When Can a Support Worker Help With Therapy Goals?

Support workers play a huge role in the lives of NDIS participants — but when it comes to therapy, many people aren’t sure where the line is.

💬 “Can a support worker help with therapy goals?”💬 “A therapist suggested a routine — but is it okay for a support worker to do it?”💬 “Are we allowed to help someone practise OT or speech strategies?”

The answer? Yes — with the right approach. Here’s what you need to know.

👥 Support Workers Don’t Replace Therapists — But They Can Reinforce Goals

Support workers are not qualified therapists. That means:

• They can’t create therapy plans

• They can’t assess or diagnose

• They can’t deliver formal therapy

BUT they can help participants practise, generalise, and embed therapeutic strategies — as long as those strategies have been developed by a qualified therapist.

🎯 Examples of Therapy-Aligned Support Work

Support workers might:

• Use a participant’s visual schedule made by a psychologist

• Encourage use of AAC or communication devices from a speech therapist

• Practise cooking and routines designed by an OT

• Play structured turn-taking games to build social skills

• Support physical movement goals outlined by a physiotherapist

• Prompt calming strategies from a participant’s PBS practitioner

• Help with therapy-based homework (e.g. emotion cards, sensory breaks)

In short: support workers amplify the work of the therapy team — by bringing it into the everyday.

📌 Key Things to Keep It Ethical and Aligned

To support therapy goals properly, support workers should:

• Be aware of the participant’s therapy goals

• Be trained or guided on how to support those goals

• Follow instructions and boundaries from the therapist

• Never force participation or act outside scope

• Communicate observations back to the team if needed

Clear communication is everything. When therapists, families, and support workers work together, participants benefit most.

👩‍🦽 How We Handle Therapy Support at Loving Life

At Loving Life Support Services, we regularly work with participants who have therapy teams in place. Our role is to:

• Reinforce strategies consistently across settings

• Use therapist-developed tools (visuals, prompts, routines)

• Adapt our sessions to make goals more achievable in real-world contexts

• Work closely with families to stay aligned and respectful of the broader team

Whether it's 1:1 support or group-based programs, we always stay within our role — while making sure participants get the day-to-day help they need to grow.

🧡 Support Workers Can Make a Big Difference

Therapy doesn’t only happen in clinics. With the right guidance, support workers help therapy goals come to life:

• At the park

• In the kitchen

• On the bus

• At the shops

• During play

• At home

It’s in these everyday spaces that confidence is built — one small success at a time.

Have therapy-aligned goals and want support that fits?

📍 Based on the Gold Coast

📝 Contact us here