How to Become a Support Worker

May 08, 2024

Blog

BY: Nikki Stephens

Becoming a support worker is an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling career. Your days will be filled with giving support to people in need, whether that’s people with disabilities or our ageing population. However, many people are under the impression you need to be a nurse or undergo years of training to become a support worker; but it’s simply not true.

If you’re looking to learn how to become a support worker in Queensland, this guide will give you all the information you need, including courses to take, tasks to expect and more.

What does a support worker do?

A support worker in Australia provides assistance and care to individuals who need support due to disability, ageing, mental health issues or other vulnerabilities. They help with tasks such as:

General household chores.
Providing personal care support.
Assisting with medication.
Guiding clients with employment.
Doing grocery shopping and preparing meals.
Helping them learn new skills.Transporting and accompanying clients to appointments.

And more. There are also different types of support workers to care for different needs.

Types of support workers:

The two specialisations that Aurora Training support workers can choose are:

Aged care support: a support role providing care for the ageing population.
Disability support: a role providing care for people with disabilities.

Becoming a Support Worker Through Aurora Training

If you’re looking into how to become a support worker, you will first need the following:

Up-to-date immunisations.
Certificate in CPR and First Aid.
Clear background check.
Current driver’s licence.

While a qualification is not essential for becoming a support worker, a CHC33021 – Certificate III in Individual Support will help give you the skills and knowledge you need to succeed. This starter course will give you the knowledge of what individual support is and will give you the skills to provide general support to the community in need. You can also take short courses in disability and aged care support to refine and expand your skills and knowledge.

How to Become a Disability Support Worker

A CHC33021 – Individual Support – Disability Skill Set course is a good way to advance your career as a disability support worker. As part of this 12-month course, you’ll learn essential skills for caring for people with disabilities, as well as complete work placement to give you real-world experience. It builds on a Certificate of Individual Support and shows employers you are serious about a career supporting people with disabilities.

How to Become an Aged Care Support Worker

While there are no specific qualifications you need to become an aged care support worker, completing a CHC33021 – Individual Support – Ageing Skill Set course is a good way to prepare yourself for an entry-level job in aged care support. You will be equipped with the skills to safely and ethically work in the community and in residential aged care organisations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do you need qualifications to become a support worker?

Individual support workers do not need qualifications to start their career, but they are recommended. The skills and knowledge learned in an individual support course will help you with working with people of different backgrounds and abilities, giving you the tools you need to succeed.

How do I start a career as a support worker?

A CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support is a great place to start a career as a support worker to learn basic skills and knowledge for caring for people in need. Most workplaces will also require support workers to be up to date with their immunisations, and have a CPR and First Aid certificate. You may also be required to complete a criminal background check. Once you feel confident, you can begin to apply for entry-level support worker roles.

How much does a support worker earn in Australia?

The average support worker in Australia earns $68,218 a year, or $38.98 an hour. Entry-level positions typically start at around $60,000 a year, while more senior roles earn upwards of $89,000 a year.

Are support workers in demand in Australia?

Support work is considered one of the most in-demand occupations in Australia. With a shortage of registered nurses, there is a high need for people in support roles, like support workers to fill the vacancies, particularly in disability and aged care. For example, it’s expected there will be a need for 83,000 additional NDIS workers by 2024.