Support workers play a key role in ensuring people receive the assistance they need over their lifetime and their work can make a significant difference to the quality of someone’s life.
If you want to become a support worker with no experience, that’s okay! You can provide domestic assistance and social support without any prior experience or qualifications.
What does a support worker do?
Support workers provide support to people with disabilities and/or older Australians, or anyone that needs assistance with day-to-day tasks. They can work in people’s homes, in specialised care settings or in hospitals on a full time, part time or casual basis, depending on the needs of the client.
The duties of a support worker can range from meal preparation to administering medication and specialised services, depending on your level of experience and qualifications.
If you’re a support worker with no experience or qualifications, you can provide domestic assistance and social support, such as:
- Meal preparation
- Household chores
- Gardening
- Going shopping
- Supporting someone to meet their friends
- Companionship
Learn more about tasks that support workers do.
Is support worker experience needed?
No, to register as an independent support worker on the Mable platform, you do not need support worker experience. It’s important to note that if you are a support worker with no experience, it can impact how much you charge for the services you provide.
There are many ways you can gain more hands-on experience as a support worker. These include:
- Volunteering at aged care or disability services
- Contacting local organisations
- Participating in community events
What qualifications do you need to be a support worker?
It is possible to work as an aged care or disability support worker without formal qualifications. However, your qualifications can impact the type of support you can provide.
To perform more complex support tasks, such as personal care services, nursing services, or allied health services, there are certain qualifications you must have. Learn more about support worker qualifications and requirements.
Support your professional development
It’s important to engage in regular professional development to enhance your skills and further your learning. If you have no support worker experience or qualifications, it’s easy to get started with tools such as online learning.
One of the benefits of being an independent support worker on Mable is access to the Mable Learning Hub. On the Mable Learning Hub there are over 170 free courses available on demand to assist you in your journey of being a support worker and to help with your professional development.
Support workers on Mable can also gain industry qualifications through our accredited training partners around Australia. If eligible, government funding or Mable discounts may be available. Mable support hours can be used towards some accredited training courses.
How to become an independent support worker on Mable
Support workers who register on Mable are self-employed, independent contractors who are not employed by Mable.
Regardless of your level of support worker experience or qualification, in order to sign up and create a support worker account on Mable, you will need the following:
- An Australian Business Number (ABN)
- A profile photo
- A brief bio for your profile
- A police check through our partners Checked Australia (applied for through the link provided by Mable in your profile)
- Two professional or character references
- A Working with Children Check (if working with children)
- An Australian Drivers Licence (if providing transport services)
- Completed infection control training
- To meet your state and/or territory’s COVID-19 vaccination requirements.
If you’ve set up your account correctly, it will be submitted for approval to our team.
If you’re planning on providing personal care, nursing or other allied health services read more about the qualifications you will need.
Learn more about getting started as a support worker on Mable to start providing support today.
FAQs
How do support workers find work?
Support workers can be employed directly by an agency or disability support organisation or can be self-employed as independent support workers. Independent support workers are their own boss (a sole trader). That means you can choose your clients, the services you provide (where appropriate), and the hours you work. Plus, you have the flexibility to charge different rates for different services or experiences provided.
Through Mable, independent support workers are connected directly with the people who need their services.
Can anybody be a support worker?
If you have a passion for making a positive difference to the lives of people with a disability and helping people to achieve their full potential, you might make a great support worker. Learn more about what makes a good support worker.
You can sign up on Mable as an independent support worker by completing minimum requirements as stated above and start providing support right away.
What qualifications do I need to become a NDIS disability support worker?
You can register on Mable as a disability support worker.
NDIS disability support workers provide a range of services to support clients, so the qualifications you need really depend on the area in which you are interested in specialising.
In general, there are no certifications or education requirements for disability support workers, however you do need skills to provide this support. There are several certifications that are valuable to have, such as Certificate III in Individual Support and/or a Certificate IV in Disability. To work with children, you’ll need a Working with Children Check, National Police Clearance and First Aid Certificate.
The NDIA also has worker training modules designed to support disability support workers to better support people with disability. You also need to comply with the NDIS Code of Conduct which helps providers and workers respect and uphold your right to safe and quality supports and services.
Learn more about how you can become a disability support worker.
