Commissioner's Information Bulletin

CIB - 716 Health Services - traineeships

This Commissioner's Information Bulletin (CIB) includes training framework, industrial arrangements, job descriptions, and licensing and regulatory requirements.

In this bulletin: 

Date of effect: 10 September 2021

Updated: 22 May 2023

In this Commissioner's Information Bulletin one traineeship vocation is varied to add a qualification pathway. 

Health Services – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Care

All other Vocational Training Orders remain unchanged.

Superseded bulletin

This Commissioners Information Bulletin supersedes Bulletin 645

David Collins

The Commissioner for Vocational Training

Vocational Training Orders

Traineeships

Health Services - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Care - Traineeships

Date of effect
21 June 2013

Updated
22 May 2023

Qualifications

HLT30121 Certificate III in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care

HLT40221 Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice

Terms of traineeships

Full time:

HLT30121 Certificate III in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care

  • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

HLT40221 Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care Practice

  • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Health Services - Administration - Traineeships

Date of effect
24 October 2008

Updated
7 April 2023

Qualifications

HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration

HLT47321 Certificate IV in Health Administration

Terms of traineeships

Full time:

HLT37315 Certificate III in Health Administration

  • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

HLT47321 Certificate IV in Health Administration

  • 18 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Health Services - Allied Health Assistance - Traineeships

Date of effect
21 December 2007

Updated
7 April 2023

Qualifications

HLT33021 Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance

HLT43021 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance

Terms of traineeships

Full time:

HLT33021 Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance

  • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

HLT43021 Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance

  • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

School based

HLT33021 Certificate III in Allied Health Assistance

The term for a school based traineeship will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During this period the school-based trainee must undertake a minimum of 100 days of on-the-job training.

Probationary period

2 months

Health Services - Dental Assisting - Traineeships*#

Date of effect
14 December 2007

Updated
10 September 2021

Qualifications

HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting

HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting*

Terms of traineeships

Full time:

HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting

  • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting*

  • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved where the trainee holds HLT35021 Certificate III in Dental Assisting, HLT35015 Certificate III in Dental Assisting, HLT31812 Certificate III in Dental Assisting or equivalent as outlined in the Health Training Package.

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

School based

The term for a school based traineeship will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During this period the school-based trainee must undertake a minimum of 100 days of on-the-job training.

Probationary periods

2 months

Health Services - Health Services Assistance - Traineeship

Date of effect
15 October 2010

Updated
6 October 2015

Qualification

HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance

Terms of traineeship

Full time:

  • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

School based

The term for a school based traineeship will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During this period the school-based trainee must undertake a minimum of 100 days of on-the-job training.

Probationary period

2 months

Health Services - Health Support Services - Traineeship

Date of effect
3 December 2007

Updated
7 April 2023

Qualification

HLT23221 Certificate II in Health Support Services

Terms of traineeship

Full time:

HLT23221 Certificate II in Health Support Services

  • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

School based

The term for a school based traineeship will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During this period the school-based trainee must undertake a minimum of 100 days of on-the-job training.

Probationary period

2 months

Health Services - Hospital or Health Services Pharmacy Support - Traineeships

Date of effect
24 October 2008

Updated
7 April 2023

Qualifications

HLT37121 Certificate III in Hospital or Health Services Pharmacy Support

HLT47121 Certificate IV in Hospital or Health Services Pharmacy Support

Terms of traineeships

Full time:

HLT37121 Certificate III in Hospital or Health Services Pharmacy Support

  • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

HLT47121 Certificate IV in Hospital or Health Services Pharmacy Support

  • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • 18 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved where the trainee holds HLT37121 Certificate III in Hospital or Health Services Pharmacy Support or HLT37115 Certificate III in Hospital or Health Services Pharmacy Support.

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

School based

HLT37121 Certificate III in Hospital or Health Services Pharmacy Support

The term for a school based traineeship will be calculated in months from the date of commencement to 31 December of the HSC year. During this period the school-based trainee must undertake a minimum of 100 days of on-the-job training.

Probationary period

2 months

Health Services - Massage Therapy - Traineeship#

Date of effect
6 October 2015

Updated
7 April 2023

Qualification

HLT42021 Certificate IV in Massage Therapy

Terms of traineeship

Full time:

  • 18 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Health Services - Medical Practice Assisting - Traineeship

Date of effect
21 June 2013

Updated
6 October 2015

Qualification

HLT47715 Certificate IV in Medical Practice Assisting

Terms of traineeship

Full time:

  • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Health Services - Optical Dispensing - Traineeship

Date of effect
21 December 2007

Updated
6 October 2015

Qualification

HLT47815 Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing

Terms of traineeship

Full time:

  • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Health Services - Pathology Collection - Traineeship

Date of effect
6 October 2015

Qualification

HLT37215 Certificate III in Pathology Collection

Terms of traineeship

Full time:

  • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Health Services – Practice Management - Traineeship

Date of effect
24 September 2010

Updated
6 October 2015

Qualification

HLT57715 Diploma of Practice Management

Term of traineeship

Full time:

  • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Health Services - Remedial Massage - Traineeship#

Date of effect
14 December 2012

Updated
7 April 2023

Qualification

HLT52021 Diploma of Remedial Massage

Terms of traineeship

Full time:

  • 24 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved
  • 18 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved where the trainee holds HTL42021 Certificate IV in Massage Therapy

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Health Services - Sterilisation - Traineeship

Date of effect
14 December 2007

Updated
10 September 2021

Qualification

HLT37015 Certificate III in Sterilisation Services

Terms of traineeship

Full time:

  • 12 months or until the relevant competencies are achieved

Part-time:

See part-time apprenticeships and traineeships

Probationary period

2 months

Job descriptions

Traineeships

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Care

Certificate III trainees will learn to provide health care services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients, usually as part of a team with ongoing supervision and guidance. Occupational titles may include:

  • Aboriginal health worker
  • Torres Strait Island health worker

Certificate IV trainees reflects the role of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners. It is specific to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people who work as part of a multidisciplinary health care team providing primary health care services to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander clients and communities. 

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners are registered with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Board of Australia (ATSIHPBA) and, only when registered, can use the protected title of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander health practitioner. Registration is not automatically linked to the qualification and currently practitioners are required to complete a program of study that has been accredited by the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Practice Accreditation Committee (ATSIHPAC). 

This qualification provides a pathway to work in a range of health care settings including Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community organisations, and the public or private health sector.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health practitioners provide culturally safe health and wellbeing promotion, preventative health care and clinical treatment services in a diversity of locations including urban, rural and remote settings. These practitioners use initiative and judgement within the parameters of practice standards, treatment protocols and clinical supervision arrangements established by the employing organisation. 

Administration

Certificate III reflects the role of administrative workers in the health industry. These workers follow known routines and procedures, taking responsibility for their own work under general supervision. They combine communication, customer service and technical skills, and use discretion and judgment to adapt and transfer their skills to different situations.

Certificate IV reflects the role of individuals who work in a senior operational or team learning role in the health industry.

Allied Health Assistance

Certificate III reflects 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.

Certificate IV reflects the role of 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 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.

Dental Assisting

Certificate III trainees will learn the knowledge and skills needed to assist dentist, dental hygienist or dental therapist during all health care procedures, to help maintain high standards of infection control and to assist with practice administration.

Certificate IV trainees will learn the knowledge and skills necessary to provide an advanced level of chairside assistance to the operator, including contributing to the quality of dental care provided through well-developed communication skills; providing an oral health education program that promotes good oral health as part of general good health; as well as implementing and monitoring infection control policy and procedures. This qualification allows the dental assistant to select electives to address specific workplace needs in line with jurisdictional Dental Acts and Regulations.

Health Services Assistance

Certificate III reflects the role of a variety of workers who use a range of factual, technical and procedural knowledge to provide assistance to health professional staff for the care of clients. Health services assistance involves the worker in direct client contact under supervision.

Health Support Services

Certificate II level trainees will learn to provide support for the effective functioning of health services. These workers do not provide direct care assistance functions such as assisting other staff with the care of clients. Occupational titles may include:

  • Administration support
  • Cleaner
  • Domestic assistant
  • Food service assistant
  • Grounds maintenance worker
  • Kitchen hand
  • Maintenance assistant
  • Pathology courier
  • Stores assistant
  • Clerk
  • Driver
  • Housekeeping assistant
  • Laundry worker
  • Orderly Porter
  • Support services worker
  • Ward assistant

 

Hospital or Health Services Pharmacy Support

Certificate III reflects the role of pharmacy technicians and assistants who provide a range of assistance to pharmacists in hospital and community health settings. This may include pharmacies that are located outside of health services but supply medicines and products to hospitals and other health services.

Certificate IV reflects the role of skilled pharmacy technicians who work under the supervision of a pharmacist in a hospital or community setting. This may include pharmacies that are located outside of health services but supply medicines and products to hospitals and other health services.

Massage Therapy

Certificate IV reflects the role of massage therapists who provide general health maintenance treatments. It does not reflect the role of a remedial massage therapist. Practioners may be self-employed or work within larger health service.

Code of Conduct

The Public Health (General) Amendment Regulation 2008 prescribes a Code of Conduct for registered and unregistered health practitioners. Trainees are expected to comply with the Code of Conduct.

The regulation specifically provides that a complaint may be made against a health practitioner in relation to an alleged breach of the Code of Conduct.

Professional Indemnity

Trainees may need to have professional indemnity insurance, when they are 'practising' their skills in environments other than:

  • the registered training organisation (RTO) clinical environment that replicates a real massage therapy practice work environment
  • other clinical environment, practice centre or workplace environment agreed to and coordinated by the RTO for the purpose of skill development towards completion of the qualification

This insurance may be provided either by the employer or trainee in their own right. There are insurers who have trainee or student policies. Go to the Australian Association of Massage Therapy website for details.

This critical factor of insurance should be addressed when the traineeship is being established.

Medical Practice Assisting

Certificate IV reflects the role of medical practice assistants whose work includes a broad range of administrative functions combined with tasks to support medical practitioners in the delivery to care to clients. These tasks are completed under direct supervision of a health care professional other than a medical practitioner, but this should only occur where:

  • The health care professional is in the same practice as the medical practitioner; and
  • The medical practitioner has agreed to the other health care professional providing the supervision.

A registered nurse must accept or refuse responsibility for supervision of an activity of a medical practice assistant, according to the Nursing Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) Decision-making framework. An enrolled nurse cannot provide supervision.

Optical Dispensing

Certificate IV reflects the role of optical dispensers who dispense and supply appliances as prescribed by optometrists and/or ophthalmologists in accordance with Australian standards. Optical dispensers practice in range of environments including optical dispensaries, optometric practices and laboratories. They may be self-employed or employed by another optical dispenser, an optometrist, a major optical dispensing company or other retailers.

Pathology Collection

Certificate III reflects the role of pathology collectors. Workers in this role follow known routines and procedures, taking responsibility for their own work under general supervision. They combine communication, customer service and technical skills, and use direction and judgement to adapt and transfer their skills to different situations.

Practice Management

Diploma level reflects the role of business or practice managers who manage the operations of small to medium sized health practices.

Remedial Massage

Diploma level reflects the role of remedial massage therapists who work with clients presenting with soft tissue dysfunctions, musculoskeletal imbalance or restrictions in range of motion (ROM). Practitioners may be self-employed or work within a larger health services.

Sterilisation

Certificate III reflects the role of individuals working in instrument sterilising roles in a sterilising service or reprocessing area.

More about Health Services - traineeships

Qualifications, structure and packaging

HLTr9.1 Health Training Package includes the following qualifications that support traineeship pathways:

*Entry requirements

* Entry to qualification HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting is subject to completion of one of these qualifications HLT31812, HLT35015, HLT35021 or equivalent as outlined in the Health Training Package.

Competency based completion

On successful completion of the relevant qualification

  • parties may apply to the Commissioner for Vocational Training for completion of the apprenticeship or traineeship prior to the nominal completion date of the training contract or;
  • Training Services may issue letters from the Commissioner to both parties inviting them to consider competency based completion if it has received advice from the training organisation that the apprentice or trainee is eligible to receive their qualification.

Download a Request for Competency Based Completion form.

Industrial arrangements

Applications under the Apprenticeship and Traineeship Act 2001 to establish an apprenticeship or traineeship, whether full-time part-time or school based, will not be approved unless the Commissioner for Vocational training is satisfied that appropriate industrial arrangements are in place.

All private sector employers and employees in New South Wales are covered by the national industrial relations system administered by Fair Work Commission (the Commission). The industrial instrument that applies will be a national (modern) award or a current enterprise agreement registered with the Commission. Further information is available from the Fair Work Ombudsman by telephoning 13 13 94 or via their website.

Trainees may be employed under the following Awards:

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health

Administration

Allied Health Assistance

Dental Assisting

Health Services Assistance

Health Support Services

Hospital or Health Services Pharmacy Support

Massage Therapy

Medical Practice Assisting

Optical Dispensing

Pathology Collection/Assistance

Practice Management

Remedial Massage

Sterilisation

School based traineeships

The following qualifications are suitable for delivery in schools:

For all school based part-time traineeships currently being delivered in New South Wales, refer to School Based Traineeships.
For further information on the delivery of training for school based traineeships refer to Training Arrangements.

Immunisation

Health workers and learners undertaking work placement in NSW Health facilities must comply with the assessment, screening and vaccination requirements of Policy Directive PD2023_022.

Working with Children Check and Other Police Checks

Health workers and learners undertaking work placement in NSW Health facilities must comply with Policy  Directive PD2019_003.

#Licensing and regulatory arrangements

HLT42021 Certificate IV in Massage Therapy

To work in Australia, a Massage Therapist requires a Certificate IV or a Diploma in Massage Therapy Practice, plus joining an approved industry association.

HLT52021 Diploma of Remedial Massage

There are no licensing or regulatory requirements in the remedial massage industry sector but practitioners, including trainees, are bound by a Code of Conduct for Unregistered Health Practitioners. The NSW Health Commission has the power to impose a prohibition order and/or to issue a public statement about an unregistered health practitioner and their services. A prohibition order may ban a practitioner from providing health services of place conditions on their provision of health services. It is a criminal offence to breach a prohibition order.

Before the Commission can make a prohibition order it must find that the practitioner has breached the Code of Conduct for Unregistered Practitioners and be of the opinion that the practitioner poses a substantial risk to the health of members of the public.

Trainees may need to have professional indemnity insurances, either provided by their employer or in their own right. Some insurers may only provide professional indemnity to qualified workers. To overcome this, there are insurers who have trainee or student policies. This critical factor needs to be addressed in the initial training plan negotiations between the employer trainee and RTO. For example, The Association of Massage Therapists Ltd offers insurance, via an association membership, to students enrolled in the HLT52021 Diploma of Remedial Massage.

HLT45021 Certificate IV in Dental Assisting

Jurisdictional legislative radiation licensing requirements may apply to candidates who undertake Group A electives for Radiography specialisation to apply for and be granted a Radiation License. If Radiography units or a Radiology specialisation is not selected, no licensing, legislative, regulatory or certification requirements apply to this qualification at the time of publication.

Registered training organisations

For registered training providers that can deliver the traineeship qualifications go to training.gov.au.
A list of registered training organisations that are in contract with the NSW Department of Education to be paid for the delivery of the training is here.

When developing Training Plans, registered training providers should ensure that the training program satisfies the qualification packaging requirements and, at the same time, reflects the nature of the business. Training Plans should be customised so that workplace activities support and align with the qualification units of competency.

Funding arrangements

From 1 January 2015 the NSW Government introduced new fee arrangements for government subsidised vocational education and training (VET). Under Smart and Skilled, all apprenticeship and most traineeship qualifications are subsidised. For a full list of all the qualifications refer to the current NSW Skills List. Information on the types and levels of subsidies can be found in the Smart and Skilled Fee Administration Policy. Training for existing-worker trainees is not subsidised.

Transition arrangements

Training Services and Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA) transition arrangements are aligned and applied retrospectively from 1 September 2015.

Registered training organisations (RTOs) may commence training in either the new or superseded qualification but must meet the requirements of ASQA. For more information refer to ASQA's General Direction - Learner Transition.

Inspecting vocational training orders

A copy of each Vocational Training Order is available for inspection on this internet site below or at any Training Services centre of the NSW Department of Education.

Contacts and enquiries

To sign up an apprentice or trainee call 1800 020 108. To find a job in an apprenticeship or traineeship search here.

For implementation of new pathways in relation to this training package profile please contact Community Service & Health NSW ITAB Susan Scowcroft Mobile: 0418 487 012.

For additional questions contact us.

Email: Online enquiry form

Phone:  13 28 11

Related links

Type: Bulletin
Author: Department of Education Training Services
Publication Date: 10 September 2021
Version: HLT - Health Services Training Package

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Education and trainingCommissioner Information Bulletins
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