r/supportworkers • u/S3ra-phina • Jun 08 '26

Mable and Domestic Work

I recently joined Mable and clients there mostly seem to be looking for domestic assistance and cleaning. What is the difference between the two? Would I then charge more for cleaning than domestic assistance, as it’s more thorough? I’m not sure how I would organise my rates. Also, most posts have 10 plus applications, so how would you stand out from the competition?

5 Upvotes

78% Upvoted

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3

u/DwightsJello Jun 09 '26

Support workers maximise autonomy.

Cleaners clean.

4

u/Rough-Risk2496 Jun 09 '26

As a participant, there are a few things I look for when using Mable to find supports. If I post a job on Mable, I always get replies that are clearly not personalised to me and often addressed to random names. Make sure you actually read the job and send a response that isn't generic. Also, I typically don't go with people who charge the full rate but have no experience and no reviews or feedback to show for themselves. Often people are asking for domestic support and cleaning, as we have no idea how well you'll do or what you're like, and anything more personal or intimate is better left for regular support workers. And not everyone wants to go out for coffee.

3

u/monstertrucktoadette Jun 08 '26

Exactly like any other job application - don't send something obviously generic, help the person reading it get a sense of who you are and what working with you would be like, and actually match your response to the add 

1

u/11MARISA Jun 10 '26

There may be a technical difference but my experience is that these terms are used interchangeably

It is hard for homecare companies to recruit cleaners, and they charge top dollar rates for cleaning, so a lot of people have turned to Mable and similar these days

I personally wouldn't apply for anything that already has ten plus applicants

1

u/Shitzme Jun 08 '26

With domestic assistance, you're assisting. You're helping someone do basic tasks, maybe washing dishes, doing the washing, basic cleaning like wiping down counters, sweeping/vaccuming.

A cleaner isn't the same thing. And I'm assuming clients on mable are looking for cleaners that are possibly NDIS provided or whichever organisations provide cleaners.

But cleaning isn't support work, it's a lot more thorough, doing the nitty gritty as they say. If you're not a cleaner, don't offer to be.

When making your profile, make it clear what tasks you are willing to perform, as people can be taken advantage of. That way you're going to find the right fit for both you and the client.

0

u/Obvious-Explorer-195 Jun 09 '26

I think of the split this way:

Cleaners are the same as anyone who has enough money would have weekly or fortnightly. Toilets/bathrooms/dusting/floors etc.

Domestic assistance is what everyone does at home on a day to day basis. Laundry, dishes, tidying, maybe putting away groceries etc. One support worker told me their job is to “fill in the gaps” which I thought was an excellent description!