Aged care courses

Depending on the course that you choose, you could learn:

• how to cater to the unique needs and challenges of aging adults

• how to recognise the needs of people living with dementia, and identify changes in behaviour

• how to help people navigate the aged care system and maintain high standards of care.

Some aged care courses will introduce you to specialised or emerging topics, like creative therapy. You might even learn how pets can improve wellbeing!

It depends where you want to work in the sector. If you’d like to become a support worker, you can do so with an Aged Care Certificate III or IV. These are vocational certificates that you can earn through a TAFE or registered training organisation.

If you already have a certificate and you’d like to upskill, or you want to work in another level of aged care, you’re in the right place. The aged care degrees available through us qualify you to step into important areas such as community wellbeing, case management, dementia care and palliative care.

Start discovering the full list of aged care courses, and chat with our student advisors to make sure you’re working towards the qualification you need.

With an ageing population and a growing need for healthcare workers, you’ll find plenty of career opportunities in aged care.

After studying one of the aged care courses available through Open Universities Australia, you could go on to explore one of these roles:

• Aged care supervisor

• Aged care facility manager

• Aged care case manager

• Dementia specialist

• Aged care facility auditor

• Caregiver for in-home assistance

• Care services coordinator

You could also pursue further study in one of these areas to move into a more specialised career:

• Nursing courses will help you qualify to work on the frontlines of aged care, providing essential support to people in a range of settings.

• Psychology and mental health courses will train you to understand the experience of living as an older adult.

• If you like to think big, public health courses provide pathways into careers in policy and advocacy, which could benefit aged care workers and older adults alike.

While most aged care courses can be completed 100% online, you can use Open Universities Australia to search for opportunities that combine online and on-campus study.

Courses in complementary areas like psychology and mental health can expand your scope for practical placements. Book a consultation to learn more about these opportunities.

Online aged care courses are designed to share the practical tools you’ll need to work in healthcare settings. From writing proposals for aged care programs to learning how to save lives through first aid, you can prepare yourself for hands-on experience while you study online.

Some of the most valuable skills might come from within. Allowing yourself to listen and respond with empathy will be essential to your aged care career. You’ll also learn to use practical skills including first aid and CPR, or music and dance.

Yes, if you're eligible you will be able to apply for a HELP loan to cover the cost of your course. This means the government will pay your fees, and you will pay them back through the tax system only once you're earning a suitable income. Ask our student advisors if you’re unsure, and read more about HELP loans, and other support that may be an option for you.

Some universities will also offer scholarships and bursaries for aged care degrees.

Before starting an enrolment, it’s important to read the entry requirements for your chosen course to ensure that you’re eligible to apply. If you don’t quite meet the requirements, we may be able to help you find a pathway into your course.

Chat with us to find out more.

Here at Open Universities Australia, we make enrolling online as straightforward as possible. To get started, find the course for you by browsing the options on this page. You can also compare different qualifications using our handy comparison tool, or request help from one of our student advisors.

When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Apply now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.

Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.

Please note that enquiries and applications for some courses are handled directly by the university. If this is the case, it will be indicated on the course listing page.  

For more information about enrolment, read our online self-service enrolling instructions. If you get stuck at any time, contact us and we’ll talk you through it.