Certificate III in Health Services Assistance
HLT33115
Earn your Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (HLT33115) to qualify for diverse roles assisting healthcare professionals in client care.
The HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance leads to a variety of roles that use a range of factual, technical, and procedural knowledge to provide assistance to health professional staff for the care of clients. Health services assistance involves working directly with clients and patients under supervision.
With this health service assistance qualification, you’ll be ready to work in support roles in hospitals, community services, and other healthcare settings. Job prospects are good, with employment for nursing support and personal care assistants expected to grow strongly.
You’ll be ready to provide a range of assistance to professional staff for the care of patients or clients. You’ll have the communication skills and technical and procedural knowledge to work in areas such as Therapy Assistant, Allied Health Assistant and Physiotherapy Assistant. After completing this Cert III course, you may consider completing a Cert IV in Allied Health Assistance to build your knowledge and skills further.
Enrol now to study health services assistance online. Earn your Certificate III with AIPC and access a wide range of support services that can help you succeed.
You are able to gain entry to the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance if you have:
Completed Year 10 (or equivalent) and be at least 16 years of age
Completed a Certificate III qualification, or
have at least 3 years of sufficient life experience (work or study), if over 16 years of age.
Reduced Upfront (and enjoy a substantial discount).
Fortnight Payment Plan (take advantage of our fortnight payment plans over 26 months).
Pay via Credit Card or Direct Debit.
Our Student Support Centres are located in:
Brisbane
Regional Queensland
Gold Coast
Sydney
Melbourne
Adelaide
Perth
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Course Recognition
Why study our Certificate III in Health Services Assistance
With more than 30 years of experience delivering flexible, online counsellor education, AIPC understands what it takes to support students to succeed. We've brought that same commitment to quality, flexibility and student support to our allied health courses, preparing graduates for rewarding careers in one of Australia's fastest-growing sectors.
You will learn:
Assisting nursing and ward staff
Patient support and personal care
Workplace health and safety
Communication skills and technical and procedural knowledge to work in health services
Career Outcomes:
Nursing Assistant
Patient Services Assistant
Practice Manager
Patient Care Attendant
You will learn:
Assisting nursing and ward staff
Patient support and personal care
Workplace health and safety
Communication skills and technical and procedural knowledge to work in health services
Career Outcomes:
Nursing Assistant
Patient Services Assistant
Practice Manager
Patient Care Attendant
Australia's largest and fastest-growing industry
Sources: Statistics (accessed January 2026): Employment Growth, Employment Opportunities, Weekly Earnings
There has never been a better time for you to invest in your future career. The need for qualified employees supporting health and allied health professionals is greater than ever before. The Health Care and Social Assistance sector is predicted to be the fastest growth industry over the next 5 years. Working in the health sector is supremely rewarding. You will be supporting the delivery of health services to vulnerable patients who need care, support and assurance.
Course Outline
Acquire the knowledge and skills of workplace health and safety to carry out your work.
Work with diverse people; Promote Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander cultural safety.
Establish relationships, clarify needs and work collaboratively with people who are living with mental health issues.
Identify the skills required to work within an alcohol and other drugs setting.
Identify and work within the legal and ethical frameworks that apply to an individual job role.
Understand and respond to instructions, to carry out routine tasks and use appropriate medical terminology.
Identify and use appropriate communication techniques effectively with clients, colleagues and management.
Identify and respond to behaviours of concern with people.
Provide and support responsibility for behaviour management and change.
Implement standard and transmission-based precautions and respond to risks.
Work with basic information about the human body and recognise ways to maintain a healthy functioning body.
Identify and work cooperatively with others.
Monitor and obtain feedback on work performance.
Provide first aid response to a casualty in line with first aid guidelines.
* These units require the practical demonstration of skills and knowledge in a simulated work environment. A variety of options are available to complete practical assessments including through small group workshops (online) or private one-on-one assessments (in person or online) or submitting a video recording.
At AIPC we have a payment method to suit every student. If you decide to pay for your course upfront you will enjoy a substantial discount, and you can concentrate on your studies without thinking about further payments.
If you would prefer to spread your payments, you can take advantage of our fortnightly payment plans over 26 fortnights. We always strive to keep tuition as affordable as possible, opening up quality education for everyone.
Reduced upfront payment | Fortnightly payment* |
|---|---|
$2,490 | $129 |
*Fortnightly payments can be made by Credit Card or Direct Debit.
For over 30 years AIPC has set the benchmark for service and support in education. We offer a complete external study support system that has been developed and refined over decades of research and continual student feedback.
As a student you have unlimited access to the Institute’s Toll Free 1300 Study Assistance Line. Our degree-qualified education advisers are available 9am and 5pm EST Monday to Friday to provide you with friendly academic support. Their focus is to support you throughout your studies so you can graduate in the time frame you set. This includes answering questions on assignment topics, personal coaching on assignment writing, and giving hints and tips on specific concepts. The Study Assistance Line is there whenever you feel you need a bit of extra guidance.
The structure of the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance ensures you graduate with sufficient practical skill so you can apply your knowledge with confidence.
Students can elect to complete the practical components through various means, such as a one-on-one or small group session with a private assessor. We have private assessors in numerous regional areas across Australia.
Students can also complete their practical components by video recording a demonstration of their skills. We have guidelines available to assist students compile their recordings and develop effective role plays to demonstrate their skills.
The Institute website is an extremely helpful study resource. Via the website you can access the My.AIPC Student Portal which is your link to numerous study support and e-learning functions. You can:
Download electronic versions of your workbooks
Complete your activities and upload for marking
Contact an Online Education Adviser for study assistance
Access the Knowledge Base, a massive database of the most commonly asked academic questions, categorised for particular subjects, activities and concepts
See when seminars are available in your area
Plus much more.
The Institute has developed a comprehensive range of resources to help you expand your knowledge and practical skills throughout your studies and beyond.
The Institute also has a large reference list of books and resources for students who wish to broaden their reading. This list covers the areas of Counselling, Psychology, Sociology and Behavioural Science.
We have also developed a dedicated blog to complement your studies. At www.aipc.net.au/articles you'll find a plethora of articles covering a wide variety of counselling topics, as well as the latest information about what's happening in the industry — all in one place.
There are also numerous ways to connect with AIPC through social media, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Frequently Asked Questions
A health services assistant works directly with patients under the supervision of nursing and clinical staff. They help people with personal care, mobility, meals and comfort, while supporting the ward or unit to run well throughout a shift. You’ll spend most of your time talking with patients, noticing changes in how they’re doing and passing that information back to the nurse and health professionals who direct their care. The Certificate III in Health Services Assistance covers this work over 18 units of study.
The Certificate III in Health Services Assistance is a nationally recognised certificate in Australia that prepares people for careers in the healthcare industry.
This certificate teaches the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to work effectively in healthcare environments, supporting healthcare professionals, and assisting with patient care.
It covers a variety of topics, including "Work with diverse people", "Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control", "Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately", and "Provide first aid".
A healthcare services assistance certificate qualifies you for a variety of positions in healthcare. Potential work prospects include: Nursing Assistant (AIN), Patient Services Assistant (PSA), and Patient Care Attendant.
These roles offer opportunities to work directly with patients, work alongside healthcare professionals, and contribute to improving the health and well-being of individuals across various healthcare settings.
Health services assistants work in a wide range of care environments, including:
Public and private hospitals
Residential aged care facilities
Community health centres
Rehabilitation and subacute care units
Disability support services
Mental health facilities
Because every one of these settings relies on assistants to support qualified staff, the skills you learn in the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance travel with you if you decide to change direction later on.
A health services assistant works with nursing and ward staff, focusing on the general care and comfort of patients throughout their stay. An allied health assistant supports a specific therapy program designed by a professional like a physiotherapist, occupational therapist or speech pathologist. The two roles overlap in practice, and this course prepares graduates for both. If therapy work appeals to you more, the Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance takes you further into that side of healthcare.
Over 18 units, you’ll learn how to:
Assist nursing and ward staff with day-to-day patient care
Support patients with personal care and everyday comfort
Follow workplace health and safety requirements in a clinical setting
Communicate clearly with patients, families and health professionals
Apply the technical and procedural knowledge that health services work calls for
Recognise when a patient’s condition changes and report it appropriately
These skills can help prepare you for assistant roles in hospital wards and residential care teams.
Patient-facing work calls for patience, warmth and a genuine interest in supporting others. This course could be a good fit if you’re comfortable working closely with people who may be receiving treatment, recovering or navigating health concerns.. Entry is open to anyone aged 16 or over who has finished Year 10 or an equivalent qualification. You may also be eligible if you hold an existing Certificate III or have at least three years of relevant life experience through work or study.
AIPC teaches the Certificate III in Health Services Assistance entirely online, so wherever you are in Australia, you can study from home and fit the work around your existing commitments. Full-time students usually take around 12 months, though you have up to five years from enrolment to finish. The five practicals can be arranged online by workshop, video or private assessment.
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