How do I become a disability service officer
Get qualified to work as a disability service officer with a course recognised across Australia. Speak to a training provider to learn more.
Related career opportunities
Browse occupations related to Disability Service Officer.
Common questions
In Australia, a full time disability service officer generally earns $1,600 per week ($83,200 annual salary) before tax. This is a median figure for full-time employees and should be considered a guide only. As you gain more experience you can expect a potentially higher salary than people who are new to the industry.
Courses.com.au Team
There isn't clear data on disability service officer positions specifically. However, aged and disability support worker jobs as a whole have grown strongly in recent years. They are expected to continue to be a strong source of employment around the country. As of May 2019, there were approximately 177,000 aged and disabled carer jobs in Australia. That number could potentially rise to 222,000 in 2024. Some reports indicate the possibility of about 35,800 job openings per year over that span.
Source: The Labour Market Information Portal - 2019 Occupational Projections and Australian Government Job Outlook
Courses.com.au Team
Many disability service officer jobs require completion of more advanced qualifications and/or some experience in the support industry. One such qualification that could potentially prepare you for a disability service officer position is a Certificate IV in Disability. This can take around 12 months to complete depending on if you choose to study on campus, online or through blended study modes and whether you study full or part time. This qualification also has a work placement component. Individual Support or other support studies specialising in Aged and Disability Support can be helpful, though each position can have different requirements.
Courses.com.au Team
Further reading
What can you do with a Certificate IV in Disability?
12th November 2020
What can you do with a Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability)?
22nd September 2020All disability service officer courses
Disability Service Officer careers
The duties of a Disability Service Officer are similar to, and can sometimes overlap with, those of a disability support worker. The main difference is that a disability service officer tends to be responsible for planning aspects of care, as opposed to carrying out everyday home-based duties or accompanying clients and patients on errands and other appointments.
The primary job of a Disability Service Officer is to help those with a range of issues live their everyday lives freely through the use of available resources. These resources include educational and professional courses and programs as well facilities and services for overall medical and financial support. Disability Service Officers assess clients and patients to see which resources best suit their needs and monitor progress to determine if new avenues need to be sought. Disability service officers will also liaise with friends, family and colleagues of clients and patients to help establish a network of support.
