How to Find a Support Worker Trained in High-Intensity Supports
How to find and check a high intensity support worker on the NDIS — the training, competency evidence and nurse oversight to look for.
A high intensity support worker delivers everyday care that carries clinical risk — bowel care, tube feeding, catheter care, seizure support — so the right worker is one who has been trained and assessed as competent for your exact task, with a nurse behind them. This guide shows you where to look, what evidence to ask for, and the questions that tell a genuinely trained worker apart from one who…
What "trained in high-intensity supports" really means
Where to look
The evidence to ask for before support starts
Questions that reveal a genuinely trained worker
Nurse oversight: the part people forget
Making it work day to day
Frequently asked questions
What makes a support worker 'high-intensity' trained?
It's not a single course. It means the worker has been trained and then assessed as competent for your specific task, such as bowel care, tube feeding, catheter care or seizure support, against the NDIS High Intensity Support Skills Descriptors, and works under a registered nurse who oversees that…
Where can I find high-intensity support workers?
You can find them through registered providers, nursing agencies, or as independent workers, and search directories like Novida where you can filter by the specific high-intensity task you need. Wherever you look, the checks you make on training and oversight matter more than where you found them.
What evidence should I ask for before support starts?
Ask to see task-specific competency sign-off for your exact task, not just a general certificate, who the supervising registered nurse is, and the written plan the worker will follow. A genuinely trained worker and their provider will share these readily.
What questions tell a trained worker apart from an experienced one?
Ask 'Who assessed you as competent for this task, and when?', 'Who's the nurse behind you?' and 'What would you do if something went wrong?' Experience alone can sound reassuring, but assessed competency, current oversight and a clear escalation plan are what actually keep you safe.
How is a high-intensity support worker funded?
Their time is funded from your Core budget, usually at the higher high-intensity rate that reflects the extra training and risk. The nurse oversight, training and clinical plan are funded separately. You'll need evidence of the need to have this costed into your plan.
Related guides
- How the NDIS Funds High Intensity Daily Personal Activities (HIDPA)
- Questions to Ask About High-Intensity Support (Training, Safety & Evidence)
- High-Intensity Supports on the NDIS: A Participant & Family Guide
- NDIS Community Nursing: How to Get Nursing Care at Home
- How to Get Community Nursing Funded in Your NDIS Plan
- Registered Nurse, Delegated Care or Support Worker: Who Can Do What