Epilepsy Training for Disability Support Workers

Aalia Hussein
Aug 28, 2025

Lachie is one of 250,000 Australians who live with epilepsy. Lachie experiences focal dyscognitive seizures, where his awareness is temporarily altered during a seizure. His seizures typically last between one and three minutes, and Lachie often appears mumbling incoherently and confused.

Because of this, Lachie needs support managing his daily activities and belonging in his community. Let’s explore the requirements that his disability support workers should have in order to support Lachie.

What is epilepsy?

Epilepsy describes the condition that causes an individual to experience a seizure. There are an estimated 40 different types of epilepsy, and the causes vary between acquired and genetic.

Like Lachie, people with epilepsy have what is known as complex care needs due to the nature of their conditions or disability. Under the NDIS, epilepsy and seizure support sits under the High Intensity Daily Personal Activities (HIPDA) and other skills descriptors, which provide a clear framework for the skills and knowledge required to provide support to individuals with complex care needs. Support workers, therefore, need to complete relevant NDIS epilepsy training to comply with these requirements.

These descriptors outline the skills and knowledge needed by support workers to assist with HIDPA, including, but not limited to:
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Support worker requirements under the NDIS 

As with any support delivered, Lachie’s support worker should always adhere to the NDIS Code of Conduct and Practice Standards and follow a person-centred, rights-based approach.

Lachie’s support worker(s) must complete general training on epilepsy, which covers a range of different types of seizures and related support requirements. If they are new to the role, they must have completed mandatory training, including the NDIS Worker Orientation module and organisation-specific induction training.

Due to the nature of the supports provided, Lachie’s support worker will most likely be in close personal contact with Lachie. Therefore, they must undertake infection control training.

Lachie’s support worker must also be able to do the following:
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  • Understand Lachie’s specific needs, which means they must be familiar with and implement Lachie’s epilepsy support plan, particularly Lachie’s support requirements, e.g. trigger management 
  • Understand the impact epilepsy has on Lachie
  • Recognise common patterns or clusters of the seizures Lachie experiences
  • Identify Lachie’s triggers and symptoms and support him to remove or minimise exposure to triggers
  • Takes immediate action in response to signs of a seizure, while respecting Lachie’s choices
  • Communicate with Lachie using his preferred methods of communication
  • Check that any devices and medications that Lachie uses are available and ready for use
  • Administer Lachie’s medication if required, or contact emergency services if the need arises
  • Monitor Lachie’s wellbeing before, during, and after a seizure
  • Records and updates relevant charts or documents, such as care notes
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Additional requirements

When it comes to epilepsy support worker training, the NDIS also requires service providers to ensure that their staff have current skills and knowledge—which must also be documented and regularly audited internally.

As an example, let’s assume Lachie’s support worker has not delivered epilepsy support for more than three months. The NDIS strongly recommends reassessing the support worker before supporting Lachie for his and their safety. This could be retaking the general epilepsy training and undertaking a practical on-the-job assessment (which will need to be observed and signed off by a senior team member who has also retained current qualifications).

All support workers are also expected to check in with Lachie and review his current support needs to determine if they need modifying. For example, Lachie might raise with his support worker that he feels he needs more medication or more supports. The support worker must then record this and raise it with the appropriate person, e.g., Lachie’s support coordinator or supervisor. This ensures that Lachie’s needs continue to be met and that his supports align accordingly.