8 Legal Responsibilities of Support Workers
8 Legal Responsibilities of Support Workers
- December 1, 2025
If you’re working as a support worker in Sydney—or thinking about becoming one—you’re probably already someone who cares deeply about helping others. And while this work can be incredibly rewarding, it also comes with important legal responsibilities.
These responsibilities aren’t meant to scare you. They’re here to protect the people you support and protect you. And learning them isn’t about being perfect—it’s simply about being informed, thoughtful, and doing your best.
Let’s walk through the eight key responsibilities together, clearly and compassionately.
1. Duty of Care: Keeping People Safe
At the heart of support work is the responsibility to protect people from harm.
Your duty of care simply means taking reasonable steps to keep the person safe—things like preventing falls, recognising risks, or knowing when to step in if something seems off.
It’s not about controlling someone’s life—it’s about walking beside them and helping prevent avoidable harm.
2. Privacy & Confidentiality: Respecting Someone’s Story
You’ll often learn personal, private information about someone—and it’s your legal responsibility to keep that information safe.
Australian privacy laws mean you can only share information if:
- the person has given permission, or
- there’s a real risk of harm to the person or someone else.
Think of confidentiality as protecting someone’s dignity, identity, and story. It builds deep trust.
3. Informed Consent: Working With the Person, Not On Them
Before doing anything—from helping with showering to supporting with medication—you need the person’s permission.
Informed consent means explaining what you’re doing, checking they understand, and respecting their right to say yes or no. If someone uses a guardian or substitute decision-maker, you still involve the person as much as possible.
Consent isn’t a tick-box—it’s an ongoing conversation.
4. Following the NDIS Code of Conduct (If Supporting NDIS Participants)
If you’re supporting people through the NDIS, you’re legally required to follow the NDIS Code of Conduct.
This means acting:
- respectfully
- safely
- ethically
- honestly
- in ways that support a person’s independence and rights
It’s all about delivering support that honours the individual and their choices.
5. Reporting Incidents: Speaking Up When Something Isn’t Right
When something happens—an injury, unsafe situation, or even a feeling that something isn’t right—you have a duty to report it.
This isn’t about blaming anyone.
It’s about keeping the person safe and ensuring the right follow-up happens. Proper documentation is important, too, as it protects you and helps maintain a clear record of what occurred.
You never have to carry concerns on your own.
6. Anti-Discrimination Responsibilities: Treating Everyone Fairly
Support work should always be a safe, inclusive space.
Under NSW anti-discrimination laws, you can’t treat someone unfairly based on their:
- disability
- race or culture
- gender or sexuality
- age
- religion
- background or identity
It means respecting each person’s uniqueness and making sure everyone feels valued and included.
7. Mandatory Reporting: Protecting People From Abuse or Neglect
- abuse
- neglect
- exploitation
- violence
8. Professional Boundaries: Keeping Relationships Safe and Ethical
This is a big one, and sometimes the hardest to navigate.
Maintaining professional boundaries means:
- not becoming romantically or financially involved with clients
- not accepting big gifts
- not sharing your own private issues
- keeping the relationship focused on the person’s support needs
Good boundaries create safety. They also help build a clear, respectful partnership where the person feels supported—not overwhelmed or pressured.
Final Thought: You’re Doing Important Work
If you’re reading this, it already shows something wonderful about you—you care, you want to learn, and you want to do things the right way.
The legal responsibilities might feel like a lot, but you don’t have to know everything on day one. Support work is a journey, and everyone grows into it.
Reach out. Ask questions. Keep learning.
You’re part of a community of carers, workers, advocates, and professionals across Sydney who want to support you just as much as you support others.
And remember:
You’ve got this.
And the people you support are lucky to have you.