COURSE OVERVIEW:
Welcome to the Work Safely in the Disability Support Sector course. This course is designed to equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to maintain a safe working environment for both staff and clients. Safety is critical in disability support, where the physical, emotional, and mental well-being of vulnerable individuals must be prioritised. This course will begin with an overview of workplace safety in disability support, including the legal obligations under Australian Work Health and Safety (WHS) regulations, and emphasise the role of support workers in ensuring safety across various care settings.
Risk management is a key component of safety in disability support. Support workers must be able to identify and assess risks in client homes, facilities, and community settings. You will learn how to develop risk management plans tailored to individual support needs and conduct regular reviews and updates of risk assessments to ensure ongoing safety.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) plays an essential role in protecting both support workers and clients from harm. This section will cover the different types of PPE required for various support activities, how to properly use and maintain PPE, and how to comply with legal requirements for PPE in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) sector.
Safe manual handling and lifting techniques are crucial in preventing injuries, particularly when assisting clients with mobility or physical impairments. You will learn best practices for lifting and transferring clients safely, using hoists, transfer belts, and other assistive devices, and how to prevent musculoskeletal injuries that are common in this line of work.
Infection control and hygiene practices are fundamental in maintaining a safe and healthy environment. This section will focus on key infection control guidelines in disability support, including the safe handling and disposal of waste and sharps, as well as cleaning and disinfecting equipment and surfaces to prevent the spread of infection.
Managing challenging behaviours is another important skill for support workers. You will learn how to identify triggers for challenging behaviours, employ de-escalation techniques to ensure the safety of both the client and the support worker, and report and document behavioural incidents following appropriate protocols.
Emergency response procedures are vital in disability support. This section will teach you how to develop and implement emergency plans for clients, respond to medical emergencies such as seizures or falls, and effectively communicate with emergency services and families to ensure timely and appropriate responses.
Mental health and well-being are essential components of disability support. You will learn how to recognise mental health issues in clients, provide appropriate support for those with mental health conditions, and manage your own mental health and well-being as a support worker in this demanding field.
Medication management and safety are critical responsibilities in disability support. This section will cover medication policies, safe administration and documentation of medications, and how to recognise and respond to medication errors to ensure the safety and well-being of clients.
Client mobility and transport safety require special attention. You will learn safe practices for transporting clients who use wheelchairs or other mobility aids, including vehicle safety and accessibility features, and how to assist clients with boarding and disembarking safely.
Cultural competence is vital in providing person-centred care in the disability sector. You will learn how to understand and respect the cultural needs of culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) clients, provide culturally appropriate support and services, and integrate cultural beliefs into health and well-being practices.
Safeguarding clients in vulnerable situations is a legal and ethical responsibility for all support workers. This section will teach you how to identify signs of abuse, neglect, or exploitation, your legal and ethical responsibilities in reporting concerns, and how to support clients through the safeguarding process.
Fire safety and evacuation planning are important for ensuring the safety of clients in disability residences and facilities. You will learn fire prevention strategies, how to develop personalised evacuation plans for clients, and how to use fire extinguishers and other emergency equipment in case of a fire.
The safe use of assistive technology is essential in promoting client independence. You will learn about the different types of assistive technology used in disability support, how to train both clients and support workers in the safe use of devices, and how to maintain and troubleshoot assistive technology effectively.
Ethical and confidentiality considerations are central to protecting client privacy in disability support. This section will cover your responsibilities under the Privacy Act 1988, how to safeguard confidential information in both digital and physical formats, and how to manage breaches of confidentiality in a legal and ethical manner.
Finally, continuous improvement of safety practices is essential for maintaining a safe and effective disability support environment. You will learn how to conduct regular safety audits and risk assessments, gather feedback from clients, families, and staff to improve safety protocols, and review and update safety practices based on emerging risks and new technologies.
By the end of this course, you will have the knowledge and skills needed to work safely and effectively in the disability support sector, ensuring the well-being of both clients and support workers while maintaining compliance with all legal and ethical standards.
Each section is complemented with examples to illustrate the concepts and techniques discussed.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:
By the end of this course, you will be able to understand the following topics:
1. Introduction to Safety in the Disability Support Sector
- Understanding Workplace Safety in Disability Support
- Legal Obligations Under Australian WHS Regulations
- The Role of Support Workers in Ensuring Safety
2. Risk Management in Disability Support
- Identifying and Assessing Risks in Client Homes and Facilities
- Developing Risk Management Plans for Individual Support Needs
- Regular Review and Updating of Risk Assessments
3. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) in Disability Support
- Types of PPE Required for Different Support Activities
- Correct Use and Maintenance of PPE
- Complying with Legal Requirements for PPE in the NDIS Sector
4. Safe Manual Handling and Lifting Techniques
- Best Practices for Lifting and Transferring Clients Safely
- Use of Hoists, Transfer Belts, and Other Assistive Devices
- Preventing Musculoskeletal Injuries for Support Workers
5. Infection Control and Hygiene Practices
- Key Infection Control Guidelines in Disability Support
- Safe Handling and Disposal of Waste and Sharps
- Cleaning and Disinfecting Equipment and Surfaces
6. Managing Challenging Behaviours
- Identifying Triggers for Challenging Behaviour
- De-escalation Techniques to Ensure Safety
- Reporting and Documenting Behavioural Incidents
7. Emergency Response Procedures
- Developing and Implementing Emergency Plans for Clients
- Procedures for Medical Emergencies
- Communicating with Emergency Services and Families
8. Mental Health and Well-being in Disability Support
- Recognising Mental Health Issues in Clients
- Providing Support for Clients with Mental Health Conditions
- Managing the Mental Health and Well-being of Support Workers
9. Medication Management and Safety
- Understanding Medication Policies in Disability Support
- Safe Administration and Documentation of Medications
- Recognising and Responding to Medication Errors
10. Client Mobility and Transport Safety
- Safely Transporting Clients in Wheelchairs and with Mobility Aids
- Vehicle Safety and Accessibility Features
- Assisting Clients with Boarding and Disembarking Safely
11. Cultural Competence in Disability Support
- Understanding the Cultural Needs of CALD Clients
- Providing Culturally Appropriate Support and Services
- Respecting Cultural Beliefs in Health and Well-being Practices
12. Safeguarding Clients in Vulnerable Situations
- Identifying Signs of Abuse, Neglect, or Exploitation
- Legal and Ethical Responsibilities in Reporting Concerns
- Supporting Clients Through the Safeguarding Process
13. Fire Safety and Evacuation Planning
- Fire Prevention Strategies in Disability Residences and Facilities
- Developing Personalised Evacuation Plans for Clients
- Using Fire Extinguishers and Emergency Equipment
14. Safe Use of Assistive Technology
- Types of Assistive Technology in Disability Support
- Training Clients and Workers in the Safe Use of Devices
- Maintaining and Troubleshooting Assistive Technology
15. Ethical and Confidentiality Considerations
- Protecting Client Privacy Under the Privacy Act 1988
- Safeguarding Confidential Information in Digital and Physical Formats
- Managing Breaches of Confidentiality in a Legal and Ethical Manner
16. Continuous Improvement of Safety Practices in Disability Support
- Conducting Safety Audits and Risk Assessments Regularly
- Gathering Feedback from Clients, Families, and Staff to Improve Safety
- Reviewing and Updating Safety Protocols Based on New Risks and Technology
COURSE DURATION:
The typical duration of this course is approximately 2-3 hours to complete. Your enrolment is Valid for 12 Months. Start anytime and study at your own pace.
COURSE REQUIREMENTS:
You must have access to a computer or any mobile device with Adobe Acrobat Reader (free PDF Viewer) installed, to complete this course.
COURSE DELIVERY:
Purchase and download course content.
ASSESSMENT:
A simple 10-question true or false quiz with Unlimited Submission Attempts.
CERTIFICATION:
Upon course completion, you will receive a customised digital “Certificate of Completion”.