Suitability Assessment Tool - General support

Your results

Based on your answers, it looks like you could be a good fit for support work in the disability sector!

Two types of work may suit you: general support work and ancillary work. The NDIS Workforce Capability Framework (the Framework) describes capabilities for general support and ancillary roles.

General support work can include working with people with disability one-on-one or in groups. You may be supporting a person to get ready for their day, prepare and enjoy their meals, and build skills and confidence to do what they choose - whether that is going shopping, going to work, getting out and about with their friends and in their community or taking part in interests and hobbies. The work is as varied as the needs and interests of the people you support. 

Ancillary work includes a wide variety of work funded by the NDIS. Driving, gardening and office work are just a few you might be interested in.
 

On this page

Finding a job in the sector
Your self-assessment results in detail
 About the scenarios you completed in the self-assessment

Useful links

Finding a job in the sector
Many disability sector roles are promoted through private, government and disability specific job boards. Some common examples are listed below:
Seek
Gumtree
Indeed
Adzuna
Careerone
Workforce Australia
Care Careers
Ethical Jobs
Additional information on roles in the care and disability sector can be found below:
Workers | NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
Worker Orientation Module ‘Quality, Safety and You’ | NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
Supporting effective communication | NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
New Worker - NDIS Induction Modules | NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission
Providers advertise roles and information through their own business pages. You may also find more information on local notice boards, community centres, local social media pages and other community-based organisations. You can find more information on NDIS providers in your local area by selecting the first link below.

You could also look at further training and qualifications, as the additional knowledge will be useful, and many NDIS providers hire employees through relationships with training organisations. If you are choosing further training, it’s a good idea to ask the training provider about the type of work it will help you do.
Provider finder | NDIS
myskills | National Careers Institute

Requirements for roles in the disability sector vary from job to job, and no two jobs are the same. However, some things apply to all disability jobs and it’s important that you understand them. To do that, explore the Framework, Worker Screening Requirements and other resources listed on this page to find out more about NDIS work before looking for jobs.  

Workers who provide NDIS services are employed in many ways and by different kinds of employers. Work can be permanent or casual, full-time or part-time. You could work as a sole trader, be employed by a provider or through an online platform provider that matches services between participants and workers. You should decide what is right for you.

Here are some questions that you might want to ask when deciding if the job is right for you:

  • What type of work will I be doing?  What tasks will I be asked to do?
  • Will there be any physically demanding work or manual lifting required?
  • Would I be working with the same person(s) over time or assigned to different people depending on need?
  • How much contact will I have with my supervisor and my colleagues?
  • Is the job full time or part time? 
  • Is the job casual or permanent?
  • Are the hours fixed or flexible? 
  • Do I need a driver’s licence?
  • Do I need my own car?
  • What is the pay? 
  • What background checks are required (e.g. police check, working with children check, etc.)? 
  • Where will I be working? Is the location always the same or does it require travel?
  • Are there any other requirements I need to meet (e.g. current first aid certificate)?
  • What are the employer’s values and attitudes towards people with disability and towards staff? Do those values align with mine?
Your self-assessment results in detail
Attitudes and values feedback
 You answered some questions at the start of the assessment about your attitudes and values. Below we suggest where your attitudes and values seem to align with expectations when working in the NDIS, and areas where you may need to adjust your natural style when working in the sector.
Alignment to the sector
Area to watch out for Indicates area to watch out for
Your responses indicate that you may prefer environments that are predictable. You may like to undertake tasks that you have tried before rather than taking on something new. The disability sector is a fast-paced work environment that often requires workers to think on their feet and support a wide variety of people with different goals and needs, across a range of situations. Review the capabilities and behaviour indicators listed under the ‘Be Present’ objective in the Framework to deepen your understanding of what is expected when working in the sector.
Your responses indicate that you may be more task focused than people focused. You may place more importance on making sure things get done rather than on checking in with others and choosing a way to do things that is comfortable for them. Other people may be more likely to sit back and let you do things for them in the way you like them done. Working in the disability sector you will need to be mindful that some of the people you work with will want to do things differently to you and that doing things for others is not usually the best way to support them achieve their goals. Review the capabilities and behaviour indicators listed under the ‘Be Present’ and ‘Support Me’ objectives in the Framework to deepen your understanding of what is expected when working in the sector.
Your results indicate that you are someone that would rather lead with their actions rather than their words. Whilst you may be happy to talk to others when you need to, you may not enjoy long and detailed conversations. Working in the disability sector requires patient communication and may require you to try different methods of communicating with others. You may need to take some time to properly understand the people you are communicating with. Review the capabilities and behaviour indicators listed under the ‘Our Relationship’ objective in the Framework to deepen your understanding of what is expected when working in the sector.
Your responses indicate that when faced with different or challenging circumstances you like to try and figure things out on your own before asking others for help. You may find it difficult to speak up and approach others in new situations. You may also prefer to focus on the bigger picture rather than smaller details and see yourself as being able to draw on other situations and experiences to make quick decisions. Working in the disability sector you will need to be prepared to undertake new and challenging tasks, often requiring others to help you. You may also need to have difficult discussions with others. Review the capabilities and behaviour indicators listed under the ‘Your Impact’ and ‘Be Present’ objectives in the Framework to deepen your understanding of what is expected when working in the sector.
Your results indicate that you are someone who is confident in their abilities and may have strong values and opinions about what is right and what is wrong. If you disagree with what others are doing you may be more likely than others to speak up and provide your thoughts. You may find those with different opinions to yourself frustrating. Working in the disability sector will put you in contact with a very diverse range of people with varied viewpoints. Many of the people you come across in this sector may have had very different life experiences and will be interested in engaging with you and challenging your perceptions. Review the capabilities and behaviour indicators listed under the ‘Our Relationship’ and ‘Support Me’ objectives in the Framework to deepen your understanding of what is expected when working in the sector.
Your results indicate that you may not give priority to managing your own stress, often putting others ahead of your own wellbeing. It is likely that working in the disability sector you will face difficult situations that you will need to manage autonomously. There is a fine balance between providing the utmost support to participants and also knowing how to manage your own stress and look after your own wellbeing. Review the ‘Your Impact’ objective in the Framework to deepen your understanding of what is expected when working in the sector.
About the scenarios you completed in the self-assessment
The scenarios included in the self-assessment reflect real-life situations a person with disability and their support workers may experience. They provide you with insights about the nature of the work and some of the situations that can occur, as well as prompt you to think about what you would do and how you would feel in these situations.

See below to re-read each scenario and find out why some responses are more appropriate than others, based on the relevant capabilities from the NDIS Workforce Capability Framework.

You have just been appointed as a support worker for Rhonda, who is a person with a physical disability. Her movements can sometimes be a bit jerky and she can have trouble with her balance and coordination. You are meeting her for the first time. 

“Hi I’m Rhonda. Welcome to my team, I’m looking forward to working with you!”

Rhonda has just met you with one of her parents present. She says hello. You reach to shake her hand and Rhonda’s movements look like she might be trying to shake your hand as well, but you’re not sure. What would you do?

This scenario is about adaptability and dealing with uncertainty. For more guidance on this, see the Framework:

  • Our relationship: Uphold my rights; Communicate effectively; Build trusted relationships.
  • Your impact: Show self-awareness.
  • Be present: Observe and respond flexibly to my changing needs.
  • Check in: Review quality of support and service. 

In the scenario, when you were meeting Rhonda for the first time, it was important to pay close attention to Rhonda’s actions and intent. In this case, the best response would be to shake her hand as this was her intention. It would also be OK to ask her if you can shake her hand if you’re not sure. 

When Rhonda has food spilled over her in the restaurant, it was important to focus on how Rhonda feels and what she needed from you. In this case, the correct response was to indicate to Rhonda that you understood her distress and to ask if she needed your help.

Checking in about what a participant wants you to do before you do it is always important.

Zee is a 24 year old with an intellectual disability. You get on well with Zee and have been part of his team of support workers for a while. Zee has previously reported on how much you have been able to help him. Zee's brother helps with coordinating Zee’s support team.

“Hi. We had arranged for my speech therapist to come today to show you some exercises to help me speak more clearly but there’s been a mix up and they’re not here.”

This scenario is about problem solving and flexibility in ways that respect the person’s right to make their own choices. For more guidance on this, see the Framework:

  • Our relationship: Uphold my rights; Communicate effectively; Build trusted relationships; Work collaboratively.
  • Your impact: Show self-awareness.
  • Support Me: Support me to make my own choices.
  • Be Present: Observe and respond flexibly to my changing needs.

In this scenario, it was important not to take control away from Zee and his brother. That is why the best option was to ask Zee what he wants to do instead and provide the information Zee and his brother need to reschedule the speech therapist.

Zee is now more confident when speaking and has recently found a part time job. He loves his work with animals at the local vet but has mentioned that one of the other workers is sometimes mean to him. 

When Zee tells you about his problem at work, it was important to find ways to support Zee rather than take over. It is also important not to leave discrimination or bullying unchallenged. For these reasons, the best response was to offer to go with Zee when he talks with his co-worker.

Ibrahim is 20 years old and is partially blind. He wears dark glasses and uses a cane to help himself get around.

“I asked you to take me to a local restaurant for dinner tonight. Just as we were about to leave, I remembered my favourite band is playing at the pub tonight. I want to call the restaurant to cancel the dinner booking and go to the pub instead”

This scenario is about respecting and supporting participant decisions and choices. For more guidance on this, see the Framework:

  • Our relationship: Uphold my rights; Build trusted relationships.
  • Support me: Understand what a good life means to me; Support me to make my own choices; Build my capacity to participate.
  • Be present: Observe and respond flexibly to my changing needs; Manage health and safety; Engage and motivate me.

When Ibrahim decided he wanted to go to the pub, the best solution was to support Ibrahim’s choice to cancel the restaurant booking and go to the pub instead.

When the waiter asked you what Ibrahim would have, the best response was to not speak for Ibrahim but to tell the waiter to ask him directly. 

Olya is 25 years old and has an intellectual disability. You are one of her support workers and have a strong relationship with Olya. Olya tells you that one of her goals is to be able to go to shopping by herself, which includes taking public transport and making purchases by herself. 

This is another scenario about how to support participant choice. For more guidance on this, see the Framework:

  • Our relationship: Uphold my rights; Build trusted relationships, Work collaboratively.
  • Your impact: Show self-awareness.
  • Support me: Understand what a good life means to me; Support me to make my own choices; Build my capacity to participate.

In this scenario, when Olya first tells you about wanting to catch public transport to go shopping on her own, it was important for you to encourage her and ask what practical support she would need to do that.

When you discovered the buses were not running, it was important to stay focused on what Olya wanted to do, which was to be able to take public transport on her own. Calling for a taxi without asking Olya shows that you are making decisions for her. The best response was to ask Olya how else she wanted to get to the shops as it gave Olya the chance to practice deciding what to do if this situation happened when she is on her own.