The role of a disability support worker comes under the broad umbrella of community services work. As a disability support worker, your daily efforts will be making someone else’s life easier. It’s a job position that comes with a lot of personal satisfaction and it can also provide a comfortable lifestyle.
In order to be successful as a disability support worker, you’ll need to have patience, empathy, and a true desire to be of service. This role is all about helping people who have trouble helping themselves and you can only achieve that if you are truly genuine about your motives to work in this field.
If you fit the bill to be successful as a disability support worker, you’re probably wondering how you can get started and what steps you need to take. Step one is to ensure it’s the right career choice for you and that you have the right personality and character to fulfil the role. Once you’ve made a firm decision on this, it will be time to take the next step.
Make Sure Your Literacy and Numeracy Skills Are Up To Standard
You’ll generally need to obtain entry-level training before embarking on a career as a disability support worker. While there are no formal requirements to undertake a course, you do need to have strong literacy and numeracy skills to be accepted for the course.
It’s important that your English is very good and that your literacy and numeracy skills are up to par before pursuing a certificate course.
A Police Clearance Will Also Be Required
To undertake a course in disability support and to be cleared to work in the industry, you’ll first need to pass a police check to ascertain that you don’t have a criminal record and that you’re a safe person to be around a person with a disability or young children.
Your Entry-Level Course Into Disability Support
Cert 3 Disability Support is the standard entry training into a career as a disability support worker. You’ll need to successfully complete this course before seeking employment.
The good news is, you don’t have to study for years before you complete the course and can look for a job. You can complete Certificate III In Individual Support (Disability) in just 12 months if you study full time. There is also the option of completing this certificate course over 24 months part-time as well. More good news is that you can set your own schedule to fit in with your lifestyle and other commitments.
As you progress through this course, you will be developing the skills and acquiring the knowledge you need to successfully embark on your new career and genuinely be able to make a difference in the lives of those living with a disability. A career in this field will be challenging, as you’ll be working with a diverse range of people of all ages, so as the course progresses, your skills and learning will be regularly assessed to ensure you are on track.
Along with the tutoring, all course participants will be required to undergo 120 hours of workplace training. This hands-on training will be supervised by a professional and is essential to gaining actual work experience before starting your career.
The Cert 3 course is comprised of 7 core units of study and 6 elective units. The electives you need to complete will be decided on a case-by-case basis.
Further Your Career
Once you’ve successfully completed your course in disability support, you may decide to undertake more advanced study and training so you can seek a higher position in the industry. This could be done directly after finishing Certificate 3 or after you’ve had several years of experience working as a disability support worker.
There are definite career advancement options within this field, or you might even decide to branch out into a different career in community service work. It’s a career path that offers flexibility and options.
The Wrap
If you have what it takes to be successful as a disability support worker, it can be one of the most satisfying and rewarding career choices you could ever make.
