Disability Support Work in Australia

If you enjoy assisting others and attending to their needs, working as a support worker could be a fulfilling career choice. The role of a support worker is to complete supporting duties, aiding children or adults in the development of critical interpersonal skills and emotional awareness. Find information on what a support worker does, the essential skills needed, the average salary, and prerequisites on this page.

What is a support worker?

A disability support worker is a professional who offers emotional, social, and practical support for people with mental/physical illnesses. They look after these people and assist them in going about their daily lives.

To effectively support several participants, a support worker must have thorough awareness of the unique physical and psychological requirements of the person they are working with. It is the responsibility of the support worker to make someone’s daily life easier and more comfortable. Support staff members have a great deal of empathy for their participants difficulties.

Anyone who is employed or otherwise engaged to offer NDIS supports and services to people with disabilities is considered a worker under the NDIS Commission. Workers can be self-employed individuals, persons who are employed, contractors, consultants, and volunteers. They can either be paid or unpaid.

What does a support worker do?

A support worker assists participants with carrying out daily responsibilities and chores. They must interact with them to ascertain their needs, both emotionally and physically. The support worker performs duties highlighted through a care plan, which outlines everything that must be done to assist the participant.

Sometimes a support worker is also in charge of instructing the participant’s family and friends in support techniques so they may implement them without them.

The other duties include:

• Creating specific healthcare support programmes that meet their participants’ needs
• Assisting them with household tasks like cooking, buying, cleaning, and errand running
• Talking to participants and listening to their issues and concerns
• Helping participants to obtain housing, employment, and grants
• Communicating with participants
• Help participants partake in recreational activities
• Tending to their important health needs

Qualifications to become a support worker

Following are the qualifications and skills that are essential for getting a job as a support worker.

Although formal schooling is not a prerequisite for employment as a support worker, it can help you formalise your skills and open more job prospects. Consider acquiring an undergraduate degree in social work or psychology if you intend to pursue an academic career.

NVQs (Non vocational qualifications) or other comparable credentials in the health and social care sector may provide you an advantage in obtaining the support worker post you seek, even though they are not specifically required. Disability support worker certifications needed to practice include:

• Certificate 3 or 4 in Individual Support
• Certificate 3 or 4 in Aged Care
• Certificate 3 or 4 in Disabilities
• Certificate 3 or 4 in Home and Community Care
• Degree in nursing
• Degree in Allied Health
• Other relevant qualification
• 2 or more years of experience

Essential skills required for a support worker are:

• Technical skills

Support providers may need to use technology to do a variety of activities, but they also rely on their soft skills, such as empathy and compassion. Computer proficiency, for instance, can help the usage of various programmes or applications for planning, budgeting, and managing your participant files.

• Communication skills

Clarity in communication with others is crucial in a support or caregiving job. For example, disability support professionals who work with hearing-impaired people may rely on their writing communication abilities to make sure their participants comprehend care plans, schedules, and other valuable information.

• Attention to detail

For this job field, attention to detail is required in the form of organisational and time management skills. Support workers often manage several participants and it is important they are taking notes and paying attention to details about the participant.

• Critical thinking skills

Your capacity to think critically can help decision-making processes along with your attention to detail. Your critical thinking might influence your performance in ways like considering alternative care approaches or assisting participants in making crucial decisions. Your capacity to solve issues and come up with innovative ideas that benefit your participants and colleagues depends on your critical thinking abilities.

• Flexibility

Supporters and caregivers frequently need to be adaptable and receptive to change, transition, and unforeseen events. It’s critical for support workers to be dependable and ready to offer more assistance when participants require it.

• Interpersonal skills

Gaining a participant’s trust, establishing open communication, and establishing long-lasting professional relationships all depend on your social skills and ability to connect with others. Additionally, it’s critical for support personnel to have tolerance, comprehension, and good conflict-resolution skills. Another essential trait these professionals require to do their duties well is empathy and compassion.

How much does a support worker get paid in Australia?

The average support worker salary in Australia is $64,952 per year or $33.31 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $58,501 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $82,784 per year.

How does NDIS help carers?

One of the core aims of the NDIS is to better support you in your caring role. Families and carers provide help and support that could otherwise be provided by formal services or paid support workers. To know how you can effectively use your NDIS plan, check our blog page.

How to become a support worker?

At 9Dcare, we offer exceptional support to people with various physical and mental challenges to enable them to lead more fulfilling, independent lives. If you’re looking for a support worker role, please look at the career section on our website.

If you have any questions regarding becoming a support worker in one of our many 9Dcare locations, please feel free get in touch.