Victoria’s Disability Worker Regulation Scheme, established under the Disability Service Safeguards Act 2018 (the Act), includes voluntary registration for Victorian disability workers.

Disability workers that are registered have been deemed suitable by the independent Disability Worker Registration Board of Victoria (the Board). The Board regulates registered disability workers and can also set fees for and associated with registration. The Victorian Disability Worker Commissioner regulates unregistered disability workers.

The Board is also responsible for setting standards for registration. The Board applies standards to assess whether an individual is suitable for registration because they can demonstrate they can practice competently and safely.

The Board has set three registration standards – competency in English, criminal history and continuing professional development. These will remain for the next registration period, from 1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023. 

These are:

Competency in English

  • Registered disability workers must be competent in speaking or communicating in English to practise as a disability worker as required by section 156(c) of the Disability Service Safeguards Act 2018.
  • Disability work is diverse and wide ranging and the levels of English competency required to perform certain roles and types of work may vary. But the Act requires all registered workers to be competent in speaking or otherwise communicating in English to provide safe and quality services.

Applicants will be required to declare in their registration application whether or not they are competent in speaking, reading, writing or otherwise communicating in the English language.

Criminal history

  • The Board will undertake a criminal history check before deciding an application for registration (as required under section 152 of the Act). The criteria for the criminal history check is consistent with the criteria for the NDIS worker screen.

Applicants will be asked if they have plead or been found guilty of, been charged with or convicted of any offence(s) in Victoria or elsewhere.

Continuing professional development (CPD)

  • The Board will require registered disability workers to complete a minimum of 10 hours of continuing professional development in the second registration period (1 October 2022 to 30 September 2023).
  • Continuing professional development activities will be expected to support workers to keep up and improve their knowledge and skills to practise safely, and that they be recognised for relevant learning as well as promoting their future employability.

All registered workers will be asked to make a declaration that they have completed 10 hours of relevant CPD when they apply to renew their registration in 2023.

For more information about CPD, including guidance and fact sheets, please click the Continuing Professional Development red box below. 

Fees

There is no fee to apply to register or to renew registration for the 2022-2023 registration period.

Please see below for other fees set by the Board for the 2022-2023 registration period.

Application to register $0.00
Health/medical examination or assessment $0.00
Endorsement of registration $0.00
Renewal of registration $0.00
Late renewal of registration $0.00
Extract of the register of disability workers $0.00
Copy of the register of disability workers $0.00
How to register
Continuing Professional Development
Check the Register of Disability Workers
Watch registration webinars