The Ultimate Guide to Certificate III in Individual Support in Australia (2026)


If you are looking for a rewarding, future-proof career in Australia, becoming a support worker is one of the best choices you can make right now. The healthcare, aged care, and disability sectors are booming, and the demand for qualified professionals has never been higher. But where do you actually start?

I recently completed my Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) in Victoria, including the mandatory 120-hour placement. When I first started looking into this qualification, I felt completely overwhelmed by the amount of information online. Now that I have successfully crossed the finish line, I want to share my raw, real-life experience.

Whether you want to work under the NDIS or in an aged care facility, this guide will walk you through exactly what to expect, how to choose the right school, and the absolute best ways to survive your placement without going broke.

Why Become a Support Worker in 2026?

The landscape of healthcare in Australia is shifting rapidly. With an aging population and the expansion of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), the country is crying out for compassionate, trained support workers.

Beyond job security, this is a career that offers incredible flexibility. You can choose your hours, work independently as a sole trader, or join an established agency. Most importantly, it is a role where you go home every single day knowing you made a tangible difference in someone’s life. However, to get your foot in the door, you must have the right qualifications. The government has tightened the rules recently to ensure higher quality care, which brings us to the core requirement: the Certificate III.

My Experience: Course Structure and What to Expect

Before you sign up for a course, you need to understand the time commitment and the delivery method. There are generally three ways to tackle this certificate: full-time, part-time, or 100% online.

First, I want to give you a massive warning about 100% online schools. While studying entirely from home might sound incredibly convenient, these fully online courses generally do not qualify for government funding. If you choose this route, you will be forced to pay the entire tuition fee out of your own pocket, which can easily cost you thousands of dollars. Unless you have no other choice, I do not recommend this.

I chose the 6-month full-time option, and I highly recommend doing the same if you want to get out into the workforce quickly. My schedule was very manageable—I attended classes on campus just one day a week for 8 hours. The rest was self-directed study and assessments.

If you opt for the part-time route, be prepared for it to drag out for 12 to 18 months. Unless you are juggling a heavy full-time job, the 6-month track is much more efficient.

I studied at All Health Training in Victoria's south-east. If you can find a good RTO (Registered Training Organisation) like this, it makes a world of difference. Our class sizes were small—around 10 students—which meant we got plenty of one-on-one time with the instructor. Having a great, engaging trainer made the heavy theory days actually fun and much easier to digest.

How to Choose the Right RTO

Not all training providers are created equal. When you are researching where to study, you must look out for two massive factors:

Check for Government Funding

Do not pay full price for this course if you don't have to! Because support workers are in such high demand, both state and federal governments heavily subsidise this qualification.

When searching Google, look specifically for terms like "government free course Certificate III Individual Support" or "Free TAFE". Because I found a government-funded spot, I only paid $250 out of pocket for the entire qualification. That is a massive saving compared to the thousands of dollars private institutions sometimes charge international students or those ineligible for funding.

Placement Support: The Most Important Factor

To get your diploma, you must complete exactly 120 hours of practical placement. In the past, the required hours were shorter, but due to quality control issues in the industry, the government has strictly reinforced the 120-hour rule.

When interviewing potential RTOs, ask them directly: "Do you find the placement for me, or do I have to find it myself?" My school had a dedicated placement coordinator. About two months before graduation, they actively helped match students with facilities to ensure we could hit our 120 hours. Trust me, trying to cold-call aged care homes to beg for a placement on your own is incredibly stressful. Pick a school that does the heavy lifting for you.

The 120-Hour Placement Reality: My Top Tips for Survival

This is the part of the guide where I need to give you some tough, realistic advice.

My school found me a placement, which was great, but it was unpaid. Doing 120 hours of unpaid labor is financially draining. There is no allowance provided. I had to pay for my own petrol, my daily coffees, lunches, and transport. Over several weeks, those costs add up fast.

Based on my firsthand experience, here are my ultimate recommendations for your placement:

  1. Start Hustling on Day One: Do not wait until two months before graduation to think about your placement. As soon as your course starts, begin looking for facilities or NDIS agencies that offer paid placements or traineeships. Yes, they exist! If you can get hired by an agency as a trainee while you study, you can log your paid working hours toward your 120-hour requirement. I strongly recommend finding a place where you can earn while you learn.

  2. Location is Everything: If you do end up doing an unpaid placement, make sure it is as close to your home as possible. Commuting an hour each way unpaid will destroy your morale and your bank account due to fuel costs. Tell your school's placement coordinator early on that you need a local facility.

  3. Treat it Like a Month-Long Interview: Whether paid or unpaid, the facility is watching you. Show up on time, be eager to learn, and interact positively with the clients. Many students (including myself) find that a successful placement directly leads to a formal job offer the moment that certificate is printed.

Career Outcomes: NDIS vs Aged Care

Once you finish your 120 hours and receive your certificate, two main doors open for you.

  • Aged Care Facilities: This is highly structured shift work. You will be on your feet, working alongside nurses and other carers in a residential facility. It is fast-paced, and you will learn incredible manual handling and personal care skills.

  • NDIS Home Care / Community Support: This involves visiting clients in their own homes or taking them out into the community. It offers far more independence and flexibility. You might help a client with grocery shopping, accompany them to a medical appointment, or assist with daily household tasks.

Many people start in an aged care facility during their placement to build robust clinical skills, then transition into NDIS work for the lifestyle flexibility and often higher hourly rates.

Important Rule Changes: Certificate III vs. Certificate IV

If you are looking ahead to your future career progression, you might be wondering about the Certificate IV in Individual Support. There is a massive rule change you need to know about.

In the past, people could actually skip the Cert III and jump straight into the Cert IV. However, due to recent industry regulations, that is no longer allowed. The Certificate III is now strictly divided into two main specializations: Aged Care or Disability.

Under the new rules, you must complete one of these Certificate III specializations first before you are eligible to enroll in the Certificate IV.

The good news? Once you finish your Cert III, the Certificate IV is also just a 6-month course. Upgrading to a Cert IV allows you to take on more complex or supervisory roles, which directly translates to a higher hourly wage. It is a fantastic next step to boost your earning potential once you have your Cert III under your belt!


Conclusion

Stepping into the healthcare industry as a support worker is a big decision, but it is one of the most accessible and fulfilling career pivots you can make in Australia today.

Yes, the 120-hour placement can be a financial grind if you do it unpaid. But if you take my advice—find a government-subsidised course, ensure your RTO offers placement support, and aggressively hunt for paid agency roles early on—you will set yourself up for absolute success.

Are you currently looking into starting your Certificate III? Let me know in the comments below what your biggest worries are, and I’ll be happy to answer them based on my own journey!


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