Certificate IV in Disability CHC43115

This course is perfect if you already work in the industry, but are looking to formalise your experience and gain the advanced skills you need to take the next step in your career.

The Certificate IV is also ideal if you are looking to break into the industry. It will ground you in the basics, before moving you onto more advanced learning and skills.

If you are an existing worker or have experience in the related industry, please inform our enrolment consultants during your enrolment conversation. You may be eligible to enrol as an existing worker and complete your studies faster. Please note - limitations do apply.

During your studies you will learn how to:

• Facilitate the empowerment of people with a disability
• Work with diverse people
• Provide individualised support and person-centered services to people with a disability with complex needs
• Recognise healthy body systems
• Manage legal and ethical compliance
• Follow safe work practices for direct client care
• Work within established person-centred behaviour supports
• Facilitate ongoing skills development using a person-centred approach
• Foster community participation and social inclusion
• Develop and provide person-centred service responses
• Communicate using augmentative and alternative communication strategies
• Lead effective workplace relationships
• Provide advocacy and representation services

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.

• 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.

You’ll need to find a work placement yourself and ensure it’s approved by Open Colleges. When looking for a suitable work placement host organisation, have a think about the following:

• Are you already working or volunteering in the industry your course is related to? You could potentially do your work placement at your current place of work or have contacts that could recommend a suitable work place. Ask around!
• If you’re entering a new industry, do some research and start thinking about organisations you could approach. We have plenty of resources available to help with approaching and finding a suitable work placement organisation.

All costs of work placement, including any placement fees charged by the host organisation (whether to the student or Open Colleges), cost of statutory checks and vaccinations, travel, accommodation, and uniforms are the responsibility of the student. These fees will vary and are dependent on your location within Australia.

• Costs for statutory checks will range between $0 - $100 dependent on the type of check you select and your state.
• Costs for vaccinations will very between practitioners, please refer to your GP for approximate costs.
• Placement fees will vary, please discuss this with your intended host organisation for approximate costs.

Your work placement will need to be completed in Australia within a professional disability service, such as a group home or respite centre.

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.

The workplace supervisor is required to have at least 3 years’ experience in the disability sector in a supervisory or team leader role and/or hold a minimum qualification of the Certificate IV in Disability or equivalent.