Australia's disability sector faces ongoing workforce shortages, impacting the quality, safety, and consistency of care for people with disability. These challenges affect trust, continuity, and choice from the participant's perspective. The issue extends beyond an industry problem, directly influencing the daily lives of participants.
Impact of High Turnover
Frequent changes in support workers can lead to participants repeatedly needing to re-explain their needs, re-establish boundaries, and rebuild trust. For individuals requiring consistent support, particularly those with complex needs, psychosocial disability, or a history of trauma, this instability can be destabilizing and potentially unsafe. Continuity of care is considered essential for dignity, autonomy, and wellbeing, yet workforce instability hinders its achievement.
Consequences of Casualization
Casual and insecure employment practices are prevalent in disability support. For workers, this often means inconsistent hours, limited paid training, and reduced incentives for long-term commitment. For participants, it can result in constantly changing support personnel, workers unfamiliar with their preferences or routines, and decreased accountability when issues arise. When support work is characterized by insecure employment, the stability of support relationships may be affected.
Rise of App-Based Support
Platform-based disability support has expanded, offering some participants flexibility, faster matching, and increased control. However, potential risks include prioritizing speed over suitability, minimal vetting processes, and shifting responsibility for quality and safety to participants. When problems occur, accountability among the worker, platform, and participant can be unclear. Choice without adequate safeguards may transfer risk to the participant.
Challenges to Participant Choice
While participants theoretically have choice in providers, workforce shortages often mean limited options or pressure to accept available workers. This manifests when participants accept workers who are not a good fit due to lack of alternatives, when shifts are cancelled short notice without replacement, or when individuals are encouraged to be flexible about non-negotiable needs. When the system cannot provide stable support, participant choice can become conditional, with consequences borne by people with disability.
Participant Considerations
Given current labor market conditions, participants are advised to inquire about several factors when engaging providers or platforms:
- Turnover rates: Frequency of worker departures from a provider or platform.
- Training and supervision: Support structures provided to workers.
- Backup plans: Procedures for worker cancellations or departures.
- Clear accountability: Designation of responsibility in case of issues.
Current Significance
The disability workforce crisis is intensifying, driven by factors such as reliance on migration, burnout, casual employment, and app-based booking systems. If framed solely as an industry staffing issue, the direct impact on people with disability experiencing instability in their homes may be overlooked. Participant experiences are crucial to this discussion, as poorly managed workforce shortages can lead to lost trust, reduced safety, and transactional rather than human-centered support.