Disability support workers need to double across Queensland in five years

Strong need for more workers to enter the disability sector, with NDIS-related careers projected to grow a further 18.8 per cent over five years.

A new report predicts disability support careers will grow a further 18.8 per cent over five years, more than doubling the existing workforce.

About 300 employers, employees, sole traders and self-managed participants shared their experiences across National Disability Insurance Scheme rollout sites in Brisbane, Mackay, Ipswich, Toowoomba and Townsville since the NDIS was introduced in 2016.

University of the Sunshine Coast Pro-Vice Chancellor for students Denise Wood’s studies found there was strong demand for locally trained support workers, managers and allied health professionals to help boost Queensland’s disability workforce.

The studies were part of a three-year research project to investigate the impact of the National Disability Insurance Scheme on workforce patterns.

Their findings have informed several key recommendations in the ‘Strengthening Queensland’s NDIS Workforce’ report that WorkAbility Qld launched with funding partner Jobs Queensland.

WorkAbility Qld has partnered with USC for the second phase of the research project, which began earlier this year with a set of regional forums and research case studies.

The report said there was a strong need for additional workers to enter the disability sector, with NDIS-related careers projected to grow a further 18.8 per cent over five years.

Professor Wood said the research findings had informed several recommendations and initiatives to best meet jobs growth and skills needs for the NDIS.

“We found significant demand for suitably skilled and qualified support workers and allied health professionals to support daily living, transport, support for social and community participation, and help in getting and keeping a job,” she said.

“At the time the data was gathered, there were 55,000 registered NDIS participants, with the largest categories those with autism (30 per cent) and intellectual disability (24 per cent).”

Community Services Industry Alliance CEO Belinda Drew, commenting on behalf of the WorkAbility Consortium, said the report provided a strategic approach to workforce development that would benefit Queensland’s economic recovery.

“This research project highlights the significant jobs growth as a result of the NDIS; for example 28,000 new Yellow Card holders have entered the NDIS workforce,” she said.

“Findings also highlight labour shortages, and the potential that the NDIS represents for thousands of jobs across the state, particularly following the pandemic.”

Professor Wood said USC would continue disability sector research and activities throughout 2021-22 as part of the second phase of NDIS Workforce Research Project.