Overview
Develop the skills for a rewarding career supporting and empowering people with disabilities with a Certificate IV in Disability CHC43115 at Victoria University Polytechnic.
You’ll learn to provide support and training to people with disabilities in community-based and residential settings. You can make a genuine difference to the lives of the people you work with, enabling them to be more independent and increasing their quality of life.
This course will give you the skills and knowledge to:
- facilitate the empowerment of people with disability
- provide individualised support
- develop and provide person-centred service responses.
You’ll gain valuable professional experience through an 18-day placement which will allow you to put your theoretical learning into practice.
You will extend your skills with classes on:
- social inclusion
- diverse and complex needs
- non-verbal communication techniques
- autism.
Free TAFE - apply now
Eligible students currently won’t pay tuition fees for this course.
Free TAFE courses align with skills and jobs that are in high demand from Victorian employers.
Find out more about Free TAFE.
COVID-19 vaccine requirement
In response to Victoria's Roadmap announced in September 2021, all students must have any COVID-19 vaccine prior to the commencement of placement.
You must:
- Provide evidence of having the COVID-19 vaccine. If you are not compliant with this requirement you are not eligible to undertake a placement and progress within the course.
- Be willing to undergo any additional checks and immunisations as directed by the University.
Community-focused place to study
Victoria University Polytechnic believes in inclusivity, diversity and opportunity. We have a strong history of community engagement, working with organisations in the region to develop programs that meet local needs.
These partnerships benefit the communities near each of our campuses, and benefit our students too. By contributing to local projects, we can ensure our students’ skills are well matched to opportunities in the region, and create networks for future employment.
Learning advice
VU’s Learning Hubs are welcoming spaces where you can improve your study and employability skills.
Our students can attend Learning Hubs at one of five VU campuses.
We offer maths, writing, careers and English-language advice, and show you effective ways to study and manage your time.
Our programs include:
- workshops
- drop-in sessions
- peer mentoring
- maths and writing resources
- resume and career guidance.
We also have accessibility support services and counselling services available for all students.
TAFE resources
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Free TAFE
No tuition fees for eligible students. - Fee subsidies
- Course information sessions
Careers in disability services
The welfare and community services sector is one of Australia’s fastest growing sectors, and is expected to continue growing (Labour Market Insights). With a Certificate IV in Disability CHC43115 from Victoria University Polytechnic, you’ll be equipped to provide support and training to people with disabilities. You’ll be able to help them to be more independent and self-reliant in community-based and residential settings.
You’ll find employment options in:
- residential group homes
- training resource centres
- day respite centres
- clients’ homes
- open employment services
- other community settings.
Learn more about careers in the disability sector.
Job titles
Potential job titles include:
- behavioural support officer
- disability support officer/worker
- integration aide
- development officer
- residential care officer
- senior personal care assistant
- disability employment coordinator
- social educator
- job coordinator
- local area coordinator
- adult training services worker
- advocate
- recreational services officer.
Nationally recognised training
This course is nationally recognised training.
Course structure
The course structure comprises the following core and elective units. These electives have been selected based on industry needs, graduate pathways and/or student and teacher feedback.
To be awarded CHC43115 Certificate IV in Disability, a student must successfully complete a total of fourteen (14) units of competency, consisting of:
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eleven (11) core units, and;
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three (3) elective units, consisting of:
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at least two (2) units from the electives listed in the CHC43115 Certificate IV in Disability qualification;
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up to one (1) unit from the electives listed in the CHC43115 Certificate IV in Disability qualification, any endorsed training package or accredited course – these units must be relevant to the work outcome.
All electives chosen must contribute to a valid, industry-supported vocational outcome as well as be approved by the Polytechnic.
Course structure and units
VU Polytechnic delivers the electives listed in the ‘course structure and units’ below. These electives have been selected based on industry needs, graduate pathways and/or student and teacher feedback. Alternative suitable electives are only available via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT).
Core units
Elective units
Learning outcomes
This qualification reflects the role of workers in a range of community settings and clients' homes, who provide training and 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 without direct supervision and may be required to supervise and/or coordinate a small team.
Fees & scholarships
Fee type definitions
The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a government subsidised place or a full fee-paying place.
Students who enrol in a:
- government subsidised place pay subsidised tuition fees (the government contributes the rest), and may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee along with any material fees
- full fee-paying place pay the full fee tuition rate (which includes Student Services and Amenities Fee and any material fees).
Calculate your VET course fees.
Find out more about:
- the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)
- ways to pay your fees
- important fee dates
- how to apply for a VE/TAFE refund
Scholarships & assistance
Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.
We can help with fee assistance and advice.
Admission & pathways
Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.
If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs.
Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.
Entry requirements
As part of the application process, applicants must complete a Pre-training Review (PTR) and undertake a literacy and numeracy (LN) assessment to determine suitability for admission.
Practical placement requirements:
For employment and practical placement purposes, this vocational sector typically requires
- a current and satisfactory Police Record Check
- Working with Children Check
- Victorian NDIS worker screening
- Evidence of Influenza immunisation
- In response to Victoria's Roadmap announced in September 2021, all students must have any COVID-19 vaccine prior to the commencement of placement. Students will be required to provide evidence prior to commencement of placement. If students are not compliant with this requirement they are not eligible to undertake a placement and this will mean that they will not be able to progress within their course. Failure to provide the required documents in the timeframe specified by the Course Coordinator, means you will be unable to undertake practical placement in a workplace and therefore not eligible to progress in this course.
The following are suggested sites you could visit to obtain these checks:
- Police Record Check: http://www.police.vic.gov.au/content.asp?Document_ID=274
- Working with Children Check: http://www.workingwithchildren.vic.gov.au/
- NDIS worker screening check: https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/about/ndis-worker-screening-check
Pathways from VU courses
There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.
Find out more about pathways and credits.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
Use our credit calculator to find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.
You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.
Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.
How to apply
Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs.
Applications for this course are not being taken at this time.
Browse our other Aged care courses or send us an enquiry to be notified of updates relating to this course.
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Contact VU Polytechnic
Please note that if changes to this course occur, VU will notify students as soon as possible.
At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.
