For many Australians grappling with disabilities, the indispensable aid of support workers plays a crucial role in their daily lives. However, advocates are raising alarms about a burgeoning shortage of disability support staff, underscoring the necessity for an influx of tens of thousands of additional workers to meet the escalating demand.
Patricia Main, a 44-year-old who recently recovered from a massive stroke, and now suffers from severe debilitating pain on 80% of her entire body, relies on a support worker for assistance with daily tasks. From getting out of bed to personal care, exercise routines, and outings, support workers play a pivotal role in enhancing Main’s self-esteem and independence.
“450,000 Australians are currently receiving support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme, and presently, there is an estimated shortage of about 150,000 workers nationwide,” highlighted Mr. Wee-Oon from OZemployment. Surprisingly, the shortage is not confined to remote or regional areas but extends to urbanized regions as well. Shift cancellations on short notice and low pay rates exacerbate the challenge. For most disability support workers, the role is really rewarding so I think it’s about vocalising that it’s an attractive sector to be in.”
The Disability Support Industry confronts various challenges, including competition from the Aged Care and Childcare sectors. The shift towards a more casualised workforce further contributes to the shortage, with disability support roles now competing with the gig economy.
Disability support worker retention within the Australian Disability Industry remains a persistent issue, affecting the ability of service providers to deliver timely and high-quality support. Key challenges include organisational culture, the significance of supervision, the impact of workload and burnout, and the need for job security and opportunities for career progression.
To address these challenges, positive strategies must involve aligning organizational values with practice, ensuring staff appreciation, and providing support for worker well-being. Additionally, implementing regular and developmental supervision, balancing workloads through effective rostering, and offering opportunities for career growth can contribute to improving the retention of disability support workers.
The issue of retention has long plagued the sector, and the changing nature of NDIS services, coupled with low unemployment rates in Australia and competition across industries, necessitates a comprehensive and multi-pronged approach to address the severe shortage of disability support worker across the nation.
