Guides
What does an NDIS support worker do?
What support workers actually do day to day, what they should not do, and what good support looks like under the NDIS.
6 min read · Published 3 August 2026 · Last reviewed August 2026
An NDIS support worker helps a person with disability complete activities, build independence and work towards the goals in their plan. The role looks very different from one participant to another, because support should be built around the person rather than a standard checklist.
A worker may assist at home, in the community, at appointments, or while someone develops new skills. The exact tasks should be agreed with the participant before support begins.
Support with daily activities
- Showering, dressing, grooming and personal hygiene
- Preparing meals and supporting safe eating routines
- Household tasks and maintaining a safe environment
- Supporting mobility, transfers or use of approved equipment
- Helping plan routines, appointments and daily activities
- Prompting or assisting while encouraging you to do as much as you can independently
Personal care and complex health related tasks require the right training, competence and instructions. A support worker should never perform a task they are not trained or authorised to deliver.
Support in the community
A worker can help you access social, recreational and community activities — a local event, shopping, a class, visiting friends, sport, volunteering, or getting familiar with public transport.
The point is not simply to accompany you. Good support responds to your goals: building confidence, developing communication, making choices, forming relationships, or becoming more independent.
Skill development
Support workers often help you practise skills rather than doing everything for you. How much assistance you need can change over time.
- Planning a shopping list and comparing prices
- Learning a cooking routine step by step
- Practising travel routes and road safety
- Building confidence speaking with people in the community
- Learning to manage a timetable or calendar
- Developing strategies for household routines
Communication and choice
A worker should communicate in a way you understand — spoken language, Auslan, visual information, Easy Read, a communication device, or simply more time to process.
They should ask before assisting, respect your privacy, and support you to make decisions. They should not assume a family member or worker knows what is best without involving you.
Their professional responsibilities
- Provide support safely and with care and skill
- Respect your privacy, dignity, values and boundaries
- Follow infection control and risk management requirements
- Report hazards, incidents and concerns through the correct process
- Keep accurate and respectful support records
- Avoid conflicts of interest and maintain professional boundaries
- Act promptly when something may affect quality or safety
What a support worker should not do
Control your life, make personal decisions without your consent, pressure you to spend money, share your information without authority, or perform tasks outside their competence. They also should not treat support time as their own social time — a warm working relationship is valuable, but the focus stays on you.
What good support looks like
Reliable, respectful and person centred. The worker arrives prepared, checks what you want from the shift, and adapts when it makes sense. They understand your routines without being rigid about them, and support your independence without withdrawing help you genuinely need.
About this article
Evergreen participant guide. Last reviewed August 2026. Review every 12 months.
NDIS rules change. For the official position, check ndis.gov.au.