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Individual support and disability care courses
4 individual support and disability care qualifications in Australia, from certificates to the degree, compared side by side: cost, duration, providers and where each one leads.
- Qualifications
- 4
on this page
- Providers
- 1,098
across all qualifications
- Median pay
- $91,600
across roles in this field
- Employment growth*
- +18%
2 of 2 roles in shortage
Which of these is right for you?
We don't recommend one provider over another, but four things usually decide which qualification is the right one to start with.
- How much time can you give it?
- A certificate usually runs months, not years, and gets you working sooner. A degree is a multi-year commitment, but it's the only route into a registered profession like pharmacist.
- Do you want to study online, on campus, or both?
- Check each qualification's study modes below. Some are online only, some require placements or on-campus units even in a mostly online course.
- What's your entry point?
- If you're starting from school leaver or career change with no background in the field, the lowest rung on the ladder is usually the realistic start, not the top qualification.
- Which role are you aiming for?
- Some roles need one specific qualification. Others accept several. The roles section below says which qualification on this page actually gets you there.
The individual support and disability care qualifications
4 qualifications, from certificates through to a degree. Each links through to cost, duration and the providers that teach it.
Certificates and diplomas
Certificate III in Individual Support
539 providersThis qualification prepares you to work in aged care, disability support or home care, helping people with daily tasks under the guidance of a care plan and a supervising team.
Certificate IIIAged Care WorkerDisability Support WorkerView qualification →Certificate IV in Ageing Support
299 providersThis course prepares people to work as support workers in aged care, whether in a residential facility, a client's home or a community program.
Certificate IVAged Care WorkerView qualification →Certificate IV in Disability Support
258 providersThe Certificate IV in Disability Support is for people already working in disability support who hold a Certificate III and want to take on more responsibility.
Certificate IVDisability Support WorkerView qualification →
What individual support and disability care study leads to
The 2 roles where a individual support and disability care qualification is a recognised route in, which qualification on this page it is, and what else you need.
Aged Care Worker
Enter through the Certificate III in Individual Support or the Certificate IV in Ageing Support. Select the relevant ageing or disability specialisation and complete required placement and employer checks.
Median salary for the role
$91,600
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO Occupation data, February 2026.
Disability Support Worker
Enter through the Certificate III in Individual Support or the Certificate IV in Disability Support. Select the relevant ageing or disability specialisation and complete required placement and employer checks.
Median salary for the role
$91,600
A year, before tax. Median for everyone in the occupation, not a graduate starting salary. Jobs and Skills Australia, ANZSCO Occupation data, February 2026.