You have the right to feel safe and respected. Even when you work for yourself.
Whether that’s a Participant’s home, the community, or elsewhere, abuse, threats, and violence against Support Workers is never acceptable.
Recognise and Report Unsafe Situations
If you ever feel unsafe, you should:
Remove yourself from the situation if it’s immediately dangerous. Call 000 (triple zero) if you need to.
When safe to do so, document what happened, including dates, locations, and witnesses.
Take Preventative Steps
Being proactive is key. Here are a few tips to help:
Ask questions: It’s okay to ask the Participant about any known risks or behaviours of concern in the environment where you’ll be working. You have the right to feel safe, and a responsibility to help keep others safe.
Set clear boundaries: Clearly communicate your role, responsibilities, and expectations. Explain professionally why you need to manage risk and report certain issues.
Assess the environment: Assess risk before agreeing to work in new environments, and continue to assess risk regularly as circumstances change.
Manage identified risks: If risks are identified, ensure you have strategies in place to manage them. Where appropriate, work with the Participant to co-develop plans that support everyone’s safety.
Ask for guidance: If you are uncertain how to manage certain risks, seek help.
Decline an offer: If you do not feel safe, skilled, or confident to support a Participant or work in a particular environment, you can decline. In fact, under the NDIS Code of Conduct, you may have an obligation to say no.
Access Training and Resources
Engage in training and supervision regularly to build and maintain essential skills and knowledge.
Explore resources like the Workforce Capability Framework, which describes what safe, skilled, and ethical practice looks like.
Use safety alert guidance from the Commission, especially if you work in homes with a history of risk or you're alone or a remote Support Worker.
Regularly review your processes, policies, and procedures to ensure you're familiar with them when needed, and to keep them up to date as circumstances change.
Speak Up – You’re Not Alone
Support Workers can feel isolated, but you are part of a regulated system designed to protect you.
If you experience or witness violence or aggression, speak up.
In an emergency, contact 000 (triple zero).
If not in immediate danger, contact 1800RESPECT (1800 737 732) for 24/7 crisis support, counselling, and referrals for remote workers.