Carers and support workers play vital roles in assisting people with aged care or disability support needs, helping to ease emotional and physical challenges while improving overall well-being. However, their roles differ in key ways.
According to Carers Australia, a carer is an unpaid individual—such as a family member, friend, or neighbour—who provides care and support to someone with a disability, mental illness, chronic or terminal condition, substance dependency, or frailty due to age. This arrangement may be temporary or permanent.
Carers often assist with:
Carers do not always live with the person they care for, nor are they necessarily the primary source of support.
A support worker is a paid professional who provides formal support to people requiring assistance with daily tasks.
While duties vary based on the client’s needs, support workers focus on enhancing independence, well-being, and quality of life. They may assist with:
Being a support worker is a rewarding yet demanding career. It requires compassion, dedication, and a commitment to improving the lives of others. Strong personal qualities—such as respect, honesty, adaptability, and excellent communication skills—help build meaningful connections with clients.
Interested in becoming a support worker? Learn more about the role and how to get started.
Working as an independent support worker offers flexibility and control over your career. You get to:
Interested in becoming a support worker? Find out how to get started.
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