Education & Training
Engaging in training is one of the pathways into jobs in the disability industry.
Below is a list of some of the specific qualifications that may be appropriate to gain NDIS employment.
TIP: Before you begin, you might want to contact some local services to talk about the qualifications, if any, they might look for in applicants.
Many training courses are subsidised, which means you can complete your training at low cost or no cost depending on your circumstances.
(See training subsidies)
Disability and Community Services Qualifications – Explore the qualifications available in Disability and Community Services:
- CHC22105 – Certificate II in Community Services
- CHC32015 – Certificate III in Community Services
- CHC42015 – Certificate IV in Community Services
- CHC52015 – Diploma of Community Services
- CHC33015 – Certificate III in Individual Support
- CHC43115 – Certificate IV in Disability
Health Support/Allied Health Qualifications – Explore the tertiary qualifications available in Health Support and Allied Health:
- HLT23215 – Certificate II in Health Support Services
- HLT33215 – Certificate III in Health Support Services
- HLT33015 – Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance
- HLT43015 – Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance
Disability and Community Services Qualifications
CHC22105 – Certificate II in Community Services
This qualification may be used for workforce entry for aspiring community services workers.
Community service workers provide a first point of contact and assist individuals in meeting their immediate disability needs. At this level, work takes place under direct, regular supervision within clearly defined guidelines. So, you’ll have someone guiding you along the way.
CHC32015 – Certificate III in Community Services This qualification can also be used by aspiring community services workers to enter the workforce. It is ideal for workers wishing to support individuals by providing personalised services, such as day-to-day support of in-community settings or supporting the implementation of specific community-based programs such as group activities and peer support. At this level, once qualified, your work takes place under the direction of others and supervision may be direct or indirect. So as with the Certificate II in Community Services, you will have someone guiding you along the way. Work may take place in a range of community services organisations.
- Eligible for Year 12 Fee Free. For more information visit
CHC42015 – Certificate IV in Community Services
This qualification reflects the role of community service workers who design and deliver person-centred services to individuals and/or groups with disability. Workers can provide support, advocacy or interventions to individual clients, groups or communities across a range of services.
At this level, workers may be autonomous with limited responsibility within established parameters and may be required to supervise and lead other workers in projects or teams. Work may take place in a range of community service, case work or case management contexts.
CHC52015 – Diploma of Community Services
This qualification reflects the roles of community services, case management and social housing workers involved in the managing, co-ordinating and/or delivering of person-centred services to individuals, groups and communities.
At this level, workers have specialised skills in community services and work autonomously under broad directions from senior management. Workers are usually providing direct support to individuals or groups of individuals. Workers may also have responsibility for the supervision of other workers and volunteers and/or case management, program coordination or the development of new business opportunities.
CHC33015 – Certificate III in Individual Support
(Specialising in Disability and/ or Home and Community Care)
This qualification reflects the role of workers in the community and/or residential setting who follow an individual plan to provide person-centred support to people who may require support due to ageing, disability or some other reason.
Work involves using discretion and judgement in relation to individual support as well as taking responsibility for your own outputs. Workers have a range of factual, technical and procedural knowledge, as well as some theoretical knowledge of the concepts and practices required to provide person-centred support.
- Eligible for Year 12 Fee Free. For more information visit
CHC43115 – Certificate IV in Disability
This qualification feeds into the roles of workers in a range of community settings and clients’ homes, who provide training and support in a manner that empowers people with disabilities to achieve greater levels of independence, self-reliance, community participation and wellbeing.
Workers promote a person-centred approach, work without direct supervision and may be required to supervise and/or coordinate a small team.
- To achieve this qualification, the candidate must have completed at least 120 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of the units of competency.
Health Support/Allied Health Qualifications
HLT23215 – Certificate II in Health Support Services
This qualification reflects the role of workers who provide support for the effective functioning of health services.
At this level workers complete tasks under supervision involving known routines and procedures or complete routine but variable tasks in collaboration with others in a team environment.
- Vocational Education and Training in Schools (VETiS) Qualification. VETiS qualifications can be undertaken in years 10, 11 and 12, and can count towards the Queensland Certificate of Education. For more information please visit
HLT33215 – Certificate III in Health Support Services
This qualification develops skills for workers who provide support for the effective functioning of health services.
These functions are carried out under supervision and require the use of some discretion and judgement. These workers may also provide a team leadership, workplace training or leading-hand function. These workers do not deliver direct care to clients.
HLT33015 – Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance
This qualification is ideal for the role of allied health assistants who provide assistance to allied health professionals under predetermined guidelines.
Depending on the setting, work may include following treatment plans for therapeutic interventions and/or conducting programs under the regular direct, indirect or remote supervision of an allied health professional.
- To achieve this qualification, the candidate must have completed at least 80 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of the units of competency.
HLT43015 – Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance
This qualification is suitable for workers who provide therapeutic and program related support to allied health professionals.
The worker is required to conduct therapeutic and program-related activities under the guidance of an allied health professional. Supervision may be direct, indirect or remote and must occur within organisation requirements.
The worker is required to identify client circumstances that need additional input from the allied health professional. The worker may be engaged to work in a specialty area or work generically across the organisation in the delivery of allied health assistance services. The worker, in conjunction with the allied health professional, may have responsibility for supervising other allied health assistance workers.
- To achieve this qualification, the candidate must have completed at least 120 hours of work as detailed in the Assessment Requirements of the units of competency.
TRAINING PATHWAYS
The Queensland Skills Gateway provides information on:
- Career and training pathways
- Government funding
- Traineeships
- Training providers
The Queensland Skills Gateway also includes a tool to help check if you are eligible for government-subsidised training in Queensland.
The Certificate 3 Guarantee provides a government subsidy to allow eligible Queenslanders to obtain their first post-school certificate III qualification.
For more information please visit
Fee-free training for Year 12 graduates
Eligible Year 12 graduates can access fee-free apprenticeships, traineeships and training in high priority areas within the calendar year after graduating.
The fee-free training applies to high priority qualifications available under the Queensland Government’s Certificate 3 Guarantee program or User Choice program (see below).
High priority qualifications are qualifications that provide training in the skills most needed by employers and industry.
- For more information please visit
The User Choice program provides funding for the delivery of accredited, entry level training to apprentices and trainees. For more information please visit
The Queensland Training Subsidies List and the User Choice Qualification and Price List identify qualifications and skill sets that attract a government subsidy, including those applicable to the disability sector workforce for both potential and existing workers.
For further information about training courses, qualifications and subsidies visit the Queensland Training and Careers NDIS
Skilling Queenslanders for Work
The Skilling Queenslanders for Work initiative helps eligible Queenslanders to gain the skills, qualifications and experience needed to enter and stay in the workforce. The programs are targeted at different groups, including:
- Young people
- Mature-age job seekers
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people
- People with disability
- Women re-entering the workforce
- People from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds
- For more information please visit