Preparing for Your First Meeting with a Support Worker

Meeting a new support worker for the first time can feel both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. Whether you are new to receiving support or changing providers, a bit of preparation can help the first meeting go smoothly and set the foundation for a positive working relationship.

This guide covers some practical things you can think through before, during and after your first meeting. It is general information only — your needs and circumstances are unique to you.

Thinking About Your Goals

Before the meeting, take some time to think about what you want to achieve with support. Your goals might be big or small, and they can change over time. Having a general sense of what matters to you can help guide the conversation.

For example, you might want to:

• Build more independence in daily tasks like cooking or using public transport
• Get out into the community more often for social or recreational activities
• Develop skills for managing appointments or finances
• Simply have someone check in regularly for a chat and a hand with household tasks

You do not need to have everything figured out. Your support worker is there to work with you, and goals can be refined together over time. See our guide on understanding choice and control for more on why your decisions matter.

Communication Preferences

Everyone communicates differently. Thinking about how you prefer to communicate can help your support worker understand you better from the start.

Consider sharing things like:

• Whether you prefer detailed explanations or short, direct instructions
• Whether you like to receive information in writing, verbally, or both
• Whether you need extra time to process information or make decisions
• Any communication aids or tools you use
• How you prefer to be contacted (phone, text, email) and how often

For more on this topic, see our guide on communicating your needs and preferences.

Personal Boundaries

Boundaries are the personal limits you set around your time, space, body and information. They are important in any support relationship. You have the right to set boundaries and to expect them to be respected.

Things to think about include:

• Which parts of your home are okay for the support worker to access, and which are private
• What topics you are comfortable discussing and which you would prefer to keep private
• How you feel about physical contact or assistance with personal care
• Whether you want to involve family members or friends in your support, and if so, how

For example, you might say: "I'd prefer you to knock before entering my bedroom," or "I'd rather not talk about my medical history unless it's directly relevant to the support you're providing." These are reasonable requests, and a good support worker will respect them.

Questions to Ask

The first meeting is also a chance for you to ask questions. This helps you understand how the support worker operates and whether they are a good fit for you.

You might ask:

• What does a typical session look like with you?
• How do you handle it if I'm not happy with something?
• What happens if you're away or unavailable?
• How do you keep records of our sessions, and who sees them?
• What are your boundaries around contact outside of scheduled sessions?

For a more comprehensive list of questions, see our guide on questions to ask a disability support provider.

Setting Expectations

Being clear about expectations from the start can help avoid misunderstandings later. This includes what you expect from the support worker and what they can expect from you.

Things to discuss include:

• What times and days work for you, and how flexible the schedule is
• How much notice is needed if either of you needs to cancel or reschedule
• What tasks the support worker will and will not help with
• How you will provide feedback, both positive and constructive

After the First Meeting

Take some time after the meeting to reflect on how it went. Ask yourself:

• Did I feel comfortable and respected?
• Did the support worker listen to me and take my preferences seriously?
• Do I feel confident that this person can support me in the way I need?
• Is there anything I want to clarify or raise at the next session?

If something does not feel right, it is okay to raise it. You also have the right to request a different support worker if the fit is not right for you. Choice and control means you are in the driver's seat.