CHC33021 is the nationally recognised Certificate III in Individual Support, behind jobs like aged and disabled carers and nursing support and personal care workers. It has been the current version on the national register since 2022, when it replaced CHC33015. 3 states help pay for it.
The independent signals behind the Certificate III in Individual Support line up. Aged and disabled carerses and nursing support and personal care workerses are in national shortage, employment is projected to grow through 2035, enrolments are rising, subsidised places are confirmed in 3 states (QLD, VIC and NSW) and job ads in June 2026 were up 5.6% on a year earlier. These are official statistics, not a promise about your result.
Employers are posting more aged and disabled carers and nursing support and personal care workers jobs than a year ago. About 5,193 aged and disabled carers and nursing support and personal care workers jobs were advertised online in June 2026, up 5.6% on a year earlier. Over the last 12 months there were about 62,700 job ads, while 101,140 people were training in the qualification nationally (2025). Ads show the market. Enrolments show the pipeline. Neither is a job promise.
Australia's official shortage list rates aged or disabled carers as in shortage. The 2025 Occupation Shortage List rates Aged or Disabled Carer as in national shortage; Hospital Orderly, Nursing Support Worker, Personal Care Assistant and Therapy Aide as not in shortage.
Aged and disabled carers and nursing support and personal care workers jobs are projected to keep growing strongly. Jobs and Skills Australia projections put these occupations at 485,203 workers in May 2025, 540,852 by May 2030 (up 11.5%) and 580,679 by May 2035 (up 19.7%).
Certificate III in Individual Support graduates find work less often than is typical at Certificate III level. In the 2025 NCVER Student Outcomes survey, 84.3% were employed or in further study after training. The typical Certificate III result is 88%, across 105 qualifications. Median income after training was $52,100, against $54,000 typical. 94.4% were satisfied with the training, against 90.6% typical. Income here is the survey median about six months after training. It includes part-time work, so it is not the full-time award rate.
Enrolments in the Certificate III in Individual Support are growing. Across Australia, 83,080 people enrolled in 2024. In 2025 it was 101,140, up 21.7% in a year. National data for CHC33021 starts in 2023.
The register and the national framework set some of this. Providers set the rest.
Three states have confirmed subsidised places for CHC33021.
| State | Funding status |
|---|---|
| NSW | Subsidised places confirmed on Smart and Skilled · official listing |
| QLD | Subsidised places confirmed on Career Start · official listing |
| VIC | Subsidised places confirmed on Skills First · official listing |
| Other states and territories | Verification pending |
Eligibility and student contributions vary by program and provider. The official state listing is the source of truth. In a subsidised place the government pays most of the tuition and you pay a co-contribution set by the program and provider.
The register lists 9 core units for the Certificate III in Individual Support, plus 26 elective options.
More than one qualification points at this work. Here is how they differ. These sit on a ladder. Each step up takes longer and covers more. The register pathway note puts it plainly: Certificate IV in Ageing Support continues the aged care stream at the next AQF level.
| Certificate | Level | Enrolled (latest) | Income after | Funding status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Supportthis page | Certificate III | 101,140 (2025) | $52,100 | NSW, QLD, VIC confirmed |
| CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support | Certificate IV | 13,815 (2025) | $54,000 | Verification pending |
| CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support | Certificate IV | 2,860 (2025) | Not surveyed | Verification pending |
| CHC43415 Certificate IV in Leisure and Health | Certificate IV | 3,075 (2025) | $59,100 | Verification pending |
| CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health | Certificate IV | 10,480 (2025) | $65,800 | Verification pending |
| CHC52025 Diploma of Community Services | Diploma | 1,195 (2025) | Not surveyed | Verification pending |
| HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing | Diploma | 29,315 (2025) | $57,300 | Verification pending |
On Get Course course lists, 4 of the 22 units in Certificate IV in Ageing Support course lists also appear in CHC33021 course lists, a starting point for a credit transfer conversation with the provider.
On Get Course course lists, 2 of the 13 units in Certificate IV in Disability Support course lists also appear in CHC33021 course lists, a starting point for a credit transfer conversation with the provider.
On Get Course course lists, 2 of the 25 units in Diploma of Community Services course lists also appear in CHC33021 course lists, a starting point for a credit transfer conversation with the provider.
A common step into it: CHC22015 Certificate II in Community Services. A lower level is not a lesser choice. It is the right choice for a different goal.
Providers listed on Get Course offering this qualification or its pathway. Enquire and the provider confirms details directly.
Gain the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing & Disability) — a nationally recognised qualification preparing you for hands-on care roles in Australia.
Earn while you learn with the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) — a blended traineeship with 120 hours of real workplace experience.
Gain the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) in 36 weeks — with real placement hours and blended delivery.
Transform your compassion into a profession with the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing).
The CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support prepares you for hands-on care roles in ageing and disability — studied online, at your own pace.
Formal RPL assessment for experienced disability support workers.
Pursue a compassionate career with the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability).
Get Course maps CHC33021 to its occupations using the register’s own outcome wording, shown with ANZSCO codes (here, 4231, 4233) so the mapping can be checked. Job advertisement counts come from the Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index and count online ads, not vacancies filled. Enrolment counts come from NCVER Total VET Activity and count people in training, not completions. Outcome benchmarks marked “typical” are medians computed by Get Course across all Certificate IIIs in the same NCVER collection; they are derived figures, not official NCVER benchmarks. Funding rows appear only after verification against the official state program list. Source vintages: register training.gov.au, synced 13 September 2026; Jobs and Skills Australia Internet Vacancy Index latest month June 2026; NCVER Total VET Activity 2025 collection; employment projections May 2025 to May 2035 release; NCVER Student Outcomes survey 2025 survey; Occupation Shortage List 2025 assessment; state subsidy lists official state program lists, verified by Get Course; register synced 18 Sept 2026. Page last updated 19 Sept 2026.