Overview
Learn to support older people with skill and dignity with a Certificate IV in Ageing Support CHC43015 at Victoria University Polytechnic.
This course, created in consultation with the industry, will offer increased career opportunities in aged and community care. You’ll learn to care for the interests, rights and empowerment of clients.
You’ll gain knowledge and experience in providing support to older people with complex needs, and working with groups of older people. This course includes training in:
- palliative and dementia care
- falls prevention and interventions for clients at risk
- service planning and delivery
- elderly care health and hygiene.
Participating in a 20 day work placement will give you practical industry experience as well as on-the-job confidence. You’ll also further develop your communication skills and your ability to develop and maintain relationships and partnerships.
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.
Practical learning & placement
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 20 day work placement that we arrange for you. 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 hands-on learning 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.
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.
Need some advice?
Request a call back from one of our experienced VUHQ course advisers to get your questions answered.
Request a call backTAFE resources
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Free TAFE
No tuition fees for eligible students. - Fee subsidies
- Course information sessions
Learn to care for the interests, rights and empowerment of older people with a Certificate IV in Ageing Support CHC43015.
Careers in ageing support
Working in ageing support can be both challenging and rewarding. With this practical qualification from Victoria University Polytechnic, you’ll be ready to join one of Australia’s fastest growing sectors. With an ageing population, there will be many opportunities to grow your career in ageing support. Employment for aged carers is expected to grow strongly over the next five years (Labour Market Insights).
You’ll have the skills and knowledge to provide care for individuals as well as groups of older people. You could find employment working in a range of community, healthcare and residential aged care facilities. With this qualification, you may be promoted to supervise a limited number of other workers.
Potential job titles include:
- home care assistant
- community care worker
- personal care attendant
- residential care worker
- care team leader/supervisor.
Nationally recognised training
This course is nationally recognised training.
Course structure
To be awarded CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support, 18 units must be completed consisting of:
- 15 core units
- 3 elective units, consisting of:
- at least 2 units from the electives listed in the CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support qualification, and
- up to 1 unit from the electives listed in the CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support qualification or any endorsed training package or accredited course – these units must be relevant to the work outcome.
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
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- Unit code
- CHCADV001
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- Unit code
- CHCAGE001
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- Unit code
- CHCAGE003
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- Unit code
- CHCAGE004
-
- Unit code
- CHCAGE005
-
- Unit code
- CHCCCS006
-
- Unit code
- CHCCCS011
-
- Unit code
- CHCCCS023
-
- Unit code
- CHCCCS025
-
- Unit code
- CHCDIV001
-
- Unit code
- CHCLEG003
-
- Unit code
- CHCPAL001
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- Unit code
- CHCPRP001
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- Unit code
- HLTAAP001
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- Unit code
- HLTWHS002
ELECTIVE UNITS - Standard Delivery
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- Unit code
- CHCCCS001
-
- Unit code
- CHCMHS001
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- Unit code
- HLTAID011
ELECTIVE UNITS - Part-time Delivery
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- Unit code
- CHCCCS001
-
- Unit code
- CHCMHS001
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- Unit code
- HLTHPS006
Learning outcomes
This qualification reflects the role of support workers who complete specialised tasks and functions in aged services, either in residential, home or community-based environments. Workers will take responsibility for their own outputs within defined organisation guidelines and maintain quality service delivery through the development, facilitation and review of individualised service planning and delivery.
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:
- 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
Standard Applicants:
Applicants must complete to determine suitability:
- Pre-training Review (PTR)
- Literacy and numeracy (LN) assessment.
Part-time Evening Applicants:
VU offers a pathway delivery model. This model requires students to have completed CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing or Ageing, Home and Community specialisations) before entry into this program.
Applicants must complete to determine suitability:
- Pre-training Review (PTR)
- Literacy and numeracy (LN) assessment.
Practical placement requirements:
For employment and practical placement purposes, this vocational sector typically requires
- a current and satisfactory Police Record Check
- a Working with Children Check
- evidence of Influenza Immunisation
- all students must have any COVID-19 vaccine before the commencement of placement. Students will be required to provide evidence before the commencement of placement. If students are not compliant with this requirement, they are not eligible to undertake a placement, which will mean 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/
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.
Available start dates:
- 24 February 2025
- 28 July 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:
- Credit transfer/Recognition of prior learning (RPL): If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.
Apply direct to VU
Direct applications are due on 21 February 2025 for our next intake which starts on 24 February 2025.
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.
Get help
- Visit a student service centre
- 1300 VIC UNI (1300 842 864)
- Request a call back
- Visit the glossary
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.
