Hiring Disability Support Workers Made Simple: Comparing Direct Employment, Agencies and Traineeships

We analyse three popular hiring models so you can see which is the best approach for your business.

Across Queensland, disability support providers are facing one of the toughest challenges in the sector: finding and keeping reliable and skilled staff.

With demand for NDIS and community-based support continuing to rise, the need for skilled, consistent and value-driven workers has never been greater.

With some organisations reporting annual turnover rates of 25% to 50% in frontline roles,the pressure to maintain service quality while scaling your team is growing rapidly.

So how do you build a sustainable workforce that grows with your organisation, not against it?

Let’s look at the three most common hiring models and how they compare.

Three Ways to Hire Disability Support Workers

Finding the right hiring approach for disability support workers can feel overwhelming, especially with multiple pathways available. Each option offers different levels of control, administrative responsibility and support.

Understanding these differences can help you choose the model that best fits your organisation’s needs and growth plans.

Below are the three main approaches used by disability providers:

1. Direct Employment

Your organisation recruits and employs disability support workers directly. You handle all HR responsibilities, including payroll, superannuation, entitlements, workplace supervision and training coordination.

This gives you full control over who joins your team and how they work, but it can be time-consuming and costly to manage – especially if you have limited HR resources.

2. Casual Staffing Agencies

You engage an external staffing provider to supply disability support workers as needed. The agency manages employment obligations, while you pay a premium hourly rate and have limited control over who is assigned to your shifts.

This offers flexibility in the short term but less control over which workers are assigned and lower retention rates due to casual turnover.

3. Group Training Organisation (GTO) Traineeships

With this model, a GTO like Community Solutions becomes the legal employer.

You host the trainee, providing day-to-day supervision and on-the-job experience, while the GTO manages recruitment, payroll, training coordination, mentoring and compliance.

Trainees complete a Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) while contributing to your team from day one, giving you a low-risk way to build a loyal, skilled workforce.

Comparison at a Glance

The table below provides an overview of how each option compares.

Criteria	Direct Hire	Casual Staffing Agencies	GTO Traineeships (Community Solutions)
Recruitment and onboarding	Managed by employer	Managed by agency	Managed by Community Solutions
Payroll, insurance and compliance	Employer responsibility	Agency responsibility	Managed by Community Solutions
Flexibility	Limited	High (short term)	High (rotate or share trainees)
Employment risk	High	Low	Zero – GTO is the legal employer
Cost efficiency	Moderate to high	High (casual loadings)	High – cost-effective hourly rate, all-inclusive
Staff loyalty and retention	Moderate	Low	High – trainees build loyalty and stay long-term
Training and development	Employer responsibility	Limited	High – structured Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) training
Workforce sustainability	Low to moderate – some initiatives in place, but limited impact on future workforce readiness	Low – minimal focus on long-term workforce planning or development	High – strong emphasis on building and sustaining a future-ready workforce

Why More Providers Are Choosing GTO Traineeships

Partnering with a GTO like Community Solutions gives you all the benefits of developing your workforce – without the administrative burden.

A traineeship gives you access to motivated, job-ready workers who are trained in Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) while contributing to your team from day one.

Here’s why this model is becoming the preferred choice across Queensland:

• Structured learning: Trainees complete a nationally recognised Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability) while gaining hands-on experience in your organisation
• Immediate contribution: Trainees actively support your team, easing roster pressure and building continuity of care
• Mentoring and support: Community Solutions provides Field Officers for regular check-ins, guidance and performance support
• Reduced risk: As the legal employer, we handle payroll, insurance, leave and compliance, removing administrative and employment risk from your business

Proven Results: 80% Completion Rate with Endeavour Foundation

Our Individual Support traineeships are currently achieving an 80% completion rate with Endeavour Foundation – well above industry norms. More trainees finish, more move into ongoing roles, and teams stabilise faster.

“By having the support of the trainees and the traineeship program, it ensures we have a managed flow of staff and workforce as our service to the people we support grows.”

– Marissa, Site Manager, Endeavour Foundation

That’s the long-term impact of a supported, structured traineeship pathway.

Grow Your Disability Support Workforce with Less Risk and More Reward

When you host a trainee through Community Solutions, you’re not just filling a vacancy; you’re building a reliable workforce pipeline.

Traineeships provide hands-on experience, structured learning and strong retention outcomes. They also help you reduce recruitment costs, strengthen loyalty and future-proof your workforce against ongoing shortages.

If you’re ready to grow your team with less risk and more reward, it’s time to explore how traineeships in disability care can work for you.

Call 1300 621 499 today or visit our Hiring Trainees page to book a quick chat with our traineeship specialists.