15/11/2025
8 Lies You’ve Been Told About Being a Support Worker
1. "It's just keeping someone company, it's not hard."
Lie.
Support work demands emotional presence, technical skills, and a lot of patience. You're supporting people with real needs, it's far more than just “keeping company.”
2. "You don’t need that much documentation."
Lie.
The truth is, without proper notes and records, you and your client are unprotected. Paperwork matters, the problem is most systems make it harder than it needs to be.
3. "Anyone can do this job."
Lie.
Real support requires empathy, emotional intelligence, training, and responsibility. It’s not just a side gig, it’s a profession.
4. "Just follow the support plan."
Lie.
Plans change. Real life is unpredictable, and you need to make decisions, handle the unexpected, and adapt constantly.
5. "You don’t need much training."
Lie.
You need to understand behaviour, alternative communication, safe practices, and more. Ongoing learning makes all the difference.
6. "No one reads your shift notes."
Lie.
They do get read, and they can be used in audits, investigations or service reviews. Poor notes can lead to serious issues.
7. "The market is oversaturated."
Lie.
The demand for support workers is only growing, especially with an ageing population and the expansion of the NDIS. Opportunities are everywhere.
8. "It’s a lonely job."
Lie.
Even if you’re working solo, there’s a whole community of support workers, tools, and networks out there, like Sparks Scribe, built to support you.
