Disability support worker perspectives regarding occupational regulation

With the introduction and implementation of Victoria’s voluntary regulation scheme, occupational regulation of the disability support workforce is gaining attention in the Australian disability service sector. This study explored disability support worker attitudes towards occupational regulation, to ascertain whether they endorse the need for their workforce to be regulated in Australia. To this end, 294 Australian disability support workers completed an online survey, recruited from organisations that support people with disabilities, including those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The majority agreed with statements reflecting the need for an external body to regulate the disability support worker occupation (73.6%), the need for compulsory registration with such a body (69.5%), and the need for a minimum disability support worker qualification standard to be established (73.0%). Safeguarding the wellbeing of people with disabilities by: (i) providing practice oversight, and (ii) enforcing consistent disability support worker practice and training standards were common reasons provided for agreeing with these statements. Those who disagreed with these statements highlighted that current systems in place were adequate in their opinion, and that learning on-the-job was more important than gaining a qualification. They also expressed concern that increased regulation will have time and cost implications for current disability support workers that may result in workers leaving the workforce. The findings from this study are significant as they represent the first known attempt to ascertain disability support worker attitudes towards the need for their work role to be regulated.