How many clients should an independent support worker have?
Work out your ideal caseload as an independent support worker — full-time vs part-time capacity, mixing regular and casual clients, and avoiding burnout.
Why there's no single right number
Start with your weekly capacity
Full-time vs part-time
Mix regular and casual clients
Factor in travel and geography
Protect against burnout
Income stability and pricing
Scaling up sensibly
Frequently asked questions
How many clients can a full-time independent support worker have?
A full-time independent working around 25–30 billable hours a week typically supports somewhere between 5 and 12 clients, depending on how many hours each books. Fewer clients with longer, regular bookings are easier to manage than many with short, scattered ones. Focus on sustainable billable hours rather than a…
Is it better to have a few big clients or many small ones?
A blend is healthiest. Regular clients who book the same hours weekly give you a dependable income base, while a few casual clients add flexibility. Avoid letting any single client make up so much of your income that losing them would be a crisis — spreading work across several participants protects you when a plan…
How do I avoid burnout as an independent support worker?
Don't fill every available hour. Build in gaps for admin, rest and the unexpected, and keep your caseload below your absolute maximum. Watch for warning signs like dread before shifts, short temper and exhaustion that sleep won't fix, and ease off when they appear. Supporting slightly fewer clients well for years beats…
How does travel affect how many clients I can have?
A lot. Clients clustered in nearby suburbs are far more manageable than ones spread across the city, because travel eats time you're often not paid for. Group clients by area and day to keep a tight travel footprint, so you can support more people in the same working day. A distant client effectively costs you more…
How many clients do I need to make a living?
It depends on your rate and your unpaid hours, not just a client count. Charging appropriately within NDIS price limits means you need fewer clients to hit your income goal. Remember you're a sole trader covering your own tax, super and time off, so billable hours must cover more than take-home pay. Aim for regular…