How NDIS Support Workers Help You Live Life Your Way
[Image Description: A man supports a young lady with her food.]
In our recent live webinar, we spoke with Patrick Neary, a long-time NDIS Support Worker, to get a real-world look at what support workers do, and how they can make a difference in the lives of participants.
Support workers are one of the most common services funded through the NDIS, but their role can look very different depending on the person they’re supporting. As Pat explained, it’s all about following the participant’s lead.
Support That’s Driven by You
“The support I provide is always driven by the participant,” Pat said.
Support workers help people with a wide range of activities, especially when it comes to accessing the community. That might include:
Going to sports or social events
Getting to appointments or programs
Helping with money handling or reading menus
Supporting independence in daily tasks like ordering food or using public transport
But it’s not about taking over, it’s about guiding and supporting, not doing everything for someone.
“It’s not about helping them all the time. It’s about supporting them to do things their way,” Pat explained.
Working Toward NDIS Goals
Even though support workers don’t usually see the full NDIS plan, they still play a big role in helping participants work toward their goals.
“You might not see the goals written down, but you can still support someone to achieve them,” Pat said.
For example, if someone’s goal is to stay connected to their community, a support worker might help them get to a local sports club or social group. If they’re working on therapy goals, the support worker might help them practice exercises given by a physio or OT.
What Makes a Good Support Worker?
Pat shared some great advice for anyone looking to find the right support worker:
Shared interests help build a strong connection
Listening and adapting to how the participant wants support is key
Reliability is essential, turning up on time and communicating clearly
Honesty matters, if a support worker isn’t the right fit, it’s okay to say so
“It’s a two-way relationship. Both sides need to be able to say, ‘This isn’t working,’” Pat said.
Do Support Workers Need Qualifications?
Not all support workers need formal qualifications, but those providing high-intensity supports (like medical care) must complete specific training through the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
“There are mandatory modules, but there are also great extra ones that all support workers should do,” Pat added.
Asking a potential support worker if they’ve done any extra training can be a good way to understand their experience and commitment.
Support workers are there to help you live your life, your way. Whether it’s getting out into the community, building independence, or working toward your goals, a good support worker will follow your lead and support you with respect, flexibility, and care.
Want to learn more or have other NDIS questions?
