Training and qualifications

What's the value of training and where do I start?

High quality training and skills development can enhance your job satisfaction and career progression, as well as your ability to support clients. The key is to find the training package that works for you.

The type of training needed and offered will be based on the role you are in and your existing qualifications and experience. Find out about the types of qualifications you'll need for the different roles in the disability and community care sector in our roles information section or in our
roles table (pdf).

You might also want to make use of the Competency Matrix, developed by the Community Services & Health Industry Skills Council. The Comptency Matrix is an online tool which aims to help you to connect the dots between qualifications, units of competency, skill sets and job roles.

What sort of areas can I train in?

Qualifications relating specifically to community-related training include:

  • Aged care
  • Nursing
  • Home and community care
  • Disability
  • Employment services
  • Career development
  • Counselling
  • Information, advice and referral
  • Case management
  • Advocacy
  • Community service work

How and where can I undertake training?

There is scope to train in the workplace, online with distance learning or in a class room setting through Registered Training Organisations (RTOs). Your training is likely to be a combination of theoretical and practical work:

  • Workplace learning – the culture of workplace learning encourages the acquisition of new skills, knowledge and ways of working with others. There are many examples of workers, who when offered learning opportunities at work, have developed and undertaken challenging new roles. 
  • Traineeships – a traineeship is a job that combines work and training. Training can take place in the workplace or in combination with some off the job training. Certificates III & IV in Disability are approved traineeships in NSW. 
  • Courses – in the sector, you will undertake training to learn the skills and knowledge for a job. The programs available are full or part-time, and are usually offered off the job – sometimes with a period of work experience. 
  • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) – the national training system encourages experienced workers to have their skills recognised against units of competency. The recognition process involves providing evidence of skills and knowledge to a qualified assessor.

 

When will I train?

Depending on the training type and its method of delivery, you may be able to train in intensive blocks (e.g. a four day course), during day release from your employer or during evenings and weekends.

Will I need any qualifications before I start?

There are many entry points into the sector. Some roles accept someone fresh out of school or with no previous qualifications. Alternatively you may already have some experience and be able to bypass the early qualifications. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). Whatever your level, there are qualifications available to suit you.

Related Links

  • Case study on student traineeships

    Read the carecareers' case study about a pilot traineeship program undertaken by Valmar Support Services, which involved two high school students training at the service while completing their studies.

  • Community Services and Health ITAB

    NSW's key training and assessment information resource hub for the community services and health sectors, providing advocacy, advice, support and leadership.

  • Department of Education and Communities

    Delivers high quality, internationally competitive public education and training from early childhood through to the compulsory years of schooling, and senior secondary education.

  • National Training Information Service

    The official national register of information on training packages, qualifications, courses, units of competency and registered training organisations.

  • The Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council

    Central to workforce reform and innovation in the community services and health industries.

  • Traineeship info sheets and resources

    A series of information sheets and resources have been produced by carecareers to assist students, parents, schools and employers to find out more about School-based Traineeships in the NSW disability sector.

What qualifications can I gain?

The qualifications available to you range from Certificate I to Certificate IV, Diplomas, Vocational Graduate Qualifications, and Masters and Doctorates in both Community Services and Disability. Find out more about qualifications in community services and disability. (pdf)

  • Certificate III – for workers carrying out activities which support a defined range of skilled work
  • Diploma – for workers who are responsible for the coordination and management of agencies delivering services or initiating new approaches
  • Advanced Diploma – for workers providing specialist services, resources to other workers, professional supervision of staff and volunteers

How will my training be funded?

Funding for training and qualifications is entirely dependant on what and where you chose to study, and your employer's training policies.

What are the advantages of training?

Training and the attainment of qualifications will help to lead to improved earning potential, better career prospects, and a better chance to stand out from the competition.

View our training diagram (pdf) for more info on the types of training and courses you can undertake in the disability and community care sector.

Glossary - Training and qualifications

  • Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF)

    This is a quality assured national framework of qualifications linking the school, vocational education and training (VET), and higher education sectors.…

  • National Qualifications

    These fall under the Australian Qualifications Framework and are awarded when you complete the right combination of Units of Competence. A National Qualification is composed of core and elective Units that are meaningful and relevant to your field.…

  • Pathway to Competency

    Flexible training packages that let you choose the units you need to get where you plan to go in your career.…

  • Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)

    This is when the skills and experience you've gathered in your life so far, whether at work or at home are assessed for relevance and may be accepted as credits towards a qualification at the discretion of your employer.…

  • Registered Training Organisation (RTO)

    This is a training organisation registered by the State registering body (VETAB in NSW), in accordance with the Australian Quality Training Framework (AQTF). An RTO's registration includes a list of the courses, training package qualifications and other services they may offer.…

  • Units of Competency

    These are the building blocks of a Training Package. Each unit covers some of the knowledge and skills that you would require to do a particular job. You can study a set of units designed to lead to a National Qualification or you can study a single relevant unit to receive a Statement of Attainment.…