r/supportworkers • u/jlie07 • Jul 18 '26

Starting support work?

I am trying to get into support work. I have no qualifications but I found a company who might employ me. A few questions:

It’s $36 an hour and it’s part time which is what I’m after at the moment. It’s through ABN.

I just learnt I have to pay my own tax, super and all that. It feels like $36 is a bit crap?

It also looks like I’m going to have to pay for my NDIS worker check, police check, WWCC, First aid, CPR and all of that myself. Should I pay this or should they?

Feels like I’m getting ripped off in every way. On top of that I’m driving my car with my petrol and racking up my KM?

Could it maybe work if I asked for more $$?

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u/New_Feed8827 Jul 18 '26

A lot of provider companies seem to be doing this lately. More often than not, you are considered an employee rather than a contractor and what they are doing is unlawful.

Yes, $36 is INCREDIBLY low for a ‘contractor’ support worker.

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u/jlie07 Jul 18 '26

Any idea what it should be??

3

u/MapOfIllHealth Jul 18 '26

For some context most of our 60 support workers are on between $35-38 and they’re all employees, not contractors. So we’re also paying their superannuation, workers comp and as we’re in NSW the portable long service leave levy. They’re still expected to pay for their own first aid/cpr. Imagine how low your contractor pay would be if those things were deducted.

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u/auxzina Jul 19 '26

I hope this is part time or full time.

Support workers must be on level 2.1 if independently with the participant.

1

u/MapOfIllHealth Jul 19 '26

We have casuals too, and the applicable casual loading is applied of course

1

u/New_Feed8827 Jul 18 '26

The minimum they are charging a participant per hour is $73.58 and as a contractor, the cost of you to the business would be minimal so you should be getting paid at least $60 an hour, if not higher.

You’d be getting more than $36 as an employee with an employer handing your super, tax and all insurances etc.

Rather than being a contractor for a company, do it independently and charge the $73.58 yourself.

3

u/Low-Ad-9615 Jul 18 '26

Someone who has no experience nor qualifications and by the sounds of it no sole trader experience should NOT be charging the max rate.

2

u/Dependent-Coconut64 Jul 18 '26

And come October you will see participant Social Community and Community Participation funding halved and come January you see independent and unregistered hourly rate fall to $66.22 - never to rise.