CHC33021 · Delivered by our partner RTO
Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33021)
Years working with older Australians or people with disability — and no formal ticket? CHC33021 is the entry-level certificate for support work in aged care and disability. We turn your hands-on experience into the cert through our partner RTO.
RPL in 5 Simple Steps
Free RPL Suitability Enquiry
Discuss your skills, work history and experience with our team to determine whether RPL may be suitable for you. Eligible applicants are referred to a partnered RTO for enrolment.Enrolment & RPL Kit
The partnered RTO enrols you into the qualification or units and provides the RPL assessment kit, evidence guide and submission requirements.Evidence Collection & Submission
Gather and submit evidence of your skills and experience — resumes, employment documents, licences, references, work samples and previous training records. We can assist you with organising your evidence.Assessment & Review
The RTO assessor reviews your evidence and may conduct a competency conversation, workplace verification, practical assessment or request additional information if required.Outcome
The RTO determines the assessment outcome. Where competency requirements are met, the RTO issues the qualification or Statement of Attainment.86%
Graduate Satisfaction
Source: NCVER Student Outcomes (industry avg)
72%
Reported Work Status Improvement
Employment outcomes vary and are not guaranteed
$75k
Typical Median Earnings
Source: Seek / Indeed AU 2026
Qualification Description
CHC33021 — Official description from training.gov.au
This qualification reflects the role of individuals in the community, home or residential care setting who work under supervision and delegation as a part of a multi-disciplinary team, following an individualised plan to provide person-centred support to people who may require support due to ageing, disability or some other reason.These individuals take responsibility for their own outputs within the scope of their job role and delegation. Workers have a range of factual, technical and procedural knowledge, as well as some theoretical knowledge of the concepts and practices required to provide person-centred support.The skills in this qualification must be applied in accordance with Commonwealth and State/Territory legislation, Australian standards and industry codes of practice.To achieve this qualification, the candidate must have completed at least of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of the units of competency.No licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.
What Certificate III in Individual Support Covers
The Certificate III in Individual Support qualifies you for direct support work across aged care, disability and community settings. Core areas covered:
- Person-centred support and dignity-of-risk principles
- Personal care, mobility assistance and safe manual handling
- Recognising and responding to changes in client wellbeing
- Communication with clients, families and care teams
- Workplace health and safety in care settings
- Cultural competence in care delivery
Real Earning Outcomes
Years on the Floor — Now Get Paid Like You’re Qualified.
Casual aged care and disability work without a Cert III caps around $55k–$65k. With CHC33021 on file, you move into the qualified band — $70k–$80k full-time — and the senior roles open up.
You already do the work. The certificate just gets you paid for it.
Aged Care Worker
$70k–$80k / yr
In-facility or in-home aged care. Standard band on the SCHADS Award once your Cert III is current.
Disability Support Worker
$70k–$85k / yr
NDIS-funded support roles. Better hourly rates, more shift flexibility, faster path to coordinator level.
In-Home Care Worker
$65k–$85k / yr
One-on-one community support. Higher hourly than facility work, plus travel and shift loadings.
NDIS Support Worker
$75k–$85k / yr
NDIS plan-funded support. The strongest-paid entry-level care role — and the most growth.
Your hands know the job. The cert pays for them.
REQUEST RPL SUITABILITY CHECK — Free →
Salary ranges sourced from Seek, Indeed and Payscale Australia (2026). Actual pay varies by location, employer type, and experience. Figures are typical full-time ranges and exclude superannuation unless noted.
Who This Certificate Is For
You’ve worked as a support worker, carer, or community aide for 12+ months — paid or unpaid (including caring for a family member). You know how to safely transfer, shower, dress and feed clients. You’ve dealt with challenging moments and supported people through them.
Common backgrounds: care workers in aged care facilities, in-home support, NDIS support workers, hospital orderlies, community visitor roles.
What You’ll Need To Bring
Real, current evidence of the work you do on the job. Your partner RTO assesses you against the specific units of competency in the qualification, so the evidence should show those skills being applied in practice. The more relevant the evidence, the smoother the assessment.
- Photos, videos and records of work you are currently doing on the tools or on the job — clearly showing each unit’s skills in practice
- Workplace documents you produce: care plans, shift notes, site reports, job sheets, invoices, plans you’ve worked from
- Two professional references from supervisors or senior colleagues who can verify your skills
- Previous training records, short course certificates, workplace documents or role-specific licences relevant to the qualification
- Resume or work history showing length of time working in the field
- Any third-party reports the partner RTO requests to verify specific units
Your partner RTO will tell you exactly which units need extra evidence. We help you map what you already have against the units of competency required.
Common Questions