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Why choose a career as a disability support worker?
That’s a good question and one you’ll find the answers to in this article. If you’re looking for your very first career or you simply desire a career change, then take a look at a career as a disability support worker.
Let’s discover why a job in this rewarding profession is such a great option.
What is a Disability Support Worker?
As the name of the job description suggests, a career in disability support involves providing ongoing support for people living with a disability. It’s a role that comes with much responsibility, but one that can be extremely rewarding as well.
As a disability support worker, you could find yourself providing daily support to an individual inside their home, within a hospital environment, a clinic, a community center, or even outdoors.
What Does a Disability Support Worker Do?
The role of a disability support is varied and offers a lot of variety on a daily basis. This is good news for those working in the industry, as the job is rarely ever dull, mundane, and boring. You will be challenged regularly but in a good way.
Keep in mind that your primary role, overall, is to make a positive difference in the lives of people living with a disability. How do you achieve this?
Providing mobility support is one of the primary roles a caregiver is tasked with. Many people with a disability struggle with getting around or performing everyday tasks and this is where you. The disability support worker can really make a huge difference.
Other tasks include things like helping out with household chores, going out and doing the shopping, offering moral and emotional support, taking individuals to appointments with healthcare professionals, assisting them with getting exercise, accompanying them to social events and so much more.
As mentioned, the role is diverse and offers so much variety that no two days will be exactly the same.
You’ll Make a Huge Difference In the Lives of Others
The most important aspect of a career as a disability support worker is that you’ll be there to make a positive difference in the lives of those living with a disability; whether it be just generally lending a hand where needed, being a confidant, offering your support on a number of levels, helping individuals to improve their mobility, assisting them in achieving their goals and so much more.
The most rewarding aspect of this important job role is the sense of personal satisfaction you’ll derive from being a disability support worker. Each and every day you’ll be able to see that you’re making a difference in the lives of those you work closely with and there are not many things more rewarding than that.
How Much Can You Earn?
Of course, as a disability support worker, you want to earn a living as well and the job can provide a fairly comfortable lifestyle; especially if you advance your career to more specialist roles within the industry.
Currently, the average wage in Australia for a disability support worker is approximately $62,000. Not bad at all. Entry-level positions start at around $56k annually. As you gain experience and further qualifications, you can expect your salary to rise exponentially over time.
Qualifications To Get Started In Your Disability Support Worker Career
The first major step to getting started in your career as a disability support worker is to undergo some official training to get qualified for entry-level positions. The best starting point to get a foot in the door and start your career is to completee Cert 3 Individual Support. This will get you qualified on an entry-level basis and you can start applying for job positions.
You can complete CHC33015 Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) in just 12 months on a full-time basis, or 24 months part-time. Study according to your own schedule. The course also includes a minimum of 120 hours of on-the-job training as part of the curriculum. 7 core units and 6 elective units make up the course.
The Takeaway
As you can see, a career in this field is both an admirable and rewarding choice, so consider a career in disability support today.