Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

Admission requirements

You are eligible if:

* you have successfully completed the Australian year 12 including passes in mathematics and biology, or equivalent in your country
* you have achieved a minimum of either:

- IELTS 6.0 academic (no band score less than 5.5);
- TOEFL computer based 213 (minimum TWE 4.0);
- TOEFL internet based 80 (minimum 19 in all sections);
- PTE Academic 50 (no score lower than 42); or
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) 52.

Intake

February and July

Books and equipment (AUD)

Supplied through the materials fees, however students will be required to supply their own personal stationery.

Material fees (AUD)

$90. Students will be supplied with a shirt, memory stick and handouts.

Material fees (AUD)

$85

Students will be supplied with uniform, manual, learning resources and workbook.

Study pathways

On completion of the certificate III, graduates may be eligible to continue their study in:

* Certificate III in Aged Care (075975B)
* Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (075671G)
* Certificate IV in Pathology (071393A)
* Diploma of Nursing (Enrolled nurse) (071146E)

These courses are delivered at Kangan Institute.

Career pathways

On completion of the certificate III, graduates may seek employment as:

* Patient services assistance (patient support)
* Ward support assistance (ward areas)
* Support services assistance (client/ patient support)
* Food services assistant (meal plating/ distribution team hospitals)
* Client/patient transport/orderly/porter
* Clinical assistant (specialist HAS areas ICU,CCU Emergency)
* Environment services (general cleaning in health)

Course structure

This qualification will provide you with the range of essential skills and knowledge for health services assistance staff, who provide support to the health care staff that care for clients/patients in the hospital environment. Health services assistance staff provide support to nursing staff, ward clerks, with duties such as: food services, transportation of clients/patients, ward housekeeping, general and clinical cleaning, preparing and maintaining hospital beds, basic food safety practices, food distribution, apply infection control procedures, deliver errands (deliver/collect blood specimens, script to pharmacy), communication of basic medical terminology and basic understanding of healthy body systems.

The certificate III consists of 16 units. In atypical week students will be required to attend classes approximately three days per week with around 70 percent theory and 30 percent coursework practical placement. Classes will be scheduled between 8.30am and 5.30pm, Monday to Friday.

The teaching methods used include online, lectures, class discussions, flexible delivery and group work. The assessment methods include assignments, class poster presentations, reports, skills assessment, work books and work sheets coursework practical placement

Special note: This course has a clinical placement component and prior to undertaking the placements, all students must obtain a Victorian Police Check, a Working with Children Clearance (WWC) and prescribed vaccinations. A list of vaccinations required is supplied by the Institute. Students will be responsible for the costs associated with requirements. If placements are undertaken outside metropolitan Melbourne any accommodation costs that may be incurred will be the responsibility of the student.

Major study areas

* Effective workplace relationships
* Healthy body systems
* Medical terminology
* Infection control policies and procedures
* Occupational health and Safety
* Care of clients
* Food safety practices

Units

Contribute to effective workplace relationships
Use basic medical terminology
Recognise healthy body systems in a health care context
Communicate and work effectively in health
Comply with infection control policies and procedures in health work
Participate in occupational health and safety processes
Maintain high standard of client service
Prepare and maintain beds
Transport clients
Support the care of clients
Assist with client movement
Respond effectively to difficult or challenging behaviour
Provide basic emergency life support
Provide ward or unit based food preparation and distribution services
Perform general cleaning tasks in a clinical setting
Handle medical gases safely
Follow workplace hygiene procedures