General
InterCare video transcript: Why Study in the Community Services Industry
G: I went to work in the Service Industry because I care about people.
D: I chose this course as I wanted to help the community.
S: The most that I was hoping to achieve out of being in the Community Services area was certainly to give back to the community.
G: I come from IT background and that’s dealing mainly with machines and it’s getting closer to people.
D: I actually have a background in retail but I wanted to change my career. This was the best time for me to do it as the kids have got an older
S: I was in Sales and Marketing and Customer Service for the last 35 years. And back in January, I was laid off my job.
DN: They’ve got to that situation. Where, “What am I going to do?” “I’ve been doing this for 30 years. What am I going to do now?” All we can do is give them the options, give them me explanations that they made, give them the reassurance. And then the decision is up to them. But I tell them. They’ve got to have the passion for the industry.
JS: If I’m going to put my mother or my dad into care. If you are going to look after my parents but you don’t have emotionally, you don’t feel anything. There’s no point.
DN: If I train you, would I like you looking after somebody I love? And that’s always a good indication to me.
D: I’m happy now. I can go out and get the career that I’ve always wanted. To help people and help the community. Inter Care makes the transition such a breeze. It’s amazing.
S: For anyone that’s contemplating studying I certainly would say, go for it. You have the best support and the advice that I would give is certainly just give it a go. You won’t be disappointed.
Narrator: InterCare is an Australian registered training organisation created to provide the community services sector with the best quality workplace training and assessment solutions.
For the past 20 years, we have been working with our clients to achieve the training goals of their business and staff and assisting our students to achieve their learning and career goals.
We have training locations and a group of exceptional trainers right across Australia.
Our scope includes a wide range of Certificate III and Certificate IV qualifications within the community services sector. So whether you want to advance your career in aged care, begin a new adventure in leisure and health or train to start a career in the disability industry, we can provide you with the support and training you need to meet your goals.
Our staffing and employment team provides recruitment services to our industry partners and supports current industry professionals to study and progress throughout their careers.
You can choose to study at our place or yours. InterCare offers a blended delivery model so you can attend face-to-face classes with us or attend online via Zoom.
Workbooks can be completed using our online platform or in printed form, whatever works for you. Our training facilities include manual handling and first aid environments, to provide hands-on practical training to our students, so they’re familiar with these settings before attending onsite work placement. Don’t worry, we will organise that for you too.
S: Certainly through InterCare has allowed me to find work.
JS: My satisfaction, my reward is when my student come to me and say, “Oh we got a job Jane.”
DN: When they finish and they come in to collect their certificates, you feel like a proud mum. It’s so exciting.
G: It’s like a big family. Everyone knows everyone and everyone’s just so happy.
DN: It’s up to us to make sure that they have the best, most positive trainee experience. And at the end of it they feel really proud of what they’ve achieved.
D: I’m happy now. Like I can go out and get the career that I’ve always wanted to help people and help the community.
S: Anyone that is contemplating studying, I certainly would say, go for it. I did, you can.
Narrator: Contac one of our friendly team at 1300 10 2273, or through our website for more information, and to discuss government funding opportunities that may be available to you.
We can’t wait to support you in taking the first step toward your new career in the community services industry.
This video is captioned – please press play to read the content.
Enrolment process
After carefully reading all course information including entry criteria, commitment, expectations and cost you will need to prepare documentary evidence that you meet the entry criteria including identification, academic capacity and English language ability. Next, go to www.ici.edu.au/apply and lodge your application via the online Application Form, carefully and accurately completing all fields and attaching your supporting documents.
Our admissions team will review your application and contact you as soon as possible to provide feedback and request any additional documentation. If your application is successful, you will receive a Letter of Offer stating all the details. If you accept your offer and pay the initial fees, you will receive a Confirmation of Enrolment which you can use to apply for your student visa before traveling to Australia to commence your course.
Please visit our Application Process page for more details on each step.
Training process
InterCare video transcript: What should I expect while studying?
G: I’ve done quite a bit of study in my past and other places you’re just a number, but with InterCare they ring you back straight away. It’s like a big family. Everyone knows everyone. And everyone’s just so happy.
D: You don’t really get that everywhere. You don’t get trainers or teachers that are really devoted to students.
JS: Being a mother myself, they are like my children doesn’t matter their age because they trust me and I trust them, so we build this relationship.
S: All of the staff have just been brilliant, outstanding, just so supportive and inspirational. And they’re like a friend at the end. Certainly someone that you can go to and talk to about anything.
DN: They know that I have lived, I’ve walked in their shoes. I’ve lived what it’s like. They can have an experience that they’re not too sure about they need a bit of reassurance, I can actually say, well, look, this is what happened to me. I lived through a similar experience. This is how I dealt with it.
G: They’re very knowledgeable. They’re experienced and they really know their work. And they take a concerned effort in getting you through your course. And if you don’t know something they just tell you straight away and put you on the right path.
DN: We all know what it’s like. We range from age care workers, disability support workers, nurses. So we’ve got people with a really broad knowledge. And I think that’s what makes InterCare really, really, really stand out.
JS: I’m very proud to look after someone who did not have any knowledge at the beginning and finish with like flying colours and get their certificate and get into the workforce.
We want you to feel in control of your journey, so if completing the course quickly to start your new career is your goal, we will try to help you to achieve that goal!
Here is what you would need to do to complete as quickly as possible:
- Attend all of our ‘unit classes’ for your chosen course
- Complete all of your associated Assessment Workbooks
- These will need to be assessed and feedback from your trainer provided.
- Make sure you have your Police Check &/or WWCC applications completed
- Be committed to the work placement dates we discuss with you
- Complete your 120hrs of work placement (typically conducted in one 3 week block)
- Don’t worry – we organise this for you
- Commit to your studies!
Please note that we can not guarantee fast tracking.
Work Placement
InterCare video transcript: What should I expect during work placement?
DN: As a person who’s worked in the industry for so many years, work placement is a vital part of it.
JS: It’s 120 hours of work placement. They have already been taught in class, they got all the information that they need in the class. It’s just to put it in practise.
DN: Sitting in the classroom for 17 weeks, it’s very different, you know, you walk in and you sort of, it can be very overwhelming, it can be very confronting, can really rattle your confidence, you know really because,
it’s not what they expected, and I think it’s such a vital part of it, and all exactly what it’s like.
D: I am so excited about actually just going into placement, and learning so much more.
G: Work placement was done really well, it was very well organised, they were really up to date with knowing what I had to do, I shadowed a few people, and it was very well looked after.
S: All the experience with work placement was fantastic, it was right in the middle of COVID. So I was able to utilise some of my skill sets from, my leisure and health, and become more like an activities officer, which is what they wanted myself and the other student to do it.
JS: A lot of my students get job on placement, and I’m very proud of them because they will call me and said, okay, just letting you know that I’ve been offered a job. That is my reward.
All of our full qualifications have work placement included! This gives you the opportunity to work in a real environment and get the experience you need to begin in the workforce.
When students are attending Individual Support (Ageing) or Ageing Support work placement they must wear a student uniform at all times.
The uniform consists of the following:
- Black polo t-shirt or shirt with name badge (supplied by InterCare) – must have a collar.
- Plain black pants or slacks. No denim, cargo pants, leggings or track suit pants.
- Black enclosed comfortable footwear. Eg: similar to a school shoe or a nursing shoe – no runners.
Work Placement Allocations:
Student placement will be organised on behalf of the Student by InterCare Training. The Student will be allocated placement within a 60 minute radius of the course location (public transport is not taken into consideration within this timing). Student placement is non negotiable and must be completed within a 3 week period Monday to Friday. No weekend work is required.
First Aid
The student must hold a current valid Level II in First Aid to commence their work placement. First Aid is included in our Certificate III in Individual Support, Certificate IV Ageing Support and Certificate IV in Disability courses. The student has two attempts at completing their First Aid competences and if unsuccessful or failure to attend the student may incur a $99 re-booking fee.
Issuing of Certificates
We will endeavour to issue certificates within 30 days once a student has handed in all units/modules, completed their 3 week work placement, completed the Level II First Aid and marked competent.
Police Check
A clear and current police check is required from every student to complete the work placement component of their course. All students completing a qualification must have a clear and current police check by week 7 of their course to receive their work placement allocation. Failure to do so may result in your placement being cancelled or postponed. A national police check will cost around $52.00.
Online Enrolment for Students
Once you submit the application form we can usually process this form and respond to you within 3 to 5 days if the form was submitted with all the necessary documentation and information.
We have a dedicated team that is well resourced and trained in how to review your form content and complete the initial stage for our students promptly.
What usually holds us up in processing these applications is:
- Incomplete forms – incomplete or inaccurately completed data fields in the form
- Missing documents – passport and academic documents to your enrolment form
Please Note: 90% of all delays at the enrolment form stage are from applicants not uploading their ID and academic documents with the form.