Certificate IV in Disability Support CHC43121

This qualification reflects the role of individuals in a range of community settings and peoples’ homes, who provide support in a manner that empowers people with disabilities to achieve greater levels of independence, self-reliance, community participation and wellbeing. Workers promote a person-centred approach, work according to and may contribute to an individualised plan, and work without direct supervision. They may be required to supervise and/or coordinate a small team.

The skills in this qualification must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.

Learners may choose to enrol in the CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support as an entry point to working in the Disability Services sector. Alternatively, they may undertake the qualification as a pathway to further study in the following qualifications:

• CHC52021 Diploma of Community Services
• CHC51015 Diploma of Counselling
• CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health
• CHC43215 Certificate IV in Alcohol and Other Drugs
• CHC40421 Certificate IV in Youth Work

During this course, you'll learn how to:

• Manage legal and ethical compliance
• Maintain work health and safety ·
• Support relationships with carer and family
• Follow established person-centred behaviour supports
• Facilitate community participation and social inclusion
• Facilitate ongoing skills development using a person-centred approach
• Provide person-centered services to people with disability with complex needs
• Work with people with mental health issues
• Lead effective workplace relationships
• Reflect on and improve own professional practice

• Video
• Project
• Role Play
• Written Assessment
• Work Placement
• Multiple Choice Quiz

The duration for the course is maximum 18 months. As a self-paced online course, the time it will take you to complete is flexible and dependent on ability and time available.

Mandatory Entry Requirements:

Students must be able to provide evidence of the following completed units of competency:

• CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability), OR
• CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability), OR
• CHC30408 Certificate III in Disability PLUS the CHCSS00125 Entry to Certificate IV in Disability Support Skill Set

Students must be able to provide a transcript showing that the units of competency have been completed in full before their enrolment can be finalised.

Recommended Local Entry Requirements

Students will need to be at least 18 years old. Students under 18 will need a parent or guardian to complete the parent or guardian declaration on the Enrolment Form.

Students residing in WA/NT under the age of 18, who are not currently studying for their year 12 certificate cannot be enrolled.

Students are recommended to have the language, literacy, and numeracy skills that ensure the ability to read and comprehend technical terms and communicate effectively through email.

These skills are equivalent to:

• ACSF Level 3 OR
• Successful completion of Certificate III qualification or higher

Tools, equipment, and skills required:

• Access to up to 3 people to participate in role plays and assessments
• Access to a device with audio & video capabilities to record simulated role-play tasks for submission
• A simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions for role-play with facilities and equipment
• Tripod to provide a stable and secure platform to mount the digital recording device
• Basic computing skills
• Access to a modern computer with high-speed internet
• Access to Microsoft Office
  

Additional Requirements:

• Students need to have a reasonable level of fitness, as the role may involve a variety of physical tasks, such as providing personal care, assisting clients with mobility and transfers and considerable time spent standing and walking.
• Additionally, where first aid is a requirement of the host organisation, students must have the requisite fitness level that enables them to complete 2 minutes of uninterrupted CPR on an adult manikin placed on the floor.

NDIS worker screening and blue card:

Students can link their NDIS worker screening and blue card to Integrated Care and Management Training so that they can receive a student version. Students are provided a link on how to do this in OpenSpace in the FAQs.

Simulated Environment:

Role Plays are the practical element of an assessment that a student is required to complete via a simulated environment that reflects workplace conditions with facilities and equipment including:

• wheelchair / mobility aids and equipment
• chair / bed
• meal area / kitchen
• sink / toilet / shower
• communication equipment
• storage equipment, including office storage equipment
• PPE: gloves / mask / apron / protective eyewear / face shield
• cleaning equipment
• waste and waste disposal equipment
• hand hygiene facilities and equipment
• car
• information on local resources, programs, agencies, transport services, aids and equipment available to people with disability
• up to 3 people to support you in the role-play.

For some role-play scenarios, this may include:

1. people from diverse backgrounds
2. people with disabilities (or pretending to have some form of disabilities)
3. It is the responsibility of the learner to find suitable role-play participants.
   
   

• By undertaking a work placement you’ll get a chance to put the knowledge you’ve learned on your course into practice.
• You’ll also develop practical, on-the-job skills and could make contacts that could help you find a job once you graduate.
• Work placement is often the most rewarding part of a student’s course. Working face-to-face with clients and colleagues in your chosen field makes a huge difference to your career confidence.

Focus on your studies while we handle your work placement. Through our partnership with SkilTrak, our Guaranteed Work Placement ensures you gain hands-on experience in your dream career—right in your local area. Learn more

• Meet with SkilTrak – Their team will discuss your skills, goals, location, and travel preferences to arrange the best placement for you.
• We’ll do the work – While you continue your coursework, we’ll be behind the scenes securing the perfect placement match.
• Get the details – Have a quick chat with us to go over what to expect from your work placement experience.
• Start your placement – Gain real-world experience while we check in along the way to ensure everything is running smoothly.
• Complete your course – Once your placement is done, upload your workbooks, finish your final assessment, and receive your certificate.

The Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) will require a minimum of 120 hours of direct support work in a regulated disability care organisation.

The Structured Workplace Learning (SWL) is completed at the end of the course. Students should start looking for placement facilities once they have commenced their studies. Once they have completed 75% of their course, they can submit their workplace approval form.

Before commencing placement, students will be required to complete a work placement preparation module. This module will contain tasks around researching and approaching 6 potential work placement facilities, completing any statutory checks as well as training found on the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission website.

There will also be specific assessment tasks including a logbook and portfolios to be completed at the workplace.

Workplaces suitable to undertake SWL include:

• Residential care settings
• Day centres
• Home care
• Day respite centres
• Respite centres
• Schools working in the special education units

For students to be able to undertake the practical component of the course, approved workplaces must be able to provide students with the required equipment, environments, policies & procedures, documentation, appropriate supervisor, and clients. If host organisations are unable to provide the necessary equipment, resources, and access to clients the student may be required to undertake SWL within 2 (or more) organisations.

The workplace may require the student to meet workplace-specific requirements. These will vary by state and by organisation. Some of the statutory checks and requirements the student may need to provide to commence work placement are:

• Police Check 
• NDIS Worker Screening
• Working with Children Check
• Occupational Assessment 
• Screening and vaccination against infectious disease, including COVID-19 
• Signing of Codes of Conduct and Confidentiality Agreements 
• First Aid Certificate 
• Psychological testing
• Manual Handling Certificate

Please note that your host organisation may require you to provide an up to date immunisation history prior to the commencement of your work placement. Open Colleges has no control over this requirement so if you are unable to provide this, you will need to discuss it with your intended Host Organisation.

It should also be noted that some immunisations, such as Hepatitis B and COVID-19, need multiple injections to be administered over a specific time period before you are deemed immune. It is important that you consult with your GP as soon as possible to avoid delays in starting your work placement.

Workplace supervisors are required to have 3 years experience in the disability support industry with at least 1 year as a supervisor and/or any of the following qualifications:

• Certificate IV in Disability
• Diploma of Community Services
• Bachelor of Social Work
• Bachelor of Education (for school setting)

Open Colleges may need to obtain further evidence to show confirm that the supervisor has the skills and experience to sign off on the required tasks.