CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support
If you're ready to take the next step in your career and become a disability support professional, our program will help get you there
Course essentials
Qualification Code
Entry requirements
Duration
Locations
Course overview
This qualification reflects the role of individuals in a range of community settings and peoples’ homes, who provide 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 according to and may contribute to an individualised plan, and work without direct supervision. They may be required to supervise and/or coordinate a small team.
IT requirements
To do this course you’ll need a fast and reliable computer and access to high-speed internet. Expect to use about 5GB of data per month for every unit you’re doing. Find out more about the minimum IT requirements for studying with us.
Got questions?
Call us on 1800 333 864, start a live chat or submit an enquiry.
Student support
The support we offer is second to none. Need academic help? No problem. Extra access or financial assistance? Let’s see what we can do. View our student services.
The fine print
The commencement of all courses is subject to available funding and enrolment quotas.
Everything in this course overview is correct at the time of being published. However, the University reserves the right to alter any course, procedure or fee. Please check for changes before you apply or enrol.
Federation University uses Victorian and Commonwealth Government funding (for eligible students) to deliver training.
School department
Federation TAFE
Career paths
- Social Educator (Disability),
- Day Support Disability Officer,
- Marketing Coordinator (Disability),
- Local area coordinator,
- Social trainer,
- Disability Team Leader,
- Disabilities Supervisor,
- Project Officer,
- Disability Support Assistant (Schools),
- Job coordinator,
- Disability Service Officer,
- Senior Disability Worker,
- Lifestyle Support Officer,
- Senior Personal Care Assistant,
- Community Development Officer,
- Support Facilitator (Disability),
- Behavioural Support Officer¿
Fees and scholarships
Tuition fee information
2026 indicative fees
The fees you pay will depend on your eligibility for a Victorian Government subsidised place under the Skills First Program. The indicative fees displayed below are estimates for the total course and may change depending on individual circumstances at enrolment.
Fees are subject to change annually.
| Concession Government Subsidised Place | Standard Government Subsidised Place | Full Fee Place (Not eligible for government subsidy) |
|---|---|---|
| $799 | $3,993 | $8,943 |
Other study costs
- Textbook: The Disability Support Worker, 4th Edition, 2023, Geoff Arnott
- Federation TAFE placement uniform
Other important information
If you need help managing your fee payments, you might be eligible for a direct debit payment plan. Students doing certificate-level TAFE courses can access payment plans for both tuition and materials fees. Diploma and advanced diploma students can access payment plans for materials fees only.
If you’re accessing government-subsidised training under the Skills First Program, doing this course might affect your ability to access future government-subsidised training.
If you’re eligible to enrol in a course under the Victorian Government Free TAFE initiative, the tuition would be free but you’d still have to pay the materials fee (if applicable).
Find out more about fees, payments and refunds.
Scholarships
There’s a range of scholarships and grants available. Find out what you can apply for.
Course details
Start dates
Semester 2, 2026
Locations
Mt Helen (on campus)
Information
- Our Mt Helen, SMB, Camp St and Gillies St campuses are located in Ballarat.
Contact hours
2 days per week for 6 hours for 29 weeks. Will undertake 120 hours of block placement in term 4.
Approximately 5 hours per week of self-directed/independent learning and non-supervised learning and assessment.
Placement of 120 hours
Sample course structure
This is a list of units available in this course. Which units you enrol in will depend on the course and stream available.
- Follow established person-centred behaviour supportsCHCCCS044
- Facilitate community participation and social inclusionCHCDIS017
- Facilitate ongoing skills development using a person-centred approachCHCDIS018
- Provide person-centred services to people with disability with complex needsCHCDIS019
- Manage legal and ethical complianceCHCLEG003
- Work with people with mental health issuesCHCMHS001
- Maintain work health and safetyHLTWHS003
- Facilitate the interests and rights of clientsCHCADV001
- Provide loss and grief supportCHCCCS017
- Develop and use strategies for communication with augmentative and alternative communication systemsCHCDIS014
Entry requirements
For all TAFE applications, pre-training review questions and a literacy and numeracy review are part of the application process.
An interview will be required as part of the application process.
Pre-requisite:
• Completion of: CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)
OR
• Completion of: CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)
OR
• Completion of: CHC30408 Certificate III in Disability PLUS the CHCSS00125 Entry to Certificate IV in Disability Support Skill Set.
• Access to a computer/laptop with internet and office suite software as required.
Placement requirements:
- Police check
- NDIS check
- Working with children check
- Federation TAFE placement uniform
How you apply will depend on your current situation. Visit our how to apply page for options and instructions.
After you submit your application, we’ll get you to do an online literacy and numeracy review to help us understand where you’re at (and if the course you’re applying for is a good fit). We’ll give you feedback and offer you support if needed.
For information about students’ rights and responsibilities, please refer to the VET Information Guide.
- Direct application
- Yes
- Federation University code
- LCN
- National course code
- CHC43121
CHC33021 – Certificate III in individual support (Disability)
Hear from our students
Hi, my name is Mitchell. I'm a third-year criminology student at Federation Berwick. I chose to study criminology and criminal justice because I was interested in law but I wasn't overly sure if I was going to do a law based degree. So my careers counsellor at school advised me about Federation and knowing that me as a student struggled with the bigger classrooms, Federation offers a better learning environment with smaller classrooms and a more personal appropriate teachers and that's something that I think has really helped me develop as a student. I'm also a student ambassador which helps me to create a more personal relationship with my teachers where we have a first name basis and they understand who I am as a student, which allows them to obviously provide better opportunities for me to learn and grow. And a fun fact about me is that I play basketball Federation in the Nationals team, so we go to the Gold Coast to play basketball.