A career as a disability support worker may be ideal for you if you enjoy offering care and assistance to a wide range of individuals in various contexts. Disability assistance is a fulfilling and adaptable vocation that gives employees the chance to improve their clients' capacity for independent living on a daily basis.
A day in the life of a disability support worker is never the same, but every day offers new chances to practice empathy, form connections with others, and engage in meaningful conversations. Becoming a disability support worker may be a career for you if you think that empathy can overcome physical constraints.
What Does a Worker in Disability Support Do?
People with disabilities are supported by disability support professionals. They can work in hospitals, specialized care facilities, or people's homes. They could help a range of customers, or they might focus on one or two clients full-time.
The duties of a disability support worker are as diverse as the demands of each individual client. They might offer company and assistance with chores like shopping or running errands. They might help with tasks of everyday living including eating, dressing, and bathing. Additionally, they could offer assistance with chores around the house including cooking, cleaning, and laundry.
Disability workers can choose how they want to work as well. They might be independent contractors or full-time employees of an institution or organisation. Although the majority are full-time, the industry also has a lot of part-time positions. If the above interests you, you could inquire, "How can I become a support worker?"
What Certifications are Required to Work as a Disability Support Worker?
There are no licensing requirements for disability assistance professionals in Australia. There are no prerequisites for employment, and 11% of workers have only finished the 10th grade. However, there are a number of credentials that are useful in the industry, and obtaining one will increase your appeal as a candidate for positions in disability assistance.
Certificate III in Individual Support
With a Certificate III in Individual Support, you may become ready to offer person-centred, individualized support to persons with disabilities. With the help of this certificate programme, you can work in a care centre or provide in-home disability support. It includes theoretical and practical training. Your training equips you with the knowledge and abilities to perform a support position with a high degree of autonomy in a predictable environment—important abilities for employees who work from home.
This certificate can be completed in as short as 14 weeks, although most programmes last between six months and a year. Principles of support care, identifying healthy bodily systems, and adhering to safety procedures for providing direct client care are all included in the core curriculum. A wide range of electives for disability care is available if you would like to learn more about issues including person-centred care, strengths-based strategies, and assistive communication devices. A minimum of 13 units and 120 hours of work in the community or at home are needed for the certificate. You will be an excellent contender for professions like residential care worker, personal care worker, or disability support worker after obtaining the certification.
Certificate IV in Disability
A Certificate IV in Disability can help you gain more advanced training to improve your abilities as a disability support worker and give you the freedom to work more independently. You can operate in a supervisory or more specialised capacity thanks to the increased degree of competence in disability support that a Certificate IV grants you.
Most people who receive this degree are currently employed in the disability assistance sector and are looking to advance their careers. You'll be qualified for jobs like disability officer or senior personal care assistant after getting a Certificate IV in Disability.
A minimum of 14 units are required for this certificate. Many of the topics covered in this programme are covered in greater detail than in Certificate III, allowing you to apply your knowledge in a wider range of circumstances. For instance, a Certificate III core unit teaches you how to conduct yourself ethically and legally whereas a Certificate IV core unit imparts the same knowledge while qualifying you for a supervisory position.
What is the Future of Employment for Disability Support Workers?
You won't have any trouble obtaining employment as a disability support worker once you've finished your training. In Australia, 4.4 million individuals, or 18% of the population, have a long-term impairment. Of those, 1.4 million, or 32%, have profound or severe impairments that prevent them from living freely. Although the proportion of the population with impairments has declined over time, the Australian population is aging, and older persons are more likely to have a disability. The demand for support workers will keep increasing as the population ages because 50% of Australians 65 and over live with a disability.
As a result, there are many opportunities for disability support workers in Australia. The requirement for labour is expected to rise by 25% between 2019 and 2024.
Salary of a Disability Support Worker
Disability care employees get an average weekly wage of $1265, which is somewhat less than the $1460 weekly wage average for all industries.
For those looking for a job as a disability support worker, the chance to enable and encourage disabled persons to thrive and live freely may bring a great deal of happiness. Disability assistance can be the next step for you if you are enthusiastic about working with diverse people in various contexts to deliver person-centred care.
Conclusion
Do you want to work as a disability support worker? Enrol in Certificate III in Individual Support or Certificate IV in Disability at the Job Training Institute to get started in your career in the field of disability and help people in need as a Disability Support Worker! So, what are you waiting for? Apply now!
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