How to Find NDIS Clients as an Independent Support Worker

Figuring out how to find NDIS clients is one of the biggest challenges when you start working independently. You might have the skills, the ABN, and the worker screening check — but without participants to support, none of that matters.

The good news? There are more ways to find NDIS participants than most people realise. And you don't need a marketing degree or a big budget to make it work. In this guide, we'll walk through the practical, real-world strategies that independent support workers across Australia are using to build their client base — starting from zero.

Understand Who You Can Work With (and Who You Can't)

Before you start looking for clients, you need to understand a key distinction: plan management types.

NDIS participants have their funding managed in one of three ways:

Self-managed — the participant (or their family) manages the funding themselves. They can choose any provider, registered or not.
Plan-managed — a plan manager handles the finances on the participant's behalf. They can also use unregistered providers.
Agency-managed (NDIA-managed) — the NDIA manages the funding directly. These participants can only use registered NDIS providers.

If you're an unregistered independent support worker, your potential clients are self-managed and plan-managed participants. That's a large and growing portion of the NDIS — over 50% of participants now have some form of self or plan management in their plans.

Understanding this upfront saves you time. Focus your efforts on channels where self-managed and plan-managed participants are looking for support.

Build Relationships With Plan Managers

This is arguably the single most effective strategy for finding NDIS clients as an independent support worker — and it's the one most people overlook.

Plan managers process invoices and manage budgets for participants. When a participant asks their plan manager, "Do you know a good support worker in my area?", you want to be the name they suggest.

Here's how to approach it:

Identify local plan management companies. Search for plan managers in your area — most have websites and are easy to find. Some of the larger ones include Maple Plan, Plan Tracker, My Plan Manager, and NDIS Plan Management Australia, but there are dozens of smaller local ones too.
Introduce yourself professionally. Send a short email or call. Explain who you are, what services you offer, your qualifications, and the areas you cover. Keep it brief — plan managers are busy.
Make their life easy. Invoice correctly and on time. Use the right NDIS line items and include all required details. Plan managers remember the workers who don't create extra work for them. (Not sure about invoicing? Check out our NDIS invoicing guide.)
Follow up every few months. A quick check-in email keeps you front of mind without being pushy.

Why this works: Plan managers interact with dozens (sometimes hundreds) of participants. One good relationship with a plan manager can lead to a steady stream of referrals over months and years.

Connect With Support Coordinators

Support coordinators help NDIS participants implement their plans. A big part of their role is connecting participants with the right providers — including independent support workers.

Support coordinators are often the first people a new participant talks to about finding support. If a coordinator knows you, trusts your work, and knows your availability, they'll refer participants your way.

To build these relationships:

Attend local NDIS networking events and expos. Support coordinators are almost always there. Introduce yourself, swap details, and follow up.
Join local provider networks. Many regions have informal provider networks where support coordinators and workers connect.
Deliver great service. If a support coordinator refers someone to you and you do an excellent job, they'll refer more. Word gets around quickly in local NDIS communities.

Get Listed on Online Platforms

Several online platforms connect independent support workers directly with NDIS participants. These can be a great source of clients, especially when you're starting out.

Mable

Mable is one of the most popular platforms for independent NDIS support workers in Australia. Participants (or their families) browse worker profiles and reach out directly. You set your own rates and manage your own schedule.

Tips for a strong Mable profile:

Use a clear, friendly photo
Be specific about the services you offer and areas you cover
Highlight any specialised skills (e.g., complex care, autism support, manual handling)
Respond to enquiries quickly — participants often contact multiple workers

Hireup

Hireup is another well-known platform. It's NDIS-registered, which means agency-managed participants can use it too. The platform handles some admin, but you have less control over rates compared to Mable.

Other Platforms

MyCareSpace (mycarespace.com.au) — a provider directory where you can create a listing
Kynd (kynd.com.au) — a newer platform focused on independent support
Like Family (likefamily.com.au) — focused on social and community support

Don't rely on just one platform. Create profiles on several and see which ones generate the most enquiries in your area. Some platforms work better in metro areas, others in regional communities.

Use the NDIS Provider Finder (If You're Registered)

The NDIS Provider Finder is the official tool on the NDIS website where participants search for registered providers by location and service type.

If you're a registered NDIS provider, make sure your details are up to date in this directory. It's free, it's official, and participants actively use it.

If you're not registered, this tool won't list you — but that's okay. Most independent support workers are unregistered and find clients through the other channels in this guide. Whether or not to register is a separate decision (we cover that in our NDIS registration guide).

Tap Into Facebook Groups

This might sound informal, but Facebook groups are one of the most active channels for NDIS client acquisition in Australia.

There are dozens of groups where participants (or their families) post looking for support workers, and where workers can share their availability. Some to look for:

Local area NDIS groups (e.g., "NDIS Support Workers Sydney", "NDIS Melbourne Providers")
"NDIS Support Workers Australia" — a national group with thousands of members
Parent and carer groups — families managing NDIS plans for their children often look for workers in these groups
Disability-specific groups — e.g., autism support groups, where families seek specialised workers

How to use Facebook groups effectively:

Join relevant groups in your area and for your specialisation.
Introduce yourself with a short post — who you are, what you offer, your location, and your availability. Keep it warm and professional.
Respond to "seeking support worker" posts promptly. These posts often get dozens of replies, so speed matters.
Be helpful, not salesy. Answer questions, share useful information, and build a reputation as someone knowledgeable and reliable.
Keep your profile professional. Participants will check your Facebook profile before contacting you. Make sure it reflects someone they'd trust in their home.

Set Up a Google Business Profile

A Google Business Profile is free and takes about 15 minutes to set up. It makes you visible when participants (or their families) search for things like "NDIS support worker near me" or "disability support [your suburb]".

To set one up:

Go to business.google.com
Enter your business name (your name or your trading name)
Choose your service area (the suburbs or regions you cover)
Add your services, contact details, and a description
Ask happy clients to leave a review — this is what really drives enquiries

Even a handful of genuine Google reviews can put you ahead of workers who don't have a profile at all.

Ask for Word-of-Mouth Referrals

It sounds obvious, but many independent support workers underestimate the power of word of mouth in the NDIS space. Participants talk to each other — at community groups, day programs, social outings, and in online forums.

If you're doing great work, don't be shy about asking:

"If you know anyone who's looking for support, I'd love for you to pass on my details."
"I have some availability opening up — feel free to share my number with anyone who might need support."

You can also ask allied health professionals you work with (occupational therapists, speech therapists, physiotherapists) if they'd be comfortable referring participants to you. These professionals often know when a participant needs more support but hasn't found a worker yet.

A Real-World Example: Sarah's First Five Clients

Let's look at how this works in practice.

Sarah is a new independent support worker in suburban Brisbane. She's unregistered, has her NDIS Worker Screening Check, a first aid certificate, and experience working in group homes.

Here's how she found her first five clients:

Client 1 (Mable): Sarah created a detailed profile on Mable. Within two weeks, a self-managed participant in her area reached out for social support.
Client 2 (Plan manager referral): Sarah emailed three local plan management companies introducing herself. One passed her details to a participant looking for morning routine support.
Client 3 (Facebook group): A parent posted in a local NDIS group looking for an after-school support worker. Sarah responded quickly and was one of the first to reply.
Client 4 (Word of mouth): Client 1 mentioned Sarah to a friend at their community group. The friend reached out directly.
Client 5 (Support coordinator): Sarah attended a local NDIS provider morning tea. A support coordinator she met there referred a participant two months later.

Total cost: $0. It took effort and persistence, but Sarah built a full caseload within three months using free channels.

Quick Tips to Stand Out

Once you're putting yourself out there, small things make a big difference:

Respond fast. When a participant or coordinator reaches out, reply within hours, not days. Speed signals reliability.
Be specific about what you offer. "I provide daily living support, community access, and meal preparation in the northern suburbs of Melbourne" is much better than "I'm a support worker available for work."
Get your NDIS Worker Screening Check. This is a legal requirement in most states for NDIS work, and participants will ask about it. More info is available from the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission.
Keep your admin clean. Invoice properly, write good shift notes, and communicate clearly. This sounds like basic stuff, but it's what makes plan managers and coordinators recommend you again.
Specialise if you can. Workers with experience in complex care, autism support, psychosocial disability, or specific cultural backgrounds are always in demand.

How to Find NDIS Clients: Your Action Plan

Finding NDIS clients as an independent support worker comes down to three things: being visible, being reliable, and building relationships.

Here's your action checklist:

✅ Understand which plan types you can work with (self-managed and plan-managed if unregistered)
✅ Email local plan managers and introduce yourself
✅ Connect with support coordinators at events and through local networks
✅ Create profiles on Mable, Hireup, and other platforms
✅ Join relevant Facebook groups and engage genuinely
✅ Set up a free Google Business Profile
✅ Ask existing clients and allied health contacts for referrals
✅ Respond quickly and keep your admin organised

You don't need to do everything at once. Pick two or three strategies, do them well, and build from there. Consistency beats intensity.

Running your independent NDIS support work? Kareroo helps you manage shift notes, invoicing, and client records — so you can spend less time on admin and more time finding and supporting your clients.