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.
When you become a disability worker a disability support worker, no two days on the job will be the same. Every day brings new opportunities to experience empathy, build relationships, and have meaningful interactions with clients. Disability support work can be very rewarding, but it’s not without its challenges. It can be a physically and mentally demanding job that requires resolve and is not without its risks resolve, which is why many support workers invest in disability worker insurance.
What do disability support workers do for their clients?
Disability support workers help people with disabilities in many ways. They work in various settings, including in the homes of the people they car for, in hospitals, or in specialised care. Disability support workers may provide support for several clients at a time, or they may only help one client on a full-time basis.
As each person needs specific support depending on their disability, the tasks a disability support worker may perform are varied. They might provide companionship, or help with grocery shopping or running errands, or driving their clients to appointments. Disability support workers may also assist clients with daily activities such as bathing, eating and grooming. They may also assist with household chores such as cleaning, cooking, and laundry.
The work of disability support workers can be quite flexible. They can work as full-time employees for an agency or a care facility, or they can be independent contractors. Many disability support workers are employed full-time. However, part-time is often also an option. While it is not without its challenges, disability support work can be very rewarding.
Do I need qualifications to be a disability support worker?
For disability support workers in Australia, there are no mandatory qualifications, formal educational requirements, or certifications. However if your aim is to get a job as a disability worker you may be considered a more competitive candidate if you have some formal training or experience under your belt. If you’re planning a career as a disability support worker, you may consider enrolling in one of the following disability support courses.
1. Certificate III in Individual Assistance
The Certificate III in Individual Assistance program integrates theory with practice and enables aspiring disability support workers to work in support facilities or at home for those with disabilities. The course equips budding disability support workers with the knowledge and skills to perform a support role in a controlled environment that allows for significant autonomy.
While the Certificate III in Individual Assistance can be completed in as little as 14 weeks, generally the program is completed within six months to a year. The core curriculum covers:
- support care principles;
- recognising healthy body systems; and
- following safe practices when providing direct client care.
While there is a fee for enrolling in a Certificate III in Individual Assistance, training organisations may offer scholarships or assistance for covering the cost of tuition.
2. Certificate IV in Disabilities Support
The Certificate IV is Disability Support offers further training to help aspiring disability support workers to excel in the role of disability support worker. The Certificate IV in Disability Support equips ambitious disability support worker with higher levels of competence, which can open doors to supervisory positions and specialised disability support work.
Once you have completed the Certificate IV in Disabilities, you will be eligible to apply for senior personal care assistant roles and disability officer positions. The program covers many of the same topics as the Certificate III but enables you to apply your skills to a wider variety of situations.
One unit in Certificate III teaches you how to work ethically and legally. The same unit in Certificate 4 teaches disability support workers how to manage legal compliance and ethics, which will help in preparing for supervisor roles should they wish to pursue them. The Certificate IV in Disabilities Support course takes approximately 12 months.
What is the job outlook for disability support workers?
This support worker guide wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the job outlook for disability support workers Once you have completed your disability support worker training, you will be ready to find your first support worker job. 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 job outlook for
The need for support workers will increase with the increasing number of Australians over 65 living with disabilities. As such, 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.
Disability support worker salary expectations
The average annual salary for disability support workers in Australia is $64,799, or $33.23 per hour. Entry-level disability support workers can expect a starting salary of $60,000 per year, while most experienced disability support workers earn up to $82,342 per year.
Is disability support work right for you?
If you are seeking a career as a disability support worker, you can look forward to true job satisfaction through empowering and supporting people with disabilities to thrive and live independently. If you’ve committed to pursuing a career as a disability support worker it may be worth considering disability worker insurance.
Whether you are a sole trader, contractor, or carer, you disability work can expose you to risks which may result in a Professional Indemnity or Public Liability claim against you. As such, a disability support worker’s insurance package includes Professional Indemnity insurance* and Public Liability insurance to reduce your risk.
BizCover helps disability support workers across Australia to reduce the risks to their business via hassle-free disability worker insurance made easy. 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, not hours. Choose BizCover for your disability worker insurance and get on with your day.
