How to Become a Disability Support Worker: Australian Careers in Speech Pathology

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CHC43121

Certificate IV in Disability

The online CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability course offered through Open Colleges, offered in conjunction with Integrated Care & Management Training Pty Ltd (RTO 90197), will give you the essential education and training to provide valuable care for people with disabilities.

This comprehensive certificate program builds upon previous industry knowledge and experience to help prepare students for more senior roles.

It will equip you with the skills required to effectively manage and supervise other employees, improve workplace efficiency and make informed decisions in order to enhance the comfort and independence of people with disabilities.

Practical Component

This certificate includes a mandatory work placement of at least 120 hours, in order to acquire essential practical skills. You will be required to source your own placement with an organisation involved in the delivery of disability services such as a group home or respite care.

PLEASE NOTE – Open Colleges is a privately-run RTO, not government-run like a TAFE, so they cannot offer government funding. Please check eligibility requirements before beginning an enrolment with Open Colleges.

Online, Workplace

Online

Behavioural Support Officer, Community-Based Support Officer, Disability Service Worker, Disability Support Coordinator, Disability Support Worker, Disability Team Leader, Disability Team Supervisor, Residential Care Officer, Senior Personal Care Assistant

Price may vary

Max 18 months

CHC43315

Certificate IV in Mental Health

The online CHC43315 Certificate IV in Mental Health course from Open Colleges in association with Integrated Care & Management Training Pty Ltd (RTO: 90197), teaches you the essential skills needed to work in mental health services.

Ideal for those already working in the sector or individuals looking to enter the field for the first time, this online course provides students with the skills to understand mental health diagnoses, establish communication with clients to support recovery, reflect cultural awareness in work practice, and provide effective intervention for individuals at risk of self-harm or suicide.

Students will also develop the competencies to support clients with a dual diagnosis and liaise with other support services to address co-existing issues. Successful completion of this certificate will enable you to apply evidence-based theory to the development of community rehabilitation programs and work to create a greater awareness of the importance of promoting positive mental health practices.

Practical work placement

The Certificate IV will be issued by from Open Colleges in association with Integrated Care & Management Training Pty Ltd.

Online, Workplace

Online

Community Support Worker, Disability Services Instructor, Disability Support Worker, Mental Health Nurse, Mental Health Officer, Mental Health Outreach Worker, Rehabilitation Counsellor

Price may vary

Max 18 months

CHC33021

Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)

No experience necessary, this CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability), offered by Open Colleges in association with Integrated Care & Management Training Pty Ltd (RTO: 90197), is designed for the complete beginner who’s passionate and curious about a career in disability support services.

The course is designed to get you job-ready, providing you with the skills and training you need to step directly into a support role when you finish. You’ll learn how to empower people with disability, support independence and wellbeing, promote social inclusion and make a positive impact in the lives of your clients.

Develop all the skills you need to succeed. You’ll be equipped with knowledge of how to work in legal and ethical way, communicate with clients and health professionals, follow safe work practices and work with diverse people.

Practical Component

This course includes 160 hours of work placement, giving you practical experience in a real clinical setting while you study.

This Certificate III will be issued by Integrated Care & Management Training.

Online, Workplace

Online

Accommodation Support Worker, Care Assistant, Community Care Worker, Disabilities Services Officer, Disability Service Worker, Disability Support Worker, Residential Care Officer, Residential Support Worker

Price may vary

Self paced - up to 12 months

Not Available

CHC33021

Certificate III in Individual Support (VIC only)

If you possess a strong sense of compassion and would like to build a career based on helping people who need support, then the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support qualification from Phillips Institute could be an ideal course to get you started.

With an ageing population, demand for services of professional individual support providers in Australia is at an all time high, and this course will provide you with all the skills and knowledge you need to join this rewarding and growing industry. You will learn essentials skills such as how to communicate and work in health or community services, how to provide individualised support and how to promote clients’ independence and well-being, how to provide support to people living with dementia and how to support community participation and social inclusion.

This course also involves 120 hours of practical work placement organised by Phillips Institute, designed to give you real world work experience and enable you to hit the ground running in any individual support role you may engage with on completion of the course.

The CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support qualification from the Phillips Institute is covered by Victorian Government’s Skills First funding. Please enquire now to see if you qualify for this government funded program.

Classroom, On Campus, Workplace

VIC

Aged Care Worker, Community Services Worker, Community Wellness Officer, Community Worker, Disability Support Coordinator, Disability Support Worker, Personal Care Assistant, Personal Care Worker

Price may vary

22-24 weeks full-time (two days per week) or 28 weeks part-time (one day plus one evening per week)

Not Available

CHC43121

Certificate IV in Disability Support

If you are a great communicator and possess a strong sense of compassion, and would love to build a rewarding career based on helping people with a disability, then the CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support qualification from Phillips Institute could be an ideal course for you.

Assisting people with disability is a noble and fulfilling role to play in your community, and with a growing focus on ensuring that people with disability have a high quality of life this sector is experiencing unprecedented growth. Phillips Institute’s Certificate IV in Disability Support course is a contemporary course designed to give you all the skills and knowledge you need to start performing competently and confidently in a range of different disability support roles in both government and private institutions. You will develop essential skills such as how to provide person-centred services to people with disability with complex needs, how to work with people with mental health issues, how to manage legal and ethical compliance and how to prepare for NDIS support coordination.

The course is available as weekly classes on campus in Carnegie or Warragul, Victoria, or online (recommended only for current Disability Support Workers). Work placement is not required, however it’s recommended you can access a relevant workplace to meet some assessment requirements. If you aren’t working in a related role, simulation options may be available.

The CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support qualification from Phillips Institute is covered by Victorian Government’s Skills First funding program. Please enquire now to see if you qualify for this government funding program.

This course requires entrants to hold either:

CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability), OR
CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) , OR
CHC30408 Certificate III in Disability PLUS the CHCSS00125 Entry to Certificate IV in Disability Support Skill Set.

Blended, Classroom, On Campus, Online

VIC

Community Wellness Officer, Community Worker, Community-Based Support Officer, Disability Service Worker, Disability Support Coordinator, Disability Support Worker, Disability Team Leader, Disability Team Supervisor

Price may vary

6-12 months

CHC42021

Certificate IV in Community Services

If you possess a genuine passion for facilitating positive transformations in individuals’ lives, enhancing their self-sufficiency and overall well-being, then this CHC42021 Certificate IV in Community Services qualification from GROW Training Group could be just the qualification you’re after.

Professionals in the field of Community Services offer invaluable support, advocacy, and interventions to clients, whether on an individual basis, within group settings, or within broader community contexts, encompassing a diverse spectrum of services. This program equips you with the skills necessary to assume diverse roles within the community sector, enabling you to make a meaningful impact on the well-being of others. This qualification is a prerequisite for community service professionals engaged in the design and delivery of person-centered services to both individuals and groups. As a member of the Community Service workforce, your primary goal is to provide effective care to the community as a whole, as well as its individual constituents, with the ultimate aim of fostering positive life changes.

It also involves a mandatory 40 hours of supervised work placement designed to give you the industry real world experience.

Enrolment period is 24 months. We find our students complete the qualification in varied time frames. It really does depend on your life situation and availability. The program can be completed in a much shorter time – we would recommend aiming at completing 1 unit per month.

This program is delivered in our online learner system. You do not need to come to class, however, you will need to stay connected with your Educator and attend phone and/or web meetings to complete some of the practical components of your course. eLearning allows you the flexibility of completing your course at your own pace, at times to suit work and other life commitments. You can work on your course at anytime, anywhere supported by your industry experienced educator via telephone and email no matter where you are.

Please Note: Grow Training Group operates as a privately managed Registered Training Organisation (RTO), differing from government-run institutions such as a TAFE. Consequently, Grow does not offer government funding.

Blended, Online, Workplace

Online

Aged Care Worker, Assistant Community Services Worker, Community Centre Manager, Community Development Officer, Community Liaison, Community Support Worker, Community Wellness Officer, Disabilities Services Officer, Disability Support Worker, Indigenous Community Liaison Officer, Youth Worker

Price may vary

Maximum of 24 months

CHCSS00088

Induction (pathway to studying health and community services courses)

If you’ve always wanted to work in the areas of healthcare or community services, but have no previous experience in the industry and don’t know where to start, then this CHCSS00088 Induction course from Open Colleges could be just the thing you’re looking for.

This skill-set is designed for people who have had no previous experience in the industry and focuses on teaching you the essentials such as how to communicate and work in health or community services, how to work with diverse people, how to follow safe work practices for direct client care and how to manage personal stressors in the work environment. By the end of the course you will have all the skills and knowledge required to launch your healthcare or community services career, or to continue studying and move onto CHC32015 Certificate III in Community Services or the CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support qualifications.

This course is delivered 100% online.

Online

Aged Care Worker, Assistant Community Services Worker, Community Care Worker, Community Development Worker, Community Worker, Disability Support Coordinator, Disability Support Worker, Youth Support Worker, Youth Worker

Price may vary

Maximum of 3 months

CHCSS00081

Induction to Disability

If you posses a sense of compassion and are looking to start developing a career caring for people with disabilities, then this CHCSS00081 Induction to Disability skill-set course from Open Colleges could be an ideal starting point for you.

This course is ideal for people looking to start studying for their disability certificate qualifications who do not meet entry criteria, or for people already working in the industry who wish to up-skill without having to tackle a certificate-level qualification. You will learn essential industry skills such as how to facilitate the empowerment of people with a disability, how to communicate and work in health or community services, how to provide individualised support and how to follow safe work practices for direct client care. By the end of the course you will have all the knowledge required to take on entry-level roles in the disability sector, or to gain access to the CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) qualification which will allow you to pursue more senior roles.

This course is delivered 100% online.

Online

Community Care Worker, Community Services Worker, Community Support Worker, Community Worker, Disabilities Services Officer, Disability Services Instructor, Disability Support Coordinator, Disability Support Worker, Disability Team Leader, Disability Team Supervisor

Price may vary

Maximum of 3 months

CHC33021

Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability)

If you’re a compassionate type of person who thrives on empowering the disadvantaged people in your community, then this CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) qualification from Open Colleges could provide you with an interesting and rewarding career pathway.

This course is designed to prepare you for enduring success in the expanding aged care sector by becoming a proficient aged and disability care worker. The course will teach you sector essentials, including how to follow safe work practices for direct client care, how to facilitate the empowerment of people receiving support, how to provide individualised support and how to support independence and wellbeing of clients, amongst others. This course also involves 160 hours of practical work placement within an approved care facility, aimed at giving you much needed real life experience before you graduate.

This course is conducted 100% online except for the practical work component which will have to be suitably arranged.

PLEASE NOTE – Open Colleges is a privately-run RTO, not government-run like a TAFE, so they cannot offer government funding.

Online, Workplace

Online

Aged Care Service Manager, Aged Care Worker, Community Services Worker, Community Support Worker, Disability Support Worker, Disability Team Leader, Disability Team Supervisor

Price may vary

Self paced - up to 12 months

CHC33021

Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) (Adelaide)

The CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing and Disability) from InterCare Training is ideal for individuals seeking to start a career in the industry, and for those with prior experience looking to enhance their skills. Through a combination of online and in-person delivery, this course prepares you to work primarily in residential aged care facilities or homes, following organisational guidelines and service plans. Day or night classes are available.

The course includes 15 units of theoretical and practical education along with 120 hours hands-on work placement in the field, to ensure you graduate with the skills and knowledge to embark on a rewarding career as a personal carer or support worker in the aged or disability sector.

At completion, you will have the foundational knowledge and understanding required to carry out activities related to an individualised plan, maintain personal care for people in an aged care setting, and work effectively in disability support, among other skills and hands-on experience in the aged and disability care field.

Please note: This course is not available to individuals on a 500 or 600 visa.

On Campus, Online

Adelaide, Online

Aged Care Worker, Disability Service Worker, Disability Support Coordinator, Disability Support Worker, Personal Care Assistant, Personal Care Worker

Price may vary

6-12 months

On this page

What is a Disability Support Worker?

What will I do?

What skills do I need?

Resources

What is a Disability Support Worker?

A career as a Disability Support Worker is both rewarding and impactful, offering individuals the opportunity to make a significant difference in the lives of people with disabilities. These dedicated professionals work closely with clients to provide the support and assistance they need to lead fulfilling and independent lives. Whether it’s helping with daily activities, facilitating social interactions, or providing emotional support, Disability Support Workers play a crucial role in enhancing the quality of life for those they assist.

The responsibilities of a Disability Support Worker are diverse and dynamic, encompassing a range of tasks tailored to meet the unique needs of each client. They may assist with personal care, such as bathing and dressing, as well as help with meal preparation and medication management. Additionally, they often engage clients in recreational activities, promote social inclusion, and encourage skill development, all while fostering a supportive and respectful environment. This role requires a compassionate approach, as well as the ability to adapt to various situations and challenges that may arise.

In this fulfilling career, Disability Support Workers also collaborate with families, healthcare professionals, and other support services to ensure a holistic approach to care. They are often involved in developing individualised support plans that align with the goals and preferences of their clients. This collaborative effort not only empowers clients but also strengthens the support network around them, creating a positive and nurturing atmosphere for growth and independence.

Overall, a career as a Disability Support Worker is an excellent choice for those who are passionate about helping others and making a meaningful impact in their community. With a focus on empowerment and inclusivity, this profession offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the well-being of individuals with disabilities, fostering a sense of belonging and dignity in their lives.

Career snapshots For Disability Support Workers

The role of a Disability Support Worker is vital in empowering individuals with disabilities to lead fulfilling and independent lives. This career is characterised by a commitment to providing care and support across various settings, from residential facilities to community-based services.

Average Age: The average age of Disability Support Workers is approximately 40 years.
Gender Distribution: The workforce is predominantly female, with women making up around 70% of the total workforce.
Hours Worked: Disability Support Workers typically work around 30 hours per week, with many in casual or part-time roles.
Average Pay: The average annual salary for a Disability Support Worker is approximately AUD 55,000.
Unemployment Rate: The unemployment rate in this sector is relatively low, at about 4%, reflecting a strong demand for these roles.
Employment Numbers: There are currently around 90,000 individuals employed as Disability Support Workers in Australia.
Projected Growth: The sector is expected to grow significantly, with a projected increase of 15% in job opportunities over the next five years.

With a formal qualification often required in fields such as human welfare, psychology, or social work, aspiring Disability Support Workers can find numerous pathways to enter this rewarding profession. The demand for skilled workers in this area continues to rise, making it an excellent career choice for those looking to make a positive impact in their communities.

What will I do?

Disability Support Workers play a vital role in enhancing the quality of life for individuals with disabilities. They provide essential support and assistance, empowering clients to lead more independent and fulfilling lives. This career requires compassion, patience, and a commitment to helping others navigate their daily challenges. The tasks undertaken by Disability Support Workers are diverse and tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual they support.

Personal Care – Assisting clients with daily living activities such as bathing, dressing, and grooming.
Mobility Support – Helping clients move around safely, whether at home or in the community.
Meal Preparation – Preparing nutritious meals and assisting clients with eating as needed.
Medication Management – Ensuring clients take their medications as prescribed and monitoring their health.
Emotional Support – Providing companionship and emotional encouragement to enhance clients’ mental well-being.
Social Engagement – Encouraging participation in social activities and community events to foster inclusion.
Transport Assistance – Accompanying clients to appointments, social outings, or recreational activities.
Skill Development – Supporting clients in developing life skills, such as budgeting, cooking, and personal hygiene.
Advocacy – Acting on behalf of clients to ensure their rights and needs are met within the community.
Record Keeping – Maintaining accurate records of clients’ progress and any changes in their condition.

What skills do I need?

A career as a Disability Support Worker requires a unique blend of skills and attributes that enable individuals to provide effective support to people with disabilities. Empathy and compassion are paramount, as these workers often assist clients in navigating daily challenges and achieving greater independence. Strong communication skills are also essential, allowing support workers to engage with clients, their families, and other professionals effectively. Additionally, problem-solving abilities are crucial for addressing the diverse needs of clients and adapting to various situations that may arise in their care.

Furthermore, a solid understanding of disability rights and relevant legislation is important for ensuring that clients receive the support they are entitled to. Practical skills in personal care, mobility assistance, and the use of assistive technologies can significantly enhance the quality of care provided. Finally, a commitment to ongoing professional development is vital, as the field of disability support is continually evolving, requiring workers to stay informed about best practices and new approaches to care.

Skills/attributes

Empathy and Compassion
Strong Communication Skills
Problem-Solving Abilities
Patience and Understanding
Physical Stamina and Strength
Ability to Work Independently and as Part of a Team
Knowledge of Disability Support Practices
Organisational Skills
Flexibility and Adaptability
Respect for Diversity and Inclusion
Basic First Aid and CPR Certification
Understanding of Mental Health Issues
Ability to Maintain Confidentiality
Willingness to Learn and Develop Skills

Resources

NATIONAL

QLD

VIC

ACT

TAS

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How to Become a Disability Support Worker: Australian Careers in Speech Pathology

Practical work placement

What is a Disability Support Worker?

Career snapshots For Disability Support Workers

What will I do?

What skills do I need?

Skills/attributes

Resources

Career Outcomes