What qualifications do I need to become a Disability Support Worker?

Knowing what qualifications are needed to become a support worker can be a tad bit confusing if you aren’t from the industry. Do you need a certificate? A diploma? A degree? If you have ever seriously considered a career as a support worker, this is a common question to ask. It is important to understand the different options that exist, to ensure you develop your knowledge, skills and ultimately increase the likelihood of being employed in the disability sector, which is screaming out for more qualified workers. Here we look at not only the various qualifications needed to become a support worker, but also experience needed, the difference between carers and support workers and touch on the main roles and responsibilities of a support worker.

Qualifications Needed to Become a Support Worker in Australia

Although it is not a mandatory requirement to hold a formal qualification in disability care, employers are looking favourably at applications from individuals who possess some form of qualification. There are a large number of Registered Training Providers throughout Australia that offer flexible modes of study where you could consider completing a:
• Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) and/or
• Certificate IV in Disability

Given skills and knowledge can be transferable, employers may also consider individuals who have completed or are working towards completing:
• Certificate IV in Allied Health Assistance
• Certificate IV in Mental Health
To find the right course for you, tools such as the Australian Government’s Your Career website can be a valuable resource.

It is important to note that individuals studying Allied Health Degrees are also in a great position to work casually or part time as support workers. These courses may include:
• Occupational Therapy
• Physiotherapy
• Psychology
• Nursing
• Speech Pathology
• Social Work
Students completing these degrees can get hands-on experience working with clients beyond placement hours., and also network with other healthcare professionals part of a client’s broader care team.

Additional Certifications and Training

In addition to the above qualifications, when recruiting support workers employers also screen applications seeking additional certifications and training.

This may include prioritising applications whereby the individual may already have a valid National Police Check, Working With Children’s Check or an NDIS Worker Screening Check.

Given screening requirements have historically been determined by each state and territory (therefore different to one another), the NDIS Worker Screening Check is a nationally consistent assessment which determines whether a person who works or seeks to work with people with disability poses a risk to them.

Other training courses and certificates which employers often look for include but are not exclusive to First Aid Certificates, CPR Training, Working With Children’s Checksin addition to the NDIS Worker Orientation Module.

What Experience Do You Need to Become a Disability Support Worker?

Depending on the organisation, the experience needed to become a disability support worker may vary. Some employers can be open to meeting with individuals who have little to no experience yet are open-minded and eager to undertake additional training. They could be open to offering roles to support workers that are keen to learn whilst on the job, supporting clients with low care requirements.

Other organisations may only be willing to engage with workers that are able to demonstrate hand-on experience. This may be due to their own organisational policy, their stance on mitigating risk or individual client preferences and their care needs.

Clients with complex care needs require support from workers that can hit the ground running. These workers may need to demonstrate that they have the knowledge and skills to provide a specialist level of support to clients in high-risk environments.

Despite the varying levels of experience a provider may consider when recruiting support workers, all individuals must be able to demonstrate strong interpersonal skills, the ability to show empathy, and ultimately a genuine desire to positively impact the lives of those they support.

What is the Difference Between a Carer and a Disability Support Worker?

Some people use these terms interchangeably which can often cause confusion. The term “carer” typically refers to a partner, family member, or friend who selflessly provides assistance to someone they know, often without any financial compensation. These individuals offer their support out of love, compassion, and a genuine desire to help.

There may also be ‘volunteer carers’ who devote their time and energy to support individuals, sometimes through community groups or charitable organisations for example.

On the other hand, “support workers” are professionals who are employed in a paid capacity to provide formal support to persons with disability. While their tasks may sometimes overlap with those of a carer, support workers are required to maintain professional boundaries and adhere to specific guidelines. They possess the necessary training and expertise to offer comprehensive assistance tailored to the needs of their clients.

What Are the Main Roles and Responsibilities of a Disability Support Worker?

Disability Support Workers may need to undertake a wide range of tasks when providing support. This may involve providing:
• personal care (including showering, grooming, toileting and dressing),
• meal preparation
• domestic support
• social support
• community access and engagement and
• assistance with skill development.

There may be clients who require more complex care supports and therefore require assistance with:
• Complex Bowel Care
• Enteral Feeding and Management
• Dysphagia Management
• Tracheostomy Care
• Urinary Catheters
• Ventilation
• Subcutaneous Injections and;
• Diabetes, just to name a few.

To provide safe and adequate care to clients requiring such high intensity support, often requires additional training from members of the clients allied health care team.

In any case it is important to remember that each individual client you support is their own unique person and therefore requires a personalised, tailored approach to care. This involves understanding their individual needs and preferences and working alongside them to help achieve their goals and foster their independence.

In addition to working alongside the client themselves, support workers need to be open to working as part of a broader care team. This may involve working with other health professionals such as Occupational Therapists (OTs) Physiotherapists, Speech Pathologists, Psychologists, Social Workers, Support Coordinators and Case Managers.

For more information check out our blog “ What do you do as a Support Worker”.

Qualifications and Training for Disability Support Workers

To become a successful disability support worker it is often highly recommended that you invest in yourself and undertake a relevant qualification such as a Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) and/or Certificate IV in Disability. This will not only better equip you to understand the theoretical side of what is means to be a support worker, but also give you the practical experience to deliver a safe and personalised level of care. By obtaining additional certifications or commonly sought after training courses such as First Aid, CPR, WWC Checks and the NDIS Worker Orientation Module, you are actively increasing your chances of employment in the sector. Understanding the difference between a carer and support worker will ensure that once employed, you recognise the boundaries of your role and can further support you attend to your responsibilities as part of a broader care team.

Connecting providers with qualified disability support workers

By using industry specific platforms such as Hirey, qualified workers can create unique profiles to better showcase their qualifications and training to employers. Once qualified, create a free profile on Hirey and see just how easy it is to connect with providers keen to hire qualified workers.