HLT32507 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care)

Qualification: Certificate III (AQF)
Training Package: HLT07 Health Training Package - Primary
TAFE NSW Course No: 17596

This course is for people who want to work as a health services assistant. You will learn about legal and ethical issues in health care, effective communication strategies, anatomy and physiology and occupational health and safety. A range of health problems and related nursing care in acute care is also delivered within the course.

There are 15 units of competency that must be successfully completed to achieve the qualification. You will be required to undertake a clinical work placement of 50 hours in a health care facility. A minimum of 8 of these work placement hours must be undertaken in an acute care facility.

You should be aware that as clinical work placement in a public, private hospital or other clinical facility is part of this course, you will need to undergo occupational screening and be vaccinated against infectious diseases. See attached Evident of Protection Guidelines for GPs form and Notice to students .

You will also be required to undertake a Criminal Record Check and complete a Prohibited Employment Declaration. Your teachers will give you further advice.

Student Responsibilities in Work Placement: In many TAFE NSW courses, some of the learning and assessment occurs in the workplace or a simulated workplace. A simulated workplace is very similar to a real workplace and may have clients, but is usually within a TAFE NSW campus.
TAFE NSW has a responsibility to protect members of the public (and the students themselves) from being harmed by students taking part in workplace or simulated workplace learning. If there is evidence that your skills or behaviour could present a risk to yourself or other people in the workplace, you may not be allowed to participate in a work placement, at least for a period of time.
To help you understand your responsibilities in the workplace, you will be given a code of practice which indicates expected standards of behaviour. Your teacher will explain to you and your workplace supervisor the range of duties for which you have the skills and knowledge. You must not carry out duties other than those indicated by your teacher.
You need to take particular care if workplace clients are people who may be in vulnerable circumstances - for example, people who are frail, children, young people, people with a disability or people who are receiving a type of service which may put them in vulnerable circumstances (for example, massage therapy or nursing care).
A Prohibited Employment Declaration must be signed by students in courses where contact will be made with children and young people. Your teacher will give you more information about this. Students who have committed a breach of discipline or who are assessed as presenting a significant risk to themselves or others during work placement may be prevented from undertaking or continuing further work placement. This may mean they will not complete the course. Your teacher or an enrolling officer can provide you with more information about this policy.
If you are unsure about whether it may prevent you from completing a course you could discuss the matter with a staff member of TAFE NSW Counselling and Career Services. In some circumstances students may be required to undertake a criminal records check or a Working with Children Check.

Career Opportunities: Assistant in nursing in public and private acute care, aged care or health facilities.

Articulation: When you finish this course you can enrol in the Certificate IV in Nursing (Enrolled/Division 2 Nursing) or the Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance.

Entry Requirements: NSW School Certificate (or equivalent)

Competency Units
Core:
BSBFLM303B	Contribute to effective workplace relationships
BSBMED201A	Use basic medical terminology
HLTAP301A	Recognise healthy body systems in a health care context
HLTHIR301A	Communicate and work effectively in health
HLTIN301A	Comply with infection control policies and procedures in health work
HLTOHS200A	Participate in OHS processes
Electives:
HLTAIN301A	Assist nursing team in an acute care environment
HLTAIN302A	Provide support in an acute care environment
HLTCSD201B	Maintain high standard of client service
HLTCSD208B	Transport clients
HLTCSD305B	Assist with client movement
HLTCSD306B	Respond effectively to difficult or challenging behaviour
HLTEN401A	Work in the nursing profession
HLTFA301B	Apply first aid
HLTHIR403B	Work effectively with culturally diverse clients and co-workers
HLTHIR404B	Work effectively with Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people
BSBFLM312A	Contribute to team effectiveness
3223A	Senior first aid

Semester 2, 2008: Places may still be available in some units. Contact the campus for details.

Campuses:

Ballina - contact the campus on (02) 6681 8900.
Kingscliff - contact Anthony Rogers on (02) 6674 7200.
Port Macquarie - new course starting 1 September for students eligible for the Productivity Places Program - contact your Employment Services Provider to assess your eligibility or ring 131601.
Information sheet, Port Macquarie Campus, Semester 2 2008 (PDF 313KB)

Semester 1, 2009: North Coast Institute Application form by 31 October 2008. Late applications will be accepted.

Campuses:

Ballina - For students eligible for the Productivity Places Program - contact your Employment Services Provider to assess your eligibility or ring 131601.
For more information contact (02) 6681 8900.

Kingscliff - Part-time day, 2 days per week for 18 weeks, Thursdays and Fridays, 9.30 am - 3.00 pm.
Information session: Thursday 5 February 2009, 3.00 pm 4.00 pm DST, Room GLG.11.
Some students may be eligible for the Productivity Places Program - contact your Employment Services Provider to assess your eligibility or ring 131601.
For more information contact Anthony Rogers on (02) 6674 7200.
Information sheet, Kingscliff Campus, Semester 1 2009 (PDF 281KB)

Taree - Part-time day.
Some students may be eligible for the Productivity Places Program - contact your Employment Services Provider to assess your eligibility or ring 131601.
For more information contact the campus on (02) 6591 3600.