A great job: how disability support workers help with daily life

Disability support is a truly rewarding and satisfying position. You get to help those who require different levels of assistance and meet some truly amazing people in the process. This role is a life educator - one that teaches your about helping others and engaging with the community, making it a truly valuable role that is highly desirable for compassionate, empathetic people!

Naturally, you will be assisting with numerous tasks, from simple household duties all the way through to disability advocacy. So, before you start your journey to becoming a professional carer, we thought we would run through a few of the daily roles you are sure to experience:

1. Advocacy

Because providing the best disability support Clayton South has doesn’t end at daily tasks - your role will also include advocating for your participant and ensuring their rights are respected. You are there to help ensure that they are able to fully participate in the community, whether that be through social events, volunteering, sports or something completely different!

Advocacy comes in many forms, from ensuring they have access to community services and healthcare all the way through to assisting them with bureaucratic matters like those attributed to the NDIS. Whilst assisting with daily activities is an imperative part of care, advocacy is what makes it a truly rewarding life position.

2. Household tasks

Depending on the nature of your participant’s disability, you may be required to do little or a lot around the house. These tasks include the obvious, with everything from cleaning to helping cook and assisting with simple administration duties usually on the itinerary for a day’s caring.

You may even provide assistance in a way that promotes independent living skills. Through ongoing support, you can help your participant to learn new skills around the home, whether that be cooking, cleaning, gardening or something different, so assisting with household tasks is also seen as a way to facilitate independent growth - another satisfying part of this role!

3. Assist with community/social endeavours

One of the great rewards of care working is helping participants realise their goals of partaking in community and social events. Participants are encouraged to partake in community and social events if it is something they want to do, and you can be there to help them realise this dream by assisting them in partaking in such events.

Whether it be helping out at the local footy club, volunteering for a charity, joining an art class or something completely different, you will be there to foster their newfound experience in a way that gives them the confidence to keep going, keep learning and enjoying the process!

4. Help with transport

Transport can be difficult for certain people living with a disability. As such, you may be required to drive them to appointments or help them with public transport. You may also be required to help transport them to the supermarket and assist with the groceries, helping them take them home and unpack them into the fridge and pantry.

5. Help with communication

Some participants may require communication assistance when out and about. As part of your role as advocate, you may be required to assist your participant get their message across to other members of the public. Again, this is a truly regarding aspect of the role and one that firmly cements the fact that you are providing an amazing service for people who may truly appreciate your help!

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