Making the decision to seek NDIS support is a significant and often positive step towards greater independence. You have set your goals, you have your NDIS plan, and you are ready to engage a provider. But then, a new feeling starts to creep in: anxiety. The thought of having a support worker, often a stranger, come into your personal space – your home – can be incredibly daunting. What will they be like? Will they respect your privacy? Will you get along? What if you feel uncomfortable?

If you are feeling this way, please know that you are not alone. This is one of the most common and understandable fears that new NDIS participants experience. Your home is your sanctuary, a place where you should feel safe, comfortable, and in control. The idea of sharing that space with someone new can feel like a huge intrusion. This anxiety can be even more pronounced for people who have had negative experiences in the past, or who live with conditions like anxiety, PTSD, or autism.

At Lanara, we don’t just understand this fear; we design our entire service around alleviating it. We believe that building trust is the absolute foundation of good support. Before any tasks are done, before any goals are worked on, our first priority is to make you feel safe, respected, and comfortable. This article is for anyone who is feeling nervous about starting with a support worker. We want to validate your feelings, show you what a respectful and person-centred approach looks like, and give you the confidence to move from a place of fear to a place of trust.

“It’s Normal to Feel Nervous”: Validating Your Feelings

Let’s start by saying it again: it is completely normal to feel anxious about having a support worker in your home. This is not a sign of weakness or a lack of readiness. It is a natural human response to a new and very personal situation. Some of the common fears we hear from new participants include:

• Fear of being judged: “What will they think of my home, my habits, or my family?”
• Fear of losing control: “Will they try to take over and tell me what to do?”
• Fear of a personality clash: “What if I just don’t like them?”
• Fear of a lack of privacy: “Will I ever feel like I have my own space again?”
• Fear of inconsistency: “What if I get a different person every week and have to start all over again?”

These are all valid concerns. Acknowledging them is the first step. The next step is to understand what a good provider does to address these fears from the very beginning.

What to Expect on the First Day: A Gentle Start

The first meeting with your support worker should not be about jumping straight into tasks. It should be about connection. At Lanara, we see the first few shifts as a “getting to know you” period. Here is what you should expect from a provider who puts you at the centre of their service:

• A Warm Introduction: The first meeting should be relaxed. It might involve your Support Coordinator or a family member being present. The focus should be on having a conversation, not on completing a checklist.

• Listening, Not Directing: A good support worker will spend most of the first meeting listening. They will ask you about your interests, your preferences, your routines, and what is important to you. They are there to learn from you, the expert in your own life.

• Discussing Boundaries: The conversation should include a discussion about boundaries. This is your opportunity to say things like, “I prefer to have the mornings to myself,” or “This room is my private space.” A respectful provider will welcome this conversation.

• Starting Small: The support worker should not come in and start rearranging your kitchen. They should start with small, agreed-upon tasks, or perhaps no tasks at all on the first day. The initial focus is on building rapport.

If your first experience with a provider feels rushed, impersonal, or task-focused, it is a sign that their approach may not be truly person-centred.

How We Build Trust: The Lanara Approach

At Lanara, we believe that trust is not given; it is earned. It is earned through consistent, reliable, and respectful actions over time. Here are the core principles we use to build that trust with every participant we work with:

1. Consistency of Support Worker: This is perhaps the single most important factor in reducing anxiety. We are not a “revolving door” agency. We work hard to find the right support worker for you, and our goal is for that person to be your primary, consistent support. This means you do not have to tell your story over and over again. You can build a genuine, long-term professional relationship with someone who truly understands you.

2. A Meticulous Matching Process: We don’t just send the next available worker. We have a detailed matching process where we consider not just your support needs, but your personality, interests, and communication style. We look for a genuine values alignment between you and your support worker, then send the workers profile to you which needs to first be agreed upon before proceeding. We believe that a good match is the foundation of a successful support relationship.

3. A Trauma-Informed Approach: Our team is trained in trauma-informed care. This means we understand that many people have had past experiences that make it difficult to trust. We approach every interaction with the principles of safety, choice, collaboration, and empowerment. We move at your pace, we respect your boundaries, and we work to create an environment where you feel physically and emotionally safe.

4. Clear and Open Communication: We believe in clear, honest, and proactive communication. You will always know who is coming to your home and when. If there are any changes, we will let you know as soon as possible. We encourage open feedback, and we have a clear process for you to raise any concerns without fear of negative consequences.

Setting Boundaries: Your Right to Privacy and Personal Space

This is your home, and you are in charge. A good support worker understands and respects this. It is essential that you feel empowered to set boundaries, and that your provider supports you in doing so.

It is okay to say:

• “I would prefer you not to enter this room.”
• “I need some quiet time to myself between 2 pm and 3 pm.”
• “I would prefer to manage my own finances, but I might ask for help with the budgeting.”
• “Thank you for the suggestion, but I would like to do it this way.”

A support worker’s role is to support you, not to control you. If you ever feel that your boundaries are not being respected, it is crucial that you speak to your provider. At Lanara, we see this as a serious issue and will always act to ensure that our participants feel in control of their own homes and lives.

What If It’s Not Working? Your Right to Speak Up

One of the biggest fears participants have is: “What if I don’t like my support worker, but I feel too guilty or scared to say anything?” This is a completely understandable concern, and it is one that we want to address directly.

You have the absolute right to speak up if something is not working. This is not being difficult, demanding, or ungrateful. This is exercising your right to choice and control, which is a fundamental principle of the NDIS. A good provider will not only accept your feedback; they will actively encourage it.

At Lanara, we have a clear and accessible process for raising concerns. You can speak to your support worker directly if you feel comfortable doing so. You can speak to our management team. You can have a family member or Support Coordinator raise the concern on your behalf. We will always listen, take your concerns seriously, and work with you to find a solution.

Sometimes, the solution might be a simple conversation. Perhaps there is a misunderstanding about your preferences, or the support worker is unaware that something they are doing is making you uncomfortable. Other times, the solution might be a change of support worker. This is not a failure; it is simply a recognition that the match was not right, and we will work to find someone who is a better fit.

The most important thing is that you never feel trapped or stuck with a support arrangement that is not working for you. Your comfort, safety, and wellbeing are always the priority.

The Role of Family in the Transition

For many participants, family members play a crucial role in the transition to having a support worker. This is particularly true for participants who live with their families or who rely heavily on family members for emotional support. The introduction of a support worker can be a significant change for the whole family, not just the participant.

Family members might feel a mix of emotions. There can be relief at having some of the caregiving burden shared, but also anxiety about a stranger entering the family home. There might be feelings of guilt about “handing over” care, or concerns about whether the support worker will provide the same level of care that the family does.

At Lanara, we recognise the importance of the family in this process. We welcome family involvement in the initial meetings and encourage open communication between the participant, their family, and the support worker. We understand that trust needs to be built not just with the participant, but with their loved ones as well.

Over time, many families find that having a support worker is not about replacing their role, but about enhancing it. When the practical tasks of caregiving are shared with a professional, family members often find that they have more energy and emotional capacity to simply enjoy their relationship with their loved one. The dynamic shifts from one of caregiver and care recipient to one of parent and child, sibling and sibling, or partner and partner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What if I change my mind and don’t want a support worker anymore?

A: That is entirely your right. If you decide that you no longer want support, you can end the arrangement at any time. However, we would encourage you to have a conversation with your provider first, as there may be ways to adjust the support to better meet your needs.

Q: Will my support worker judge me or my home?

A: A professional, person-centred support worker will never judge you. They are trained to meet you where you are, without judgement. At Lanara, our trained workers are particularly skilled at creating a safe, non-judgemental environment.

Q: Can I have the same support worker every time?

A: At Lanara, consistency is one of our core priorities. We work hard to ensure that you have the same primary support worker for every shift. While there may be occasional times when a backup worker is needed (for example, if your regular worker is unwell), we always aim for maximum consistency.

Q: What if I have a bad experience with a support worker from another provider?

A: A bad experience with one provider does not mean all providers are the same. If you have had a negative experience, we encourage you to look for a provider whose values and approach align with what you need. At Lanara, we are happy to discuss your past experiences and explain how our approach is different.

The Power of a Good Match

When the match between a participant and a support worker is right, the initial fear can transform into a powerful and positive relationship. A good support worker becomes a trusted ally, a consistent presence who respects your autonomy and champions your goals. They are someone you can rely on, someone who understands your communication style, and someone who celebrates your successes with you.

This is what we strive for at Lanara. We have seen participants who were initially too anxious to let anyone in their home develop incredible bonds with their support workers, going on to achieve goals they never thought possible. This is the magic of person-centred, relationship-based support.

Taking the First Step: It Gets Easier

We understand that the first step is often the hardest. The anxiety you feel right now is real, and we do not want to minimise it. But we also want to offer you hope. We have worked with many people who felt exactly the way you do right now, who were terrified of having someone in their home, who could not imagine ever feeling comfortable with a support worker. And we have watched those same people, over time, develop incredible relationships with their workers that have transformed their lives.

The anxiety does not disappear overnight. It fades gradually, shift by shift, as trust is built through consistent, respectful, and genuine care. There will be awkward moments. There will be times when you feel uncomfortable. But with the right provider, those moments will become fewer and further between, replaced by a growing sense of safety, connection, and empowerment.

Your Journey Starts with a Conversation

If you are at the beginning of your NDIS journey and feeling anxious about the prospect of having a support worker, please know that your feelings are valid. However, also know that with the right provider, you can move through that fear and build a support relationship that is empowering, respectful, and genuinely life-enhancing.

The first step is to have a conversation. When you are talking to potential providers, ask them about their process for building trust. Ask them how they match workers, how they handle complaints, and what their approach is to person-centred care. Their answers will tell you a lot about their values.

At Lanara, we welcome these conversations. We are proud of our process, and we are happy to answer all your questions. We invite you to contact us for a confidential, no-obligation chat. Let us show you how our thoughtful, person-centred approach can help you to overcome your anxiety and step confidently into a new chapter of independence.