NEW! Free skill sets and reduced fee qualification for pathology

Two new free skill sets to support the health and pathology sector are now available, to help meet the urgent demand in Western Australia for pathology and COVID-19 collectors.

Additionally, the Certificate III in Pathology Collection qualification will now have course fees reduced by 67 per cent under Lower fees, local skills.

Minister for Education and Training Sue Ellery announced the new initiatives today, saying “Developed in consultation with industry, the pathology skill sets are designed to attract more skilled workers to WA’s health sector as it works to help keep our community safe.“ The State Government has continued to keep training fees low to help Western Australians gain the skills needed for jobs in areas of high demand such as frontline pathology workers and COVID-19 specimen collectors. Pathology workers are playing a frontline and crucial role in Western Australia’s COVID-19 response.

Two new skill sets
Free for everyone, the two new skill set short courses have been developed in consultation with industry and will deliver highly transferable skills to prepare participants for work in hospitals, outpatient clinics, GP clinics and a range of other healthcare settings.
 

• The Pathology Collection skill set is completed under the supervision of a trained phlebotomist, and covers the skills to obtain blood samples from a patient for laboratory testing 
• The COVID-19 Collection skill set covers the skills required to collect, prepare and dispatch a pathology specimen for Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing — a technique used to copy small segments of DNA to diagnose and infections such as COVID-19

In addition to the pathology collection skills, these new courses will teach  compliance with infection prevention and control policies and procedures, for working in hospital wards or outpatient clinics, GP clinics and specialist rooms, home collection services and other public and private healthcare settings.

The skill sets will also provide credit towards the Certificate III in Pathology Collection qualification, which is now reduced by 67 per cent under the Local fees, local skills initiative. People under 25 or eligible people of all ages looking for work will pay no more than $400 in course fees for this qualification, which equates to an almost $3,500 saving. Course fees are capped at $1,200 for non-concession eligible students. 

The Certificate III in Pathology Collection is available at North Metropolitan TAFE, South Regional TAFE, LTT Group Pty Ltd, Marr Mooditj and PathWest. 

For more information on free and half price training options, visit jobsandskills.wa.gov.au/skillsready or contact your local Jobs and Skills Centre on 13 64 64, or a TAFE college or training provider. 
 

Read the Minister's full media statement here