Carer onboarding checklist
Everything that needs to happen before a new support worker starts delivering services — from compliance checks to first-shift preparation.
Why onboarding matters
How you onboard a new carer shapes their first impression of your organisation and sets the tone for their employment. Carers who receive a disorganised onboarding — whose paperwork is chaotic, whose first shift is poorly briefed, who feel like they have been handed a uniform and told to figure it out — are carers who are already reconsidering their decision to join.
This checklist is structured in phases. Complete each phase before moving to the next.
Phase 1: Pre-employment checks (before engagement is confirmed)
These checks must be completed and verified before a carer delivers any support services.
Mandatory compliance checks
- NDIS Worker Screening Check — initiated and clearance received
- Working With Children Check (where state/role requires)
- National Police Check — dated within the last 3 years
- Identity verification — photo ID sighted and recorded
Qualifications
- First Aid Certificate — HLTAID011 (Provide First Aid) or equivalent
- CPR Certificate — HLTAID009 or equivalent
- Manual handling training (if role requires)
- Medication administration (if role requires)
- Other role-specific qualifications:
- - [ ] Expiry:
- - [ ] Expiry:
Right to work
- Work rights confirmed (citizen / permanent resident / visa check)
Employment documentation
- Signed employment agreement
- Tax file number declaration
- Superannuation choice form
- Bank account details for payroll
- Emergency contact details collected
Phase 2: Induction (first week)
Organisational orientation
- Welcome and introduction to the team / key contacts
- Organisation's mission, values, and culture overview
- Organisational structure — who reports to whom, who to contact for what
- Office / workplace tour (if applicable)
Policies and procedures
The carer must read and sign to confirm they have understood the following policies. Record the date of sign-off for each.
- Code of Conduct — signed:
- Incident Reporting Procedure — signed:
- Complaints Handling Policy — signed:
- Privacy and Confidentiality Policy — signed:
- Medication Administration Policy (if applicable) — signed:
- Restrictive Practices Policy (if applicable) — signed:
- Work Health and Safety Policy — signed:
- Social Media and Communications Policy — signed:
Mandatory training modules
- Induction training (organisational) — completed:
- NDIS orientation / Worker Orientation Module — completed:
- Abuse and neglect awareness — completed:
- Manual handling (classroom/practical) — completed:
- Infection control — completed:
- Fire safety / emergency procedures — completed:
Practical systems training
- Rostering / scheduling system — how to view and confirm shifts
- Mobile app setup and walkthrough — checked in on test shift
- Timesheets / payroll process explained
- How to report an incident (step-by-step)
- How to contact the coordinator in an emergency
- How to access client care plans before a shift
Phase 3: First shift preparation
Client briefing
- Carer has read the client's care plan before the shift
- Carer is aware of any health alerts, behaviour support plans, or communication needs
- Carer knows the client's emergency contacts and how to use them
- Access information (key safe code, building entry, parking) provided
Logistics
- First shift date, time, and address confirmed in writing
- Transport arrangements confirmed (if carer needs to know)
- Coordinator on-call contact provided for first shift
- Incident reporting process refreshed — carer knows what to do and who to call
Phase 4: First month check-in
At the end of the first month, schedule a brief one-on-one with the new carer to discuss:
- How the role is going — any concerns or questions
- Quality of briefing information — is the carer getting what they need before each shift?
- Training needs — anything the carer feels under-prepared for
- Support and supervision arrangements — is the carer clear on who their supervisor is and how to access support?
- Feedback on the onboarding process
Sign and date to confirm the check-in occurred.
Check-in completed by: **Date:**
Ongoing reminders
Set calendar reminders for the following events:
- 3-month probation review (if applicable)
- First aid certificate expiry:
- CPR expiry:
- NDIS Worker Screening expiry:
- Working With Children Check expiry:
- Annual performance review:
*Teiro tracks all qualification expiry dates automatically and sends alerts at 60, 30, and 7 days before expiry — to both the carer and their coordinator. No manual calendar reminders required. [See the compliance features](/features/compliance).*