Menu
Menu

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Find work
    • Find work
    • MAX Connect
    MAX Employment Services
  • Improve your skills
    • Improve your skills
    • Find a course
    • Study with us
    • Learning resources
      • Living in Australia
      • Learning English
      • Using computers
    Training courses
  • Health and disability
    • Health and disability
    • Health assessments
      • Do you need an assessment?
      • Refer someone for a disability assessment
    • Manage your disability at work
    • Group health programs
    • NDIS and Disability Employment Services
    • Long-term disability
    • Therapy Services
    • School leavers and students
    • Injury or Illness
    Support services
  • Help and advice
    • Help and advice
      • Getting started
      • Resumes and cover letters
      • Improve your skills
      • Health and wellbeing
      • Applications and interviews
      • Job searching tools
      • Starting work
      • Ongoing support
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Your rights and privacy
    • Help with Centrelink
    • Useful contacts
    • Feedback and complaints
    Get the support you want
  • Employer services
    • Employer services
    • National partnerships
    • Find candidates
    • How we support employers
      • Financial support
      • Employee Assistance Program
      • Pre-Employment Medicals (Injurynet)
    • Employ someone with disability
      • Benefits of diversity
      • Types of disabilities
    • Offer work experience
      • Join the PaTH program
      • Offer a traineeship
      • Be a work for the dole host
    • Our work with employers
    Find great staff
  • What we do
    • What we do
    • MAX Employment
      • jobactive
      • Workforce Australia
      • Employability Skills Training
      • Disability Employment Services
      • NDIS School Leaver Employment Supports
      • Parents Next
      • Jobs Victoria
    • MAX Support
      • Adult Migrant English Program
      • Skills for Education and Employment
      • Youth jobs PaTH
      • Vocational Training
      • Child Welfare Assessments
      • Disability Assessments
      • National Panel of Assessors
      • Program for Students with Disability
      • Therapy Services
    • MAX Community
      • Housing Employment Program
      • School Based Trainee Program
      • Prison-based services
      • Employer Services
    Our services and programs
  • About us
    • About us
    • Careers with MAX
    • Our customer promise
    • Our partners
    • MAXIMUS Worldwide
    • Our impact
    • Our leadership team
    • MAX Foundation
    Learn about MAX

Header Navigation Secondary Menu

  • News
  • Careers with MAX
  • Locations
  • Contact
  • Feedback and complaints

Language menu

  • ngôn ngữ tiếng Việt
  • اللغة العربية
  • پښتو ژبه
  • دری
  • 中文 Zhōngwén
  • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ
  • हिन्दी भाषा
  • 中文
  • Wikang Filipino
  • زبان فارسي
  • Language Support
Aa

MAX Connect

Social Icons

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Youtube

Talk to our team

MAX solutions

MAX Solutions.

X

Services

  • Disability Employment Services
  • Assessments Australia
  • jobactive
  • Workforce Australia
  • Employability Skills Training

Training Courses

  • Adult Migrant English Program
  • Skills for Education and Employment
  • PaTH Employabililty Skills Training

Articles

  • Getting Started
  • Resumes and Cover Letters
  • Health and Wellbeing

General

  • Careers
  • Find an office
  • Feedback and Complaints
  • FAQs
MAXsolutions
  • English
    Choose a language:
    • ngôn ngữ tiếng Việt
    • اللغة العربية
    • پښتو ژبه
    • دری
    • 中文 Zhōngwén
    • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ
    • हिन्दी भाषा
    • 中文
    • Wikang Filipino
    • زبان فارسي
    • Language Support
  • Aa
  • MAXconnect
Search
Locations Contact

Breadcrumb

Home
  • Home
  • How to become a disability support worker
  • How to become a disability support worker

    Published by MAXSolutions on February 11 2022
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Linked in
    how to become a disability support worker disability support worker assisting child in a wheelchair
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • Linked in

    how to become a disability support worker disability support worker assisting child in a wheelchair

    A job as a disability support worker can be a rewarding and enriching career where you can make a real difference in people lives. With the workforce growing 10% annually it is also an occupation that’s in demand!

    The following guide will help explain how to become a disability support worker, as well as provide a glimpse into the daily responsibilities and the career opportunities available to you.

    How to become a disability support worker

    Training and education

    While the industry does not currently require certifications to gain employment it is advisable to get some training to both help you secure a job and make sure you are prepared for the role.

    There are two options when looking at getting qualified as a disability support worker:

    Certificate III in Individual Support

    This course will help prepare you to provide highly individualised personal care to your future clients.

    The Certificate III combines practical components with the theory you need to work in a support facility or provide in-home care.

    While you may be able to complete the training in as little as 14 weeks it generally takes 6 months to finish. During the course, you will undertake 120 hours of work experience in a home or community setting.

    You may also get to choose some electives within the theoretical component to make the study more relevant to your interests and career preferences.

    Depending on which state you live in you may also be entitled to subsidies for training so its worth exploring this option with your consultant.

    Talk to our team

    how to become a disability support worker support worker talking with young male

    Certificate IV Disability

    This qualification is designed for those that already have experience within the disability support industry or have completed their Certificate III.

    A Certificate IV in Disability provides a more in-depth and specialised theoretical study that prepares students for leadership or specialist roles in the disability support industry.

    While a Certificate IV will normally take a year to complete, if you have significant experience or have completed a Certificate III, you be may be able to have some recognition of prior learning which can speed up your study.

    Daily responsibilities

    As a disability support worker, you have the chance to make a significant difference in peoples lives.

    Everyone’s experiences, capabilities and therefore needs are different, however, so this means that no two days or clients are the same.

    You may be in the community assisting clients with errands or generally as a companion.

    You may also be helping out at their home with household tasks like cooking or cleaning, or in a care facility with daily living activities.

    You will also have to write clearly written reports of your day including any issues so that the family and other members of the care team are informed. This is also to ensure care is complying with regulatory requirements.

    The most important skills to have as a disability support worker are:

    • A caring and empathetic nature.

    • Ability to clearly communicate.

    • Patience and understanding.

    • Ability to work as a team.

    • Able to handle the physical components of the job.

    how to become a disability support worker support worker holding child in a wheelchair's hand

    Career opportunities

    The majority of opportunities in the disability support sector are for those that provide individual care at home or in care facilities.

    These positions are generally part-time or casual and offer a lot of flexibility for those wishing to achieve a great work/life balance.

    For those that wish to develop further in their career there are many different routes you can take.

    You could pursue a leadership role as a team leader managing a group of clients or a particular site. This path leads to other higher-level leadership roles just like in any other industry.

    There are also plenty of jobs within the industry for administration roles such as in Finance and HR.

    If you would like to grow your career but stay on the front line you could use your experience and knowledge and don’t mind some more study there are plenty of specialist roles that you could progress in from occupational therapy, creative therapies using art or music, or interpreting Auslan.

    If you would like to go to university but stay in the industry there are plenty of opportunities for speech pathologists’ psychologists and physiotherapists too.

    If you are interested in pursuing a career in Disability Support get in touch with our team to see how we can help you.

    Interested in training?

    Tags
    • Advice
    • Disability
    • How to
    • Looking for work
    • Log in or register to post comments
    Category
    Getting started

    Most popular help and advice

    Jobs for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder

    Jobs for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder

    Published by MAXSolutions on March 22 2021
     

    What To Say and Not To Say in a Job Interview

    What To Say and Not To Say in a Job Interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on January 5 2021
     

    Expert Cold Calling Tips To Get An Interview

    Expert Cold Calling Tips To Get An Interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on December 7 2020
     

    5 ways to sell yourself in a job interview

    5 ways to sell yourself in a job interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on April 27 2020
     
    More articles
    Was this article useful?
    Why did you choose Yes?
    Why did you choose No?

    Found this useful?

    Copied to clipboard
    Share this article

    Contact us

    • Have a question?

      Chat Now

      Find quick answers about employment services.

    • Customer Enquiries

      1800 603 503

      If you are a new or existing customer or have an enquiry about a service, contact our Customer Servicing Team

    • Need support?

      1800 807 505

      Talk to someone in our health team.

        

      If you need urgent help or are in an emergency, please dial 000.

      Alternatively please call:

      Lifeline: 13 11 14

      Beyond Blue: 1300 224 636

      Respect Domestic Family Violence Service: 1800 737 732

       

    Send us an email:

    • General enquiry
    • Register for Disability Employment Services
    • Register for a service
    • Feedback and complaints

    Published by MAXSolutions on July 19 2018

    Published by MAXSolutions on July 19 2018

    Published by MAXSolutions on July 19 2018

    Published by MAXSolutions on July 19 2018

    Please fill in the contact form below or   Complete a survey

    Categories Lists

    Getting started
    Applications and interviews
    Resumes and cover letters
    Health and wellbeing
    Improve your skills
    Job searching tools
    Starting work
    Ongoing support
    COVID-19

    Recent posts

    Best jobs for people with dyslexia
    How to become a disability support worker
    Finding a job in Australia
    Moving to Australia
    Where to find apprentices or trainees

    Monthly archive

    • May 2022
    • April 2022
    • March 2022
    • February 2022
    • January 2022
    • December 2021
    • November 2021
    • September 2021
    • August 2021
    • July 2021
    • June 2021
    • May 2021

    Pagination

    • Page 1
    • Next page Next

    Most popular help and advice

    Jobs for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder

    Jobs for people with Autism Spectrum Disorder

    Published by MAXSolutions on March 22 2021
     

    What To Say and Not To Say in a Job Interview

    What To Say and Not To Say in a Job Interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on January 5 2021
     

    Expert Cold Calling Tips To Get An Interview

    Expert Cold Calling Tips To Get An Interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on December 7 2020
     

    5 ways to sell yourself in a job interview

    5 ways to sell yourself in a job interview

    Published by MAXSolutions on April 27 2020
     
    More articles
    • Find a MAX office near you

      Office

      Our locations

       
    • Register with us

      Edit

      Register now

       
    • Talk to someone now

      Call

      Contact us

       
    • Let us know how we're doing

      Feedback

      Feedback

       
    Providing employment, disability and training services

    Providing employment, disability and training services in suburban and regional areas across Australia including Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Darwin, Adelaide, Hobart, Perth, Canberra.

    Providing employment, disability and training services

    iso

    Ensuring your safety and support

    If you need help or support, our offices are a safe environment.

    Contact us

    Language menu

    • ngôn ngữ tiếng Việt
    • اللغة العربية
    • پښتو ژبه
    • دری
    • 中文 Zhōngwén
    • ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਭਾਸ਼ਾ
    • हिन्दी भाषा
    • 中文
    • Wikang Filipino
    • زبان فارسي
    • Language Support

    Footer

    • Home
    • Privacy
    • Terms of use
    • Quality
    • Contact
    • Locations
    • Sitemap
    • MAXConnect

    Social Icons

    Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Youtube

    © Copyright 2022 MAX Solutions. All rights reserved Registered Training Organisation: 0667

    Ask a question