I'm a pathology collector (phlebotomist but I don't really refer to myself as that) and I have a cert III. I suggest doing a the cert if you don't have any nursing training it will give you everything you need and set you up when applying for work.
My workplace won't hire anyone without a cert III or div 2 and the short course (and a lot of our div 2's are doing the course through work)
I love the job and inflicting pain on people can bother me but generally I get past it its children and babies that gets me the most but I know that they need it so that they can get better etc.
it's a very rewarding job and though the pay isn't great I don't see me moving on from it anytime soon
Definitely do it! I am hopeless if I need a blood test but completely fine to do it to others and think it gives me a bit more sympathy for them
Traveller - I think you might work with some ladies from my work