Supporting people with disability

Who you will support

Disability support workers work with people with disability-related support needs. A person’s disability may affect their physical, cognitive or social abilities.

Each person will need a different level of support, depending on the barriers they face to participating in daily activities. They will also have different goals they want to achieve.

What makes support for people with disability different

Supporting people with disability is about helping them to achieve their goals, develop their capabilities and build independence, and fully participate in the community.

Support for people with disability is often funded through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which has some requirements for workers, such as worker screening and adherence to a Code of Conduct.

The person’s NDIS plan will specify their personal goals and approved supports to achieve these goals. This means the support you provide may be part of a broader network of supports. You may need to work with other service providers to coordinate holistic support for the person.

What support you will provide

Disability support workers assist the person’s with daily activities, and help to build their skills, abilities and confidence.

The support you provide might include:

• domestic assistance, such as house cleaning, shopping, laundry, bill paying or performing errands
• personal care, such as help with dressing, eating, showering, toileting, or moving around the house
• assisting with transport to attend appointments
• helping the person develop skills – for example, making a budget, taking public transport, using assistive technology, or preparing meals
• assisting the person to participate in social outings, recreational activities and community events
• providing companionship, conversation and emotional support.