Becoming an aged care worker is one of the most rewarding and gratifying jobs out there. In order to become an aged care worker, it is a good idea to get your CHC33015 Certificate III by doing an Aged Care Course so you have the latest nationally recognised qualification for caregivers and support workers.
Vigil Training College offers the Aged Care Course (Certificate III in Individual Support) both online and in a classroom. You will be able to get quality education while having the flexibility that suits you.
As part of the Certificate III Aged Care Course, you will have to complete 120 hours of mandatory work placement within 12 months. This may seem a bit daunting to some people; it may be hard to know where to start or where you should do your placement. But do not stress! Keep reading for some tips towards understanding aged care work placements.
A total of 120 hours of industry work placement is required to be completed to obtain your qualification. You can complete this within 12 months, so while it may seem like a large number of hours, you can break it down so that it is three weeks of full-time work, or 6 weeks of 2 hours of placement per week. You will be able to spread these hours out however much or however little you like depending on the facility you are working in.
Generally, you will be responsible for finding a placement provider. However, if you are struggling, there will most likely be help available depending on where you are doing your course. At Vigil Training College, the Vocational Placement Coordinator is able to help you in finding somewhere for your placement. It is a good idea to create a list of all of the providers that offer placements in your area, as well as do some research to find out what type of care each facility provides.
It also does not hurt to ask for help. Email, or even give the providers on your list a call to enquire about their placement opportunities. It is also essential to have an amazing and well-written CV to show how serious you are about completing student placement. It may also be a good idea to include a short cover letter introducing yourself and why you are doing the Certificate III in Individual Support (commonly known as the Aged Care Course) to help those reading it get to know you a bit better.
If you are already working in an appropriate Aged Care Facility, it is recommended by Vigil Training College that the facility you are working in would be best for completing your 120 hours of placement. There may even be some flexibility in the timing of workplace evidence collected for those who are already employed at a facility, for this course.
Before you enter a workplace facility in the aged care industry, you must ensure you meet the requirements. The first requirement is a satisfactory National Police Clearance. The second requirement is a current vaccination/immunisation certificate and proof of immunity. You need to ensure that you are up to date with your vaccinations so you do not pass any illnesses onto those you are working with who are much more vulnerable to getting sick.
The last requirement is to have a First Aid Certificate (HLTAID011 Provide First Aid). Getting this certificate is not part of the course; however, training providers such as Vigil Training College offer this course that you can do alongside your Aged Care Course.
Lastly, it is important that you enjoy your placement and get the most out of it that you can. Make sure you ask questions and show initiative so you can get involved and learn the most you can from the people that you are working with. It is also a good idea to work on a range of shifts so you can broaden your experience and learn about how a night shift may be different to a day shift.
Placement is a way that you can get real-life experience and see what it is really like to work in Aged Care. Not all courses have a mandatory requirement to work in the industry for 120 hours, so it is crucial that you try your hardest and see how much you can learn in those 120 hours.
