Formal versus informal disability support
What’s the difference, and which is right for you?
When you need support to live independently and stay connected to your community, it can be hard to know where to start. One of the most common questions people ask is: what’s the difference between informal support and paid support workers?
The answer will be different for everyone. Some people rely mostly on family and friends, while others choose to use funded supports through the NDIS or privately funded services. Many people use a combination of both.
In this guide, we explain the difference between informal supports and support workers, what each can help with, and how to decide what’s right for you.
Informal Support
Informal support is unpaid support provided by people already in your life. This may include:
Family members
Friends
Neighbours
Volunteers
Community networks
Informal supports often help with day-to-day needs, emotional support and practical assistance that helps maintain wellbeing and independence.
Examples of informal support may include:
Helping with meals or household tasks
Driving you to appointments
Providing companionship and emotional support
Assisting with reminders or routines
Helping you stay socially connected
For some families, informal support can become a significant caring role over time.
Financial and practical support for carers
If someone provides regular or ongoing care, they may be eligible for the Australian Government’s Carer Payment or other supports.
You can learn more through:
Support Workers
Support workers are paid professionals trained or experienced in providing disability support services.
Support workers may work:
Through a registered provider - some providers are registered and charities like estara, others will be privately-owned or unregistered organisations
As independent support workers
Across a range of support settings, including in-home and community support
Depending on your needs and funding, support workers can provide support from a few hours a week through to 24-hour support.
The role of a support worker is not just to “do things for you”, but to support you to build skills, increase independence and live life the way you choose.
What can a support worker help with?
Support workers will typically engage in a wider range of supports and services, including:
Personal care and daily living activities
Cooking, cleaning and household tasks
Assistance with showering, dressing and grooming
Travel and access to community activities and services, including recreational programs, doctors/medical or other appointments
Support with meetings, study and getting to work
Assistance with shopping (e.g., groceries and general shopping)
Some examples of more specialised supports may include:
Assistance with urinary drainage
Pressure injury management
Simple skin care management
Bowel routine assistance
What’s the difference between informal support and paid support?
There can sometimes be overlap between the two. Both informal support people and support workers may assist with:
Emotional support
Medication reminders
Social connection
Attending appointments
However, paid support workers generally provide:
More structured and consistent support
Specialist knowledge and training
Support linked to personal goals and capacity building
Flexible support based on changing needs
Access to a wider range of services and community participation
There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Some people prefer support primarily from family and friends. Others may want the independence and flexibility that comes from using paid support workers. Many people choose a combination of both.
Things you may want to consider include:
Your current support network
The type and complexity of support you need
Your goals and independence
The impact on family or carers
Whether you have NDIS funding available
Having open conversations with family, carers and providers can help you work out what support arrangement feels right for you.
If you think you may need some paid support, check out our ‘Supported Independent Living’ page.
Finding the right disability support provider
Choosing the right support provider is an important step. A good provider should work alongside you, understand your goals and provide support that fits your life.
Not sure where to start? Check out our ‘Questions to ask when choosing your disability providers’ page.
At estara, we support people living with spinal cord injury, neurological conditions and related disability through connected supports designed around individual needs and goals.
Helpful Resources
You may also find these topics helpful:
Other useful resources/podcasts: