Overview
Take the first step towards a career in the fast-growing tourism industry with the Certificate III in Tourism at Victoria University Polytechnic.
This course will help you to develop the knowledge necessary to operate across a range of roles within the tourism sector. You will gain essential skills in coordinating tourism services, providing visitor information and offering exceptional customer service.
Our highly-experienced teachers will assist you to gain skills in:
- how to source and use information on the tourism and travel industry
- providing service to customers
- development of social and cultural sensitivity
- how to participate in safe work practices
- providing advice on Australian and International destinations
- how to sell tourism products and services
- how to use and operate a GDS (Galileo and Sabre)
- process travel-related documents.
Upon completion of this course you will be able to work across a range of roles in the tourism industry and customer service, or continue onto further study.
Free TAFE 2021 – apply now
Eligible students won’t pay tuition fees for this course in 2021.
Free TAFE courses align with skills and jobs that are in high demand from Victorian employers.
Find out more about Free TAFE.
Award-winning learning model
This course is delivered through Victoria University Polytechnic’s award-winning blended learning model that combines face-to-face workshops with flexible, user-friendly eLearning activities.
Industry links
As a travel and tourism student you will be exposed to our high-profile industry partnership, including:
- Lancemore Group’s Mansion Hotel & Spa at Werribee Park
- Crown Melbourne
- TFE Hotels
- Contiki Travel Tours
- Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens.
Learning advice
VU’s Learning Hubs are welcoming spaces where you can improve your study and employability skills.
Our students can attend Learning Hubs at one of five VU campuses.
We offer maths, writing, careers and English-language advice, and show you effective ways to study and manage your time.
Our programs include:
- workshops
- drop-in sessions
- peer mentoring
- maths and writing resources
- resume and career guidance.
We also have accessibility support services and counselling services available for all students.
Library & computer facilities
Our campus libraries offer career advice, academic resources and learning and IT support in relaxed lounge-like settings. You'll have access to photocopying, computing and printing facilities as well as electronic and print resources.
You'll have access to a rich collection of online resources at any time of the day or night, including databases, e-learning content for courses, student email, student software packages and social networking tools.
VU has one of the best campus-wide WiFi networks. We also have more than 4000 computers (PCs and Apple Mac) spread across our campuses. A central IT helpdesk is also available for support.
Need some advice?
Request a call back from one of our experienced Victoria University Polytechnic course advisers to get your questions answered.
Request a call backTAFE resources
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Free TAFE 2021
No tuition fees for eligible students. - Fee subsidies
School for the Visitor Economy
This course is part of VU's School for the Visitor Economy - a new cross-university school providing qualified graduates to Victoria's rapidly expanding tourism and hospitality sectors.
Leading research
VU’s Hospitality and Tourism Management research is among the world’s best, ranked #35 by the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) in 2017.
Careers in tourism
The travel and tourism sector is one of the fastest growing industries in Australia. The Certificate III in Tourism offers the chance for a dynamic career across multiple roles, from product coordination to working as a travel agent. After successful completion of the course you can apply for a range of positions in the travel and tourism industry, including:
- cellar door salesperson and guide
- inbound tour coordinator
- marine tourism assistant
- visitor information officer
- international corporate travel consultant
- international online travel consultant
- reservation sales agent (tour operator)
- travel consultant.
Nationally recognised training
This course is nationally recognised training.
Course structure
To be awarded the SIT30116 Certificate III in Tourism, a student must successfully complete a total of fifteen (15) units of competency, comprising of:
- four (4) core units, and;
- eleven (11) elective units, of which:
- six (6) elective units must be selected from one of the four combinations outlined below:
- three (3) elective units from Group A and three (3) elective units from Group B must be selected, OR
- six (6) elective units from Group C must be selected, OR
- six (6) elective units from Group D must be selected, OR
- six (6) elective units from Groups A, B, C, or E must be selected, and;
- five (5) elective units may be selected from Groups A, B, C, D, E, elsewhere in the SIT Training Package, or any other current training package or accredited course.
Course structure and units
VU Polytechnic delivers the electives listed in the ‘course structure and units’ below. These electives have been selected based on industry needs, graduate pathways and/or student and teacher feedback. Alternative suitable electives are only available via Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) and Credit Transfer (CT).
CORE UNITS
ELECTIVE UNITS
Group A
Group B
Group C
Group C electives are not currently offered by the Polytechnic.
Group D
Group D electives are not currently offered by the Polytechnic.
Group E
Imported
Learning outcomes
This qualification reflects the role of individuals who use a range of well-developed tourism service, sales or operational skills and sound knowledge of industry operations to coordinate tourism services. Using discretion and judgement, they work with some independence and under limited supervision using plans, policies and procedures to guide work activities.
This qualification provides a pathway to work in many tourism industry sectors and for a diversity of employers including tour operators, inbound tour operators, visitor information centres, attractions, cultural and heritage sites, and any small tourism business.
This qualification allows for multi-skilling and for specialisation in office-based roles involving the planning and coordination of tourism services, or roles in the field where products are delivered.
Fees & scholarships
Fee type for this course: VET
Fee type definitions
The amount you pay for your course depends on whether you’re offered a government subsidised place or a full fee-paying place.
Students who enrol in a:
- government subsidised place pay subsidised tuition fees (the government contributes the rest), and may be required to pay a Student Services and Amenities Fee along with any material fees
- full fee-paying place pay the full fee tuition rate (which includes Student Services and Amenities Fee and any material fees).
Calculate your VET course fees.
Find out more about:
- the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)
- ways to pay your fees
- important fee dates
- how to apply for a VE/TAFE refund
Scholarships & assistance
Apply for a scholarship to help with your study costs.
We can help with fee assistance and advice.
Admission & pathways
Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee you entry into this course. Some courses receive more applications than the number of places available. In this situation we will also assess your education, work and other relevant experience.
If you do not meet the minimum requirements you may be eligible for one of our special admission programs. We also encourage you to explore our study pathways to help you reach your goal.
Find out more about how to apply for our courses, and our commitment to admissions transparency.
Entry requirements
Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs.
Pathways from VU courses
There are many ways you can start your education journey at VU. Pathways offer an easy transition between courses at different levels, so that you can start with a certificate and progress right through to postgraduate study.
Find out more about pathways and credits.
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL)
You may be able to complete your qualification sooner through formal recognition of your existing skills. This is known as Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
To receive RPL, we assess your previous work, education and life experiences against recognised qualifications. Applications for RPL can be made prior to enrolling.
Call us on 1300 TAFE VP (1300 823 387) to discuss RPL options with the course manager.
How to apply
Prior to enrolment, all applicants will be required to complete a literacy and numeracy assessment to assist with determining eligibility and to identify learning support needs.
Before you apply
Before starting your application, please read through the step-by-step VU Polytechnic application process to make sure you have all the necessary documents and information ready to successfully complete your application.
Before applying, you should consider whether you also want to apply for:
- Special admission programs: Depending on your life circumstances you may be eligible for special consideration of your application.
- Advanced standing: If you have significant experience or studies elsewhere you may be eligible for credit for some units of your course and not have to undertake them.
Apply direct to VU
Apply direct to VU using our admission centre, submit applications for one or more courses, track and save your progress and upload additional information.
Already a VU student?
If you are already a VU student, apply direct to VU using our Admissions centre to transfer into this course. Remember it’s best to be accepted into your new course before withdrawing from your current one.
After you apply
- It’s important to check for emails from us (which may go to your spam/junk folder).
- Complete any requests for information by the given dates, otherwise your application may not be considered
Enquire now – TAFE
Please fill out the form below, and we'll get back to you shortly.
Contact VU Polytechnic
Please note that if changes to this course occur, VU will notify students as soon as possible.
At Victoria University, we aim to display accurate and complete course information online. However, we are unable to guarantee that every course change is currently displayed. You may contact the University directly on +61 3 9919 6100 to confirm the most up-to-date course fees, pathways and credit transfer, recognition of prior learning, admission and enrolment procedures, examinations and services available to our students.
