Insurance for independent support workers
What insurance an independent (sole trader) support worker needs — public liability, professional indemnity and personal accident cover — and why it matters.
Do independent support workers really need insurance?
What types of insurance do you actually need?
Public liability vs professional indemnity: what's the difference?
What about income protection if you get hurt?
Why workers compensation usually won't cover you
Do you need vehicle insurance if you drive participants?
How much does independent support worker insurance cost?
Insurance vs the SCHADS award and NDIS price limit: who pays for it?
Common mistakes that leave you exposed
A checklist before you buy a policy
How insurance fits with screening, registration and getting work
Frequently asked questions
Is insurance legally required to work as an independent support worker?
There is no single law that says every independent support worker must hold insurance, but in practice it is close to compulsory. Many participants, plan managers and platforms will not engage you without a current certificate of currency, and working uninsured exposes you personally to claims that could cost far more than you earn in a year. Registered NDIS providers have their own insurance obligations set by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission; confirm what applies to your situation with the Commission.
What's the difference between public liability and professional indemnity insurance?
Public liability covers claims that you physically injured someone or damaged their property — for example a participant falling during a transfer. Professional indemnity covers claims that your advice, decision or failure to act caused harm or loss, such as an allegation of neglect or a medication error. Hands-on support workers generally need both, because a single serious incident can be argued as either type of claim, or both at once.
Can I get workers compensation as a self-employed support worker?
Usually not on yourself. In most states, workers compensation is designed to cover a business's employees rather than a sole trader, so as a genuine independent you typically cannot take it out for your own injuries. Personal accident or income protection insurance is the substitute — it replaces income if you are hurt or ill. The rules are state-based, so confirm with your state's authority such as iCare, WorkSafe or WorkCover.
How much does independent support worker insurance cost in 2026?
As an indicative guide only, a bundled public liability and professional indemnity policy often falls in the region of a few hundred dollars a year for a solo worker, with personal accident or income protection adding more depending on your cover level and health. These figures are ballpark, change constantly and vary by state and insurer — get several real quotes from licensed insurers or a broker and read each Product Disclosure Statement. Cheaper policies frequently exclude high-risk tasks like hoisting or medication assistance, so check the exclusions, not just the price.
Does my normal car insurance cover me if I drive participants?
Not necessarily. Transporting clients counts as business use, and a policy rated for private use only may reduce or refuse a claim if you did not disclose it. Tell your motor insurer you use the car to transport participants, ask whether passengers are covered, and get the answer in writing. Keeping a logbook also helps at tax time — check what you can claim with the ATO or a registered tax agent.
Do I need to be a registered NDIS provider to buy this insurance?
No. You can hold your own public liability, professional indemnity and personal accident cover as an unregistered independent working with private, self-managed and plan-managed participants. Registration is a separate question with stricter requirements set by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, and most independents do not need it to take private clients. You will still need your NDIS Worker Screening Check and Worker Orientation Module regardless of your insurance.
Is insurance a business cost I fund myself, or is it built into NDIS pricing?
It is a cost you fund yourself. The NDIS price limit caps what a participant's plan can be charged for a support — it is not a reimbursement for your insurance, and it is separate from the SCHADS award that sets employee pay. As an independent you build insurance, super and the lack of paid leave into the rate you set, which is one reason independent rates are structured differently from an employee's hourly pay. From 1 July 2026 the super guarantee rises to 12%, another cost to factor in — confirm your obligations with the ATO.