Accredited online and on-campus courses from leading Australian universities, TAFEs and colleges
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About Disability
You'll become
Average Salaries
Disability workers may earn between $34,000 and $69,000 per year
Get the training required to provide valuable care for people with disabilities. These Disability Courses help you formalise your skills, so you can gain the knowledge and expertise needed to support people with disabilities, aiding them in finding more independence and community involvement. Potential subjects covered in Disability Courses include; safe work practices, legal and ethical compliance, community participation and social inclusion, working with diverse people, providing individualised support, recognising healthy body systems and health and wellbeing.
You care about the rights and independence of other people and want a rewarding career helping others unlock their potential. Get started now by studying a disability course.
The increasing visibility of the unique challenges and opportunities faced by people living with a disability has thrust the sector centre stage, and the financial support and stability of the National Disability Insurance Scheme means there’s enormous potential for transformative change. Disability is once more at the forefront of our collective conscious, and now there’s real opportunity for the sector to revolutionise the lives of the people it serves. By studying a disability course, you’ll build the skills, insights and experience needed to work in the disability sector and help contribute to this change.
As a disability support worker, you can expect to work closely with clients, planning and implementing strategic interventions designed to improve their quality of life and assist them in engaging meaningfully with all aspects of society.
A challenging and deeply enriching career, disability service work is a unique opportunity to both coach people to success and to improve your own life. As well as building your professional skillset, you’ll change your perspective, build personal attributes and learn more about society. Start today with a disability course.
What do disability graduates do?
As a disability worker, you’ll work closely with people living with disabilities to provide support, coaching, advice and assistance on a range of social, emotional, health, welfare and development matters, and coordinate the services of service delivery agencies. Day-to-day, you can expect to:
- Meet with new clients to assess their needs and design support programs, activities and exercises;
- Work closely with existing clients to help them do daily tasks such as bathing, eating, dressing, cleaning and shopping;
- Provide companionship and friendship to clients;
- Monitor and report on the progress of clients;
- Communicate with service delivery agencies, including housing, education, employment, counselling and health services, for the benefit of your clients;
- Meet with families, employers and other people in the client’s environment, and assess community needs and resources;
- Connect clients to services;
- Prepare reports and submissions to government and service bodies, and advocate on behalf of your clients.
Career Outcomes
Career Outcomes
Disability course graduates may work in a variety of support and service roles, in home settings, clinics and community centres, or in hospitals.
After completing a disability course, you may choose to seek employment as a:
- Residential Care Officer
- Senior Personal Care Assistant
- Disability Support Officer
- Disability Officer – Day Support
- Social Trainer
- Personal Care Giver
- Respite Care Worker
- Aged Care Worker
- Home Care Assistant
- In-Home Respite Worker
- Disabilities Services Officer
- Disability Support Worker
- Community Support Worker
- Disability Service Worker
- Behavioural Support Officer
- Disability Officer
- Residential Supervisor
- Lifestyle and Leisure Coordinator
- Job Coordinator (Disability)
- Residential Support Worker
- Residential Care Worker
- Lifestyle Support Worker
- Planned Activity Assistant
- Community House Worker
- School Support Officer (Disability)
- Independent Living Worker
- Indigenous Community Liaison Officer
- Indigenous Youth Worker
- Child or Youth Residential Care Assistant
- Indigenous or Multicultural Support Worker
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Is disability right for you?
You’ll thrive working in the disability sector if you:
- Believe in the value and dignity of everyone
- Are empathetic and patient
- Enjoy working with people
- Are passionate about disability rights
- Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills
- Like problem-solving
- Have strong organisational and time management skills
- Can think strategically
- Are committed to supporting others
Job opportunities
The Australia Government’s Job Outlook reports strong, consistent growth in the disability sector over the past 10, five and two years, and projects that growth will continue until at least 2020. The disability sector is considered large, with over 140,000 people employed in disability roles across Australia, and Job Outlook projects an additional 50,000 roles will be available over the next five years.
As the National Disability Insurance Scheme launches, it’s likely disability workers will enjoy greater job security and enhanced job prospects, as the industry’s institutional and financial support increases.
Average Salaries
According to PayScale, a disability support worker can expect to earn a salary between $34,000 and $69,000 per year, with an average wage of approximately $50,000 per year. While workers with more experience do earn slightly more than people with less experience, there isn’t a strong relationship between work experience and earning capacity, indicating entry-level disability support workers will be able to earn competitive salaries.
Job Outlook notes that a relatively small proportion of disability support workers are employed in a full-time capacity – reporting just over 34 per cent of people work full-time.
Learn how to become a
Industry Bodies
- Disability Services Australia
- National Disability Services