Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

Overview

A Certificate III in Health Services Assistance will provide you with the skills and knowledge to work in our health care system in integral support roles. Ensure quality care, safety and infection control is maintained at the highest level. Learn practical skills to assist in future employment such as helping with patient care and movement, patient transport, bed making, clinical cleaning and more.

Get a copy of our course guide

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

Got questions about a course?

Don’t miss our Study Expo – the best place to chat with academics and teaching staff for answers to all your Swinburne questions, from entry requirements to graduation outcomes.

Learn more

Skills you’ll learn

Quality of care
Quality of safety
Practical skills in patient care
Clinical cleaning

Your career opportunities

Health services assistant
Food services assistant
Personal care assistant
Patient services assistant
Ward assistant

Location options

Wantirna

Admissions

To apply for workplace training (traineeship), applicants must be working in a relevant workplace and have employer approval to enrol.

Successful completion of Australian Year 12, or equivalent overseas qualification.

Assess your eligibility for entry to Swinburne

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 III in Individual Support (Disability)

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

Discover more (Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing))
Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport

Discover more (Certificate III in Non-Emergency Patient Transport)

Course structure

To be awarded this qualification, students need to complete 15 units, including 7 core and 8 electives. These have been selected to incorporate a number of key support skills of a Health Services Assistant such as transporting patients, individual support and food service.

Core units

Elective units

Certificate

Course hours are estimated and may change based on study mode, unit choice, credits, or enrolment adjustments, total indicative nominal hours: 625

Your units

Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

Units of study	Unit code
Core units
Communicate and work in health or community services Core unit	CHCOM005
Work with diverse people Core unit	CHCDIV001
Recognise healthy body systems Core unit	HLTAAP001
Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately Core unit	BSBMED301
Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control Core unit	HLTINF006
Participate in workplace health and safety Core unit	HLTWHS001
Organise personal work priorities and development Core unit	BSBWOR301
Elective units
Provide First Aid Elective unit	HLTAID011
Assist with movement Elective unit	CHCCCS002
Respond effectively to behaviours of concern Elective unit	CHCCCS020
Transport individuals Elective unit	CHCCCS026
Prepare and maintain beds Elective unit	CHCCCS012
Perform general cleaning tasks in a clinical setting Elective unit	HLTHSS003
Provide individualised support Elective unit	CHCCCS015
Follow basic food safety practices Elective unit	HLTFSE001

2025 fees

Full fee* ($AUD)

$6,390

Skills first government-subsidised place* ($AUD)

$1,420

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$0.00

2025 fees

Yearly fee* ($AUD)

$0.00

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

HLT33115

Search for agents

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

HLT33115

Apply directly

Start dates

Location

Last date to apply

Start dates

July intake

Wantirna

16-July-2025

21-July-2025

February intake

Wantirna

28-January-2026

02-February-2026

February intake

Wantirna

28-January-2026

02-February-2026

Start dates

Location

Start dates

July intake

Wantirna

21-July-2025

February intake

Wantirna

02-February-2026

February intake

Wantirna

02-February-2026

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?

Skills you’ll learn

Your career opportunities

Location options

Admission requirements

Need to undertake an English assessment for entry?

Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

Fees are estimates only

Fees are estimates only