Build Your Manual Handling Skills
Manual handling means using your body to exert forces to lift, lower, push, pull, carry, move, hold or restrain any object or person.
Incorrect manual handling can lead to many injuries including muscle sprains or strains, abdominal hernias, back injuries and soft tissue injuries to the wrists, arms, shoulders, neck or legs. These conditions are known as musculoskeletal injuries or disorders.
While care and therapy staff will be subject to some manual handling during their daily duties, it is essential to follow the correct manual handling guidelines and procedures especially in dealing with patients and residents.
It is also essential to understand patient mobility status and use the correct equipment. Learn these skills in our professional online manual handling course.
Video Introduction
Who Is the Course Suitable For?
This manual handling course online suits anyone who supports older adults or people living with disability. It teaches safe, practical manual handling techniques you can use at work and in the community. It is also ideal for anyone wanting to understand what manual handling in aged care involves.
Aged Care Workers
Ideal for carers, nurses, allied health staff and volunteers working in aged care settings who need strong skills in manual handling in aged care.
Disability Support Workers
Suitable for support workers and disability organisations who want safer client movement and equipment handling.
Home Care and Community Health Staff
Perfect for workers providing support in people’s homes or community environments who rely on safe manual handling training every day.
Healthcare Workers
Useful for physiotherapists, OTs, nurses and other clinicians who want to refresh safe movement and transfer skills.
People Applying for Care Roles
Your completion certificate supports job applications in aged care, disability care and community health and is accepted by many employers as proof of completing a manual handling course.
Manual Handling Course Outline
Manual Handling Introduction
Welcome to Total Health Choice's Manual Handling Course - we are thrilled to have you here to help provide you with the skills and knowledge of safe manual handling practices so you can provide safe care for yourself and those you are looking after.
1. What is Manual Handling
Manual handling training gives you the skills to safely undertake manual handling tasks, reducing your risk of injury. Appropriate training empowers you to ensure you are working safely, comfortably and productively.
1.1 Handling Position and Footwork
When we handle individuals who need assistance to move their limbs, we need to always take a gentle approach.
2. Safe Lifting Techniques
Consider the weight of the object, the environment and the height you are transferring to. If there are any doubts, do not attempt to lift the object. Includes steps to safe lifting technique.
3. Sit to Stand
It is very important to encourage individuals to participate as much as possible with all transfers.
This approach supports best long term outcomes for the individual, and less stress on the body.
4. Mobilising with an Individual
There are many reasons whereby an individual may require assistance with walking, including behavioural issues, poor balance, poor cognition, movement disorders, neurological conditions or reduced walking endurance.
5. Stairs
It is important to note that stairs are not an appropriate option for everyone.
Only consider taking the stairs if the individual has been assessed and can navigate them safely.
6. Wheelchair
Before using a wheelchair, it's important to check that it's in good condition.
This includes checks of the tyre inflation, wheels rolly properly, brakes are working and then the user is positioned correctly. Includes steps for transferring into wheelchair.
7. Rolling in Bed
The log roll is a technique commonly used to roll an individual on their side.
There are many reasons to perform this maneuver, including fitting slings, positioning slide sheets, everyday pressure care, hygiene and comfort.
8. Bed Mobility
Slide sheets can be used to reposition individuals to an optimal position.
Slide sheets are a great tool as they reduce friction, making it easier to move individuals. Includes steps on how to use slide sheets.
9. Lying to Sitting
It is important to be aware of a person's capability and how much they can help.
Some may need verbal prompts, while others will require hands-on assistance.
10. Standing Machine
Standing machines are a great piece of equipment for individuals who are able to weight bear, but unable to walk.
The individual must be able to follow instructions, grip handles, maintain sitting balance and participate in the standing process.
11. Sara Steady
It is suitable for people who have been assessed as having enough strength to using it safely and effectively.
We will be demonstrating how to use a Sara Steady.
12. Lifting Machine/ Ceiling Hoist
Are used to transfer individuals who cannot weight bear at all, or have difficulty weight bearing.
Requires two staff members minimum. Slings are allocated to individuals and are not to be shared due to infection control purposes.
12.1 Transferring from the Floor - Mobile Lifting Machine
It is not appropriate to lift an individual off a floor by yourself.
When an individual on the floor due to a fall, we need to assess for an injury prior to transfer.
Manual Handling Training Deliverables
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Theory Presentation Content
- Rights and Responsibilities
- Causation/Relationship of Injury
- Defining Manual Processes
- Protecting yourself
- Practical and modular lifting techniques
- Strategies to avoid lifting
- Workplace Specific Manual Handling Techniques
- Preventing common injuries
- Preventing RSI injuries to the elbows, wrists and hands
- How to use visual and verbal cues in order to manage the patient’s position.
- General prevention strategies
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Outcomes
- Identify the way in which staff perform their daily duties and the physical effect it will have
- Developing appropriate movement patterns for bending, leaning and reaching tasks.
- Identify which bending, lifting and reaching movement patterns can contribute to detrimental effects on the body
- Identify specific techniques for use in tasks associated with the Aged and Community Care Service Industry.
- Understand the rights and responsibilities of injury management
Earn a Manual Handling Training Certification
At the completion of the training, participants are signed off as being competent in manual handling.
Total Health Choice provides Manual Handling certificates which are suitable for the majority of Australian employers.
Your certification is valid for 365 days after completion.
Enrol in Our Online Manual Handling Training
Getting started is simple. You can enrol in our manual handling course online at any time or contact our team for help. Our Australian Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists guide the learning so you gain practical, safe and work-ready manual handling training.
You will get:
- Self-paced learning you can complete in your own time
- Videos, demonstrations and graded quizzes
- Access on any computer, laptop, tablet or mobile
- A shareable certificate of completion for employment or compliance
- Training created and delivered by qualified clinicians who understand manual handling in aged care and disability support
Prefer Face-to-Face Training?
We offer in-person manual handling training for organisations across Melbourne. This service is available for groups of six or more staff and is delivered by qualified Physiotherapists and Occupational Therapists.
What you can expect:
- Training delivered at your facility or at our office
- A curriculum customised to your workplace needs
- Suitable for aged care facilities, disability organisations and home care providers
- Practical education in safe manual handling techniques
- A certificate of compliance for every staff member who completes the session
- Clinician-led training that reflects real workplace requirements
Learn more about our in-person training here: In-Person Manual Handling Training
- 14+ Years Experience
- 50+ Team Size
- 150+ 5 Star Reviews
Manual Handling Training FAQ
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Can I complete the online course in stages if I do not finish it in one sitting?
Yes. Our manual handling course online is fully self-paced. You can pause at any time and your progress will be saved so you can return when it works for you.
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Does the certificate include a Unique Student Identifier (USI) or is it suitable for nationally recognised training?
No. This course does not require a USI and is not a nationally recognised qualification. It is designed to give you real workplace skills and is accepted by aged care, disability and community providers as proof of manual handling training.
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What happens if I fail the quiz or assessment at the end of the course?
You can retake the quiz until you pass. The goal is to help you learn safe manual handling techniques and feel confident using them.
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Are there any physical or health requirements for the in-person session?
You only need to take part in practical demonstrations at your own pace. Our clinicians tailor manual handling in aged care training to suit different fitness levels and mobility needs.
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How do I arrange group bookings for organisations and is there a discount?
You can contact our team to arrange a group booking. We run in-person manual handling training for organisations across Melbourne. Bulk pricing is available for larger groups.
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Will the certificate show the specific name of the training I have completed?
Yes. Your certificate will clearly show the course name, such as “Manual Handling Training” or “Manual Handling for Aged Care,” so employers know what you have completed.
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What technical requirements do I need to access the online course?
You only need a modern browser. The course works on mobile, tablet and desktop. If you can watch videos and complete online quizzes, you can start your manual handling course online with ease.
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Are there any renewal requirements or suggested refreshers?
Most workplaces suggest a refresher every year. You can complete an online refresher to stay up to date with current manual handling techniques.
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How is the in-person training delivered and what is the minimum group size?
We deliver in-person sessions onsite at your workplace or at our facility. The minimum group size is six. This is ideal for aged care facilities, disability organisations and community providers seeking consistent manual handling training for their teams.
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If I have completed a similar manual handling course before, can I do a refresher instead of the full course?
Yes. You can complete the online program as a refresher. It supports the essentials of what is manual handling in aged care, safe equipment use and best practice client handling skills.
