Northern Beaches & Mosman College. Nationally accredited qualifications, work & computer skills, lifestyle RTO ID 90113