Why do you want to be a disability support worker?

What the interviewer listens for. Values independence and choice: You say you want to help people live the life they choose. Gives a personal reason: You give a real reason and say what you enjoy about the work. How to answer. 1. A personal reason. 2. You want to help people live the life they choose. 3. What you enjoy about it.

What does "choice and control" mean for the people you support?

What the interviewer listens for. Says the person decides: You explain that the person decides their own goals and support. Supports and does not take over: You say your job is to support them, not to make the choices. Gives an example: You give an example, such as the person planning the week's shopping. How to answer. 1. They choose. 2. You support, not take over. 3. Example: they plan the week's shopping.

How would you help a client become more independent?

What the interviewer listens for. Does it with them, not for them: You do the task together with the client, then step back. Uses small steps: You break tasks into small steps the client can learn. Follows their goals: You follow the goals in the client's own plan. How to answer. 1. Follow their goals. 2. Break tasks into steps. 3. Do it together, then step back.

A client becomes upset and starts shouting. What do you do?

What the interviewer listens for. Stays calm and gives space: You stay calm and give the client space. Follows the behaviour support plan: You follow the client's behaviour support plan. Keeps everyone safe: You keep the client and everyone around them safe. Reports it: You report what happened afterwards. How to answer. 1. Stay calm. 2. Give space. 3. Follow their behaviour support plan. 4. Keep everyone safe. 5. Report it.

Tell me about a time you supported someone whose needs were different from yours.

What the interviewer listens for. Shows empathy: You show you understood what the person needed and how they felt. Adapts your approach: You say how you changed the way you did things for them. How to answer. 1. Who and what they needed. 2. How you changed your approach. 3. The result.

How do you respect a client's privacy and dignity in their own home?

What the interviewer listens for. Respects their home and their rules: You follow the client's routines and rules in their home. Asks before acting: You ask the client before you do anything for them. Keeps information private: You keep the client's personal information private. How to answer. 1. Ask before you act. 2. Follow their routines. 3. Keep their information private.

A client wants to do something you think is risky. What would you do?

What the interviewer listens for. Respects the right to choose: You respect the client's right to make their own choice. Talks through the risk and a safer way: You talk about the risk with them and look for a safer way. Tells the coordinator and records it: You tell your coordinator and write it down. How to answer. 1. Respect their right to choose. 2. Talk through the risk. 3. Find a safer way. 4. Tell your coordinator. 5. Write it down.

How would you communicate with a client who does not use words to speak?

What the interviewer listens for. Learns the client's way to communicate: You read their plan and ask family or staff how they communicate. Uses their method: You use their signs, pictures, device or body language. Gives time and checks understanding: You give the client time and check that you understood them. How to answer. 1. Read their plan. 2. Ask family or staff. 3. Use their method. 4. Give time. 5. Check you understood.

What would you do if you noticed a change in a client's health or mood?

What the interviewer listens for. Notices and records the change: You note what changed and write it down. Reports it that day: You tell your coordinator or nurse that day. How to answer. 1. Note what changed. 2. Write it down. 3. Tell your coordinator or nurse that day. 4. Follow the incident procedure if needed.

What do you know about the NDIS Code of Conduct?

What the interviewer listens for. Names key points: You name two or three points, such as rights, privacy, safety, integrity or raising concerns. Gives examples from daily work: You give one example of each point in your daily work. How to answer. 1. Name two or three points. 2. One example of each in daily work.

What checks and training do you have?

What the interviewer listens for. Names your NDIS Worker Screening Check: You say if you hold an NDIS Worker Screening Check or when it will be done. Lists first aid and CPR: You say if your first aid and CPR are current. Mentions licence, car and certificate: You mention a licence and car, and your Certificate III or IV. How to answer. 1. List what you hold. 2. What is in progress. 3. When it will be done.

What are your work rights, and can you work early mornings, evenings or weekends?

What the interviewer listens for. Shows you can work legally: You name your visa and say clearly what work it allows. Shows flexibility: You say which early, evening or weekend shifts you can do and when you can start. How to answer. 1. Your visa and what it allows, using the current rule. 2. Your available shifts. 3. Your start date. Check the current rule for your visa on the Home Affairs website before the interview.

Disability support worker interview questions and answers

12 questions disability support employers ask, what they want to hear, and a free way to practise each one out loud.

Practise these questions

By Thanh Tran, PTE and IELTS coach
Updated October 2026

The 12 questions, and how to answer

Answer each “tell me about a time” question with the STAR method: the Situation, your Task, the Action you took and the Result.

Why do you want to be a disability support worker?
About you
What the interviewer listens for
- Values independence and choice. You say you want to help people live the life they choose.
- Gives a personal reason. You give a real reason and say what you enjoy about the work.
How to answer
1. A personal reason
2. You want to help people live the life they choose
3. What you enjoy about it
Practise this question out loud
What does "choice and control" mean for the people you support?
What you know
What the interviewer listens for
- Says the person decides. You explain that the person decides their own goals and support.
- Supports and does not take over. You say your job is to support them, not to make the choices.
- Gives an example. You give an example, such as the person planning the week's shopping.
How to answer
1. They choose
2. You support, not take over
3. Example: they plan the week's shopping
Practise this question out loud
How would you help a client become more independent?
Skills and checks
What the interviewer listens for
- Does it with them, not for them. You do the task together with the client, then step back.
- Uses small steps. You break tasks into small steps the client can learn.
- Follows their goals. You follow the goals in the client's own plan.
How to answer
1. Follow their goals
2. Break tasks into steps
3. Do it together, then step back
Practise this question out loud
A client becomes upset and starts shouting. What do you do?
What would you do
What the interviewer listens for
- Stays calm and gives space. You stay calm and give the client space.
- Follows the behaviour support plan. You follow the client's behaviour support plan.
- Keeps everyone safe. You keep the client and everyone around them safe.
- Reports it. You report what happened afterwards.
How to answer
1. Stay calm
2. Give space
3. Follow their behaviour support plan
4. Keep everyone safe
5. Report it
Practise this question out loud
Tell me about a time you supported someone whose needs were different from yours.
Tell me about a time
What the interviewer listens for
- Shows empathy. You show you understood what the person needed and how they felt.
- Adapts your approach. You say how you changed the way you did things for them.
How to answer
1. Who and what they needed
2. How you changed your approach
3. The result
Tell it as one real example with the STAR method.
Practise this question out loud
How do you respect a client's privacy and dignity in their own home?
Skills and checks
What the interviewer listens for
- Respects their home and their rules. You follow the client's routines and rules in their home.
- Asks before acting. You ask the client before you do anything for them.
- Keeps information private. You keep the client's personal information private.
How to answer
1. Ask before you act
2. Follow their routines
3. Keep their information private
Practise this question out loud
A client wants to do something you think is risky. What would you do?
What would you do
What the interviewer listens for
- Respects the right to choose. You respect the client's right to make their own choice.
- Talks through the risk and a safer way. You talk about the risk with them and look for a safer way.
- Tells the coordinator and records it. You tell your coordinator and write it down.
How to answer
1. Respect their right to choose
2. Talk through the risk
3. Find a safer way
4. Tell your coordinator
5. Write it down
Practise this question out loud
How would you communicate with a client who does not use words to speak?
Skills and checks
What the interviewer listens for
- Learns the client's way to communicate. You read their plan and ask family or staff how they communicate.
- Uses their method. You use their signs, pictures, device or body language.
- Gives time and checks understanding. You give the client time and check that you understood them.
How to answer
1. Read their plan
2. Ask family or staff
3. Use their method
4. Give time
5. Check you understood
Practise this question out loud
What would you do if you noticed a change in a client's health or mood?
What would you do
What the interviewer listens for
- Notices and records the change. You note what changed and write it down.
- Reports it that day. You tell your coordinator or nurse that day.
How to answer
1. Note what changed
2. Write it down
3. Tell your coordinator or nurse that day
4. Follow the incident procedure if needed
Practise this question out loud
What do you know about the NDIS Code of Conduct?
What you know
What the interviewer listens for
- Names key points. You name two or three points, such as rights, privacy, safety, integrity or raising concerns.
- Gives examples from daily work. You give one example of each point in your daily work.
How to answer
1. Name two or three points
2. One example of each in daily work
Practise this question out loud
What checks and training do you have?
Skills and checks
What the interviewer listens for
- Names your NDIS Worker Screening Check. You say if you hold an NDIS Worker Screening Check or when it will be done.
- Lists first aid and CPR. You say if your first aid and CPR are current.
- Mentions licence, car and certificate. You mention a licence and car, and your Certificate III or IV.
How to answer
1. List what you hold
2. What is in progress
3. When it will be done
Practise this question out loud
What are your work rights, and can you work early mornings, evenings or weekends?
Work rights and hours
What the interviewer listens for
- Shows you can work legally. You name your visa and say clearly what work it allows.
- Shows flexibility. You say which early, evening or weekend shifts you can do and when you can start.
How to answer
1. Your visa and what it allows, using the current rule
2. Your available shifts
3. Your start date
Check the current rule for your visa on the Home Affairs website before the interview.
Practise this question out loud

These are practice questions and answer outlines, not legal, visa or career advice. For work rights, check the current rules on the Home Affairs website. Student visa conditions on the Home Affairs website.

Questions for other jobs

Many questions repeat from job to job. Practise the common ones too.

More for your job search

Common questions

What questions are asked in a disability support worker interview?

Why you want the work, what choice and control means, how you help a client become more independent, what you would do if a client is upset, and your checks, training and shifts.

What does “choice and control” mean?

The person with disability decides their own goals and how they get support. Your job is to help them do what they choose, not to take over.

What checks do I need for disability support work?

Most NDIS providers ask for an NDIS Worker Screening Check and first aid and CPR. Many also ask for a driver's licence and a car, and some for a Certificate III or IV. Check the job ad.

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