Support worker job description
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed support workers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Where we source our data
Let’s get real. Job information online can often be overly optimistic — conveniently glossing over the raw bits. But when you’re making decisions about your future, you need all the facts.
That’s why we anonymously surveyed support workers about their job, with hopes of getting an honest insight into what it’s really like.
While we did our best to ensure respondents were Australians and verified their job titles with proof of employment, we can’t guarantee complete accuracy — or that your experiences in the field will reflect theirs. So, we suggest that you take these insights as a guide only and try to talk to people in the field before making an important decision.
Physical
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Organising
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Cooperative
Based on our career survey data, these are the words that workers would use to describe their jobs.
Tasks and responsibilities for a support worker
Support workers provide practical and emotional assistance to individuals and families in a holistic way to promote independence and wellbeing.
The role can vary depending on who you work for or the people you assist, and every day can look different from the last.
A support worker job description can include:
- Providing personal care support like showering and dressing
- Providing emotional support and friendship to clients
- Assisting clients with various tasks and activities in the home or the community
- Monitoring and reporting changes in your clients physical or mental health
- Assisting in household tasks, including ensuring safety and cleanliness
Reasons to choose this job
Based on our career survey data, these are the factors that workers said were most important to them when choosing this job.
Enjoyable
A position as a support worker is no desk job. The role has you out of the office, in the community and clients’ homes, creating unique and meaningful bonds. Your duties might involve helping your client participate in social activities, which allows you to be out and about meeting new people.
Makes a difference
Support workers assist and facilitate independence for vulnerable people and families. Some tasks you provide support for would otherwise be unachievable, so the impact and positive difference you make on lives is enormous.
Flexible hours
You can choose between full-time and part-time work in this field, and there are many jobs available for both options. Depending on where you work, you may also have the opportunity to choose your availability and the number of hours.
Job satisfaction
Overall job satisfaction
This overall score combines the critical factors in job satisfaction. It includes fulfilment, stress levels, and opportunities for advancement, based on our career survey data.
Stress level
How stressful workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Fulfilment
How personally rewarding workers feel their job is, based on our career survey data.
Skill level
The skill level required to do this job is based on both our career survey data and official data from the Labour Market Information Portal.
Job market trends for a support worker
Support worker roles are in abundance and the job outlook for the next five years is very strong.
Direct client care and support come under Australia’s largest employing industry, healthcare and social assistance. Reports into this massive industry are predicting employee numbers to increase to around 1.9 million by 2024.
Median salary
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Projected job growth
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Where this data comes from
Median salary
We use the median salary over the average because it’s more realistic — unusually high or low salaries don’t skew the median. It shows the true middle point, which is what your typical worker in this job earns.
This figure is from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. It’s the official median full-time adult salary for non-managers, before tax. (Includes salary sacrifice.)
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours (cat. no. 6306.0), Customised Report
Projected job growth
Job growth projections, using data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics. These calculations were made before COVID-19 and may not accurately reflect the labour market. Use these numbers as a general guide only.
Pathway options
Job pathways are drawn from the Australian Apprenticeships Pathways site.
A job in support work is gratifying, with opportunities to move into more senior positions or other jobs in the industry.
Possible pathways could be:
Junior
-
Support worker
Most common qualification: Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33015)
-
Personal carer
Most common qualification: Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33015)
-
Home care assistance
Most common qualification: Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33015)
-
Residential care worker
Most common qualification: Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing) (CHC33015)
-
Aboriginal health worker (aged and disability care)
Most common qualification: Certificate III in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (HLT30113)
Mid
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Disability services manager
Most common qualification: Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management (CHC62015)
-
Lifestyle coordinator
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Disability (CHC43115)
-
Aged care activity worker
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Ageing Support (CHC43015)
-
Aged care nurse
Most common qualification: Diploma of Nursing (HLT54121)
Senior
-
Senior aboriginal community care worker
Most common qualification: Certificate IV in Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Primary Health Care (HLT40113)
-
Care Manager
Most common qualification: Advanced Diploma of Community Sector Management (CHC62015)
Skills you might already have
Based on our career survey data, the soft skills that workers said were most needed to do their job well.
You’re more prepared for a role in support work than you realise. Social and interpersonal skills are essential when working with vulnerable people and are built through past employment or other life experiences. Your innate characteristics, like empathy and passion, also give you an excellent foundation for helping others in this career.
Essential soft skills of a support worker:
Empathetic
Empathy is an innate ability to view situations from another person’s perspective. It helps you relate to people personally and treat them the way you would want to be treated. Your compassion benefits your client and allows you to connect with your job in a more meaningful way.
Observant
You must know how to observe any changes in your clients and see warning signs that they might need help. Your keen eye for detail and perceptive nature allows you to notice any safety issues and act on them as you need to.
Communication skills
Good communication in your workplace can improve client relationships, uncover unseen issues, increase overall productivity, and create a strong team environment with other service providers.
Active listening
Your clients may sometimes struggle to communicate verbally or articulate themselves. They may have anxiety and feel vulnerable about opening up to you. Being an active listener means using your initiative, asking the right questions and using all of your senses to pick up on subtle or non-verbal cues.
Passion for helping others
Your natural desire to help others is one of the best soft skills in your arsenal. It means you genuinely enjoy your job caring for others. And that not only benefits you, it means you can provide an incredible service to your clients.
Hard skills
The job-specific skills that workers said were most important, supplemented with data from JobOutlook and online job advertisements.
You can learn many of the core skills needed for a role in support work through an accredited training course.
Some required skills of a support worker:
Organisation and time-management skills
First aid certificate and skills in emergency procedures
Healthcare and healthy body systems
Monitoring, reporting and workplace administration
Working with diverse people
Client independence empowerment
Safe work practices
Infection prevention and control
Support work is the best job in the world. You go to work to hang out with people, and you get to show them life — how cool is that?!
Laura Green,
Executive Director, Victoria, ONCALL Group
How to become a support worker
-
Study
Completing a related qualification, like a Certificate III in Individual Support (CHC33015), provides you with the skillset you need for a job in support work. It also equips you with practical experience and the confidence to hit the ground running when you get your first job.
-
Traineeship
Traineeships and apprenticeships are an excellent way of earning while you learn. Traineeships allow you to start a job with no experience, train on the job and complete the right qualification to become an accredited support worker. All the information you need on starting an apprenticeship or traineeship can be found through the Australian Apprenticeships Government website or the The Australian Apprenticeships Pathways website.
-
Volunteer
Volunteering with a local community support services provider, aged residential care facility, or disability services organisation can give you valuable insight into a job in support work. It may even result in job opportunities.
-
Police check and Working with Children Check
A job in support work generally requires a police check and Working with Children Check. In most cases, these are straightforward and can be completed entirely online.
Explore related qualifications
Certificate III in Individual Support
This qualification equips you with the skills and knowledge to work as a support person in the community or in residential care settings. At this level, you can start working by following individualised plans and offering support to people who may require it due to ageing, disability, or injury.
The skills acquired in this course are accredited for and allow opportunities for jobs within the NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) as a disability support worker.
This qualification requires you to complete a 120-hour work placement which gives you valuable experience in the workplace under the supervision of senior professionals.
The average duration for this course is 35 weeks full-time but can be undertaken part-time or as an Australian Apprenticeship. Flexible learning options are available, and many providers deliver coursework online.
Payment plans are available for tuition costs, and scholarships and fee concessions may be available to eligible learners.
6 providers offer this course
Related subjects
The healthcare and support industry is vast, and within it are job roles of all shapes and sizes. These roles require empathetic and enthusiastic team players, and organisations in these fields are singing out for newcomers all the time.
Some other subjects to explore:
Reviews
How we collect reviews
Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.
Is this your job title?
Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.
How we collect reviews
Reviews are from Australian workers with this job title or a very closely related one.
Is this your job title?
Share your thoughts and help people decide if this job is right for them.
- All
- Positive
- Negative
Gresham
Sep 07 2021Potentially violent behaviour is very challenging but helping people in need makes it worth it.
What are the best parts of the job?
I really love helping people in need. There is never a dull moment in support work, and there is so much diversity in the role.
What's the most challenging part?
Sometimes clients can abuse drugs and become violent.
Gabrielle
Sep 08 2021Love watching clients grow and develop new skills helping with their independence.
What are the best parts of the job?
Supporting intellectually disabled people is always rewarding as you see them grow and develop many skills.
What's the most challenging part?
Dealing with behaviours of concern, like poor treatment from family members, for example, can be tough to navigate.
Victoria
Sep 08 2021The job itself is very rewarding, but the pay and lack of recognition are downsides.
What are the best parts of the job?
Support work is such a rewarding career. Connecting with children, their families and making a positive impact in their lives is very enjoyable. But you do need passion for the industry to be successful. Being able to make a difference really fills my cup.
What's the most challenging part?
There can be high expectations and responsibility, and low reward in terms of finances and community recognition. Some clients might treat you poorly, but these are few and far between for me.
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Job cluster: The Carer
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
What are job clusters?
The seven job clusters are sets of closely related jobs that share skills, making it easy to apply skills learned in one career to another.
The idea of the seven job clusters first appeared in a 2016 research report by the Foundation for Young Australians, titled “The New Work Mindset”. Researchers analysed thousands of online job advertisements and found that jobs are more similar than commonly thought — and the skills you gain in one position are easy to bring to another. In fact, they can help you get 13 other closely related jobs.
This model is a great way to think about 21st-century careers, where the average person changes career five times. We’ve used this framework (along with the much-loved Holland Codes model) to build a career quiz.
Why not take it and find out which job cluster feels like home?
A role in support work requires specific interpersonal and soft skills and is best suited to the career personality of The Carer.
The Carer thrives in an environment where the common goal is to improve the lives of others. The Carer employs a natural, humane approach to life and makes people around them feel at ease and well looked after.
Take the Career Quiz to discover what jobs are a great fit for you.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a personal support worker make?
In Australia, the average starting salary for a support worker is $55,526 per year. More experienced workers can expect to earn up to $77,391 annually.
What makes a good support worker?
To be a good support worker, you need to desire to help others live more independently, compassion, enthusiasm and practical skills in support work and assistance.
What does a support worker do?
Support workers provide support to people who have physical or intellectual disabilities. They help their clients complete a range of daily tasks such as showering, dressing and household duties. Support workers also develop relationships with their clients, providing emotional support and friendship.
How might a worker support a client’s rights?
A support worker can support their client’s rights by providing clear, easy-to-understand information about their care, along with providing respectful, quality and safe care regardless of the client’s race, sexual orientation, gender or religion. A support worker will respect their client’s right to privacy and confidentiality.