- We are a private RTO and therefore government funding is not available. Please check eligibility requirements before enquiring
Course Overview
Our nationally accredited CHC43115 Certificate IV in Disability is designed to equip you with the skills to advocate for and empower vulnerable people. You’ll unlock a vast range of different job opportunities and learn how to become an inspiring support worker.
The past five years has seen strong growth in the aged and disability sector, with 163,700 workers currently employed.
Over the next five years (to May 2022), this number is expected to grow by 184,000 to 241,200.
Who's It For?
This course is perfect if you already work in the industry, but are looking to formalise your experience and gain the advanced skills you need to take the next step in your career.
The Certificate IV is also ideal if you are looking to break into the industry. It will ground you in the basics, before moving you onto more advanced learning and skills.
If you are an existing worker or have experience in the related industry, please inform our enrolment consultants during your enrolment conversation. You may be eligible to enrol as an existing worker and complete your studies faster. Please note – limitations do apply.
Job Outcomes
Potential career outcomes could include:
- Behavioural Support Officer
- Community-Based Support Officer
- Disability Support Worker
- Disability Team Leader/Supervisor
- Residential Care Officer
- Senior Personal Care Assistant
What You'll Learn
During your studies you will learn how to:
- Facilitate the empowerment of people with a disability
- Work with diverse people
- Provide individualised support and person-centered services to people with a disability with complex needs
- Recognise healthy body systems
- Manage legal and ethical compliance
- Follow safe work practices for direct client care
- Work within established person-centred behaviour supports
- Facilitate ongoing skills development using a person-centred approach
- Foster community participation and social inclusion
- Develop and provide person-centred service responses
- Communicate using augmentative and alternative communication strategies
- Lead effective workplace relationships
- Provide advocacy and representation services
Recognition

Study Method
- OnlineOnline delivery - online course content with the exception of assessments and work placement
- BlendedBlended delivery - both online course content and partial face to face requirements
- In-classIn class delivery - predominately face to face course content conducted at a specific location
- VirtualVirtual Delivery - Live and interactive classroom-style learning conducted completely online
Duration Study Load
- Course duration: The duration for the course is maximum 18 months. As a self-paced online course, the time it will take you to complete is flexible and dependent on ability and time available
- Recommended hours per week: 15.5h
Delivery
- Delivery method: Online with Work Placement
Entry Requirements
This course does not require specific formal education qualifications. However, you must be a minimum of 18 years old to enrol. At Open Colleges, we’re passionate about helping you choose courses that are a perfect fit for your individual goals and aspirations. Please note that this course is not open to student visa holders. For personalised assistance and more information, please enquire now.
Course Features
- This course includes a structured work placement in the workplace of your choosing, where you can put your learning to work and gain practical experience in the industry
- The course will take you from the foundations of disability care, through to more advanced practices and leadership skills
- This online CHC43115 Certificate IV in Disability course is perfect if you are already working in the industry, but need more advanced skills and a formal qualification to advance your career
- You will gain a nationally recognised qualification, that you can use to gain work Australia-wide
Work Placement
Duration
This course contains a minimum of 120 hours of work placement.
What are the benefits?
- By undertaking a work placement you’ll get a chance to put the knowledge you’ve learned on your course into practice
- You’ll also develop practical, on-the-job skills and could make contacts that could help you find a job once you graduate
- Work placement is often the most rewarding part of a student’s course. Working face-to-face with clients and colleagues in your chosen field makes a huge difference to your career confidence
If you’d like to learn more about the work placement component of this course, get the course guide for further details.
Recognition Of Prior Learning
We value the diverse skills and expertise you may have gained from various sources. These experiences can be acknowledged through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) process
For a more comprehensive understanding of our RPL procedure, please refer to our Credit Transfer & Recognition of Prior Learning Policy, available in the Key Student Information section of our website. Alternatively, you can contact an Enrolment Consultant to discuss your RPL options.
Assessment
- Multiple choice Quiz
- Projects
- Role plays
- Video
- Work Placement
- Written assignments
Materials
Your learning materials are accessed through OpenSpace. These include:
- Readings including case studies, articles and journals
- Templates including individual care plans and incident reports
- Learning activities including knowledge tests and case studies
- Media online videos such as YouTube and Vimeo, podcasts, image galleries
- Additional resources to further enhance key concepts
- Self-check activities to monitor progress and identify areas for improvement.
Additional Information
Open Colleges offers this qualification in association with Integrated Care & Management Training Pty Ltd (Provider number: 90197). The testamur will be issued by Integrated Care & Management Training Pty Ltd.
Subjects
About Open Colleges
Open Colleges puts you at the centre of everything we do. As an institution, we measure our success in the success of our students.
We have more than 125 years of experience in distance education, and this has given us the time to perfect the ways we deliver education and training to people across Australia. In the last decade alone, we’ve helped more than 450,000 students reach their potential.
We understand the needs of adult learners. That’s why we created OpenSpace, our world-class online learning platform that gives you complete flexibility and control to study whenever and wherever you are. OpenSpace provides you with access to learning resources, expert trainers and assessors, a superior support network and the opportunity to connect with other learners just like you.
Our nationally recognised courses could help you launch, change or accelerate your career. Now is the time to make your next move. With Open Colleges, everything could happen.
Open Colleges Pty Ltd is a Registered Training Organization (RTO 90796)