Are you thinking, “Can I hire my own support worker who actually understands me?” The great news is yes — you can! Whether you’re new to disability support workers or to NDIS or already managing your supports, the tools and knowing how to hire your own support worker can open a whole new world of flexibility, choice, and control over your care.
In this expert guide from Re.Connect Support Services, we walk you through everything you need to know about hiring your own support workers, whether you’re self-managed, self managed, or plan-managed support workers. We’ll break it down in simple, human language, with a sprinkle of fun to keep things light — because finding the right support workers shouldn’t feel overwhelming!
Why Would You Want to Hire Your Own Support Worker?
Hiring your own support worker means you choose who provides support, how, and when. It allows the job of next support person for you to build relationships with people who fit your lifestyle and personality — whether helping with everyday tasks, attending appointments, or getting out in the community.
Here are the biggest benefits of hiring your own support worker:
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Control over who provides care — no more random agency shifts.
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Choice to select people who understand you and your goals.
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Flexibility to schedule support hours when you need them most.
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Negotiating hourly rates within your budget.
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Building a trusted team of disability support workers.
Pro Tip: With Re.Connect, we make it easier to find NDIS support workers and guide you through the hiring process, step by step.
Who Can Be a Support Worker?
This is where the freedom lies — you can choose anyone suitable, as long as you decide they:
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Hold an Australian Business Number (ABN) to invoice for services.
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Have appropriate insurance, like public liability and workers compensation.
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Provide a valid police check and working with children check, depending on duties.
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Meet the qualifications needed for specific supports, like personal care.
Who can you hire?
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Independent support workers from your community.
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Trusted people you know, like a friend or (in some cases) a family member.
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Workers from online platforms like Mable, HireUp, Careseekers, Kynd.
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Aged care support workers for older NDIS participants.
Types of NDIS Plans and What They Allow
Self-Managed Plans:
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✅ Full control to hire your own support workers with an ABN.
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You handle payments, invoices, and agreements directly.
Plan-Managed Plans:
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✅ You can hire workers with an ABN.
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Your plan manager handles the payments for you.
Agency (NDIA) Managed Plans:
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❌ You cannot hire unregistered workers. You must use NDIS registered providers.
Finding Support Workers — Where to Start?
1. Ask Your Community
Talk to friends, family members other NDIS participants, local groups, support workers or therapists. Sometimes the most support needs the right workers are just a conversation away.
2. Online Platforms
Use sites like:
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Mable — connects you to verified workers.
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HireUp — offers a wide pool of workers across Australia.
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Kynd, Careseekers, Find a Carer — all provide access to independent support workers.
3. Support Coordinators like Re.Connect
We can help match you to workers based on your job needs, so you don’t have to search alone.
What to Look for When Hiring a Support Worker
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Experience and training relevant to your support needs.
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Good communication skills — someone who listens and understands.
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Insurance coverage for safety.
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Police and children checks (if working with kids or vulnerable people).
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A valid ABN to invoice you legally.
The Importance of a Service Agreement
A written service agreement is a must. It ensures both you ndis support worker and the person doing the support worker understand the terms and expectations.
Key points to include in a service agreement:
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Services and support provided.
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Agreed hourly rate and payment terms.
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Support hours, schedules, and locations.
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Cancellation policies and what happens if someone can’t attend.
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Safety guidelines.
Re.Connect Tip: We can create a template service agreement for you to customise.
How Much Should You Pay a Support Worker?
Your NDIS funding, assistance, funding and support budget will guide how many hours do this.
NDIS Pricing Arrangements
The NDIS disability and other assistance price guide sets maximum rates to pay for different types of disability services. You can negotiate hourly rates within those limits.
Want to know how many hours right now independent support workers you can fund? Contact Re.Connect — we can help you budget your independent support workers’ hours wisely.
What About Insurance, Tax, and Super?
When you hire your children as own children or support children as workers:
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Independent workers must need an ABN and handle their own tax and super.
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You’re not their employer but need to check that they have appropriate insurance.
Insurance needed may include:
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Public liability insurance to protect against accidents.
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Workers compensation insurance (if required by state law).
Tip: Always discuss duties and risks so they know what insurance they need.
Can Family Members Be Paid to Provide Support?
In some cases, yes — but only if:
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No other suitable workers are available.
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You’re in a remote location.
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It aligns with your NDIS goals and funding rules.
It’s essential to get approval for funding from national disability insurance agency, from the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) first.
Plan Manager vs Self-Managed — Which Gives More Freedom?
Aspect
Self-Managed
Plan-Managed
Control over hiring
Full freedom to hire anyone with ABN
Can hire anyone with ABN; plan manager pays
Handle payments
You handle payments and invoices
Plan manager pays workers for you
Admin burden
Higher — more paperwork
Less — plan manager helps manage
If admin worries you but you want choice, plan-managed may be the best balance.
Employer Responsibilities — Are You an Employer?
If you hire and pay someone as an independent support person or team worker, they are usually a contractor, not an employee.
You should:
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Treat them fairly and with respect.
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Ensure their safety when working.
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Clarify responsibilities in writing.
If you’re unsure about contractor vs employee, contact us at Re.Connect Support Services — we’ll guide you.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring Own Supports
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No service agreement in place.
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Hiring without checking insurance or ABN.
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Not clarifying whether they’re an employee or contractor.
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Forgetting children and police checks for sensitive roles.
Building a Positive Relationship with Your Support Worker
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Discuss duties and boundaries clearly.
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Set up open communication from the start.
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Have regular check-ins to see how things are going.
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Be open to feedback — it’s a partnership!
When Agencies Might Be Better
Sometimes, you may prefer to use registered agencies, especially if:
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You want all admin handled for you.
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You need workers urgently and can’t wait to find the right person.
But for those who want control, flexibility, and choice, hiring your own worker is often the best fit!
Final Thoughts: Take Control, Get the Support You Deserve
Hiring your own support team or worker allows you to customise your team, manage support budget for your supports, and build trusted relationships. While there are responsibilities — and everyday tasks like checking ABNs, insurance, and agreements — it’s an empowering way to take charge of your care.
At Re.Connect Support Services, we help people find support workers, manage agreements, pay, and support them stay compliant — so you never feel alone in the process.
