NDIS support workers can help with a wide range of day-to-day supports, depending on the participant’s goals, funding and the type of help needed.
At Careseekers, participants often use support workers for things like personal care, domestic support, community access, transport, routine support and building independence. The NDIS core budget commonly covers supports such as daily activities, assistance with social and community participation, and transport, while capacity building budgets can also include supports aimed at increasing skills, independence and participation.
The short answer
NDIS support workers can often help with:
- personal care
- domestic support
- community access
- transport
- daily routines
- skill building
- social support
- overnight support, where appropriate
The exact support depends on the participant’s plan, goals and funding, as well as the worker’s experience and qualifications. Through Careseekers, you can choose from workers who provide support at home and in the community, depending on the type of help you need.
Personal care
Many NDIS participants use support workers for personal care.
This can include support with:
- showering
- dressing
- grooming
- toileting assistance
- mobility-related support
- morning and evening routines
On Careseekers, workers delivering personal care must hold a Certificate III. That helps make sure workers providing hands-on support have the relevant training for this kind of work. The NDIS pricing structure also includes supports under Daily Personal Activities, which is one of the core support areas commonly used for this kind of assistance.
Domestic support
NDIS support workers can also help with day-to-day tasks around the home.
This may include:
- cleaning
- laundry
- meal preparation
- changing bed linen
- general household support
These kinds of supports often sit within daily living and assistance with daily activities, depending on the participant’s plan and goals.
Community access and social support
Community access is one of the most common reasons people use an NDIS support worker.
This can include support with:
- social outings
- appointments
- shopping
- recreational activities
- building confidence in the community
- staying connected to everyday life
The NDIA includes Assistance with Social and Community Participation in core budgets, and also lists Increased Social and Community Participation under capacity building for supports that build skills for community, social and recreational participation.
Transport support
Some participants use support workers for transport-related support.
This may include:
- getting to appointments
- shopping trips
- community activities
- getting to social or recreational events
The NDIA includes Transport in core budgets for participants who are unable to use public transport because of their disability.
Routine support and building independence
Support workers can also help participants build confidence and structure in everyday life.
That may include support with:
- daily routines
- planning and organisation
- time management
- life skills
- decision-making
- confidence in everyday tasks
The NDIA’s capacity building categories include supports aimed at increasing skills, independence and community participation, including Improved Daily Living and Social and Community Participation.
Overnight support
Some NDIS participants also need overnight support.
This can vary depending on the arrangement. In some cases, overnight support is about reassurance and availability if something comes up during the night. In others, it may involve more active help with routines, mobility or personal care overnight.
Whether overnight support is appropriate depends on the participant’s funding, the support needed and the worker’s experience. The NDIS support catalogue includes overnight-related daily support items within its pricing structure.
What support workers do not provide
Support workers are not automatically the right fit for every type of support.
Some supports require a different kind of professional, such as:
- nursing care
- therapy
- specialist assessments
- certain clinical or high-intensity supports
That is why it is important to match the worker to the support needed, rather than assuming one type of worker can do everything. The NDIS pricing framework separates daily support, participation supports and therapy-related supports into different support types and categories.
How this works through Careseekers
We make it easier to compare workers based on the kind of support you actually need.
On Careseekers, you can:
- browse worker profiles
- compare experience and qualifications
- see the type of support a worker offers
- speak directly with workers
- choose the worker who feels right for you
If you want to bring a worker you currently use to the Careseekers platform, they need to meet our safety and verification checks, complete onboarding, provide the required documents and information, and be approved before they can start through our platform.
How to work out what kind of support you need
Before choosing a worker, it helps to be clear on:
- what daily tasks support is needed with
- whether personal care is involved
- whether support is mostly at home, in the community, or both
- whether the participant wants help building independence and routines
- whether the support sits within the participant’s plan and goals
The clearer you are, the easier it is to choose a worker with the right experience and skills.
Frequently asked questions
Can NDIS support workers help with personal care?
Yes. NDIS support workers can often help with personal care such as showering, dressing, grooming and mobility support. On Careseekers, workers delivering personal care must hold a Certificate III.
Can NDIS support workers help with community access?
Yes. Support workers commonly help with community access, social outings, appointments and everyday participation.
Can NDIS support workers help with domestic tasks?
Yes. Depending on the participant’s plan and needs, support workers may help with cleaning, laundry, meal preparation and other day-to-day household support.
Can NDIS support workers provide transport support?
Yes. Transport support can be part of the help a support worker provides, depending on the participant’s funding and goals.
Can NDIS support workers provide therapy or nursing care?
Not usually. Some supports require a different type of qualified professional, such as a nurse or therapist.
Ready to find the right kind of support?
We make it easier to compare worker profiles, understand what support workers can help with, and choose the worker who feels right for your needs.
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