If you have decided to become a support worker in the ACT, congratulations! You have chosen a career path that is not only rewarding, but can help you learn, grow, and practice compassion.
There has been a shortage of carers and support workers in the sector, and this guide hopes to make a turning point with the workplace issue. In this article, we will talk about what it means to be a support worker and qualifications you need to have on becoming a part of the support work sector in the ACT.
What does a support worker do?
Before we get into the qualifications, let’s understand the responsibilities of a support worker. As a support worker, your professional duties are to be responsible for the wellbeing of clients with different physical abilities and mental health needs. In detail, a support worker helps clients with daily personal care, meal preparations, transport, household chores, and social engagement.
The goal (and the rewarding moment) is to help clients live more independently and to their full potential. And it’s also more than that. A support worker can also provide social support to clients such as getting involved in community groups, watch footy games, smash a gym workout, or learn a new skill such as painting or music, like what some days look like in UNIQ Support Network!
How do I become a support worker in the ACT?
Whether you want to work in aged care, disability, youth sector, or family, there are requirements in becoming a support worker in the ACT. Continue reading to find what those are.
1. You need adequate training.
In order to become a good support worker, you must first have training and necessary skills to become one. There are training centres and colleges in the ACT that offer vocational training for industry qualification in different areas of the sector such as:
Disability Support:
- Certificate III in Individual Support
- Certificate IV in Disability
- Certificate III in Community Services
Aged Care:
- Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing, Home & Community)
- Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing & Disability)
- Certificate III in Individual Support (Ageing)
- Dual Certificate III in Individual Support & Certificate IV in Ageing Support
- Certificate III in Community Services
However, depending on the support you want to provide, support work centres and UNIQ Support Network may or may not need qualifications. You only need an understanding of the support worker role, have the basic skills and right perspective on support work.
2. Mandatory requirements
Other than having the qualifications mentioned above, UNIQ Support Network and other organisations have an extremely high level of service with the support work we do. In order to qualify as a support worker, you need these following requirements:
- Working with Vulnerable People (WWVP) Card
- Police Check (or willing to undertake one)
- Australian Drivers License
- Full working rights in Australia
- First Aid Certificate
- Up-to-date immunisations
Some Helpful Tips During an Interview
Once you’ve got your documents and requirements ready, the next step is preparing for the support worker job interview. Here are the common questions that employers ask during an interview.
- Your understanding of the support worker role.
- Your work ethics and commitment to client’s needs.
- Your reliability as a worker.
- How you would manage a client’s needs.
Now that you’ve reached the end of this guide, we hope that this can help you kickstart your career in the support work sector. If you’re looking for an organisation to help you develop your career in the sector, UNIQ Support Network is on the lookout for carers!