Why You Should Hire An NDIS Support Worker from Your Local Area

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) has had a transformative impact on the way in which Australians receive care. By partnering with the right NDIS support worker, you can benefit from a wide range of advantages, including easier day-to-day tasks, setting goals, and ultimately working towards making your dreams come true.

However, while all NDIS support workers may help you in some way, most people will find that the support they receive is much more extensive and valuable if they’re working with NDIS support workers from their local area. For that reason, it’s not about finding an ‘NDIS support worker,’ but about finding “NDIS support workers near me.”

In this post, we’ll run through some essential information about local NDIS support workers, including the tasks they can complete, the benefits of looking local, and other qualities you should look for when selecting an NDIS support worker.

Already know that you want to hire an NDIS support worker near you? Then head over to the Support Network homepage and enter your postcode to see NDIS support workers in your local area.

What Does An NDIS Support Worker Do?

Before we get into the advantages of hiring an NDIS support worker from your local area, let’s take a look at what exactly these types of support workers can do for you. After all, while their being local is an advantage, it’s not the main reason why you’ll be looking at NDIS support workers. You’ll be doing so because you’ve been told that they can have a transformative impact on your everyday life — and that’s exactly correct. Let’s take a look at how they do that.

Daily Assistance

Are you struggling to complete everyday tasks on your own? Then that’s exactly what NDIS was designed for. Your NDIS support worker can help you with a variety of personal chores, including grooming, cleaning, helping you get dressed, cooking, or shopping.

It’s important to remember that there’s no ‘one size fits all’ approach to NDIS support worker tasks. NDIS is, by design, highly personalised and customisable, and you’ll only receive the help that you need.

Managing Household Tasks

Your local NDIS support worker can also help to manage your routine household tasks. For example, you may ask them to help with the cleaning of your property or tasks such as washing your clothes and preparing meals.

Promoting Social Inclusion

Your NDIS support worker can play an influential role in helping you to feel a part of the wider community. This may take the form of days out, joining community groups, helping to find and maintain employment, and making friends. This aspect of NDIS support work can particularly benefit from working with a local worker since they are more likely to possess the local knowledge that you need to thrive.

Emotional Support

Life can be difficult for everyone, and we all need someone to talk to from time to time. As well as providing a functional day-to-day role, your NDIS support worker can also provide emotional support, providing a sympathetic ear that allows you to share what’s on your mind in a safe space. As well as providing one-to-one emotional support, you can think of your NDIS support worker as a friend who’s in your corner, and who's willing to ensure that your needs are being met in other areas of your life.

Why Look For NDIS Support Workers Near Me

There’s no shortage of NDIS support workers out there. However, that doesn’t mean that you should select the first one that you find. There are a range of factors that NDIS support worker seekers should keep in mind, including assessing the types of services they offer, their experience, and their general kindness.

It’s also recommended to search for ‘NDIS support workers near me,’ since working with a local support worker can have a number of significant advantages.

We’ll run through some of the many benefits that selecting a local NDIS support worker can offer below, but remember: if you already know that you’re ready to begin your NDIS support worker journey and you’re looking for one close to your home, then visit the Support Network homepage. We have a handy search tool that allows support worker seekers to simply enter their postcode and find nearby support workers.

They Know the Local Area

NDIS support workers are there to make your life easier, not more difficult. While a non-local worker may have other qualities, they’re unlikely to have an in-depth understanding of the local area, and that can make transporting you from A to B more challenging than it needs to be.

When you work with a local NDIS support worker, you’ll have peace of mind knowing that you won’t have to direct them where they’re going or run the risk of getting lost. Since they know the area as well — or even better — than you do, you’ll know that they’ll always pick the optimal route. Think of it as working with a local taxi driver; it just makes more sense than getting in a taxi with someone who doesn’t know the area.

They Have Connections to Local Community Groups

One of the key advantages of working with an NDIS support worker is that it can significantly enhance an individual’s social life and local connections. Local NDIS support workers usually already have a host of connections that you can tap into, especially if they have a lot of experience working in the support worker sector.

This can make it easier for you to utilise the full potential of NDIS support workers and meet new friends. It’s possible that a non-local NDIS support worker can help you make new connections, but it’ll be less likely that they’re in your local area.

They Understand Local Life

You’ll face your own unique challenges, which any good NDIS support worker could help you to overcome. However, as well as facing your individual hurdles, you’ll also just face the challenges that all people in your local area face. Having a local NDIS support worker gives you peace of mind that you’re engaging with someone who is more similar than different to you. They’ll understand the joys and hardships of life in your local area, and that can be highly reassuring, especially from an emotional support perspective.

This can make it easier to develop a trusting bond with your NDIS support worker. After all, be it a win/defeat of the local sports team or complaints about the weather, you’ll have plenty to talk about if you’re both from the same area.

They May Have Educational Suggestions

NDIS support workers do more than just help you manage your day-to-day responsibilities. They can play an influential role in helping you create a future that you’re proud of. That may involve pursuing further education. Local NDIS support workers could provide valuable insights into the range of educational institutions in your local area, especially if they’ve worked with clients in the past who had similar goals. They won’t just provide the encouragement you need to pursue your dreams, but can also offer valuable logistical guidance on how you can make them happen.

And Professional Opportunities

And local NDIS support workers may not just have a good understanding of the educational options at your disposal, either. They could also utilise their professional and personal connections to help you to find employment. Non-local NDIS support workers can be your advocate and can provide plenty of encouragement that gives you confidence that you can find a job, but they’re unlikely to be able to help you find work beyond helping you navigate job listing websites.

And that’s all because, if they’re not from the local area, then they won’t have any local connections. They may be able to help you find work in their local area, but that’s probably not what you’re looking for!

It’s Easier to Coordinate

Finally, working with a local NDIS support worker just makes it easier to coordinate and arrange your appointments. While you will likely have set appointments, we all know that things can change from time to time — you might need to rearrange the appointment, or you may be running late.

It’s possible to make adjustments regardless of where your NDIS support worker lives, but it’s much easier if they’re local. A last-minute change could be highly disruptive if they’ve already travelled a long way, or may simply not be possible, which would be inconvenient for you.

Working with a local NDIS support worker just makes everything easier for everyone involved, especially yourself.

Other Qualities to Look for When Selecting an NDIS Support Worker

Working with a local NDIS support worker is recommended, but how close they are to your home isn’t the only thing you should be looking for. In fact, you can think of ‘the local factor’ as a secondary concern — it’ll be much better to work with a quality NDIS support worker who lives slightly further away than a subpar support worker who lives around the corner.

Happily, at Support Network we only take on board quality, experienced NDIS support workers, so you can have confidence that, if they’re on our platform, then they’ll have the potential to elevate your quality of life. Let’s take a closer look at some of the other qualities it’s worth keeping in mind.

Services They Offer

When browsing the options available to you, take a look at the services provided by the NDIS support worker. Most will offer social support & domestic assistance along with personal care services. However, some may also offer nursing services and allied health services. Consider your needs, and you’ll be in a good position to find the right NDIS support worker for you.

Empathy and Kindness

You’ll have a close relationship with your NDIS support worker, so it’s important to have a sense that they are empathetic and kind. During your initial meeting, look for signs that they’re professional, good-natured individuals who have your best interests at heart. If you’re finding an NDIS support worker through Support Network, you can have confidence that they’ll be just what you’re looking for.

Experience and Expertise

New NDIS support workers can be skilled at what they do, but if you have complex needs, then you may benefit from working with a support worker who has a higher level of experience and expertise.

Reviews and Testimonials

If possible, take a look at reviews and testimonials from the support workers’ previous clients. At Support Network, we use a rating system that you can use to determine the quality of the support worker.

The Bottom Line On NDIS Support Workers Near Me

You don’t have to work with an NDIS support worker who lives in your local area, but, as we’ve seen, there can be significant advantages to doing so.

So let’s do a little recap: why should you choose a local NDIS support work? Some of the main advantages include:

• Local knowledge makes getting from A to B more straightforward.
• They’ll likely already know local community groups that you could join.
• They may have professional opportunities if you’re looking for work.
• They may know local educational institutions that you can attend.
• It’s easier to form a connection with someone who has the same local knowledge as you do.

Find The Ideal NDIS Support Worker At Support Network

Now that we've gone through all the advantages of working with a local NDIS support worker over a non-local worker, let’s ask: how do you find NDIS support workers near you?

Here at Support Worker, we make it as easy as possible for people seeking an NDIS support worker to find the one that is the right fit for their needs, including proximity to their home.

To find local NDIS support workers, simply visit our homepage and enter your postcode into the search bar to be shown a full list of our support workers operating in your local area. Once you have the list, you’ll just need to take a look at the options available before making your decision. If you need any help finding a local NDIS support worker, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our team by calling 1300 671 931.