What Is A Disability Support Worker?

Do you have a knack for helping people? Have you always wanted to have a meaningful career and make an impact?

Then, being a disability support worker might be just the right fit for you!

While it comes with its challenges, working as a disability support worker can also be extremely rewarding and fulfilling.

In this post, we’ll review the role and responsibilities of disability support workers in detail. And we’ll also highlight the path to becoming a disability support worker.

What Are The Roles & Responsibilities Of Disability Support Workers?

The primary role of a disability support worker is to help people with disabilities with their daily tasks such as shopping, food preparation, general hygiene or appointment coordination.

But more than simply helping them with physical and social needs, their role is also to provide them with emotional support. Disability support workers are there to empower their patients and help them thrive, reach their goals, and improve their quality of life.  

More specifically, here are the three main areas of support disability workers provide:

• Domestic Support - As a disability support worker, you’ll provide in-home services to your clients. Depending on their level of disability, you’ll be expected to assist them with domestic tasks such as shopping, cleaning and cooking.
• Personal Care Support - Another responsibility of disability support workers includes helping clients get dressed and assisting them with personal hygiene.
• Emotional Support - Disability support workers are often both a carer and a friend. They’re here to support their clients on an emotional level and help them navigate life challenges. This requires patience, empathy and compassion.

Disability support workers usually work in specialised care settings, their clients’ homes, or hospitals. While they can be employed full-time and work for an agency or healthcare facility, they can also be self-employed and work as independent workers.

The average salary for this kind of job in 2022 is $63,000 a year, or $32.31 an hour.

How To Become a Disability Support Worker?

In Australia, there are no required certifications to become a disability support worker.

However, here are a few certifications that can help you learn the ropes and ensure you provide optimal service to your clients:

Certificate III in individual support

This is a nationally accredited certificate designed to teach you how to provide optimal individual support for your clients and empower them to live an independent and fulfilling life. It combines theory and practical courses and will also teach you how to navigate the complex NDIS landscape.

Certificate IV in individual support - Disability

If you want to develop your skills further, this certificate will provide specialised training to help you assist your clients in the best ways possible. What’s more, this certificate will also help you gain the skills and knowledge to successfully perform more supervisory duties.  

Ready to become a support disability worker? If you want to work for yourself, you’ll need insurance. And to make life easier for you, we’ve created an instant quote generator that supplies market-leading insurance quotes within seconds after you’ve entered your criteria. That way, you can quickly find the best insurance to suit your needs and start your new venture on the right foot!