A support worker is someone who works with people with disability to help with everyday life, build skills and work towards goals. Under the NDIS, what a support worker does depends on your goals and your plan. It can include help at home, help with daily activities and help getting out into the community.
This guide explains what a support worker is, what support workers do day to day, how the role differs from a therapist or support coordinator, and how to find one who suits you.
What is a support worker?
The NDIS describes a support worker as someone who works with people with disability. A support worker can work for a company or for themselves, and can be registered or unregistered.
The purpose of the role is to help you develop your skills and work towards your goals. Who you work with, what you do together and how often all depend on your goals, your needs and the NDIS supports in your plan. You choose who you work with and when.
What does a support worker do?
The NDIS groups the work into four broad areas. Many support workers also help with work and study goals.
| Area | What a support worker can help with |
|---|---|
| Household support | Help at home, and building skills for tasks like planning and cooking meals, cleaning and running errands. |
| Personal care support | Help with general hygiene, dressing or taking medication. The level of help depends on your needs. |
| Daily activities support | Shopping, transport, outings, getting to appointments and building the confidence to get out and about. |
| Community support | Going to social events and activities, such as a market, a class or a craft group. |
| Work and study | Building work skills, practising travel to work and on-the-job coaching, where your plan includes employment supports. |
A good support worker does not just do things for you. They help you learn to do more for yourself, at a pace that suits you.
Support worker duties: what a week can look like
Every person’s support is different. As an example only, a week with a support worker might include:
- planning meals together, shopping for ingredients and cooking dinner twice a week
- practising a bus or train route until you are ready to travel it on your own
- going with you to a sports club, art class or social group while you settle in
- working on a routine for mornings, appointments or managing money
- practising interview skills or supporting you in your first weeks at a new job.
If you want help turning ideas like these into goals for your plan, see our guide to changing your NDIS plan.
What a support worker can and can’t do
A support worker can help with a wide range of everyday tasks, but the work always has limits. What they do for you should match your goals, your NDIS plan and your service agreement.
What a support worker can do
- Help at home, including building skills to cook, clean and run errands.
- Help with daily activities such as shopping, transport, outings and getting to appointments.
- Support you to join social events, classes and groups in your community.
- Provide personal care, such as hygiene, dressing or help taking medication, where that is part of your support. The NDIS explains what support workers do in more detail.
Not every support worker does every task. Good Company’s mentors do not provide personal care like showering, toileting or dressing. They focus on helping you build skills, including self-care skills, and on getting out into the community.
What a support worker shouldn’t do
Every NDIS provider and worker, registered or unregistered, must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct. In plain terms, a support worker must:
- respect your right to make your own choices and decisions
- respect your privacy
- act with honesty and integrity
- take steps to prevent violence, abuse, neglect, exploitation and sexual misconduct
- raise concerns about the quality or safety of your supports
- provide support safely and competently, with care and skill.
A support worker also isn’t your therapist or your decision-maker. They help you practise skills and do things for yourself, not take over.
If something doesn’t feel right, you can talk to your provider first. You can also make a complaint to the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission on 1800 035 544.
Support worker, therapist or support coordinator: who does what?
| Role | What they do |
|---|---|
| Support worker | Works alongside you in everyday life: at home, in the community and at work. Helps you practise skills and get things done. |
| Therapist (allied health) | Assesses your needs and provides therapy, such as occupational therapy, speech pathology or psychology. Often sets strategies that your support worker helps you practise. |
| Support coordinator | Helps you understand your plan, connect with providers and get your supports working together. |
Why Good Company calls its support workers mentors
At Good Company we call our support workers mentors, because the role is about more than getting tasks done. A mentor gets to know you, your goals and how you like things done, and then works with you on building skills and confidence.
We match you with a mentor based on personality, interests and location, and you see their profile before you meet. You then see the same mentor at regular times, so you are not explaining yourself to someone new each week. You can read more about how NDIS mentoring works, or meet our team.
How to find the right support worker
- Start with your goals. Be clear about what you want to work on, so a provider can match you with someone suitable.
- Look for a personality fit. You will spend a lot of time together. Shared interests and a similar sense of humour help.
- Check their screening. The NDIS suggests making sure your support workers have completed an NDIS worker screening check.
- Put it in writing. The NDIS suggests making a service agreement, so it is clear what you and the provider have agreed to.
- Ask what happens if it is not working. A good provider will rematch you without making it awkward.
For more questions to ask, read how to choose an NDIS provider.
How are support workers paid for?
The NDIS says you can use your NDIS funding to pay for support workers. Which part of your plan pays for it depends on the type of support and how your plan is set up. If you are not sure, ask your plan manager, support coordinator or my NDIS contact.
How much does a support worker cost in 2026-27?
Most support worker hours are funded from your NDIS plan. The NDIS sets price limits, which are the most the NDIA will pay per hour for a support. The limit depends on the time of day and the day of the week.
These are the standard hourly price limits for help with daily activities in the NDIS Pricing Schedule 2026-27, for most of Australia (not remote or very remote areas):
| Time | Hourly price limit (2026-27) |
|---|---|
| Weekday daytime | $73.58 |
| Weekday evening | $81.07 |
| Weekday night | $82.57 |
| Saturday | $103.54 |
| Sunday | $133.50 |
| Public holiday | $163.46 |
A few things to know:
- Support for social and community activities has the same weekday daytime limit of $73.58 an hour.
- High intensity support, for people with more complex needs, has a higher weekday daytime limit of $79.60 an hour.
- Remote and very remote areas have higher limits.
- As an example, 2 hours of support on a weekday daytime would cost up to $147.16.
Your service agreement should set out the hourly rate and any travel costs before you start. For more detail, read our NDIS price guide 2026.
Thinking about becoming a support worker?
If you are reading this because you want to do the job, the role suits people who are patient, reliable and good at helping others do things for themselves. Good Company hires mentors in Perth and Melbourne. See our careers page for current roles.
Becoming a support worker: checks and skills
You don’t always need a formal qualification to become a support worker. The NDIS Commission does not set training or qualification rules for unregistered providers, but every provider must use appropriately skilled workers. Some roles and registered providers have extra requirements, so check each job ad.
Checks you’ll usually need
- NDIS Worker Screening Check. A state or territory worker screening unit decides if you are cleared to work with people with disability. A clearance is valid for 5 years. It is required for workers in risk-assessed roles with registered providers, and many participants and providers ask for it too.
- NDIS Worker Orientation Module. This is an online module from the NDIS Commission’s training site. Registered providers must include it in worker induction.
- Working with Children Check if you will support children.
- First aid and CPR. Many employers, including Good Company, ask for a current certificate.
Skills that matter most
- Patience, reliability and good communication.
- Helping people do things for themselves, rather than doing it for them.
- Respecting choices, privacy and boundaries.
- Noticing and speaking up when something isn’t right.
Good Company hires mentors in Perth and Melbourne. For community supports, our mentors also need a driver’s licence and a reliable, insured car. See our careers page for current roles.
How Good Company can help
Good Company supports NDIS participants in Perth, Melbourne, Canberra and Adelaide with social and community participation, employment support and mentoring. If you are looking for a support worker who fits, get in touch for a relaxed chat about your goals.
What does a support worker do: frequently asked questions
What does a disability support worker do?
A disability support worker helps a person with disability with everyday life and with building skills. That can include help at home, help with daily activities like shopping and transport, and support to take part in the community.
What is the difference between a support worker and a carer?
In Australia, “carer” usually means a family member or friend who provides unpaid care. A support worker is paid to provide support, either through a provider or working for themselves.
Can I choose my own support worker?
Yes. The NDIS says you choose who you work with and when, and what kind of support you receive.
What checks should a support worker have?
The NDIS suggests making sure your support workers have completed an NDIS worker screening check, a national assessment of whether a person is suitable to work with people with disability.
Is a mentor the same as a support worker?
At Good Company, yes. Mentor is the name we use for our support workers, because the focus is on building your skills, confidence and independence.
What is the role of a disability support worker?
A disability support worker helps a person with disability with everyday life and their goals. That can include help at home, getting out into the community, building skills like cooking or catching public transport, and, for some workers, personal care. The aim is to help you be more independent, in a way that respects your choices. The exact role depends on your goals, your plan and your service agreement.
What are the duties of a support worker?
Common duties include helping with household tasks and meal preparation, shopping and errands, transport and appointments, and joining social and community activities. Some support workers also help with hygiene, dressing or taking medication. Every support worker must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, which includes respecting your rights and privacy and providing support safely and with skill.
Do support workers need a qualification?
Not always. The NDIS Commission does not require training or qualifications for workers of unregistered providers, but all providers must use appropriately skilled workers. Registered providers may have extra requirements for some types of support. Most employers also ask for an NDIS Worker Screening Check, the NDIS Worker Orientation Module and a current first aid certificate.
Can a support worker drive me to appointments?
Yes, help with transport and getting to appointments is one of the everyday tasks the NDIS lists for support workers. Whether this suits you depends on your goals, your plan and what your provider offers. Check how travel and kilometres are charged before you start, and make sure it is written into your service agreement.
Sources and further reading
- NDIS: What is a support worker
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission: Worker screening for participants
- NDIS: Guide to employment
This article is general information only and was current at 23 October 2026. NDIS rules, and how they apply to individual plans, can change, and we can’t guarantee the article is complete or up to date. It is not advice about your plan and you should not rely on it to make decisions about your supports. Check ndis.gov.au, call the NDIS on 1800 800 110, or speak with your support coordinator or plan manager. Good Company Disability Services is an independent provider and is not affiliated with the NDIS or the NDIA.
