September to December 2024
The HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance qualification was last reviewed in 2015. Since then, there have been numerous changes in the technology and contemporary health practices undertaken in the health care and social assistance sector.
This sector is sensitive to policy settings and regulatory frameworks. Recent policy developments have focused on:
- migration
- gender pay gaps
- support for establishing clear employment pathways.
More flexible training products are required to respond to common skill requirements across occupations and areas requiring specific expertise.
The qualification review and upgrade are needed due to:
- increasing technology integration to streamline processes, improve patient care, and enhance efficiency, including:
o the use of electronic medical records
o automated patient monitoring systems
o robotics for tasks like transporting patients or delivering supplies
- growing emphasis on patient-centred care, which prioritises the patients' needs and preferences
- a shift towards delivering care in the home
- an increasing number of patients from diverse backgrounds requiring cultural competency and sensitivity to ensure effective care
- increasing complexity of care driven by factors such as chronic diseases, mental health issues, and multiple disabilities requiring a greater need for specialised skills and knowledge
- regulatory changes aimed at improving quality and safety which have mandated stricter compliance measures and enhanced training requirements for service providers
- an increased focus on workplace safety and occupational health including infection control.
The project outcomes will result in a qualification better aligned to industry needs and regulatory requirements with clear and sustainable career pathways to support growth in the industry.
Project Scope
This project will review one qualification and 25 units of competency that support training for the following occupations:
- Nurse’s Aide
- Operating Theatre Technician
- Orderly
- Patient support assistant
- Ward Assistant
- Ward Clerk
Qualification
Details of the HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance qualification and its units of competency can be seen at training.gov.au.
You can provide us with any initial feedback on the current qualification and associated units of competency by emailing details to the Training Product Project Manager or Project Coordinator.
Project governance and consultation strategy
We have established a Technical Committee (TC) of experts to provide advice for the project. TC members are selected for their relevant expertise on the diverse aspects of the project.
View the Terms of Reference and Technical Committee members.
View our Project Consultation Strategy.
Project fact sheet
We are committed to developing training products for the Health Services Assistance (HSA) workforce that align with current industry standards and strengthen workforce capability. This includes identifying skills gaps and emerging opportunities across healthcare support roles to ensure training pathways reflect the real-world demands of health service environments.
Our Health Services Assistance Functional Analysis Report provides a comprehensive overview of the diverse roles, functions, and skill requirements within the HSA workforce, including support roles across hospitals, day surgeries, aged care, and other health service organisations. It outlines the key competencies required to meet industry expectations and enhance workforce readiness, with a particular focus on critical areas such as infection prevention and control, patient support, environmental services, and sterilisation services. The report also considers nationally endorsed training pathways that support career development across the health services sector.
Methodology
To ensure the findings are accurate, relevant and reflective of contemporary practice, the functional analysis research process incorporated both desktop research and targeted stakeholder consultation.
Desktop research included a review of job advertisements, organisational structures, industry reports, and government labour market data to identify workforce trends and evolving skill requirements within the HSA workforce. Particular attention was given to areas such as infection control practices, safe handling of equipment, patient support functions, and compliance with health, safety and quality standards.
Stakeholder engagement involved consultations with employers, peak bodies, registered training organisations (RTOs), and subject matter experts working across Health Services Assistance roles. These discussions provided valuable insights into the day-to-day functions, sub-functions, and competency expectations of HSA workers. Feedback identified the key tasks and challenges associated with Health Services Assistance roles, including providing support to clinical teams, maintaining safe and hygienic environments, assisting with the preparation and handling of equipment and supplies, and complying with established protocols, policies and procedures.
This combined approach enabled a clear understanding of both current and emerging workforce expectations. It also informed the identification of key functions and sub-functions that underpin Health Services Assistance roles, ensuring that training product development is evidence-based, industry-informed, and responsive to the evolving needs of the healthcare sector.
Functional analysis report
Qualifications and Units of Competency
The adjusted project scope now includes 2 qualifications and 5 units of competency specific to health services assistants and operating theatre technicians.
Qualifications
Units of Competency
Thank you to everyone who attended an in-person or online consultation workshop for our Health Services Assistance Qualification Review.
We met with employers (small, medium, and large), industry experts, training providers (RTO managers and trainers) and more in Canberra, Adelaide, Hobart, Cairns, Brisbane, Sydney, Broken Hill, Darwin, Melbourne, Bairnsdale, Busselton, Perth and online between 18 March and 14 May 2025.
Health Services Assistance Qualification Review Workshop
Summary of Proposed Changes
The Health Services Assistance and Operating Theatre Technician qualifications are being reviewed to ensure they reflect current industry practices, emerging workforce needs, and contemporary models of care. The proposed updates aim to strengthen alignment with healthcare service delivery, clarify job role expectations, and enhance pathways for learners and employers.
View proposed changes
View draft Companion Volume Implementation Guide
Key changes include refined unit groupings, clearer delineation of work functions across qualification levels, and updated content to reflect best practice in patient support, infection prevention, and person-centred care. Two new technology-focused units have been introduced as part of the Operating Theatre Technician qualification, supporting learners in developing essential digital skills and competence with contemporary healthcare technologies.
Additionally, as part of this review, 2 maternity-related units of competency were externally developed for consideration for integration. A proposed change combined these units into a single ASK (Application of Skills and Knowledge) unit, streamlining learning while maintaining coverage of essential maternal and newborn health concepts. This ASK unit ensures learners can demonstrate knowledge and skills in recognising maternal and newborn wellbeing needs, understanding factors influencing health outcomes, and providing safe, person-centred support within their scope of practice.
Overall, the revisions focus on improving transferability across health settings and ensuring the qualifications remain relevant, accessible and responsive to evolving sector demands.
A feedback survey on the Health Services Assistance Draft Training Package closed on Friday 28 November 2025.
A summary of the feedback received between 18 March, and 14 May 2025 is available in the consultation log.
Consultation log
Overview of the Occupation and Purpose of Qualification Updates
This Health Services Assistance Qualification Review focused on updating qualifications to reflect current industry practices, improve career pathways and enhance the safety and quality of training to meet today's industry requirements and anticipate future challenges.
Health services assistants (HSAs) provide essential support in healthcare settings, working under the direction and supervision of clinical and allied health professionals. They contribute to the effective delivery of patient care and the smooth operation of health services across environments such as hospitals, aged care facilities, community health and rehabilitation services.
The HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance and HLT47515 Certificate IV in Operating Theatre Technical Support qualifications have been updated to ensure they remain current, relevant and fit-for-purpose, reflecting:
- strengthened job readiness, ensuring learners develop practical skills, communication capabilities and workplace confidence
- current workplace practice in health settings, including contemporary models of care and service delivery
- support workforce development, creating clearer pathways into and within the health sector
- enhanced flexibility for delivery, allowing training to be contextualised across different healthcare environments and learner cohorts.
Qualifications and Units Reviewed
The review encompassed:
- HLT33115 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance to cover core competencies required for workers providing support to healthcare professionals across acute, sub-acute, aged care and community settings, including assisting in nursing care, patient support and operating theatre technician
- HLT47515 Certificate IV in Operating Theatre Technical Support to cover advanced competencies required for operating theatre technicians, including specialised technical support, intra-operative assistance and the use and management of surgical equipment and technologies.
Units reviewed included core competencies in:
- assisting with nursing care and personal support activities under delegation
- providing non-healthcare recipient contact support in health and community care environments
- preparing healthcare recipients for procedures and supporting safe transfers
- maintaining infection prevention and control practices in clinical environments
- operating and maintaining theatre equipment and resources
- providing intra-operative technical and equipment support
- supporting responses to clinical emergencies within defined role boundaries
- managing advanced and digital surgical technologies, including robotic and electrosurgical systems
- applying workplace health and safety practices relevant to healthcare settings
- communicating effectively in multidisciplinary healthcare teams
- maintaining documentation and reporting in line with organisational procedures.
Summary of Consultations
We extend our sincere thanks to all individuals who generously contributed their time and expertise to this project. At its commencement, a Technical Committee of 9 members was established with representation from Western Australia, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria and New South Wales. In June 2025, an additional member joined the committee for Victoria. Members represented registered training organisations (RTOs), union representatives, local government bodies and subject matter experts who provided ongoing guidance, industry insight and valuable input throughout the project.
Consultations were conducted between 18 March and 14 May 2025 using workshops, surveys, site visits, email submissions and meetings with subject matter experts (SMEs).
Online workshops were conducted on 27 March, 28 March, 17 April, 29 April and 14 May 2025. Stakeholders were also invited to provide input via surveys and written submissions. Participants included employers, professional associations, training providers, union representatives, peak bodies, subject matter experts, regulators and practitioners from metropolitan and regional settings.
A validation round of consultation was held from 10 to 28 November 2025.
This extensive consultation ensured that diverse industry perspectives informed the review.
Key Outcomes of the Review
1. Training product templates
- Qualifications and units updated to align with 2025 Training Package template requirements
2. HLT33126 Certificate III in Health Services Assistance
- Total number of units remains at 15
- Core and elective structure refined to better align with job roles and industry expectations
- Dedicated WHS elective grouping (Group A) introduced
- Elective groupings updated to support clearer pathways, including Assisting in Nursing and Operating Theatre Technician
- HLTAIN005 Pregnancy and postnatal health and wellbeing foundations developed as a new Application of Skills and Knowledge (ASK) unit and included within the elective structure
3. HLT47526 Certificate IV in Operating Theatre Technical Support
- Total number of units reduced from 15 to 14
- Core units reduced from 10 to 9; electives remain at 5
- Qualification structure refined to reflect advanced technical and intra-operative support roles
- HLTTHE007 Manage advanced technology in surgical theatre environments and HLTTHE008 Provide assistance during clinical emergencies in surgical theatre environments developed and included as core units
- Increased emphasis on advanced technology, equipment management, and emergency support capabilities
4. Units of competency updated
- Units updated to reflect broader healthcare settings and contemporary workplace practices
- Terminology and structure revised to improve clarity, consistency and alignment with industry expectations
- Unit application, performance criteria, performance evidence, knowledge evidence and assessment conditions refined for clarity and application
Consultation
- 1 site visit
- 19 meetings: 12 in-person and 7 online
- 8 Technical Committee meetings including 1 full day online workshop
- 167 informed stakeholders engaged in the review and development of training package components
All feedback has been recorded and responded to in the Consultation log. A summary of feedback from the Consultation stage and how it was been considered and addressed is included below.
Documents Submitted to the Assurance Body
Qualification
Units of Competency
Companion Volume Implementation Guide
Supporting documents