Certificate IV in Disability

You’ll learn to provide support and training to people with disabilities in community-based and residential settings.

You can make a genuine difference to the lives of the people you work with, enabling them to be more independent and increasing their quality of life.

This course will give you the skills and knowledge to:

facilitate the empowerment of people with disability provide individualised support develop and provide person-centred service responses.

You’ll gain valuable professional experience through an 18-day placement which will allow you to put your theoretical learning into practice.

You will extend your skills with classes on:

social inclusion diverse and complex needs non-verbal communication techniques autism.

To be awarded CHC43115 Certificate IV in Disability, a student must successfully complete a total of fourteen (14) units of competency, consisting of:

• eleven (11) core units, and;
• three (3) elective units, consisting of:
• at least two (2) units from the electives listed in the CHC43115 Certificate IV in Disability qualification;
• up to one (1) unit from the electives listed in the CHC43115 Certificate IV in Disability qualification, any endorsed training package or accredited course – these units must be relevant to the work outcome.

All electives chosen must contribute to a valid, industry-supported vocational outcome as well as be approved by the Polytechnic.

Course structure and units

Core units

• CHCCCS015 - Provide individualised support
• CHCDIS002 - Follow established person-centred behaviour supports
• CHCDIS005 - Develop and provide person-centred service responses
• CHCDIS007 - Facilitate the empowerment of people with disability
• CHCDIS008 - Facilitate community participation and social inclusion
• CHCDIS009 - Facilitate ongoing skills development using a person-centred approach
• CHCDIS010 - Provide person-centred services to people with disability with complex needs
• CHCDIV001 - Work with diverse people
• CHCLEG003 - Manage legal and ethical compliance
• HLTAAP001 - Recognise healthy body systems
• HLTWHS002 - Follow safe work practices for direct client care

Elective units

• CHCCCS024 - Support individuals with autism spectrum disorder
• CHCDIS004 - Communicate using augmentative and alternative communication strategies
• CHCMHS001 - Work with people with mental health issues

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. We also encourage you to explore our study pathways to help you reach your goal.

Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.

Entry requirements

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. For employment and practical placement purposes, this vocational sector typically requires a current and satisfactory Police Record Check and Working with Children Check. 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)

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.

This qualification reflects the role of workers in a range of community settings and clients’ homes, who provide training and support in a manner that empowers people with disabilities to achieve greater levels of independence, self-reliance, community participation and wellbeing. Workers promote a person-centred approach, work without direct supervision and may be required to supervise and/or coordinate a small team.