What does a disability
support worker actually do?

Tegrity rosters support workers across inner Sydney and south-west Sydney every day, so this guide is written from what actually happens on shift — not from a position description. The examples below are composites drawn from real rosters, with all identifying details changed. Integrity, built in — that’s the standard we hold our workers to, and it’s the standard you should expect from anyone walking through your door.

What can a support worker help with?

Support work covers most of the practical, everyday help funded in an NDIS plan. Assistance with daily living is the foundation: personal care like showering and dressing, preparing meals together, and keeping on top of household tasks. Community participation is the other big pillar — getting out to activities, groups, sport and social events rather than staying home because getting there feels too hard. Add transport to appointments and shopping, and skill-building: learning to cook a few reliable meals, managing a budget, or practising the bus and train routes until a trip becomes independent. Then there’s the part people underrate until they have it — social connection. A consistent, friendly person who shows up, listens, and makes the week feel less isolated. Not everyone uses all of these. Some participants want help at home; others only want community access. A good roster is built around your goals, not a set menu.

What does a day with a support worker look like in Sydney?

Here’s a composite day from our own roster — details changed, but the shape is real. Morning, Inner West: a worker arrives, helps a participant through their usual routine — shower, breakfast, getting dressed — and out the door on time, calm instead of rushed. Midday: driving another participant to a medical appointment, waiting with them, and helping them raise the questions they’d written down beforehand so nothing gets forgotten in the room. Afternoon: community access. On Wednesdays that might be our recreation group, or a run of our pickleball sessions at Perry Park in Alexandria — real Tegrity programs where participants turn up for the sport and stay for the people. In between, the worker writes case notes so the next shift picks up where this drop-off ended. Ordinary days, done well — that’s the job.

Can a support worker drive you to appointments?

Yes — transport is a core part of support work, not an add-on. Workers routinely drive participants to medical and specialist appointments, to the shops, to community activities and to visit family. It’s often the difference between a plan that works on paper and one that works in real life, because so many supports depend on actually getting there. Under the NDIS Pricing Arrangements, vehicle travel with a participant on board is billed per kilometre — $1.00 per kilometre in 2026–27 — alongside the worker’s time, and standard weekday daytime support work is capped at $73.58 per hour. See our rates page for the full table, including evenings, weekends and public holidays. If getting to appointments is the main thing you need, say so up front — we’ll roster a worker with a suitable car who knows your routes.

What don’t support workers do?

Support workers are not clinicians, and honest providers are clear about the line. They don’t provide clinical nursing care — wound care, catheter care and similar tasks belong to a nurse. They don’t deliver therapy; that’s the job of allied health professionals like occupational therapists, physiotherapists and psychologists. And they never make medication decisions — a worker can prompt and support your routine as set out in your plan, but changes only ever come from your prescriber. Tegrity offers support work and support coordination only; when a participant needs nursing, therapy or plan management, we refer out to people who do it properly rather than stretching beyond our lane. If you’re unsure which role you actually need, our plain-English guide to support workers vs carers vs nurses breaks down who does what — and who should be doing it.

What should I expect on the first shift?

The first shift is mostly about getting comfortable. Expect introductions and a genuine getting-to-know-you conversation — your interests, your routine, how your day normally runs. The worker will go through your support plan and preferences with you: what help you actually want, what you’d rather do yourself, and how you like things done, down to the small stuff like how you take your tea or whether you want conversation in the car. You’ll cover safety basics together — how the worker should enter your home, emergency contacts, anything they need to know to keep you safe. Nothing should feel rushed, and nothing should be assumed. And here’s the part providers don’t always say out loud: it is completely normal to request a different worker if the fit isn’t right. Our guide to choosing a support worker in Sydney covers what a good match feels like.

What qualifications and checks does a support worker need?

Every support worker must hold a current NDIS Worker Screening Check — a national background check specific to disability work — and work under the NDIS Code of Conduct, which sets enforceable standards for safe, respectful support. Beyond that, expect current first aid, plus whatever training and supervision the provider adds on top; the provider’s ongoing training and oversight is what separates a professional service from a stranger with a certificate. We’ve written more about the duties and the Code in our guide to what support workers are required to do. And for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander participants, there’s a layer paperwork can’t capture: cultural fit matters as much as qualifications. Tegrity is Aboriginal-owned, and where it matters to you we can match you with Aboriginal support workers who bring cultural understanding to the role, not just compliance.

Still weighing it up? Start with our support work page for how our service runs day to day, or call us and talk it through with a person, not a form.