Work in Disability Support - Short Course
Course Overview
A broader foundation for disability support
The Work in Disability Support bundle is a more complete introduction to the disability sector, bringing together three units of learning. You will build the knowledge and confidence to understand the support worker role, the human body in the context of care, and how to help people take an active part in their community.
Across ten modules you will explore support practices and ethics, how the body's systems work and how ageing and disability affect them, and practical strategies for community participation, inclusion and active citizenship. It is 100% online and self-paced, so you can learn in a way that fits your life and decide whether a career in disability support is right for you.
Please note: this course touches on some sensitive topics and includes content warnings where relevant. It is designed to be respectful and person-first throughout.
Is this course accredited?
The Work in Disability Support course is a non-accredited course. It is not a nationally recognised qualification under the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF). It gives you a practical foundation in the disability and community services industry and a Certificate of Completion issued by Upskilled, which is ideal for non-personal-care support roles. To work directly in personal care, you will need a nationally accredited qualification such as CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support. Our education consultants can help you find the right accredited pathway when you are ready.
What you will walk away with
By the end of the Work in Disability Support course you will be able to:
- Understand the role, responsibilities and ethics of a support worker
- Support clients to build skills and independence
- Know the key organisations and National Standards for Disability Services
- Understand the body's major systems and how they work
- Understand homeostasis and how the body regulates itself
- Understand the effects of ageing and disability on the body, and monitor for pain
- Apply rights-based, strengths-based and person-centred practice
- Support community participation, inclusion and active citizenship
- Identify and address barriers to participation and inclusion
- Use respectful, person-first language throughout
Who is this course for?
For a serious start in the sector
The Work in Disability Support course is designed for people who want to build broader skills for non-personal-care roles in the disability and community services industry, supporting people with everyday living rather than providing hands-on personal care. It is a practical way to build employability and confidence before progressing to further qualifications.
- Students wanting practical skills to improve their employability
- Individuals targeting entry-level roles such as domestic assistance, cleaning, meal preparation, companionship, transport support or other non-personal care support positions
- People wanting to build confidence before progressing to further qualifications
- Those looking for a lower-cost entry point into the industry
Entry-level roles this course can help you explore
- Support Worker (Non-Personal Care / Domestic Support)
- Domestic Support Worker
- Home Care Worker (Domestic Support Stream)
- Community Support Worker / In-Home Support Worker
- Lifestyle Assistant / Lifestyle Support Worker
What these roles do
- Supporting daily living tasks such as meals, cleaning and transport
- Helping people stay connected to their community
- Maintaining a safe and comfortable living environment
- Assisting with routines that support independence and wellbeing
This is a non-accredited course focused on non-personal-care support roles. If you want to move into hands-on personal care, a nationally accredited qualification such as a Certificate III in Individual Support is usually required, and our education consultants can help you find the right pathway.
Modules
What you will study
The Work in Disability Support course is made up of three units and ten modules in total. Each module includes a practice quiz, and each unit finishes with a course quiz.
The foundations of the support worker role, from everyday practice and ethics to supporting clients and understanding the sector's standards.
1. The Role of a Support Worker
Understand what a disability support worker does, the practices and values behind good support, and how your own attitudes shape the experience of the people you support.
- Support Practices
- Your Legal and Ethical Obligations
- Philosophies and Concepts
- Attitudes, Stereotypes and Risks
2. Supporting and Developing Client Skills
Learn how to help clients build independence, from the skills assessment process to managing everyday challenges, using the right equipment and strategies.
- The Skills Assessment Process
- Managing Challenges and Incidental Learning
- Equipment and Strategies
- Roles and Responsibilities
3. Key Organisations and Standards
Get to know the organisations that shape the sector, understand the National Standards for Disability Services, and learn the person-first language of respectful support.
- Key Organisations
- The National Standards for Disability Services
- The Language of Disability Support
The human body in the context of care, from how its systems work to how ageing and disability affect them.
1. Body Systems
Get to know the major systems of the human body and how they work together, the foundational knowledge that underpins safe, quality care.
2. Homeostasis and Regulation of the Body
Understand how the body keeps itself in balance, and what happens when that balance is disrupted, so you can better understand the people you support.
3. The Effects of Ageing and Disability on Body Systems
Learn how ageing and disability affect the body, the common conditions to be aware of, and how to monitor for signs of pain.
- Ageing and Disability
- Common Conditions
- Ageing Cells and Tissues
- The Impacts of Ageing and Disability on Body Systems
- Monitoring for Pain
- Glossary of Terms
How to support people with disability to participate fully in their community, from rights and approaches to practical strategies and overcoming barriers.
1. Approaches to Participation and Inclusion
Understand the rights of people with disability, human rights and barriers to inclusion, and the strengths-based, person-centred approaches behind good practice.
- Rights and Responsibilities of People with Disability
- Human Rights and Barriers to Inclusion and Participation
- Strengths-Based Practice and Person-Centred Practice
- Social Inclusion, Participation and Best Practice
- Barriers to Community Participation and Social Inclusion
- Active Citizenship
2. Strategies for Community Participation and Inclusion
Learn practical strategies to support community participation and active citizenship, and how to monitor progress, gather feedback and consult supervisors.
- Community Participation and Social Inclusion
- Opportunities and Support for Active Citizenship
- Monitoring Community Participation and Inclusion
- Gathering Feedback
- Consulting Supervisors
3. Roles and Resources
Understand the roles involved in supporting inclusion, how individualised plans work, and how to support participation that is sustainable over time.
- Roles
- Individualised Plans
- Sustainability
4. Addressing Barriers to Participation and Inclusion
Learn how to identify barriers to inclusion, apply strategies to overcome them, monitor whether they are working, and know when to seek advice.
- Identifying Barriers
- Strategies to Overcome Barriers
- Monitoring Success
- Seek Advice
Course Inclusions
Everything that comes with your enrolment.
- Three units, ten modules: A broad foundation across the support role, body systems in care, and community inclusion.
- Practice quizzes: A practice quiz in each module, plus a course quiz for each unit.
- 6 months access: Study at your own pace and revisit the content whenever you like.
- 100% online, self-paced: No timetables and no campus, just learning that fits your life.
- Certificate of Completion: A Certificate of Completion issued by Upskilled to add to your resume.
- Learner support: Help when you need it, plus consultants to guide your next step.
Payment Options
All amounts are in AUD. *All prices include GST. For more details, please contact our consultants at 1300 009 924. Speak to our friendly Education Consultants to learn about payment options. Terms & Conditions Apply.
Entry requirements
There are no entry requirements or prerequisites to enrol in the Work in Disability Support course. It is designed as a beginner-friendly foundation for anyone interested in the disability sector.
*This course is only available to people residing in Australia and is not available to international students.
FAQs
The Work in Disability Support course is a non-accredited bundle made up of three units and ten modules. It covers the support worker role, how the body works in the context of care, and how to support people with disability to participate in their community.
Introduction to Disability Support is a single unit and a lighter taster of the field. The Work in Disability Support course adds two more units, Understand Body Systems in Care and Support Community Engagement and Inclusion, for a broader foundation.
No. There are no entry requirements or prerequisites. The Work in Disability Support course is designed for complete beginners who want a broad introduction to the sector.
The Work in Disability Support course is non-accredited, so it is not a nationally recognised qualification under the AQF. On completion you receive a Certificate of Completion issued by Upskilled, which suits non-personal-care support roles. To work directly in personal care you will need a nationally accredited qualification such as CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support, and our consultants can help you find the right pathway.
This is a non-accredited course. It builds a broad, practical foundation across the disability and community services industry and gives you a Certificate of Completion, which suits non-personal-care support roles and is a great way to build confidence before formal study. Because it is non-accredited, it does not count as credit towards a nationally recognised qualification.
Upskilled's accredited Short Course in Disability Support is different. It is made up of nationally recognised units of competency (a skill set) drawn from CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support. Those units are formally assessed, and because they are accredited, the units you complete can count towards the full qualification and help you move into hands-on personal care roles.
Pathway to a full qualification: a common route is to start with a non-accredited course like this one to build confidence, step up to the accredited Short Course in Disability Support, then complete the full CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (disability specialisation), the qualification most employers require for direct personal care. From there you can progress to a Certificate IV in Disability Support and beyond. Our education consultants can map the right steps for you on 1300 009 924.
The Work in Disability Support course is self-paced and you have 6 months of unlimited access, so you can study whenever it suits you and move through the ten modules at your own pace.
Yes. Payment plans are available for the Work in Disability Support course. Get in touch with an Upskilled education advisor on 1300 009 924 and they will help you set one up.
Select Enrol Now, complete the short enrolment form with your details and payment, and you will receive your login so you can start the Work in Disability Support course straight away. Or call our education consultants on 1300 009 924.
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