Build Skills for Assistant in Nursing (AIN) and Acute Care Support Roles
HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance for Students in Lidcombe
Study Healthcare Courses at NTA's Burwood Campus – Welcoming Students from Lidcombe
Nationally Recognised Training
- Intakes : Monthly
- Specialist Stream : Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care
- Delivery : Hybrid
- Qualification : Certificate III in Health Services Assistance
Train to support nurses and patients on a hospital ward. You complete the theory online, learn the practical skills face to face in our simulation environment at Burwood, and complete a minimum of 80 hours of work placement in an acute care environment that meets the requirements of the relevant units of competency. For students travelling from Lidcombe and surrounding areas, the mix of online theory and scheduled campus sessions offers flexibility throughout the course, making it easier to balance study with other commitments.
6 Months (Minimum)
Minimum 80 Hours Work Placement
15 Units
AQF 3 Certificate III
Burwood Sydney NSW
$3,150 AUD fee-for-service
AQF Level 3
ASQA Registered
Smart and Skilled may apply
Minimum 80 Hours Work Placement
Course Outline
The HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance (Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care) prepares you to work as an Assistant in Nursing (AIN) or health services assistant alongside nurses and other healthcare professionals.
This practical AIN course develops the skills required to provide patient care under supervision in hospitals and acute-care environments. You will learn to assist with nursing care, personal care, patient movement and transport, infection control, medical terminology, clinical equipment, ward stock and communication with patients and healthcare teams.
NTA’s course includes acute-care units such as:
- HLTAIN001 – Assist with nursing care in an acute care environment
- HLTAIN002 – Provide non-client contact support in an acute care environment
The course is delivered through hybrid learning, combining scheduled online theory with face-to-face simulation and practical training at NTA’s Burwood campus . Students also complete work placement with an approved healthcare organisation, coordinated by NTA. This means if you live in Lidcombe or any nearby suburb, you can complete the scheduled theory component online and travel to Burwood for your practical sessions.
Regular intakes are available throughout the year. Eligible students may access NSW Government-subsidised training under Smart and Skilled, subject to funding availability and eligibility requirements.
Graduates may seek roles such as Assistant in Nursing, Nursing Assistant, Patient Care Assistant, Ward Assistant or Health Services Assistant.
Wish to Enrol in a Course
Entry Requirements
- There are no academic prerequisites set for this qualification in the HLT Health Training Package. NTA’s own admission requirements apply and are confirmed with you before your enrolment is accepted.
- You complete a short review with us to ascertain your suitability for the course and to arrange any language, literacy and numeracy support you may need.
- You have access to a computer or tablet and reliable internet for the online theory component, and you hold a Unique Student Identifier (USI). NTA can help you apply for a USI if you do not already have one.
- You are able to perform the physical tasks involved in an acute care ward, including assisting with patient movement and transport. Reasonable adjustments are considered on an individual basis.
- Before your work placement you must hold a National Police Check issued within the last three years, provide evidence of immunisation and serology in line with NSW Health requirements for people working in clinical settings, and hold a Working with Children Check where one is required for your placement. Host organisations set their own screening, immunisation and induction requirements and may ask for more.
Target Students
This course suits you if you want to work in a hospital or acute care setting in a supervised, hands-on support role. Graduates may seek employment in public and private hospitals, day surgeries and day procedure centres, rehabilitation and subacute services, and health service support environments. It also suits people already working in aged care or disability support who want to move into an acute clinical environment.
NTA graduates normally seek employment in the following roles:
- Assistant in Nursing (acute care)
- Patient Services Assistant
- Ward Assistant or Ward Support Officer
- Hospital Orderly or Wardsperson
- Patient Care Attendant
- Nursing Support Worker
Employment outcomes depend on successful completion of the qualification, employer requirements and individual suitability. NTA does not guarantee employment or a particular salary outcome.
Course Duration
HLT33115 at NTA takes a minimum of six months, including online theory, face-to-face practical training and at least 80 hours of work placement in an acute-care setting.
| Activity | Mode |
|---|---|
| Theory and knowledge assessments | Scheduled online learning |
| Simulation and practical training | Face-to-face at NTA’s Burwood campus |
| Self-directed study | Completed in your own time |
| Work placement | Approved acute-care host organisation |
Students must participate in scheduled online classes, attend all required face-to-face practical sessions and complete assessments according to the course timetable.
NTA coordinates work placement subject to student readiness, mandatory clearances, host requirements and placement availability. Actual completion time may vary depending on academic progress and work-placement scheduling.
NTA offers regular intakes throughout the year. Contact us for the next available start date.
Course Location
This course is delivered at the following location:
Nurse Training Australia
Suite 106–108, 3 Railway Parade, Burwood NSW 2134
RTO ID 41009
The Burwood campus is a short walk from Burwood station and is well served by buses, with shops and cafes close by. Students from Lidcombe can attend the required face to face training and simulation sessions at this campus; the theory component is completed online.
Why Study HLT33115 at Nurse Training Australia (NTA)
NTA’s HLT33115 course combines structured online learning, face-to-face simulation and practical training, and coordinated work placement to prepare students for supervised support roles in acute care environments.
- Practical training in a purpose-built simulation environment. Your practical sessions run on campus at Burwood in a simulation environment set up to reflect a hospital ward, using the clinical equipment and documentation you will meet on placement. You practise manual handling, patient transport, infection control and personal care before you are assessed, and before you step onto a ward.
- Delivered by Registered Nurses. Training and assessment for this course is delivered by Registered Nurses with relevant health industry experience who also meet the vocational education and training requirements for trainers and assessors.
- Placement is coordinated for you, not left to you. NTA arranges your minimum 80 hours of work placement in an acute care setting through its network of host organisations and briefs you on the clearances and screening you need well before the placement block. You are not asked to find your own host.
- Packaged for acute care. HLT33115 is packaged to provide the Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care specialisation. The specialisation includes HLTAIN001 and HLTAIN002 and incorporates the workplace requirements applicable to the acute care units.
- An established provider with a clear pathway after this course. NTA has delivered nursing and community services training from Burwood since 2014 as a registered training organisation, RTO ID 41009, regulated by ASQA. If you want to keep going after HLT33115, NTA also delivers the Certificate IV qualifications in Ageing Support, Disability Support and Mental Health.
Course Delivery and Assessment
Course Delivery
This course is delivered in English. Training and assessment for this course is delivered by Registered Nurses with relevant health industry experience who also meet the vocational education and training requirements for trainers and assessors. They teach across the classroom, the simulation environment and your assessments.
- Scheduled online theory: structured modules with set submission dates, covering body systems, medical terminology, infection prevention and control, work health and safety, and communication in a clinical team.
- On-campus simulation and practical training: scheduled face-to-face sessions covering manual handling and patient movement, patient transport, infection control, first aid, and responding to behaviours of concern.
- Work placement: a minimum of 80 hours in an acute care environment that meets the requirements of the relevant units of competency, coordinated by NTA.
Course Assessment
As this is a nationally recognised qualification, you must successfully complete all 15 units to meet the requirements. Each unit contains assessments which include:
- Knowledge-based assessments — written short-answer and multiple-choice questions covering the knowledge evidence for each unit
- Projects and case studies — written tasks and scenario-based work you complete in your own time
- Practical demonstrations in a simulated environment — observed by your assessor in NTA’s simulation environment
- Workplace-based assessment — demonstration of relevant skills during work placement, assessed in accordance with the requirements of the applicable units of competency
You must be deemed competent in every unit to be issued the qualification.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfers
You may already have developed a number of relevant skills through previous employment, life experience or formal study. If this is the case, you are encouraged to enquire about Recognition of Prior Learning, which may shorten your course. If you have already completed units of competency with another registered training organisation, you can apply for Credit Transfer instead. Each application is assessed on its own merits, and you will need to provide suitable evidence before a decision is made.
A common example: if you hold a current HLTAID011 Provide First Aid statement of attainment from a registered training organisation, you can apply for Credit Transfer for that unit.
Study Units and Qualification
You will need to complete the following to meet the requirements of the qualification:
- Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care — 7 core units and 8 elective units (15 units in total)
The details of the core and elective units are set out in the table below.
| Unit Code | Unit Code Description | Type |
|---|---|---|
| CHCCOM005 | Communicate and work in health or community services C | C |
| CHCDIV001 | Work with diverse people | C |
| HLTAAP001 | Recognise healthy body systems | C |
| HLTINF006 | Apply basic principles and practices of infection prevention and control C | C |
| HLTWHS001 | Participate in workplace health and safety | C |
| BSBMED301 | Interpret and apply medical terminology appropriately | C |
| BSBWOR301 | Organise personal work priorities and development | C |
| HLTAIN001 | Assist with nursing care in an acute care environment | E |
| HLTAIN002 | Provide non-client contact support in an acute care environment | E |
| CHCCCS002 | Assist with movement | E |
| CHCCCS020 | Respond effectively to behaviours of concern | E |
| CHCCCS026 | Transport individuals | E |
| CHCAGE001 | Facilitate the empowerment of older people | E |
| CHCAGE005 | Provide support to people living with dementia | E |
| HLTAID011 | Provide First Aid | E |
C = Core; E = Elective
Educational Pathways
After achieving HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance you have a number of pathway options. Some of them include:
- CHC43015 Certificate IV in Ageing Support at NTA
- CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support at NTA
- CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health at NTA
- HLT33021 Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance, then HLT43021 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance
- HLT54121 Diploma of Nursing, subject to the receiving provider’s entry requirements and selection processes
Pathway options depend on the entry requirements of the receiving provider and are not an automatic entitlement.
Course Fees & Funding
| Fee item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition fee | $3,000 |
| Application fee (non-refundable) | $150 |
| Total course cost | $3,150 |
- Fees shown are current as at August 2026 and are subject to change.
- Payment options are available. Payment arrangements, instalment terms and due dates are set out in NTA’s Fees and Refunds Policy and in your Domestic Student Terms, and are confirmed with you in writing before your enrolment is accepted.
- You must read and accept NTA’s Domestic Student Terms before your enrolment is confirmed and before any fees are accepted.
- NSW Smart and Skilled subsidised places are available for eligible students. The figures above are NTA’s fee-for-service prices. Eligible students may receive NSW Government-subsidised training through Smart and Skilled and pay a Smart and Skilled student fee instead, subject to current NSW Government requirements. Contact NTA to check your eligibility and confirm the fee that applies to you before you enrol.
Additional costs
The total course cost above covers tuition and your application fee. The following costs are additional and are not included. Current amounts for each item are set out in NTA’s Schedule of Fees and Charges, which is provided to you in writing before your enrolment is confirmed and before any fees are accepted.
- A computer or tablet and reliable internet access for the online theory component
- Printing, stationery and any textbooks or resources you choose to buy
- Uniform and enclosed non-slip footwear for simulation sessions and work placement
- Placement screening: National Police Check, immunisation and serology evidence, and a Working with Children Check where one is required for your placement
- Travel to and from your work placement site
- Re-assessment fees, replacement student ID and reissue of a qualification or statement of attainment
NSW Smart and Skilled
The fees above are NTA’s fee-for-service prices. Eligible students may receive NSW Government-subsidised training for HLT33115 through Smart and Skilled, and pay a Smart and Skilled student fee instead. Eligibility, student fees and availability of subsidised places are subject to current NSW Government requirements.
Who is eligible?
To enrol in HLT33115 at NTA, you must:
- Be 18 years of age or older
- No longer be attending school
- Live or work in New South Wales, or be an eligible Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander person living in a defined interstate border area
- Be an Australian citizen, Australian permanent resident, eligible humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen
- Hold a valid Unique Student Identifier (USI), or be able to obtain one
- Meet NTA’s course entry and work-placement requirements
While the general Smart and Skilled eligibility policy includes people aged 15 years and over, NTA only accepts applicants who are at least 18 years old for this course.
Smart and Skilled eligibility is determined according to NSW Government policy. NTA cannot guarantee a subsidised place. Your eligibility, available funding and student fee will be confirmed in writing before your enrolment is accepted.
What you would pay
Your Smart and Skilled student fee is set by the NSW Government, not by NTA. What you pay depends on the qualification, whether this is your first post-school qualification or a subsequent one, and whether you qualify for a fee concession or exemption. Concessions and exemptions are available to some students, including people receiving a Commonwealth benefit, students with a disability, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Because the student fee depends on your circumstances and on NSW Government settings that change from time to time, this page does not publish a single Smart and Skilled figure. Use the eligibility check below and we will confirm the exact fee that applies to you in writing before your enrolment is accepted.
Next step
Not sure whether you qualify? Talk to us before you enrol. We will check your eligibility against the current NSW criteria, tell you the student fee that applies to you, and put it in writing before you commit to anything.
FAQs
How long does the HLT33115 course take?
HLT33115 takes a minimum of 6 months at NTA. That is NTA’s standard delivery duration and covers your online theory, your on-campus simulation and practical sessions, and a minimum of 80 hours of work placement in an acute care setting. It is not a guaranteed completion time — your actual finish date depends on your progression through the 15 units, your assessment outcomes and when your placement is scheduled.
How much does HLT33115 cost at NTA?
The total course cost is $3,150, made up of a $3,000 tuition fee and a $150 application fee (non-refundable
). Fees are fee-for-service, are current as at August 2026 and are subject to change. Additional costs such as a device and internet access, uniform, printing and placement screening are not included and are listed separately in NTA’s Schedule of Fees and Charges.
Does HLT33115 include hospital work placement?
Yes. You complete a minimum of 80 hours of work placement in an acute care setting, as detailed in the assessment requirements of the units of competency. NTA coordinates your placement through its network of host organisations, which include hospitals and health services. Placement is arranged subject to your readiness, host organisation requirements and placement availability, and dates and sites are allocated by NTA.
How do I become an Assistant in Nursing (AIN) in NSW?
There is no registration or licence for Assistants in Nursing in NSW — AINs work under the supervision of a Registered Nurse. Employer requirements for Assistant in Nursing roles vary. Depending on the employer and role, requirements may include an appropriate nationally recognised qualification, relevant work placement experience, a National Police Check and required health screening or immunisation evidence. HLT33115 packaged to provide the Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care specialisation includes HLTAIN001 and HLTAIN002 and the associated work placement. Employment outcomes depend on successful completion of the qualification, employer requirements and individual suitability. NTA does not guarantee employment or a particular salary outcome.
Can I study Health Services Assistance if I live in Lidcombe?
Partly. If you are based in Lidcombe or a nearby suburb, you can study Health Services Assistance online, through NTA’s hybrid learning option. The theory component is completed online with a scheduled timetable and submission dates, while simulation and practical skills training are completed at NTA’s Burwood campus. Strictly, The practical component cannot be completed online, because the units require you to be observed performing clinical support tasks. Your work placement is completed on site with a host organisation.
What jobs can I apply for after HLT33115?
Graduates typically seek entry-level hospital and health service roles such as Assistant in Nursing (AIN) in acute care, Patient Services Assistant, Ward Assistant, Hospital Orderly or Wardsperson, Patient Care Attendant, and Nursing Support Worker. Employment outcomes depend on successful completion of the qualification, employer requirements and individual suitability. NTA does not guarantee employment or a particular salary outcome.
What does the acute care specialisation mean?
HLT33115 can be packaged with different elective groups. NTA delivers the Assisting in Nursing Work in Acute Care specialisation, which includes HLTAIN001 Assist with nursing care in an acute care environment and HLTAIN002 Provide non-client contact support in an acute care environment. This stream is aimed at hospital and acute care settings rather than community or operating theatre work, and it carries the minimum 80-hour work requirement.
Is HLT33115 available under Smart and Skilled in NSW?
NTA is approved to offer HLT33115 under NSW Smart and Skilled, subject to student eligibility, applicable funding arrangements and availability of a subsidised place. If you are eligible, you pay a Smart and Skilled student fee instead of the $3,150 fee-for-service price. Eligibility, student fees and availability of subsidised places are subject to current NSW Government requirements, and your fee is confirmed with you in writing before your enrolment is accepted.
Am I eligible for Smart and Skilled?
To enrol at NTA, you must be 18 years of age or older and no longer attending school. You must also live or work in NSW and be an Australian citizen, permanent resident, eligible humanitarian visa holder or New Zealand citizen.
Other conditions may affect your entitlement. As eligibility requirements can change, NTA will check your eligibility and confirm any available subsidy before accepting your enrolment.
How much will I pay under Smart and Skilled?
Your student fee is set by the NSW Government, not by NTA. It depends on the qualification, whether this is your first post-school qualification or a subsequent one, and whether you qualify for a fee concession or exemption. Concessions and exemptions are available to some students, including people receiving a Commonwealth benefit, students with a disability, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. We confirm the exact fee that applies to you in writing before your enrolment is accepted.
Can I get credit for study or experience I already have?
Yes. If you hold relevant units of competency from another registered training organisation you can apply for Credit Transfer — a current HLTAID011 Provide First Aid statement of attainment is a common example. If you have relevant industry experience or prior learning, you can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning, which may shorten your course. Each application is assessed on its own merits and you will need to provide suitable evidence before a decision is made.