Pete started his career as a support worker in 2019 and hasn’t looked back since.
In just two years, he has built a thriving small business on Mable as an independent support worker. In this feature, Pete shares his tips on how he did it.
Q. What motivated you to become a support worker?
I wanted more holistic satisfaction and enjoyment compared to my previous job.
I was surprised it also gave me better pay, more flexible hours, more chances to be creative, and it’s been so much fun.
Q. How long have you been a support worker?
I started in the industry in 2019, gaining a Cert 4 in Disability, Mental Health & Training in Assessment shortly after.
I became a fully independent support worker with Mable’s help in late 2021, and I’ve just ran with the momentum.
There is a massive appetite for good value-add independent support workers.
Q. Do you have any tips for building a successful support worker business on Mable?
- Create an eye-catching profile that’s detailed, relevant and concise
- Appropriate contact with your clients is important. It shows you empathise, understand, and can service the job fit
- The rest is building rapport, trust, reliability, flexibility, reporting client pain points, servicing their priority needs, and creating value for the client and carers.
Q. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome these?
It is a bit hard to understand the industry and how things are billed. Mable makes it easy, though.
A big part of overcoming challenges is to hustle, have gumption, chase down leads, resource training, and to build up your repertoire. The help is out there.
Q. What are some of the highlights of your work as a support worker on Mable?
Some of the most memorable achievements I can think of is helping my clients:
- Kick substance addiction
- Return to higher education
- Perform at the Adelaide Fringe Festival
- With their passion projects
- With positive psychosocial engagement
- Understand themselves better, including awareness of their behaviours.
Being an independent support worker has been so rewarding.
Q. Do you have any advice for support workers on how to engage with or find new clients?
Read the job ads carefully and reply according to their needs. Aim for appropriate job fit.
Be accurate in highlighting your skills, expertise, and how it creates value in the lives of your client.
Q. What advice do you have for someone who is thinking about a career in support work?
Understand your own values, morals and how you live authentically.
If supporting others to grow and overcome obstacles while working on your own terms appeals to you, then being an independent support worker through Mable will probably be your calling.
For me, it’s given me a whole new career. Mable has given me the avenue to advertise, connect, service contracts, and maintain my growing list of clients.
Benefits of being a support worker on Mable
By joining Mable as an independent support worker:
- You can choose your clients, set mutually-agreed rates with clients and choose the hours you work
- You’ll be covered by insurance for every session invoiced through the platform, including: General & Products Liability, Medical Malpractice & Personal Accident
- You have access to over 170+ free training courses and 24/7 counselling and wellbeing support.
