Certificate III in Individual Support in WA
CHC33021 is the qualification most people are told to get before they start care work. Sometimes that advice is right. Here is what it costs, how long it takes, and the cases where you can start earning without it.
Checked against Jobs and Skills WA on 2026-10-25. Read the official course page. Provider fees and availability change constantly, so confirm before enrolling.
The first thing to know: it is not at TAFE
Jobs and Skills WA lists CHC33021 as not currently available at any WA TAFE college. It is delivered by around 21 private registered training organisations, most in Perth with some in the South West, Peel, Great Southern, Esperance and the Kimberley. If you have been looking on the TAFE site and finding nothing, that is why.
What it costs
It is listed as a fee-free training option for eligible students. The eligibility rules are set per provider rather than centrally, so two RTOs can give you different answers for the same qualification.
Three things catch people out:
- Existing worker traineeships are excluded. If you are already employed in the sector and doing this as an EWT, it is not fee-free, though reduced fees may apply. Ask the provider directly.
- Fee-free is not cost-free. Student service and resource fees can still apply on top.
- Visa status matters. At least one WA provider excludes student visa holders from its fee-free offer.
Jobs and Skills Centres will tell you what you are eligible for before you commit to a provider, and they do not charge for it, on 13 64 64. Worth the call: the difference between eligible and not is the difference between nothing and a few thousand dollars.
How long it takes
There is no standard length, and the spread is enormous. Durations listed by WA providers range from 14 weeks of classroom plus placement, through 15 and 17 week intensives, to six months and a full 12 months. Compare on duration as hard as you compare on price, because an intensive and a 12-month traineeship are very different commitments.
Placement
Most WA providers require at least 120 hours of work placement. Some require 160, split between aged care and disability support. Placement is unpaid, so factor it in: 120 hours is three full-time weeks you are not earning.
Do you actually need it?
Often, no. A great many Perth providers will roster an unqualified worker who holds an NDIS Worker Screening clearance, a police certificate, first aid and CPR, and who turns up reliably. That is particularly true for community access, social support and in-home support.
Where the certificate earns its keep is personal care, especially in residential aged care, and it is what opens the door to Certificate IV in Ageing Support or a Diploma of Nursing later.
If money is tight and you want to start earning now, the faster route is the clearance and the tickets, not the certificate. Get the NDIS Worker Screening Check moving first, because it is the one thing you genuinely cannot work without, and study later while you are being paid.
What it leads to
Jobs and Skills WA lists the occupation outcomes as aged care worker, disability support worker and personal care assistant. Providers also hire certificate holders as personal carers, respite workers, residential support workers, home care workers and NDIS support workers.
Common questions
Is Certificate III in Individual Support free in WA?
It is listed by Jobs and Skills WA as a fee-free training option if you meet the eligibility criteria, which vary by provider. It is not fee-free if you do it as an existing worker traineeship, though reduced fees may apply there. Student service and resource fees can still apply, and at least one provider excludes student visa holders.
Can I do Certificate III in Individual Support at TAFE in WA?
Not at the moment. Jobs and Skills WA lists the qualification as not currently available at any WA TAFE college. It is delivered by around 21 private registered training organisations, most of them in Perth.
How long does Certificate III in Individual Support take?
It depends entirely on the provider. Listed durations in WA run from 14 weeks of classroom plus placement, through 15 and 17 week intensives, to six months and 12 months. There is no single answer, so compare providers on duration as well as price.
How many placement hours do you need?
Most WA providers require at least 120 hours of work placement. Some require 160, split between aged care and disability support. Placement is unpaid and you need to be able to commit to it.
Do you need Certificate III to work as a support worker?
Not always. Many Perth providers will take an unqualified worker who holds an NDIS Worker Screening clearance and is reliable, particularly for community access and in-home support. The certificate widens what you can be rostered for and is usually expected for personal care in residential aged care.
Accurate on 2026-10-25 against Jobs and Skills WA. We are not a training provider and we do not take referral fees from any of them.