Starting as an independent support worker: what to set up first

Know what you are agreeing to

The NDIS Code of Conduct applies to workers whether or not they are registered, and it sets expectations about respect, privacy, safety, honesty and preventing harm. Read it before your first shift and make sure you can meet it, including knowing when to ask for help.

Decide which supports you are qualified and comfortable delivering. Some tasks need specific training or qualifications, so be honest about your limits.

Checks and training

Find out what screening applies to your role and your state or territory, including NDIS worker screening, and complete it before you start. Keep your first aid and any other training current, and consider training in areas you will meet often, such as manual handling, infection control or supporting people with particular conditions.

Business basics

Working independently usually means you are running a small business. Check what you need for tax, an ABN, record keeping and insurance, and get advice from the relevant official bodies or a professional. Do not assume a client or a provider will cover these for you.

Agree rates and invoicing in writing before the first session, and check how clients will pay you, whether directly or through a plan manager.

Agreements, boundaries and records

Put the arrangement in a short written agreement covering the supports, times, price, cancellations and how either side can end it. Keep clear professional boundaries, and keep notes of what you did and anything that happened.

Make your profile accurate and specific about what you offer and where you work. This is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.

Looking after yourself

Support work can be rewarding and demanding. Plan how you will handle difficult days, who you can talk to, and how you will say no when a request is outside your skills or comfort. Working alone is a safety consideration too: tell someone where you are working and when you expect to finish.

Consider connecting with other workers for peer support, and keep learning. Good workers are those who know when to ask for help.

Frequently asked questions

What should an independent support worker set up first?

Know what you are agreeing to (the NDIS Code of Conduct applies whether or not you are registered), decide which supports you are qualified and comfortable delivering, and find out what screening applies to your role, including NDIS worker screening, and complete it before you start. Then sort out the business basics: tax, an ABN, record keeping and insurance.

Should I have a written agreement with the people I support?

Yes. Put the arrangement in a short written agreement covering the supports, times, price, cancellations and how either side can end it. Agree rates and invoicing in writing before the first session, and check how clients will pay you, whether directly or through a plan manager.

How do I look after myself working alone?

Plan how you will handle difficult days, who you can talk to and how you will say no when a request is outside your skills or comfort. Tell someone where you are working and when you expect to finish.

Keep learning

• Personal care and daily living supports: what to ask a provider: Help with showering, dressing, meals and the household is personal. These are the questions that help you set routines, protect your dignity and keep control.
• Hiring an independent support worker: what to ask and check: Some people choose to work directly with an independent worker rather than a larger provider. Here is what to look at first, and what to put in writing.
• Registered or unregistered? Which path suits your NDIS support business: Some supports can only be delivered by registered providers, and others can be delivered either way. Here is what each path allows, what it asks of you, and a third option.
• Service agreements, notes and invoices: the paperwork independent workers need: Good paperwork protects you and the person you support. A practical set: an agreement, simple notes, a written incident process and invoices that match what was delivered.

More in our NDIS updates and insights, our step-by-step guides, or the NDIS and aged care provider directory.

Official sources

• NDIS: Support workers and recovery coaches
• NDIS: Working with providers
• NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission

Source checked 12 October 2026. Rules and guidance can change; verify current details with the responsible agency. How we write and check our guides.