Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability)

Individual support is the hands-on work that helps older people and people living with disability live as independently as possible. They follow an individualised plan for each client, assisting with personal care, mobility, meals and community participation while respecting the choices they make about their own lives. Support workers are usually employed in residential facilities, private homes, day programs and community settings.

The Certificate III in Individual Support is the qualification employers ask for in both fields. Most also require a police check before you start and disability services workers generally need an NDIS Worker Screening Check as well. You’ll arrange the same clearances for your work placement during the course, so you’ll be familiar with the process before you apply for jobs.

Yes, thanks to Australian demographics. The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet projects a care and support workforce shortfall of roughly 285,000 workers by 2049–50, naming aged care and disability support as the areas of greatest need. Around 22% of Australians will be 65 or over by 2050, up from 17% in 2022.

The future demand rests on an industry that already employs a large number of people. Roughly 549,000 people work in aged services and the NDIS supports more than 739,000 participants through a market of over 269,000 providers.

Pay has improved quite a bit as well. The Fair Work Commission found that aged care work had been undervalued for years and raised the minimum award rates, giving direct care workers increases of around 23% staged through to 2026. The federal government committed $17.7 billion to funding those rises for roughly 400,000 workers.

As of August 2026, salary platforms report different earnings for aged care workers and closely related roles in Australia. PayScale reports an average base salary of $59,781 for aged care workers, while Indeed reports an average salary of $87,153 for the closely related role of elder care assistant.

SEEK shows advertised aged care worker salaries of approximately $75,000 to $80,000 a year. Glassdoor reports average pay of around $28 an hour for aged care workers. These figures aren’t directly comparable because the platforms use different datasets, methodologies, job titles and ways of reporting pay.

If your employment is covered by the Aged Care Award, minimum rates also apply. Under the Fair Work Ombudsman pay guide published on 31 July 2026, full-time and part-time direct care employees start at $1,239.00 a week at the introductory level. Qualified direct care employees receive higher minimum rates according to their classification, while casual employees receive an hourly rate that includes casual loading.

The award rates are legal minimum entitlements for employees covered by the award, not estimates of average earnings. Your actual pay can vary depending on factors such as your classification, qualifications, responsibilities, employment type, shifts, employer and location.

All three award the same nationally recognised qualification (CHC33021) and share nine core units. Your electives determine which client group you’re prepared for:

• Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing): The electives cover dementia support, working effectively in aged care, loss and grief, and palliative care. This prepares you to work with the elderly in residential facilities and home care.

• Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability): The electives cover community participation and social inclusion, working effectively in disability support and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural safety, preparing you for residential, community and NDIS work.

• Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability): This combined stream draws electives from both so you can apply for work in either sector.

Most graduates start as support workers or personal care aides. After a few years, you can choose how you want to advance your career. You can:

• Specialise in one client group, taking on dementia or palliative care work

• Move between aged care and disability services, since you hold electives in both

• Step up to team leader, supervising a small group of support workers

• Coordinate rosters and care plans in a service or care coordinator position

• Study the Certificate IV in Community Services to move into casework and case management

• Continue working towards nursing or allied health, using your support experience as a starting point