NDIS Support Worker Roles and Responsibilities: Your Guide

As an NDIS provider or aspiring support professional, understanding NDIS support worker roles and responsibilities helps you deliver safe, person-centred services and build a rewarding career. Support workers are the backbone of everyday support in the Scheme, helping more than 700,000 Australians with disability work toward their goals.

In this blog, we’ll break down NDIS support worker roles and responsibilities, explain the pathway to becoming an independent support worker NDIS, answer the common question “what does an NDIS support worker do,” and give you step-by-step advice on how do I become an NDIS support worker in Australia?

What Does an NDIS Support Worker Do?

Put simply, an NDIS support worker helps participants turn their NDIS plans into action. Support workers provide direct, practical assistance so participants can live more independently and participate in community life. Typical tasks include:

• In-home care: assisting with cooking, cleaning, and daily routines.
• Community participation: helping participants attend appointments, events, or social activities.
• Employment and education support: providing practical help with study or work transitions.
• Personal care: supporting hygiene, mobility, and health needs.

So, what does an NDIS support worker do? They enable choice, independence, and confidence while making sure participants are supported to engage fully in their communities. You may work in different settings, including in-home support, community participation, employment assistance and personal care. 
 

NDIS Support Worker Roles and Responsibilities

Providing Personal Care and Daily Living Support

Support workers may assist with personal hygiene, meal preparation, and household tasks, ensuring participants can live safely and comfortably at home.

Enabling Community Participation

They encourage and support participants to join in community, cultural, and recreational activities, building social connections and reducing isolation.

Supporting Skill Development and Independence

Workers help participants develop practical life skills, from budgeting to communication, enabling greater independence over time.

Ensuring Compliance and Participant Safety

Support workers must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, maintain confidentiality, and uphold duty of care. Safeguarding participants, especially those in vulnerable situations, is a core responsibility.


Independent Support Worker NDIS, Is It Right for You?

An independent support worker in NDIS is self-employed and contracts directly with participants, commonly those who are self-managed or plan-managed. This pathway offers flexibility and autonomy, yet also requires you to handle your own marketing, administration, insurance and compliance. 

Key considerations:

• Screening and the Code: The NDIS Worker Screening Check is required for workers in certain risk-assessed roles with registered providers. Self-managed participants can request worker screening for the people they directly engage. All workers, registered or unregistered, must meet the NDIS Code of Conduct.
   
• Pricing and invoices: If you work with plan-managed or NDIA-managed participants, you must follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits. Self-managed participants are not subject to price limits, although they must consider value for money and stay within their budget.
   
• Business setup: Most independent workers operate as sole traders. You generally need an Australian Business Number to invoice, and you may need to register for GST depending on turnover. Set up your ABN and understand your obligations with the ATO.
   
• Direct employment by participants: Many self-managers directly engage their own staff. The NDIA provides a current guide that explains screening, police checks and state or territory requirements when participants employ workers.
  
   

Independent Support Worker vs Company Employment

• Flexibility and autonomy: Independents have full control of their schedule, while company workers follow rosters.
   
• Income and security: Independents may charge higher rates but don’t receive leave entitlements. Company workers get regular pay, superannuation, and protections.
   
• Compliance and admin: Independents must manage their own ABN, insurance, and reporting. Company workers have compliance handled by their employer.
   
• Training and development: Companies often provide structured training, while independents invest in their own learning.

Want clarity on the independent pathway versus employment? Labour Care can help you weigh up risk, reward and readiness so you choose the model that fits your goals.

How Do I Become an NDIS Support Worker in Australia?

Essential Training and Qualifications

There is no single mandated qualification for every support role. But, many employers look for Certificate III in Individual Support or similar, current First Aid and CPR, and relevant experience. The Capability Framework focuses on skills and behaviours that deliver safe, quality support, which you can demonstrate through training and practice. 

Registration and Screening Requirements

If you will work for a registered provider in a risk-assessed role, you must undergo the NDIS Worker Screening Check, which is operated by state and territory screening units. Some roles also require Working With Children or Vulnerable People checks, as outlined in NDIA guidance for people who directly engage staff.

Building Experience and Employability

Practical experience, through volunteering, care roles, or traineeships, can make you more employable. Soft skills such as empathy, patience, communication, and reliability are just as important as technical skills.

Why NDIS Support Worker Roles Are Vital for Participant Outcomes

Support workers are not just “helpers”, they’re enablers of independence and quality of life. According to the NDIS Participant Outcomes Survey 2024, participants who receive consistent, quality support report higher satisfaction with their ability to engage in community life and pursue personal goals.

This shows how critical skilled and committed support workers are to the success of the NDIS.

Career Pathways for NDIS Support Workers

A role as a support worker can be the beginning of a long and rewarding career. Pathways include:

• Support Coordination: helping participants connect with services and providers.
• Plan Management: managing participant budgets and claims.
• Specialist roles: such as working in mental health, behaviour support, or high-intensity care.
• Leadership roles: team leader, trainer, or service manager.

Continuous professional development ensures you remain a valuable and trusted part of the disability sector.

Stepping into the Role of an NDIS Support Worker

Understanding NDIS support worker roles and responsibilities helps you deliver safe, person-centred support. Whether you choose employment with a provider or the independent support worker NDIS pathway, building the right skills, completing orientation and screening, and following pricing and safeguarding rules will set you up for success. 

Becoming a support worker isn’t just about employment, it’s about making a difference in people’s lives and strengthening the NDIS as a whole.

Looking to build a rewarding career as an NDIS support worker? Labour Care can help you understand compliance, training and pathways so you can step into the role with confidence.
 

FAQs for NDIS Providers and Support Workers

1. Do I need to be a registered NDIS provider to work as a support worker?

Not if you only support self-managed or plan-managed participants. You must be registered to deliver support to NDIA-managed participants.

2. Do NDIS support workers set their own rates?

Independent support workers can set their own rates when working with self-managed participants. If supporting NDIA-managed or plan-managed participants, they must follow the NDIS Pricing Arrangements and Price Limits.

3. Can I be both an NDIS support worker and work for a registered provider?

Yes. Many workers combine direct engagement with participants as independents and employment with registered providers. You just need to meet screening, insurance, and compliance obligations in each setting.