Top 5 Essential Items You Must Bring to Your Support Worker Placement (NDIS & Aged Care)

If you are reading this, you have probably just finished the heavy theory portion of your Certificate III in Individual Support, and your 120-hour placement is looming just around the corner.

First of all, congratulations! You have made it this far.

However, I know exactly how you are feeling right now. When I was preparing for my first shift here in Melbourne, my stomach was in knots.

Walking into a busy aged care facility or stepping into an NDIS client’s home for the first time is incredibly intimidating. You want to do a good job, you want to stay safe, and you want to impress your supervisors.

To help you walk through those doors with confidence, I have put together the ultimate survival packing list based on my own real-life placement experience.

Here are the top 5 essential items you absolutely must bring on your first day as a support worker student.

Why Your First Day of Placement is Crucial

Your first day sets the tone for your entire 120-hour journey.

While you are there to learn, you must remember that this placement is essentially a month-long job interview.

Facility managers and senior staff are constantly observing how you present yourself, how you interact with clients, and how prepared you are.

Showing up on day one looking professional and equipped with the right tools tells them that you take this career seriously.

More importantly, having the right gear will physically save you from exhaustion. Let’s dive into exactly what you need in your bag (and on your body).

The Ultimate 120-Hour Placement Packing List

1. Comfortable, Non-Slip Black Shoes

If there is one thing you should not be cheap about, it is your footwear.

During an 8-hour shift in an aged care facility, you will rarely sit down. You will be walking down long corridors, assisting with hoists, and standing on hard vinyl floors.

You must invest in a high-quality pair of non-slip, enclosed black shoes.

This is not just for comfort; it is a strict Work Health and Safety (WHS) requirement. Facility floors can get wet and slippery, and standard running shoes will not protect you from a fall or a spilled liquid. Your feet (and your lower back) will thank you later!

2. A Fob Watch for Infection Control

You might be thinking, "I will just use my Apple Watch or check my phone for the time." Stop right there! In the healthcare and disability sector, there is a strict "bare below the elbows" policy for infection control.

Wearing a wristwatch traps dangerous bacteria and can also accidentally scratch the fragile skin of elderly clients during manual handling.

Instead, you need a silicone fob watch that pins securely to the chest pocket of your scrub top. You will need this constantly to check the time for documenting care notes, measuring pulse rates, and managing your break times.

3. A Pocket-Sized Notepad and Pen

On your first few days, you will be bombarded with a massive amount of new information.

You will be given door security codes, the names of your buddy nurses, and vital little details about clients—like how Mary likes her tea, or which side John prefers to sleep on.

Do not pull out your smartphone to take notes! If a supervisor sees you looking at your phone, they will assume you are texting or browsing social media. Always keep a small notebook and a click-pen in your pocket. Writing things down shows that you are attentive and eager to learn.

4. Hydration and High-Energy Snacks

Let’s be brutally honest: doing 120 hours of unpaid placement is hard work, and you likely won't have the budget to buy expensive cafe lunches every day.

The work is incredibly physical, and you will burn through your energy fast.

Bring a large, reusable water bottle and keep it in the staff room. Pack high-energy, easy-to-eat snacks like muesli bars, bananas, or nuts.

Sometimes, your allocated break time might be cut short due to an emergency on the floor. Having a quick snack you can eat in three minutes will keep your blood sugar stable and prevent you from burning out halfway through your shift.

5. A Positive, Open Mindset

This might sound cliché, but it is the most important tool you can bring.

You are a student. You are going to make mistakes, and you will encounter situations that feel overwhelming.

When a senior carer gives you feedback or corrects your technique during personal care, do not take it personally. Absorb their advice. Say, "Thank you for showing me the right way, I will do it like that from now on." A positive attitude and a genuine willingness to help will make the permanent staff love working with you.

What NOT to Bring to Your Shift

Just as important as what you pack is what you leave at home. To ensure you meet safety standards, make sure you avoid the following:

  • Dangling Jewelry: Long necklaces or hoop earrings are a massive safety hazard. Confused clients might grab and pull them.

  • Strong Perfumes: Many clients in aged care or the NDIS have respiratory issues or are sensitive to strong smells. Stick to basic deodorant.

  • Long Acrylic Nails or Nail Polish: Long nails can easily tear the delicate, paper-thin skin of elderly residents. They also harbor bacteria underneath. Keep your nails short, clean, and bare.

Final Thoughts for a Successful Placement

Your 120-hour placement is going to be exhausting, challenging, and wonderful all at the same time.

It is the place where all the textbook theory suddenly becomes real life. As I gear up to officially start working independently as a disability home care worker this coming May, I look back on my placement as the most valuable part of my training.

Pack your bag the night before, polish your black shoes, and take a deep breath. You are going to do great!

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