To make an informed choice about the suitability of this course, please consider the essential skills and knowledge below. You must: 

• Want to work with people with a disability.
• Be able to work independently and within a team.
• Be able to observe and identify changes in behaviour, ability and environment.
• Have strong communication and listening skills to liaise and work with a range of people.
• Have strong empathy and caregiving skills to support dignity and privacy while providing care.
• Be able to meet the physical demands involved in manual care work, including assisting individuals from bed into wheelchairs and shower chairs; pushing a wheelchair; showering a person; dressing and/or repositioning a person.
• Be a problem-solver with the ability to respond to immediate safety risks.
• Be tolerant, patient and willing to work with people from various backgrounds and cultures.
• Be willing and able to assist with the *personal care needs of both male and female clients, within all aspects of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), including showering, dressing, toileting.

*Personal care includes but is not limited to: changing continence aids and ensuring proper disposal; intimate cleaning of genital areas to maintain hygiene and prevent infection; assisting clients who may have mobility or cognitive impairment(s); recognising and responding to signs of injury, infection or discomfort. 

This course contains material of a sensitive nature, including death, grief, loss, and exposure to challenging behaviours, which may be upsetting or triggering for some individuals. Please ensure you have sufficient support networks for the duration of your study. Support is also available through South Regional TAFE Student Services, who can direct you to our (including Counsellors, Aboriginal Services, Disability Services, and others.)

Time Commitment: You will need to allocate appropriate time to complete this course. This includes attending classes on-site and/or online as outlined in the study mode; undertake independent study outside of class hours, including private study, assessment preparation, and research to successfully complete this course; and complete the mandatory work placement as scheduled in your Work Placement Agreement.

You will need to complete:

• Work Placement: 120 hours in a suitable environment that provides the services in this selected area of study. South Regional TAFE will arrange this work placement within the industry for you.
• Work Placement hours will be in keeping with Individual Support Industry requirements. This may be outside of your class hours.
• Working With Children Check (WWCC): this may be requested by the workplace prior to placement for the Disability stream. This will incur an additional cost. To find out more about a WWCC click here.
• Vaccinations: may be requested by the workplace prior to placement. This will incur an additional cost. To find out more about immunization in the workplace click here.
• National Police Clearance: this may be requested by the workplace prior to placement. This clearance will incur an additional cost. To find out more about this clearance click here.
• National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Clearance: this may be requested by the workplace prior to placement. The NDIS clearance includes a National Police Clearance. This clearance will incur an additional cost. To find out more about the NDIS click here.
• Students are required to be 18 years of age prior to work placement.

Below are some of the important personal skills you will be required to develop and demonstrate during training. These skills are highly valued by industry:

• Respectful Communication and Empathy: connect with people from different backgrounds; share ideas effectively; build trust and strong relationships; converse with clients and staff in English.
• Behaviour: good ethical behaviour; ability to stand and concentrate for long periods of time; fortitude to cope with the uncertainty of client care.
• Attributes: dexterity; sensory abilities (sight, sound, touch) that enable observation of another person.
• Teamwork: collaborate respectfully with allied health professionals and clients; be receptive to feedback.
• Problem Solving: find solutions; engage with challenges; ask questions; clarify and respond appropriately within your scope of practice.
• Initiative: motivation and proactivity; seek help when necessary.
• Planning: good time management; prioritise and complete tasks efficiently and effectively.
• Self-Management: self-reflection and performance evaluation; acknowledge your successes and accept responsibility for any shortcomings.