become a support worker
Be fulfilled. Our Support Workers are the heart of estara’s in-home and community support services.
What does a support worker do?
Our support workers deliver quality, person-centred support to clients who live with a disability in the community, with a key focus on improving daily life by assisting with daily activities, shopping and community access.
This is a rewarding and flexible career where you’ll be trained to provide support for people living with disability in South Australia.
how do I become a support worker?
Whether you have disability or aged care-related experience or are seeking a career change, support work can be a flexible and rewarding role. We provide paid, on-the-job training to help you reskill. You will need to have Australian working rights, be willing to obtain essential screenings, including the NDIS Worker Check and DHS Working with Children Check, and complete an accredited Provide First Aid certification.
If you are someone with a strong sense of empathy, excellent communication skills, adaptability and patience and you’d like to start the process, here’s what you can expect.
Step 1: Apply online
If you are eager to contribute to the wellbeing of our clients, please submit an online application via an open vacancy listed on our website, or by submitting an enquiry if the role you are seeking is not currently listed. Your application will need to include your:
- Contact information
- Location where you wish to work
- An up-to-date resume and cover letter detailing your qualifications and experience
- Brief description of your availability and desired hours
- Please also ensure you have two professional referees willing to support your application.
Step 2: Phone call
Your application will be reviewed by our Human Resources team, and you may be phoned for a brief initial discussion around your application. This is an opportunity for you to gain a deeper understanding of what being a Support Worker with estara entails. Our team will also identify if you should begin seeking any essential screenings such as the NDIS Worker Check, DHS Working with Children Check, or an accredited Provide First Aid certification.
Step 3: In-person interview
You may then be invited to attend an in-person interview at your local estara office, where you will meet with our in-home and community support team directly. Your interview will include a basic literacy and numeracy test, then a series of scenario- and behavioural-based questions. This process can be a great learning opportunity for those new to the sector and also helps us to identify your training needs so that you can excel in your role.
Step 4: Book in for training
If you are successful at your interview, our team will request the details of your two professional referees and take steps to book you in for our paid pre-employment training, incorporating online and in-person training modules.
Step 5: Next steps
After successful completion of our pre-employment training, our team will assist you to follow up any essential screenings or certifications required prior to commencement. We look forward to officially welcoming you to the team and to your journey with estara!
The flexibility is wonderful.
I began with estara more than 17 years ago. I love the rapport I have with clients. Sometimes we have a good laugh! One of the great things about working with estara is choosing my hours. The flexibility is wonderful.
Belinda, estara Support Worker
Frequently asked questions
To become a support worker, you will need to:
- Be an Australian citizen or hold a valid working visa
- Hold a NDIS Worker Check and DHS Working with Children Check
- Hold current and accredited Provide First Aid certification
- Successfully complete all recruitment stages and pre-employment training, as detailed above
Support workers play a crucial role in assisting individuals with daily tasks that enable independence.
Tasks may include personal support, meal preparation, taking clients to appointments and facilitating social activities, while ensuring the well-being of those in our support.
estara offers extensive internal training for those wanting to enter the disability support sector, including in personal care, medication, and manual handling tasks.
It is encouraged that you pursue a Certificate III in Individual Support or equivalent to best equip yourself for the role, which will also entitle you to a higher pay rate. Please be aware that a baseline of physical health is required to fulfil the manual handling aspect of this role, and estara will support you with training in the latest best practices to keep yourself safe at work, including our No Lift Policy.
Additionally, an openness to learning and performing personal care duties, including showering and toileting, is essential. Our team will support you to transition into more complex duties with regular mentoring and prescribed training.
If you have a compassionate nature, enjoy helping others, and find fulfilment in making a difference in people’s lives, a support worker role may be a perfect fit.
The ability to adapt to various situations, coupled with a commitment to learning and growing, are qualities that contribute to success in this rewarding field.