Support Worker
On this page
- What's it like to be a Support Worker?
- How to become a Support Worker
- Latest Support Worker jobs
- Top skills and experience for Support Workers
- Is Support Worker the right role for you?
- Support Worker role reviews
What's it like to be a Support Worker?
A Support Worker (Kaiāwhina Tiaki Tangata) helps people with physical, mental or special needs with daily life, including helping them bathe, buy groceries, prepare food, exercise, and take medication. They may also help with administrative tasks such as applying for government benefits. Support Workers also often provide company and emotional support for people in challenging situations, such as those living with a disability or addiction. They sometimes need to advocate for their clients with authorities like Work and Income. Support Workers may work in a client’s private home, or visit them in their home, or in a group home setting.
Tasks and duties
- Helping with household tasks.
- Providing personal care support.
- Administering medication.
- Helping clients learn new skills.
- Supporting clients to start employment.
- Doing grocery shopping and preparing meals.
- Working with doctors and therapists to ensure support.
- Demonstrating and supporting new life skills, such as budgeting.
- Adjusting and adapting communication and body language to suit client needs.
- Supporting clients to develop new hobbies and interests.
- Transporting and accompanying clients to appointments.
How to become a Support Worker
No specific qualifications are needed to become a Support Worker, but it can be helpful to complete a New Zealand Certificate in Health & Wellbeing (Support Work) at various levels.
Get a full driver’s licence before applying for jobs, as many Support Worker jobs will require this.
Make sure you can get a clean police report. Some convictions may not bar you from Support Worker jobs, but others will. For example, anyone with serious convictions isn’t allowed to work alone with or be responsible for children.
Complete on-the-job training. Most Support Worker roles will teach you what you need to know while working.
Consider completing a New Zealand Certificate in Health & Wellbeing (Support Work), or a similar certificate at level 2, 3 or 4 from a polytechnic. Some employers may allow you to complete these while working. They take between 4 and 24 months of study.
