How to become a disability support worker in Australia

If you are passionate about providing support and care to individuals in need in a variety of ways, then a career as a disability support worker could be a great fit for you. A career as a disability support worker can offer a variety of rewarding opportunities because it enables you to make meaningful improvements that positively impact the wellbeing of your clients.

What does a disability support worker do?

Disability support workers play a crucial role in assisting people who have disabilities to live their daily lives. They tend to a combination of physical, intellectual, or developmental needs, catering their support to the individual, including helping with personal hygiene, mobility, supporting with social activities, and administering medication.

There are many types of disability support worker roles, these can be at a residential facility, day, or in-home support.

Excellent career opportunities

There is a strong job outlook in Australia for those who provide support services to the disabled. The number of disability support workers Australia will need is expected to grow over the coming years. Roughly 18 per cent Australia’s population (4.4 million) lives with a permanent disability, and 32 per cent of them (1.4 million) have severe or profound disabilities that make it difficult to live independently. Add to that Australia’s ageing population and the requirement for disability support workers is anticipated to increase in the coming years. As such, the need for support workers will increase with the increasing number of Australians over 65 living with disabilities.

Disability Certifications and qualifications

For disability support workers in Australia, there are no mandatory qualifications, formal educational requirements, or certifications. However, there is formal training available if you would like to have a competitive advantage and skills to increase the level of care you are able to offer. If you’re planning a career as a disability support worker, you may consider enrolling in one of the following disability support courses.

Certificate III in Individual Support

This program integrates theory with practice and enables aspiring disability support workers to work in support facilities. The program length can be catered to you schedule and can generally be completed between 14 weeks and 1 year.

The cost of this certification varies and is fee-free for some students. Students not eligible for fee-free programs can expect to pay between $799 and $3375 to complete this course (Industry Skills Training, Skills Training College, AWT).

Certificate IV in Disability Support

The Certificate IV in Disability Support offers further training to help aspiring disability support workers to excel in the role of disability support worker. Completing this certification can allow workers to contribute to the individualised plan of a person being cared for, and work without direct supervision.

The cost of this certification varies and is fee-free for some students. Students not eligible for fee-free programs can expect to pay between $3000 and $8000 to complete this course (Victoria University, Phillips Institute, Rosehill College).

Other Certifications

Here are a range of other certifications which can help you in the process of working as a disability support worker:

• An Australian Driver’s License
• Working with Children Check WCC
• First-aid certification
• Police / background check

Skills for support workers in Australia

Empathy

As a support worker the people you provide service to may have a range of challenging emotions, feelings, and experiences. Having empathy for this allows a support worker to understand, connect and feel compassion for their clients.

Communication

Strong communication skills are essential for understanding clients’ needs, explaining tasks clearly, collaborating with colleagues, and keeping families and healthcare professionals informed. Good communication also helps prevent misunderstandings and ensures that care is consistent and effective.

Problem solving

Every client’s situation is unique, and unexpected issues can arise at any time. Being able to think on your feet and find practical, safe, and creative solutions helps support workers maintain quality care and adapt to changing needs.

Physical stamina

Disability support work can be physically demanding. It may involve lifting, assisting with mobility, and a lot of time on your feet. Having good physical stamina ensures workers can carry out these duties safely, avoid injury, and provide consistent, reliable support.

Personal development

Ongoing personal growth and learning help support workers stay up to date with best practices, new techniques, and evolving client needs. It also encourages self-awareness and resilience, which are vital in a challenging yet rewarding profession.

Strong ethics

Clients and their families place a great deal of trust in their support workers. Strong ethics including honesty, confidentiality, respect, and professionalism are vital for maintaining that trust and ensuring that clients’ rights and wellbeing are always protected.

Finding work

There are many jobs available as a support worker through private companies, or government agencies. Another option is to start your own disability support business as a sole trader or independent support worker.

No matter the path you take; sole trader, contractor, or carer, your disability support work can expose you to an array of risks which may result in a claim against you or your business. BizCover can help disability support workers across Australia to reduce the risks by offering a disability support worker’s insurance package built to cover the specific and unique risks faced by disability support workers. This packaged cover includes Professional Indemnity insurance and Public Liability insurance.

BizCover customers enjoy our customer-first approach, which takes the drama out of comparing business insurance quotes and purchasing disability worker insurance online in minutes. Choose BizCover for your disability worker insurance and get on with your day.