Certificate IV in Disability Support

Overview

Provide support in a manner that empowers people with disabilities to achieve greater levels of independence, self-reliance, community participation and wellbeing. You may be required to supervise and/or coordinate a small team.

Certificate III Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) is a pre-requisite for Certificate IV in Disability.

Get a copy of our course guide

This is a nationally approved vocational course that is recognised throughout Australia.

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Your industry experience

As part of this course you will need to undertake a minimum of 120 hours of work placement.

Explore Work Integrated Learning

Skills you’ll learn

Understanding client needs
Holistic care
Teamwork
Communication

Your career opportunities

Home and community care worker
Support services assistant
Individual and disability support worker
Aged care worker
Personal care assistant
Accomodation and support worker

Further education

Diploma of Community Services

Key codes

International student visa

International students in Australia who hold student visas are required to study full-time and on campus. Courses that are taught entirely online are only available to international students studying outside Australia or those in Australia who are not on a student visa. Online courses are not available to international students in Australia who hold a student visa.

Location options

Wantirna

Admissions

Completion of:

CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) or
CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) or
CHC30408 Certificate III in Disability plus CHCSS00125 Entry to Certificate IV in Disability Support Skill Set.

If applicants have completed any of the above courses outside Swinburne, you must submit a certified copy of both your Award and Academic Transcript with your application.

Other requirements

The following additional criteria for entry apply for this course:

All applicants must be a minimum of 18 years old at the commencement of the course.
All students must hold a current Working with Children Check throughout the duration of the program.
All students must hold a current Police Check throughout the duration of the program* (* If a candidate believes there would be a disclosable issue on their Police Check, a confidential conversation will be required prior to enrolment to determine suitability for work within the community services environment).
Applicants will need to demonstrate literacy and numeracy competencies.
Students will need access to a computer with a reliable internet connection, with adequate speed and sufficient data allowance.

Immunisations

Placement providers reserve the right to request immunisations such as COVID-19, Influenza, Hepatitis A and Hepatitis B. This will be confirmed once a placement has been sourced and checked with the placement provider.

Please note that the duties of a Disability Support Worker may be quite physically demanding and should be considered and/or discussed before applying if there are any concerns.

Informed Choices Statement

View the Informed Choices Statement which provides information about the inherent requirements of community services, specifically the essential physical and behavioural abilities needed to perform assessment taks, professional placements and progress to a career in this field. This information is intended to assist you to choose whether you can successfully participate in and complete a course.

Admission requirements

Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the course does not guarantee an offer of a place. See admission requirements for general information about the admission process.

English language requirements

Satisfactory completion of one of the following:

IELTS overall band of 6.0 (Academic Module) with no individual band below 6.0
Swinburne’s English for Academic Purposes (EAP 5 Advanced level) with overall 65%, all skills 65% or above
or equivalent measures available at English language requirements.

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

A prerequisite for many courses, the Pearson Test of English (PTE Academic) can now be done at our Hawthorn campus.

Book your Pearson Test of English

Credit transfer

Credit transfer is the recognition of academic credits gained through formal study (i.e. units of competency) completed either at another institute or in another qualification. The total amount of credit will vary from individual to individual, based on the unit/s that have been successfully completed.

Learn more about credit

Recognition of prior learning

Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is the process of transferring the skills and knowledge that you have acquired over your lifetime (irrespective of how they were obtained) against the requirements of the unit.

RPL is an assessment process that requires you to provide evidence that demonstrates how you meet the requirements of the unit/s. The amount and types of evidence you will need to provide will depend on the unit requirements.

Learn more about RPL

Finding your fit

At Swinburne, we recognise that not one size fits all. If this course doesn’t meet all your study criteria, check out these alternatives.

Certificate IV in Mental Health

Discover more (Certificate IV in Mental Health)
Certificate IV in Community Services

Discover more (Certificate IV in Community Services)
Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing)

Discover more (Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing))

Course structure

To be awarded this qualification, students will complete 10 units (seven core and three electives) and successfully complete a practical placement of 120 hours. Assessment requires group work, actor simulation, role play, written assignments. Students may be required to attend other campuses from time to time for events and other course engagements.

Please note that a six-week placement block will occur at the end of the course work completion.

Significant effort is made to match students geographically to placements, however students need to be prepared to travel to placements in the event that this is required. Students who are already working in the industry, and would like this considered as a work placement, are required to contact the Placement Coordinator at the commencement of the course.

The course has been structured so that students graduate with CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support.

Core units

Elective units

120 HOURS

Placement

Certificate IV

Course hours are estimated and may change based on study mode, unit choice, credits, or enrolment adjustments, total indicative nominal hours:

Your units

Certificate IV in Disability Support

Units of study	Unit code
Core units
Manage legal and ethical compliance Core unit	CHCLEG003
Maintain work health and safety Core unit	HLTWHS003
Work with people with mental health issues Core unit	CHCMHS001
Follow established person-centred behaviour supports Core unit	CHCCCS044
Provide person-centred services to people with disability with complex needs Core unit	CHCDIS019
Facilitate community participation and social inclusion Core unit	CHCDIS017
Facilitate ongoing skills development using a person-centred approach Core unit	CHCDIS018
Elective units
Use communication to build relationships Elective unit	CHCCOM002
Provide advocacy and representation services Elective unit	CHCADV002
Develop and provide person-centred service responses Elective unit	CHCDIS015

2025 fees

Full fee* ($AUD)

$10,210

Skills first government-subsidised place* ($AUD)

$3,050

2025 fees

Fees are estimates only

Fees published on this page are estimates only and are subject to change depending on individual circumstances at the time of enrolment. The above fees apply for units studied in 2025 only and may change for units studied in future years. There may be additional costs related to learning material and equipment.

Fees are estimates only

The indicative course fees shown apply to international students for the relevant year, based on a standard study load per year. Fees are assessed according to actual study load each semester, with variations to study load resulting in tuition fee adjustments. These fees generally include the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) and are subject to annual review. Enrolled students will receive reasonable notice of any fee changes before payment is due.

Skills first government-subsidised place

This training is delivered with Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding. To qualify for a government-subsidised place, you must meet various eligibility criteria. The course you’ve applied for must also be offering government-subsidised places. Swinburne will determine your eligibility by conducting a full assessment of your eligibility during the course application process.

Learn more about Skills first government subsidies

How do I pay my fees?

You can pay your Swinburne fees in person, via credit card, BPAY, or at Australia Post. Check to see if loans and employer sponsored training are also available.

Find out more about fees

International students need to pay tuition fees up-front by the relevant due date. You can find the due dates on your Statement of Account.

To pay your fees:

log in to My Financials
check your Australian bank account details are correct
check your Statement of Account to see how much you owe
pay using your preferred payment method.

Learn more about paying your fees

Concessions rates for vocational students

If you’re enrolling in a Certificate IV-level program or below, are eligible for a government-subsidised training place and hold a valid concession card, you may be eligible for a concession of 80 per cent off the published fee of your unit(s) tuition – which means you’ll only be charged 20 per cent of the published fee.

Learn more about concession rates

Study this course for free in 2025

You could have your tuition fees covered in 2025 thanks to the Victorian Government's Free TAFE initiative.

Free TAFE is available to any Australian citizen, permanent resident or New Zealand citizen.

There are other factors, too. The best way to find out if you’re eligible is to apply!

Check your eligibility (Study this course for free in 2025)

Scholarships

Scholarship applications for 2025 are open. Scholarships at Swinburne are about providing opportunity, promoting equity and recognising excellence and achievement. We want you to reach your potential and achieve your life and career goals.

Our handy guide will assist you to gather documents for your application.

Learn more about scholarships

When you apply for a Swinburne course, we automatically consider you for an international scholarship of up to 30 per cent off your course fees – no separate application required! Just apply for your Swinburne course of choice and when we review your course application, we will also assess you for an international scholarship.

Learn more about scholarships

Apply through an agent

Most international students use an education agent to help them through the application process. Swinburne has agents all over the world that can help you with your application to study. Search for a Swinburne representative in your country. If your country is not listed, please contact us.

Representatives and agents

CHC43121

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Apply directly

Ready to take on a new challenge and reach your academic goals? If you already know which course you want to study and understand the entry requirements, what are you waiting for? Apply online! Remember, you cannot apply direct if you have an active VTAC application.

Course code

CHC43121

Apply directly

Apply through VTAC

International students currently studying Year 12 in Australia must apply through VTAC. VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.

VTAC is the central office that administers the application processes for places in tertiary courses, scholarships and the Special Entry Access Scheme at universities, TAFEs and independent tertiary colleges in Victoria.

Apply through VTAC

Start dates

Location

Last date to apply

Start dates

July Intake

Wantirna

18-July-2025

07-July-2025

Start dates

Location

Start dates

July Intake

Wantirna

07-July-2025

Upcoming events

Swinburne Study Expo (Wantirna)

28-May-2025

Swinburne Study Expo (Hawthorn)

05-June-2025

Swinburne Study Expo (Croydon)

11-June-2025

Overview

Entry requirements

Study structure

Fees & Scholarships

How to apply

Overview

Got questions about a course?

Your industry experience

Skills you’ll learn

Your career opportunities

Further education

Key codes

International student visa

Location options

Admission requirements

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

Certificate IV in Disability Support

Fees are estimates only

Fees are estimates only