Information on this page is for Australian residents
Course not available to international students
Duration:
0.5 years full time or longer for part time
Delivery mode:
Face to Face with eLearning
Location: 
Footscray Nicholson
Industry
Sunshine
Werribee
Start dates:
10 February 2025
28 April 2025
21 July 2025

View all start dates
Application due dates:
Applications for this course are currently being accepted.
Apply

Overview

Develop the skills necessary for supporting the daily operations of a health practice, with a Certificate III in Health Administration HLT37315 at Victoria University Polytechnic.

This course will provide you with training to work in administrative roles in hospitals, community health centres and private practices.

Through classroom learning and a practical work placement, you’ll learn to perform a variety of duties including:

  • maintaining patient and financial records
  • managing information and resources
  • implementing infection control policies.

You’ll also become proficient in the use of basic medical terminology. You’ll develop a combination of communications skills and organisational skills, as well as an understanding of work health and safety processes. Our expert staff will ensure you graduate job-ready.

Everything you learn at Victoria University Polytechnic has direct links to the real world. You’ll have the chance to put theory into practice in a nine day placement that gives you hands-on work experience. You’ll learn from teachers who have valuable industry contacts and the latest industry-standard skills and knowledge.  Learning with us means you’ll get the practical training to be job-ready when you graduate.

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. 
  • You must be willing to undergo any additional checks and immunisations as directed by the University.

Victoria University Polytechnic is a supportive place to study. We have a range of academic support programs that can help you if you're struggling with your studies.

We can help you with your assignments and assessment tasks, maths, writing skills and English language support, as well as showing you effective ways to study and manage your time and preparation. Our study support programs include:

  • workshops and study groups
  • student mentors and peer learning
  • maths and writing resources.

We also have disability support services and counselling services available to all students.

Our campus libraries have photocopying, computing and printing facilities as well as electronic and print resources.

You'll also have access to a rich collection of online resources at any time of the day or night, including:

  • databases
  • e-learning content for courses
  • student email
  • student software packages
  • social networking tools.

On campus, we make sure that all of our students have access to digital resources. We offer:

Need some advice?

Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.

Request a call back

TAFE resources

Careers in health administration

Health and medical administrators are a key part of a functioning and efficient healthcare system. This practical course at Victoria University Polytechnic will help you get your foot in the door to work in the health industry. With health administration training, you'll have the employment advantage.

You will have the communication, customer service and technical skills to perform a variety of administrative duties in a range of health service settings, including:

  • medical practices
  • hospitals
  • community health clinics.  

Example job titles include:

  • admissions clerk
  • medical receptionist
  • clinical coding clerk
  • administrative worker/assistant
  • ward clerk
  • patient coordinator.

Nationally recognised training

This course is nationally recognised training.

Course structure

To be awarded HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration, 13 units must be completed comprising:
- 5 core units
- 8 elective units, consisting of:
at least 3 units from the Administration group identified in the HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration qualification
up to 5 units from the electives listed in the HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration qualification, any endorsed training package or accredited course.

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

Administration Electives

Other Electives

Elective units no longer available for new commencing enrolments

This qualification reflects the role of administrative workers in the health industry. These workers follow known routines and procedures, taking responsibility for their own work under general supervision. They combine communication, customer service and technical skills, and use discretion and judgment to adapt and transfer their skills to different situations.

Fees & scholarships

Fee type for this course: VET

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:

Scholarships & assistance

Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.

We can help with fee assistance and advice.

Skills First (subsidised) indicative fees

The Skills First government contribution in 2023/24 is $3,425.50. If eligible, you will pay:

  • Tuition 2023/24: $1,148.55 / $1,209*
  • Materials 2023/24: $67.50 / $75
  • Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF): maximum per year $175.50.

*A concession rate of 20% of the standard Skills First subsidised tuition fee is available if you are eligible for a concession. Learn more about concessions.

**May be subject to change.

Full-fee place total indicative fees

  • 2023 full-fee place: $4,030.

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

Applicants must complete to determine suitability:
- Pre-training Review (PTR)
- Literacy and numeracy assessment.
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
- Evidence of Influenza Immunisation
- all students must have any COVID-19 vaccine prior to the commencement of placement. Students will be required to provide evidence prior to the 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/

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.

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.

Credit Calculator

Find out how much credit you could get towards your course, based on your previous study.

CALCULATE YOUR CREDIT

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.

Available start dates:
  • 10 February 2025
  • 28 April 2025
  • 21 July 2025
  • 6 October 2025

Before you apply

Before starting your application, please read through the step-by-step VU Polytechnic application process to make sure you have all the necessary documents and information ready to successfully complete your application.

Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:

Apply direct to VU

Direct applications are due on 7 February 2025 for our next intake which starts on 10 February 2025.

Apply direct to VU

Already a VU student?

If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.

After you apply

  • It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
  • Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered

Enquire now – TAFE

Please fill out the form below, and we'll get back to you shortly.

Information marked with an asterisk "*" is required.

Refer to our privacy policy and data collection notification statement for more information.

Get help

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.