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If you love providing support and care for a variety of people in different ways, then a disability support worker job could be the perfect career for you. Disability support is a meaningful and versatile career, providing workers with the opportunity to make a difference every day in their client’s ability to live independently. For a disability support worker, no day is ever the same, but every day is filled with opportunities to exercise empathy, build relationships, and experience meaningful interactions. If you believe that empathetic connection can transcend physical limitations, then you could thrive as a disability support worker.
What Does a Disability Support Worker Do?
Disability support workers provide support to people with disabilities. They can work in people’s homes, in specialised care settings, or in hospitals. They may provide support for a variety of clients, or they may work with one or two full-time clients.
The tasks that a disability support worker performs are as varied as each person’s individual needs. They may provide companionship and help with running errands or going shopping. They may provide support with daily living activities, such as bathing, eating, and grooming. They may also help with household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and washing laundry.
Disability workers also have options in the way they work. They can be full-time staff for an agency or facility, or they can be self-employed independent workers. Although most are full-time, there are also many part-time jobs in the sector. If the above appeals to you, the next question you might be wondering is, how can I become a support worker?
What Certifications Do You Need to Become a Disability Support Worker?
In Australia, there are no required certifications for disability support workers. You don’t need any educational requirements, and 11% of workers have only completed Year 10 or below of school. However, several certifications are valuable in the field, and attaining a certification will make you more attractive as a candidate for disability support jobs.
Certificate III in Individual Support: A Certificate III in Individual Support will prepare you to provide individualised, person-centred support to people who have a disability. This certificate program combines theory with practical training and enables you to work in home disability support or in a support facility. The training provides you with the skills and knowledge to fulfil a support role in a predictable environment with significant autonomy – key skills for workers in a home environment.
You can complete this certificate in as little as 14 weeks, but most programs are six months to a year long. The core curriculum covers principles of support care, recognising healthy body systems, and following safe practices for direct client care. You can also choose from a variety of electives for disability care to further your knowledge on topics such as person-centred care, strengths-based approaches, and augmentative communication tools. The certificate requires a minimum of 13 units and 120 hours of work in the home or community setting. After completing the certification, you’ll be a strong candidate for jobs such as disability support worker, personal care worker, or residential care worker.
The average cost for a Certificate III in Individual Support is $2900, but many provinces offer subsidies and other help with tuition. For example, Queensland residents can take advantage of the Certificate III Guarantee, which supports people who want to obtain their first post-school Certificate III qualification.
Certificate IV in Disability: If you want to increase your skills as a disability support worker, a Certificate IV in Disability provides further specialised training that will enable you to work with more independence. A Certificate IV provides you a higher level of competence in disability support, enabling you to work in a supervisory or a more specialised role.
People who obtain this certificate usually have already been working in the disability support industry and want to further their careers. After completing a Certificate IV in Disability, you’ll be eligible for positions such as disability officer or senior personal care assistant.
This certificate requires a minimum of 14 units. This program covers many of the same topics as a Certificate III, but at this level, you’ll learn in more depth, and you’ll be able to apply your skills in a broader variety of situations. For example, one core unit in Certificate III teaches you to work legally and ethically; a similar unit in Certificate IV teaches you to manage legal and ethical compliance, preparing you for a supervisory role.
The average length of this certification program is 1 year, and the average cost is $4000. Some provinces offer subsidies for qualified individuals.
What is finding work like for Disability Support Workers?
Once you’ve completed your training, you won’t have difficulty finding disability support worker jobs across the country. There are 4.4 million people in Australia, or 18% of the population, living with a long-term disability. Of that number, 32%, or 1.4 million people, have profound or severe disabilities that mean they need ongoing support to live independently. Although the percentage of the population with disabilities has decreased over time, the Australian population is also aging, and older people are more likely to have a disability. Fifty per cent of Australians aged 65 and older are living with a disability, so the need for support workers will continue to increase as the population ages.
Therefore, the job outlook for disability support workers in Australia is very strong. The number of workers needed is expected to grow by 25% from 2019 to 2024.
Disability Support Worker Salary: The average salary for disability support workers nationally is $1265/week, which is slightly less than the average salary across all industries of $1460/week.
For people seeking a disability support worker job, this career can offer tremendous satisfaction through the opportunity to empower and support people with disabilities to thrive and live independently. If you are passionate about working with diverse people in a variety of settings to provide person-centred care, disability support could be the next step for you.
Real-Life Insights from a Disability Support Worker
We had a chat with Alex Morgan, a Disability Support Worker from My Companionship who has been in the disability industry for three years. Here, Alex shares insights into the role, what an average day looks like, and why this career choice has been so rewarding.
Before transitioning to disability support, Alex worked in the retail sector for over a decade. Feeling unfulfilled and seeking a career with more meaningful connections, Alex decided to make a significant change and join the ranks of disability support workers.
"Making the switch to disability support was daunting at first," Alex recalls. "I wasn’t sure what to expect, but it turned out to be the best decision I've ever made. The work is incredibly rewarding, and every day brings new challenges and joys."
Alex’s two biggest surprises when becoming a disability support worker were both positive:
How diverse and engaging each day is
The remarkable capabilities and resilience of the people supported
“No two days are the same in this job,” Alex explains. “One day we might be focused on structured activities like helping with appointments or household tasks, and the next day we could be out in the community, participating in social events or recreational activities.”
"What I love most about this job is the need to adapt and respond to the unique needs and desires of each person I support," Alex says. "It keeps things interesting and fulfilling."
Alex is constantly amazed by the abilities of the clients. “With the right support, there's no limit to what they can achieve,” Alex says. “They are incredibly goal-oriented, and I’m often surprised by their accomplishments and the progress they make.”
A Day in the Life of a Support Worker
A typical day as a disability support worker for Alex might include:
Supporting individuals with disabilities to achieve their personal goals and develop their skills
Facilitating community engagement through social activities and outings
Assisting with meal planning, preparation, and shopping
Providing support for daily activities, such as attending appointments or leisure activities
Helping maintain connections with family, friends, and services
Offering the necessary support to help individuals maintain and enhance their independence
Alex’s shifts can start as early as 7 am and end as late as 9 pm, depending on the needs of each client. Despite the long hours, Alex finds the work extremely rewarding.
“Working in this field has allowed me to make a real difference in people's lives,” Alex says. “It's not just a job; it's a way to empower others to live independently and be an active part of their communities.”
For those considering a role as a Disability Support Worker, Alex offers this advice: “It’s an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling job, but you need to have patience and be a people person. Building connections with the individuals you support and their families is crucial. The moments when a client expresses their appreciation or achieves a milestone make all the hard work worthwhile.”
Key Duties & Responsibilities of a Disability Support Worker
The role of a disability support worker involves various tasks, which can be grouped into three main categories:
Personal Care Support
Assisting people in carrying out essential daily tasks such as dressing, bathing, grooming, tooth brushing, medicine administration, and restroom use.
Supporting the client’s physical and mental health with routine checks, administering prescriptions, and measuring blood pressure.
Providing a safe environment for the client by monitoring their surroundings for potential dangers such as fire hazards and tripping hazards.
Collaborating with other healthcare providers to coordinate clients’ care plans.
Household Support
Assisting with household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, and laundry.
Providing a diverse range of activities such as arts & crafts or games for clients who can’t go outside.
Supporting clients socially and arranging visits or outings in the community.
Identifying needs and developing plans for improving the quality of life for those suffering from disabilities or mental health issues.
Emotional Support
Providing companionship and emotional support to clients.
Counselling clients on managing their time and finances.
Working with client’s family members to help them understand their needs and goals.
Qualities of a Good Disability Support Worker
Aside from completing a certificate or diploma, requirements for disability support workers include having the following personal qualities:
Patience
Working with seniors and people with disabilities requires patience to effectively deal with different ways of thinking and behaviour.
Communication Skills
You’ll be working with people with diverse needs, so clear and effective communication is essential.
Good Organisational Skills
There will be paperwork involved, and you may have multiple tasks to perform each day that need to be completed on time.
Empathy
Providing emotional support to clients and understanding their needs is crucial for building trust and effective relationships.
Passion for Continuous Learning
A commitment to ongoing learning and skill development is important to improve your practice and stay updated with industry standards.
NDIS and Disability Support Workers
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has a code of conduct that all disability care workers must follow. It ensures clients are cared for effectively, without disadvantage or fear of harm.
The code of conduct states that disability workers must:
Act with respect for individual rights to freedom of expression, self-determination, and decision-making by relevant laws and conventions
Respect the privacy of people with disability
Provide support and services safely and competently with care and skill
Act with integrity, honesty, and transparency
Promptly take steps to raise and act on concerns about matters that might have an impact on the quality and safety of support provided to people with disability
Take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to all forms of violence, exploitation, neglect, and abuse of people with disability
Take all reasonable steps to prevent and respond to sexual misconduct
For more information on the NDIS code of conduct, visit the official NDIS website.
What Now?
If you are interested in working as a Support Worker, contact My Companionship to discuss whether we can accommodate your working hours and preferences.
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