Aged Care Course in Australia for Nepali Students: Fees and Guide

What Is an Aged Care Course in Australia?

An aged care course in Australia teaches you to support older people at home or in care homes, and the usual starting point is the Certificate III in Individual Support.

This is a practical choice for Nepali students who want to study in Australia from Nepal and work in care. The national code for the course is CHC33021, and providers offer it with an ageing focus. TAFE International Western Australia says you learn infection control, mobility aids, showering and supporting clients, and how to understand dementia.

It leads to jobs such as care assistant and community care worker. It is hands-on work with people, so think honestly about whether it suits you. This post covers fees, length, entry and what comes after, and you can compare other fields on our courses in Australia page.

How Long Does an Aged Care Course in Australia Take?

Official pages show the Certificate III taking about 6 to 12 months, plus 120 hours of work placement.

The placement is required to finish the qualification, because the national rules ask for at least 120 hours of work. Ask each provider who arranges your placement and whether you may have to travel for it. Check the length on your offer too, as the length of your course affects your visa and your budget.

What Are the Fees for an Aged Care Course in Australia?

TAFE Queensland lists AUD 6,300 as the total course fee for international students in its Certificate III, about Rs 5.7 lakh.

That is one provider’s figure, and private colleges and other TAFEs charge different amounts. Fees can also change each year, so read the fee on your own offer letter. Check today’s rupee figure with our AUD to Rs forex converter.

Tuition is only part of the cost. Your visa application asks you to show AUD 29,710 for a year of living costs and AUD 2,000 for travel, as well as your first year of tuition. See the cost to study in Australia and the financial documents guide. Also allow for any checks your placement needs.

What Do Nepali Students Need to Join an Aged Care Course?

You usually need to have finished school to the level the provider asks for, plus English that meets both the provider’s rule and the visa rule.

• Academic: entry rules are set by each provider, so ask for its rule for NEB Class 12. Your transcripts from Nepal are the main proof. Use our NEB GPA calculator to work out your result.
• English: Home Affairs asks for IELTS 6.0 or PTE Academic 47 for most students. Read minimum IELTS and PTE for Australia for the lower scores that apply with English study.
• Placement checks: providers can ask for a police check before you work with clients. Charles Darwin University lists this for its placement.

Make sure the course is on the official CRICOS register for international students. TAFE International Western Australia, for example, shows CRICOS code 114751B on its course page. You can also read about colleges in Australia if you want to compare providers.

Can Aged Care Help With an Australia Student Visa?

Aged care is an accepted field of study, but you still have to show that it fits your past study and your plans.

The Genuine Student page looks at your past study and whether the course fits your current level of education. A Certificate III after +2, or after a bachelor’s degree, can raise questions. So be ready to explain why this course is the right next step for you.

Past study in health, or care experience in Nepal, makes this much easier. Read our guide to the Genuine Student requirement and the common Australia student visa rejection reasons. The full list of documents is on our Australia student visa requirements page.

Does an Aged Care Course Lead to PR in Australia?

No course promises PR in Australia, so choose aged care because you want the work, and check the official occupation list before you count on it.

Old advice online often says aged care gives a clear PR route, but these lists change. Check the Home Affairs skilled occupation list for your exact job. We could not confirm the old occupation codes from that page, so we have taken them out of this post.

The Post-Vocational Education Work stream of the 485 visa is for up to 18 months, and it needs a qualification linked to an occupation on the skilled list. Age limit and English rules apply too. See our 485 visa page and our list of PR courses in Australia for more. Your study plan also has to stand on its own, as your visa is for study.

What Work Can You Do During and After the Course?

While the course is in session you can work up to 48 hours a fortnight, and care work can suit students in this field.

After the course, you can look for roles such as care assistant or community care worker. Pay depends on your award and your employer, so we don’t quote a typical figure. Fair Work says the National Minimum Wage is AUD 26.44 an hour, and awards can pay more.

See our guides to part-time jobs in Australia and working hours for students. Keep your work within your visa limit, and don’t let it get in the way of your attendance.

Is Aged Care or Nursing Better for Nepali Students?

Choose nursing if you want to become a registered nurse, and aged care if you want a shorter, lower-cost start in care work.

A Certificate III does not make you a nurse. A bachelor’s degree in nursing usually takes 3 years and has much higher English rules, so read our guide to studying nursing in Australia. You can also browse nursing and midwifery courses in Australia.

If your GPA is the main problem, our post on studying in Australia with a low GPA shows other routes. Our counselors in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Chitwan, Itahari and Pokhara can look at your marks and your plans with you, so get in touch before you choose.