Agency vs independent support worker: an honest comparison
Agency vs independent support worker compared: pay, control, security, admin, leave and super, clients and risk — plus a simple framework to decide which suits you.
The core difference
Pay: gross rate vs take-home
Control: who decides how you work
Security: the honest trade-off
Admin: the hidden workload
Leave and super: what you give up
Clients and managing type
Risk and responsibility
A simple decision framework
Frequently asked questions
Do independent support workers earn more than agency workers?
Often per hour, yes — independents can charge up to the NDIS price limits, well above an agency wage. But that rate has to cover tax, super, insurance, admin, unpaid travel and quiet weeks. Take-home depends heavily on how consistently you're booked and how disciplined you are with setting money aside.
Can I be an agency worker and independent at the same time?
Yes, many people do. You keep employed shifts for steady income while building your own client base on the side under your ABN. Check your employment contract for restraint or conflict clauses first, keep the two income streams separate for tax, and be transparent to avoid conflicts of interest.
Is it hard to go independent from an agency?
It's a real setup process, not a leap: ABN, insurance, screening, first aid, service agreement and invoice templates, and a way to find clients. The paperwork is manageable in a few weeks. The harder part is building a steady client base, which is why many people start part-time before leaving their agency.
What participants can independents support?
Independents are usually unregistered providers, so they can support plan-managed and self-managed participants, but not NDIA-managed participants, who require a registered provider. That still leaves a large market, but it does narrow who you can work with compared to a registered agency.
Do I lose sick leave and super if I go independent?
Yes. As a sole trader you have no paid sick or annual leave and no employer-paid super. You fund all of that yourself out of your rate, so price for it and set money aside deliberately. Skipping super is a common long-term mistake — it's voluntary for the self-employed but still worth paying.
How do I decide between agency and independent?
Weigh your need for income stability, your appetite for admin, whether you have a client base ready, your comfort with risk, and how much you value control over your hours and rates. If you're unsure, going independent part-time while keeping agency shifts lets you test it with limited downside.