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Building a strong support network is a process, but it’s one that can transform your life for the better. Whether you’re living with a disability or caring for someone who is, having a mix of people in your corner can make everything feel a little bit lighter. We appreciate this is sometimes ‘easier said than done’, but reaching out, connecting with people who understand, and asking for the help you need is sometimes essential.
We’re not putting everyone in the same box, but if this resonates, here are some simple tips on how to start building a network:
<h2>Connect with people who understand</h2>
There’s nothing quite like talking to someone who truly gets what you’re going through. These people understand your day-to-day struggles, frustrations, and wins without needing a detailed explanation. They’ve likely been through something similar!
Finding the right people or groups might take some time, but there are plenty of ways to start building these connections, both online and in your local community.
<ol>
<li>Online communities: The internet is a great place to find groups of people who share similar experiences. Facebook groups, Reddit forums, and disability-specific websites often host communities where people can chat, share stories, and offer advice. Many of these groups are focused on specific conditions or experiences, making it easier to connect with people who understand your unique challenges.</li>
<li>Local councils and community centres: Some host support groups or social activities for people with disabilities and their Carers. They may also offer disability advocacy services, inclusive social events, or even workshops where you can learn new skills while connecting with like-minded people.</li>
<li>Local disability organisations: The NDIS is a fantastic resource for connecting with others. They often have peer support programmes or can recommend local disability organisations that host regular events, meetups, or online forums.</li>
<li>Medical professionals: Your GP or specialist can be another great resource. They often have connections to local support groups, mental health services, or other community activities designed specifically for Carers. If you’re unsure where to start, ask your doctor for recommendations.</li>
</ol>
<h2>Friends, family, and your local community</h2>
Your family and friends want to be there for you. They might provide emotional support, practical help, or just be that person you can call when things feel overwhelming.
With the NDIS, family members are considered informal supports, which means their help is seen as a natural part of your support system. However, beyond family, you can also look to friends and others in your community who might want to play a more formal role in your support network. As paid Support Workers for your loved ones, they can help lighten the load.
Here are some examples of people in your community who might be able to fulfil this role:
<ul>
<li>Friends or neighbours: If you have a friend who often helps with transport or household tasks, it may make sense for them to be paid for their time, especially if they’re already familiar with your needs.</li>
<li>Local community members: People you interact with daily, who understand your specific challenges, can make great Support Workers. This could include:</li>
<li>Hairdressers or barbers: Regular interactions with your hairdresser or barber can build a trusting relationship, and they might be able to offer more than just their professional services.</li>
<li>Sporting coaches or teacher’s aides: If your child participates in adaptive sports or school activities, coaches and aides can sometimes step into more formal support roles.</li>
<li>Scout leaders or youth group organisers: Leaders from community groups like Scouts or youth programmes are often well-versed in working with kids of all abilities. They could be ideal candidates to provide additional support outside of these settings.</li>
</ul>
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<h2>Communicating your needs effectively</h2>
Sometimes, the hardest part is knowing how to ask for help without feeling like a burden. The truth is, most people want to help, but they don’t always know how. By being open and clear about what you need, you can ensure your family, friends, and community members are offering support in ways that truly work for you.
Here’s how to start those conversations:
<ol>
<li>Be specific about what you need: Whether you need someone to help with physical tasks, like getting to appointments, or emotional support on tough days, being clear can prevent misunderstandings.</li>
<li>Set boundaries: It’s okay to let people know if there are certain things you want to handle on your own. Setting boundaries ensures that the support you receive feels helpful, not overwhelming or condescending.</li>
<li>Educate when needed: Sometimes, family, friends, and even community members might not fully understand your situation. Sharing information with them can help bridge the gap and make their support more effective.</li>
<li>Have regular check-ins: Life changes, and so do your needs. Keeping the conversation open ensures that your support network evolves with you, rather than staying stuck in old patterns.</li>
</ol>
We hope this has been helpful, and please know that you don’t need to navigate this journey alone.

amanda-and-erica

Amanda and Erica

<h2>Who can I employ as my Support Worker?</h2>
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Before beginning the process of sourcing and employing new Support Workers, it&#8217;s important to think about what skills, personality and traits your are looking for in a potential Support Worker. 
<h4>Define your support needs</h4>
<ul>
<li> What specific tasks or activities do you need assistance with?</li>
<li> What hours and frequency of support are needed?</li>
<li> What are your expectations regarding reliability and commitment?</li>
<li> What level of support do you require?</li>
</ul>
Maybe it’s someone like our Partner Anne, who met her daughter&#8217;s Support Worker Wendy at her local post office. They don’t need previous experience as a Support Worker for you to employ them, as long as they can satisfy mandatory requirements relevant to the State you live in. 
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<h4>Where do you start searching if no one immediately comes to mind?</h4>
The great thing about our unique Direct Employ service, is that you have the power to employ whoever you choose to support you or your loved ones.
There really are countless possibilities of who you could employ and so we encourage you to ‘think outside the square’ when trying to expand your support team. Often, the best Support Workers are closer than you might think!
<h4>Try tapping into your existing networks and community</h4>
Here are just a few suggestions to get you started;
Reach out to friends, family and neighbours
Inform them about your support needs and ask if they or someone they know would be interested in being a Support Worker.
Utilise community groups and platforms
<ul>
<li>Advertise on community noticeboards, local newspapers, social media groups, or other online platforms.</li>
<li>You could publish a shareable post on Facebook or other social media platforms (be careful not to share too much information publicly).</li>
<li>Advertise on Gumtree, in your local paper, or through employment websites.</li>
</ul>
Attend community events or local support groups
Participate in community events, disability support groups, or workshops where you can connect with individuals who may be interested in providing support.
Don’t be afraid to ask the question to members of your community 

Some great suggestions of potential Support Workers in your community include;
<ul>
<li>Hospitality or supermarket workers</li>
<li>OSH (Out of School Hours) care workers or teachers’ aides</li>
<li>Childcare educators</li>
<li>University or TAFE student associations</li>
<li>Even your local hairdresser!</li>
</ul>
Having two autistic children, Carer Solutions Partner Amanda, needed Support Workers she could not only trust, but who Alex and Erica felt relaxed and comfortable with.
She was looking to expand her team, but she was struggling to find someone who was the perfect fit. Little did she know that person was closer than she thought.
Zoe is Amanda’s hairdresser, and she has been cutting Amanda’s hair for many years. It wasn’t until Amanda took Erica to Zoe to have her hair cut, that she had a light bulb moment. She saw the great rapport that Zoe had with Erica, so decided to ask Zoe the question.
Amanda asked Zoe if she would be interested in being employed to be a Support Worker for Alex and Erica, and she jumped at the opportunity.
<blockquote>“Are you looking to get some extra cash? ‘Cause I’ve got a job for you!”</blockquote>
Amanda says the greatest benefit of Carer Solutions Direct Employ service is that she is in control of employing people herself, people that she knows, who her kids know and who understand the mechanisms of their family.
“This is why it is so much harder with an agency because you’re getting what someone else thinks you need – not what you actually need.“

<h1>The NDIS Review</h1>
On Thursday 7 December 2023, the final report of the NDIS review was released. The report maps out the Review’s recommendations to help restore trust, ensure the Scheme’s sustainability, and deliver a better NDIS experience for participants moving forward.
<h3>But what does it actually mean for NDIS participants?</h3>
The lengthy 329-page report includes 26 recommendations and 139 supporting actions, which are projected to be implemented over the next five years.
While the full Government response to the Review won’t be released until sometime in 2024, discussions with the disability community will continue over the coming months as the NDIS work together to make the positive changes needed for people with disability.
In a recent episode of his <a href="https://youtu.be/lYXlWwrTL_4">Reasonable and Necessary: Making Sense of the NDIS Podcast</a>, Dr George Taleporos, brings together Australia’s leading disability advocates to unpack the Review. Dr George, along with El Gibbs, Nick Avery, Jarrod Sandell-Hay and Sam Paior discuss all the big changes that are proposed, and what they might mean for you.
<h3>Here’s a snapshot of the Review’s recommendations </h3>
Legislation: The Review recommended a range of legislative reforms to return the scheme to its original intent and improve the experience of participants. This included legislation to improve eligibility and access, as well as an early intervention pathway for children.
Foundational supports: The Review recommended disability specific supports that would be available to people with disability and, where appropriate, their families and carers. The Review said these supports should be available to all Australians with disability, whether they are on the NDIS or not. Foundational supports would interconnect with existing mainstream services like childcare and schools.
Early childhood intervention: The Review said there is not enough support for children in everyday settings, where they live, play and learn. It recommends children with disability and developmental concerns or delays are identified early and get the support they need. This could include earlier checks and screening to pick up developmental concerns and provide support.
New approaches to psychosocial disability and mental health: The Review recommended a new, dedicated approach for people with psychosocial disability that better meets their episodic needs and is focused on personal recovery. It recommended that access to mental health services should be improved and there should be a strengthened interface between mental health systems and the NDIS.
Service navigation: The Review recommended the introduction of navigators to help people with disability, find and access all services available to them across mainstream services, community supports, foundational supports and the NDIS.
Fairer housing and living support: The Review recommended consistency should be introduced to housing and living support budgets to make it fairer for NDIS participants. The Review recommended a more flexible and innovative approach to housing supports to help people access solutions that suit them better.
Registration: The Review recommended all providers should be enrolled or registered, with the level of regulatory requirement being determined by the risk and complexity of the different supports they provide.
<a href="https://www.ndisreview.gov.au/">You can access the full report and the supporting documents here.</a>

Image of Support Worker and Partner smiling at each other

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Grampians Morning Tea Image

<a href="https://wp.carersolutions.com.au/knowledge-base/">← Return to Knowledge Base</a>
<h1 id="">Direct Employ Overview</h1>
&nbsp;
<a href="#One">What is the Carer Solutions Direct Employ service?</a>
<a href="#Two">What is a Partner?</a>
<a href="#Three">Can Carer Solutions help me find Support Workers?</a>
<a href="#Four">Who can I hire to be a Support Worker?</a>
<a href="#Five">If I am a Support Worker, who do I work for?</a>
<a href="#Six">What type of funding do I need in order to use the Direct Employ service?</a>
<a href="#Seven">Can I use a Support Worker agency and the Direct Employ service?</a>
<a href="#Eight">Can I still use the Direct Employ Service if I only need it occasionally?</a>
<a href="#Nine">How much should I pay my Support Workers?</a>
<a href="#Ten">What happens if I run out of funding?</a>
<h3 id="One">What is the Carer Solutions Direct Employ service?</h3>
We support Partners to directly employ the Support Workers they need, know and trust. We provide a number of initial and ongoing services, including a fortnightly payroll administration service to ensure our Partners are meeting their obligations as an employer. However, we are not the legal employer of a Partner’s Support Worker(s).
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&nbsp;
<h3 id="Two">What is a Partner?</h3>
At Carer Solutions, we refer to people who use our services &#8216;clients&#8217; as Partners.
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&nbsp;
<h3 id="Three">Can Carer Solutions help me find Support Workers?</h3>
Unfortunately no. We don’t find or employ Support Workers for our Partners. Partners, or their family, using our service get the benefit of being able to select Support Workers/individuals they know and trust already. We also don’t determine what the working relationship looks like. This is for our Partners and their Support Workers to define together.
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&nbsp;
<h3 id="Four">Who can I hire to be a Support Worker?</h3>
The benefit of our service is being able to hire who you know and trust. Our Partners have employed:
<ul>
<li>Support Workers they know already</li>
<li>Neighbours</li>
<li>Friends</li>
<li>Teachers Aids</li>
<li>Even the local Cricket Coach!</li>
</ul>
Take a look at who is in your local community and network as you may already know someone who would be perfect to provide the support you would like and/or need.
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&nbsp;
<h3 id="Five">If I am a Support Worker, who do I work for?</h3>
You are employed, and therefore work for, the individual or family seeking support (our Partners). We simply facilitate the payment of your wages; make sure the correct amount of PAYG Withholding tax is withheld and sent to the ATO; that your superannuation is sent to your nominated super fund; and work with our Partners on any other employer obligations that are required.
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&nbsp;
<h3 id="Six">What type of funding do I need in order to use the Direct Employ service?</h3>
There are two ways to fund (pay for) our Direct Employ service:
NDIS, Plan or Self-Managed
Due to the nature of the way that the NDIS is structured, we are only able to offer our Direct Employ payroll service to Partners whose funding is NDIS Plan or Self-Managed.
Unfortunately, we are unable to facilitate our Direct Employ payroll service for Partners who have all their funding NDIS Agency Managed at this time.
If you have a mixture of Plan, Self and Agency Managed funding you will be able to use the Direct Employ payroll service, give us a call to discuss further 1300 729 839.
Private or Other Funding (Home Care Packages, Disability Support for Older Australian etc)
As each situation is unique, please reach out to our team on 1300 729 839 to discuss further, so we can work with you to see how we can help.
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&nbsp;
<h3 id="Seven">Can I use a Support Worker agency and the Direct Employ service?</h3>
Yes. We have a number of Partners that use our Direct Employ service as well as a traditional Support Worker agency.
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&nbsp;
<h3 id="Eight">Can I still use the Direct Employ Service if I only need it occasionally?</h3>
Yes, once you are set up, the service is ready for whenever you need it. On top of that because our Direct Employ service is ‘pay as you go’, there are no monthly or annual fees, you will only pay for the service when you use it.
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&nbsp;
<h3 id="Nine">How much should I pay my Support Workers?</h3>
As the direct employer, you and your Support Worker have the flexibility to agree on a suitable pay rate together. Carer Solutions provides you with the correct information to ensure you are meeting your employer obligations, when it comes to choosing the correct level of pay for your Support Workers.
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&nbsp;
<h3 id="Ten">What happens if I run out of funding?</h3>
The best thing to do if you run out of funding is to contact your Local Area Coordinator or the NDIS directly. We keep all of our Partners set up and ready to use our service, so once your funding is in place, just let us know and you can continue to use the service. If you have personal finances available, you may be able to employ your Support Worker personally while organising your funding. If you would like to explore this, please give our friendly team a call on 1300 729 839.
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Popular Topics

Building a strong support network

Who can I employ as my Support Worker?

The NDIS Review

Direct Employ Overview

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