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Support Worker Courses

A Support Worker aids individuals and families facing difficulties by providing practical and emotional assistance in various settings.

    • AI Exposure: Low

      This role has a low level of AI exposure. Core skills such as adaptability, social intelligence, and complex physical tasks remain beyond the capabilities of current AI.

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  • This role has a low level of AI exposure. Core skills such as adaptability, social intelligence, and complex physical tasks remain beyond the capabilities of current AI.
      • VIC
AI exposure data adapted from Felten, Raj & Seamans (2021). Shortage data sourced from Jobs and Skills Australia (2024).

How do I become a Support Worker?

Get qualified to work as a Support Worker with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.

Common questions

In Australia, a full time support worker generally earns $1,325 per week ($68,900 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.

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After a small dip, there were approximately 65,600 welfare support workers in Australia as of May 2019. That number is expected to grow to approximately 80,500 by May 2024. From 2018-2023 there is expected to be 30,000 job openings.

Source: The Labour Market Information Portal - 2019 Occupational Projections and Australian Government Job Outlook

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In many cases, you will need qualification in a field such as community services or a similar area of support to pursue a support worker job. The exact level of qualification required can change from role to role. A Certificate II of Community Services and Certificate III of Community Services can take anywhere from 12-24 months each depending on if you study on campus or online and if you study full or part time. Many positions often require you to obtain a working with children check, first aid certificate and national police check.

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Further reading

What do social workers do?

11th December 2019

How to start a career in Disability Care

12th April 2021

7 reasons to start a career in community services

15th June 2018

All support worker courses

Support Worker careers

A support worker provides assistance to those having difficulty living their everyday lives. This aid can come in a variety of forms, including helping with tasks such as work around the house, administrative paperwork, personal medical attention and more. This emotional and practical support aims to help clients and patients live their lives as freely as possible. Clients and patients can include individuals as well as full households impacted by a range of issues including, but not limited to, injury or illness, disability and addiction.

Depending on the specific role and location, support workers can find themselves working in homes, as part of community centres or even in medical clinics. Their duties will often involve collaborating with educators, employers and other medical professionals to develop and deliver care programs that suit each specific client's needs.

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