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HomeCoursesAllied health assistanceCertificate III in Health Services Assistance

Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

This qualification prepares you to work alongside nurses, doctors and other health professionals, helping with the day to day care of patients in hospitals, clinics and aged care settings.

  • Duration: 6 months
  • Study mode: Online, on campus and workplace based
  • Course code: HLT33115

Where you can study this course

Where
Study mode

  • Melbourne Polytechnic

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    Campuses
    13 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    A number of students find the organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching, while some rate the facilities and campus highly.

  • TAFE NSW

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    Campuses
    Nepean, Kingswood Campus
    Duration
    6 months
    Study mode
    On campus
    Full fee
    $10,840
    Eligible students: subsidised from $1,600, concession $240

    What students say

    Many students speak well of the facilities and campus, and some rate the trainers and teaching highly, though opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching and student support, and some found the organisation and admin frustrating.

  • Victoria University

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    11 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    Most students praise the student support, while others find it frustrating. Many rate the facilities and campus well, and some criticise the organisation and admin.

  • Charles Darwin University

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    12 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    Students often praise the facilities and campus, while some value student support and course content. Some found organisation and admin frustrating, and opinions are mixed on trainers and teaching, with communication also a concern.

  • Swinburne University of Technology

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    8 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    Some students praise the facilities and campus, while some criticise organisation and admin for being frustrating, and opinions are mixed on course content. A number also mention student support and teaching positively or negatively.

  • TAFE Gippsland

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    Campuses
    11 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

  • TAFE Queensland

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    Campuses
    14 campuses
    Duration
    Not stated by provider
    Study mode
    Varies by campus
    Full fee
    $5,970
    Eligible students: subsidised from $2,715, concession $2,010

    What students say

    Many students rate the facilities and campus highly. Some found course content and organisation and admin frustrating, while opinions are mixed on the trainers and teaching.

  • TAFE SA

    Visit provider website → (opens in a new tab)
    Campuses
    26 campuses
    Duration
    Not yet checked
    Study mode
    Not yet checked
    Full fee
    Not yet checked

    What students say

    Students rate the trainers, teaching, facilities and campus highly, though some found the organisation, admin and communication frustrating; opinions are mixed on facilities and campus.

Last reviewed 20 September 2026.

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Is this course right for you?

Entry requirements

Entry requirements are set by each provider, so check the ones you are considering.

  • Providers can set their own conditions, such as a minimum age or a current job in the industry, and practical training may need a workplace placement. Check each provider above.

Entry recommendations

To be prepared for this course, it helps to have:

  • an interest in caring for people who are unwell
  • patience and a calm manner with patients
  • an interest in how the human body works
  • clear communication skills with people from all backgrounds

What will you learn?

You learn how the body works, how to prevent infection, how to communicate with people from different backgrounds, and how to read and use medical terminology so you can follow instructions and record information correctly. Most of the work is hands on and supervised, which means you build confidence dealing with patients directly while someone more experienced guides you. It suits people who want to start in health care without going to university.

  • Infection prevention and control
  • Healthy body systems
  • Medical terminology
  • Workplace health and safety
  • Communicating with patients
  • Working with diverse people

Units of competency (7 core, 8 elective)

The qualification is made up of 15 units. Everyone completes the 7 core units below, and the remaining 8 are electives chosen from the list on training.gov.au, so they vary by provider. Select a unit to see what it covers.

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Data from training.gov.au and the Australian Bureau of Statistics (CC BY 4.0).