Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance HLT43021

The HLT43021 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance meets the educational requirements for entry-level roles in the Allied Health Services industry.  

This course is ideal for individuals looking to begin a career in Allied Health, offering practical training for roles that involve assisting physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech pathologists, and other healthcare providers. 

For those already working in the industry, this nationally recognized qualification is an excellent way to formalise existing skills and experience, enhancing career prospects and opportunities for advancement. 

With Open Colleges, you can study whenever you want, wherever you want and make your way through the course at a pace that suits you. 

This course is perfect if you have no experience but want to launch a career in Allied Health Assistance. 

The Certificate IV is also an ideal way to formalise your current work experience if you are already in the industry but need a qualification to get ahead. 

Students completing HLT43021 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance may undertake further study in the following qualifications: 

• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy 

During this course, you'll learn how to

• Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriate  
• Respond effectively to behaviours of concern  
• Support relationships with carer and family  
• Facilitate the empowerment of people receiving support  
• Work with diverse people  
• Assist with an allied health program  
• Engage with clinical supervision and delegation  
• Recognise impact of health conditions  
• Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control  
• Follow safe work practices for direct client care  
• Support independence and community participation  
• Assist in rehabilitation programs  
• Support maintenance of functional status  
• Work within a community rehabilitation environment  
• Support independence and wellbeing  
• Maintain patient records  
• Provide first aid  
• Work with people with mental health issues 

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

The duration for the course is maximum 24 months. As a self-paced online course, the time it will take you to complete is flexible and dependent on ability and time available.

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:

• Successfully completed Year 12 OR
• ACSF Level 3 OR
• Successful completion of a nationally recognised Certificate III qualification or higher

Tools, equipment, and skills required:

• Access to people to participate in role plays and assessments
• Access to a modern computer with high-speed internet
• Access to Microsoft Office
• Access to Adobe Reader
• Access to a device with audio & video capabilities
• Basic computing skills

Additional Requirements:

• Students need to have a reasonable level of fitness, as the role involves physical tasks such as kneeling, lifting and handling heavy items up to 20kgs, and working with tools / equipment in a horticultural setting.

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.

• 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 160 hours.

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.

Students must be 18 years old at the time of work placement.

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:

• Occupational Therapy department in a hospital or Community Setting
• Occupational Therapy private practice which may include physiotherapy and speech pathology
• Residential Aged Care setting providing Allied Health Services

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 diseases, including COVID-19
• Signing of Codes of Conduct and Confidentiality Agreements
• First Aid Certificate
• Psychological testing
• Manual Handling certification

NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission training:

These training sessions are free of charge and will help prepare the student for their work placement. The student will be provided with a certificate of completion that must be submitted to Open Colleges before work placement approval.

The required training is:

• New Worker NDIS Induction Module
• NDIS Worker Orientation Module
• Supporting Effective Communication Module

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 any of the following qualifications:

• Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance (with at least 3 years experience in the Allied Health industry).  
• Be a Registered Occupational Therapist (with a minimum of 1 year experience in Occupational Therapy) 
• Be a Registered Physiotherapist or a qualified Speech Pathologist (with a minimum of 1-year experience in Allied Health) working in collaboration with an Occupational Therapist with functional goals towards community participation  

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.