A new year, new choices: understanding your Support Worker options with Living My Way
The start of a new year is often a time to pause and reflect. For people with disability and their families, January can be a natural time to think about what’s working well, what feels challenging, and whether the support in place is still right.
At Living My Way, we know there is no single way to live well. That’s why we offer a range of disability support service options, designed to meet people where they are, and support them to live life their way.
If a new year has you considering your options, here’s an overview of the support pathways available through Living My Way.
Employ Your Own Support Worker: choice and control
Living My Way’s Employ Your Own (EYO) Support Worker service is built on one simple principle: You choose someone who you already know and trust to support you.
With the EYO Support Worker service, you employ your own disability Support Workers and build a team that fits your life, your routines and your preferences. You decide who comes into your home, when they work, and how your disability support service is delivered.
Living My Way supports you by taking care of most of the administration, including payroll, onboarding and the provision of employment contracts, so you can focus on the relationships and the life you want to lead.
This option suits people who want maximum choice and control, value consistency, and want support shaped around their lifestyle rather than a roster.
Access to Support Workers through Living My Way
For some people, employing community Support Workers directly may not feel like the right fit, especially at certain stages of life or during periods of change.
Living My Way also supports people to access disability Support Workers through our organisation. This option provides a structured, reliable disability care service in Sydney metro areas while still being grounded in respect, dignity and person-centred practice.
Support is coordinated with care, and delivered by people who understand the importance of trust, consistency and good communication. This can be a helpful option for people who want quality disability Support Workers without the responsibilities that come with employing staff themselves. Living My Way can help you to access disability Support Workers who can assist with social and community participation, in-home support and High Intensity Daily Personal Activities (HIDPA).
HIDPA support
For people with more complex needs, Living My Way offers support under HIDPA framework.
HIDPA support is designed for people who require a higher level of care, specialised assistance, or more intensive daily support. This includes people who may need support with specific complex health needs, ongoing routines, or situations that require additional training and oversight.
Living My Way’s HIDPA services focus on safety, dignity and individualised care. Support is delivered in line with each person’s specific needs and in collaboration with health professionals where required.
This pathway helps people who need higher intensity support so they can still receive care that is respectful, reliable and centred on their life and goals.
Finding the right fit for you
Your support needs may change over time, and that’s okay. Some people move between different support options as their circumstances evolve. Others stay with the same model for years.
What matters most is that you feel supported, heard and in control of the decisions that affect your life.
Living My Way works alongside people with disability to explore options, answer questions, and help find the approach that best fits their needs, goals and preferences.
Looking ahead to the year ahead
A new year brings new possibilities. Whether you’re reviewing your current arrangements, exploring disability support services for the first time, or thinking about what greater independence could look like, Living My Way is here to help.
With flexible options including Employ Your Own Support Worker, In-Home Support, Social and Community Participation, and HIDPA services, we’re committed to supporting people with disability to live well, on their own terms.
If you’d like to learn more about your options, the Living My Way team is always happy to talk through what might work best for you.
You can call us on (02) 8525 4000, email us via operations@lmwl.org.au or complete the contact us form on our website.