What a support worker does
Support workers are the people many participants see most. Their work is practical and shaped around your goals and routines. Common tasks include:
- Personal care: showering, dressing, grooming, eating and toileting
- Help around the home, meal preparation and shopping
- Getting to appointments, work, study or social activities
- Taking part in community, sport, hobbies and outings
- Building daily living skills, such as cooking, budgeting or using public transport
- Overnight support, such as sleepovers or active overnight help
What a support worker does not do
Support workers are not therapists, nurses or coordinators. They can follow a program written by your occupational therapist or speech pathologist, but they do not assess you or design therapy. Complex health tasks may need a nurse, or a worker trained and supervised for that specific task under a high intensity support. Organising all your supports is a support coordinator's job, although a good worker will keep everyone in the loop.
How support workers are funded
Most support worker hours are paid from your Core supports budget, mainly Assistance with daily life and Assistance with social, economic and community participation. Some skill building work is funded from Capacity Building.
From 1 October 2026, when a plan is created, reassessed or renewed, social, economic and community participation budgets are reduced by 50% under a support determination. Help in your home, such as personal care, is not affected. If community access is a big part of your week, talk with your workers about priorities before your next plan change.
Rates for 2026/27
Price limits depend on when the support is delivered. For standard self care support the 2026/27 national limits are:
- Weekday daytime: $73.58 an hour
- Weekday evening: $81.07 an hour
- Weekday night: $82.57 an hour
- Saturday: $103.54 an hour
- Sunday: $133.50 an hour
- Public holiday: $163.46 an hour
- Night time sleepover: $311.79 a night
Agency, independent or registered
You can get support workers through a provider agency, or work directly with an independent support worker who runs their own business. Agencies handle rostering, training and cover when someone is sick. Independent workers often mean the same face every time and more say in how things are done, but you organise backup yourself.
If your plan is agency managed you can only use registered providers. Plan managed and self managed participants can also use unregistered providers. If you are agency managed or plan managed, workers cannot charge above the price limits.
Screening, training and conduct
Workers of registered providers in risk assessed roles must hold an NDIS Worker Screening clearance and complete the free NDIS Worker Orientation Module. Unregistered workers are not legally required to be screened, but you can choose to only use those who are. Every worker, registered or not, must follow the NDIS Code of Conduct, and you can complain to the NDIS Commission if they do not.
What is changing for support workers
- 1 December 2026: SCHADS Award changes from the Fair Work Commission's September 2026 decision take effect, and the government says the pricing schedule will be updated
- 1 January 2027: lower prices for some supports from unregistered providers have been recommended, including community participation. This is still under consultation
- 1 July 2027: mandatory registration starts expanding to higher risk supports such as personal care and daily living, with all providers in scope registered by December 2030
Finding the right support worker
Skills matter, but so does fit. Look for someone reliable, who shares your interests or language where that matters to you, and who respects how you want things done. Meet first, agree the tasks, hours, rate and cancellation terms in a written service agreement, and ask for their screening clearance and references.