Your Rights at Home: Consent & Safe Support Practical Guide

Rights in your home: consent, privacy and dignity (plain-English)

In your own home, you should feel safe, respected and in control. Consent means supports only happen with your agreement. A support worker should explain what they will do, why they will do it, and ask for your okay before they help—unless there is an urgent safety need and even then they should explain what’s happening as soon as possible. If you use a communication aid, you still have the right to be heard and understood. You can say “yes”, “no”, or “not like that”.

Privacy matters in day-to-day care. This includes how personal information is handled, what is discussed in front of others, and whether your home is treated respectfully (for example, knocking before entering your room and only using belongings with your permission). Dignity means supporting you in a way that protects your independence and choice. For example, staff should encourage you to do tasks yourself where you can, and they should use respectful language, cover you appropriately, and maintain your personal boundaries.

Sometimes providers get details wrong (for example, entering your space without knocking, discussing your health in public areas, or providing support that doesn’t match your agreed goals). It’s okay to speak up. You can ask the provider to show you their plan for your supports, including how they will get consent each time, protect your information, and support your dignity. If you’re comparing providers, My Care Finders can be a useful starting point to check what support styles and safeguards are offered. If you manage funds through plan management, tools like MyMoney NDIS (www.planmanager.net.au) can help you understand services and costs, which can support clearer conversations about what’s being provided.

Key takeaway: If it affects your body, your money, or your personal life, you have a right to be asked first—and to be treated with respect, every time.

• Consent: Ask, “Is this what you’re about to do?” and you can pause or refuse.
• Privacy: Request privacy when discussing your support needs or personal health.
• Dignity: Set preferences (same gender worker if you choose, how to be addressed, how you want help given).
• If something goes wrong: Tell the provider what you want changed and ask how they will prevent it happening again.