Do you want to find meaningful work supporting others in need? If so, jobs in disability services may be your perfect vocation.
It’s certainly a rewarding career looking after people with disabilities and you need to learn specific skills to do so successfully. A course in disability support helps you acquire those skills, setting you up for all types of roles in this growth sector.
Our article today explores the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) and the extensive roles on offer once you complete this essential qualification.
What is Individual Support – and Why Do We Need It?
A staggering 1 in 5 Australians have disabilities. Whether mild or severe, adults or children, many of those people require ongoing support to help them live a fulfilled life.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) launched in 2013 has made disability support more accessible than ever, providing those in need with funding and a range of services including direct in-person care.
Individual support refers to the care provided by trained professionals to help those with disabilities go about their lives. Whether it’s delivering hands-on care in their homes, facilitating community initiatives or working in administrative services, it takes a team of trained professionals to provide this support effectively and according to an individual’s needs. As such, thousands of disability support jobs are available in the sector and these numbers will only continue to grow as our population increases.
The Key Individual Support (Disability) Courses
If you want to pursue a career in disability support, employers recommend you first complete a formal qualification to prepare you with essential skills for this sector. A highly popular and accessible course is the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability).
CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)
This entry-level course suits anybody looking for a career in disability care work. There are no formal entry requirements, although it is preferred you have obtained a School Certificate or equivalent first; you will also need a National Police Certificate to work in this sector after completing the course.
The course teaches a range of practical skills to prepare you for the workplace, such as working effectively in disability support, addressing the needs of people with chronic disease, and supporting independence and wellbeing. You will also learn about the importance of communicating with other professionals in health or community services, helping to establish a collaborative approach to care.
- Course highlights
- Units of study: 15 (9 core and 6 electives)
- Content: Providing individualised support, working legally and ethically with diverse people, following safe work practices for direct client care and more
- Delivery: Blended – online and work-based
- Duration: 12 months on average
The good news is this course is currently free. You will only have to pay a nominal amount for your studies, and most students complete the course within 12 months. So, it’s a fast and cost-effective way to launch your career in disability support.
For those keen to extend their studies further, you can consider completing the CHC43121 Certificate IV in Disability Support. This course provides additional skills to take to the workplace, preparing you for team leader or supervisory roles as well as those where your responsibilities are less about hands-on support (desk-based) – although you can still work directly with clients in their homes should you wish to.
Disability Care Jobs: Which Ones Are Most Popular?
After completing the Level III Certificate, a wide scope of work in disability support becomes available to you. The type of work you choose to pursue is up to you, depending on whether you are keen to give direct care to clients or involve yourself more in administrative tasks.
Here are some of the most common roles our students embark on after finishing their studies:
Disability Support Worker
This is one of the most popular roles people look for after completing a course in individual support – and you will struggle to become a Disability Support Worker with no experience or training. The job involves multiple tasks to support those impacted by a disability so they can continue living healthy, independent lives, with a focus on skills development. Your clients probably live at home, although some may live in residential care.
Your main duties include:
- Personal Care: Assisting clients with daily essentials like bathing, dressing, grooming, and feeding.
- Skills Development: Supporting clients in building essential life skills, such as cooking, budgeting, and using public transport.
- Medication: Assisting clients to take or apply their medication treatments as prescribed.
- Mobility – Helping clients to move safely around their living space or community, including using mobility aids.
- Social Support – Offering companionship and emotional support, helping clients engage in social activities.
If you’re wondering how much you will earn as a Disability Support Worker, you can expect a salary of around $70k annually.
Care Worker
Care Workers provide more varied, sometimes intensive care, often in facility-based environments such as residential care facilities, nursing homes or hospitals, as well as in a client’s home. The emphasis is very much on direct care rather than support and tends to apply to people with severe disabilities.
Common duties as a Care Worker might include:
- Medical care: Ensuring clients follow their prescribed medicine plans – and sometimes administering medications to clients.
- Mobility: Assisting with mobility and the use of specialised medical equipment.
- Daily Support:
- Observation: Monitoring and recording clients’ health and behaviour.
- Collaborating with Healthcare Professionals: Coordinating with healthcare providers, social workers, and family members to ensure consistent client care.
In terms of salary, you can expect to earn around $72k annually as a Care Worker in QLD.
Residential Support Worker
While all efforts are made for clients with disabilities to live independently at home, some need to stay full time in a care home. As a Residential Support Worker, you provide essential support and care to people with a disability or chronic illness, so they feel valued and appreciate quality of life.
Your Residential Support Worker duties might include:
- Daily Support: Assisting clients with personal care – bathing, dressing, grooming, and toileting.
- Medication: Supporting clients to take their medication as required.
- Meal Preparation/Nutrition: Preparing and serving nutritious meals, support with feeding.
- Activities: Planning and facilitating recreational activities to promote wellbeing and encouraging residents to participate.
- Emotional Support: Managing behaviours and creating a safe, positive environment for clients.
In terms of pay, salaries for a Residential Care Worker in Queensland average around $73k annually.
Disability Service Officer
What if you want to work in the disability sector but not in a hands-on support role?
A Disability Service Officer (DSO) could be ideal for you. In this role, you provide support and assistance to individuals with disabilities, enhancing their quality of life while promoting independence to achieve their personal goals. DSOs work in various settings, including community centers, schools, group homes, and employment support services.
As a DSO, your key duties might be:
- Support Planning: Developing personalised care plans based on your client’s needs.
- Skill Development and Training: Helping clients learn life skills (communication, self-care, budgeting) and support them to find employment.
- Empowerment: Advocating for client rights and encouraging independence in decision-making.
- Community and Social Integration: Facilitating community involvement and helping clients form strong social connections.
- Emotional Support: Guiding clients in managing emotions, behaviours, and overcoming challenges.
- Health and Safety Monitoring: Ensuring client safety, monitoring health, and supporting their routine medications.
- Record-Keeping and Reporting: Documenting your client’s progress and communicating with families and professionals to coordinate support.
The average salary as a DSO currently sits at around $75k annually.
Other Disability Support Roles
We have shown you some of the more popular roles in disability care. Armed with your Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability), there are numerous other jobs you can consider too, like these ones:
- Accommodation Support Worker
- Care Assistant
- Care Service Employee
- Client Assistant
- Community Access Coordinator
- Community Care Worker
- Community House Worker
- Family Support Worker
- Field Officer (Community Services)
- Food Services Deliverer
- Home Care Assistant
- In Home Respite Worker
- Nurse’s Aide
- Planned Activity Assistant
- Residential Aide
- School Support Officer (Disability)
- Senior Personal Care Assistant
- Transport Support Worker
Starting your Career in Disability Services
Whatever type of role you go for – hands-on, community or desk-based – these are all well-paid, deeply gratifying roles helping people in need. The first step is completing the CHC33021 Certificate III in Individual Support – and Collaboration Learning can help you!
As a leading RTO, Collaboration Learning offers flexible, affordable study delivered by industry professionals to help kick-start your career as a Disability Support Worker. Employment opportunities are high in this sector once you complete the Certificate, and in under a year, you’ll be ready to take your skills and put yourself forward for suitable roles helping people with disabilities to lead fulfilling lives.
