Riverland men find new purpose in disability support work

Riverland men are increasingly turning to disability support jobs, swapping careers in farming and trade work for roles that offer variety and a sense of fulfillment.

Brody Thompson, 24, is one of a growing number of men in the Riverland region who have made the switch to disability support work. After feeling "stuck in a rut" working on his family farm, Mr Thompson decided to apply for a job in disability support after a friend suggested it.

"[I was] just really stuck in a rut. Eight hours a day sitting in the tractor; it's the same view all day, not a lot changes," Mr Thompson said.

"I just needed a little bit of variety in my life."

Mr Thompson is now part of a local NDIS provider's workforce, which mentors and supports children and young adults across the community. He is one of more than a dozen men who make up half of the workforce.

"I'd say there definitely was a stigma [around working in disability] for me," he said.

"[I thought] you're in-house just caring all the time, you're getting people up out of bed, toileting and showering them. I do a bit of that [but] there's so much more to it."

"Once you're all in, you realise how much need there is and how much you can help. There's nothing more rewarding than helping."

Changing workforce

Max Hall, a part-time client of Mr Thompson's, appreciates the opportunity to engage with male role models with similar interests, including AFL.

"Harry, he's a good man. Brody, I know he goes for Hawthorn, [which is] 'hawful' actually," the 20-year-old Adelaide Crows supporter said with a grin.

"[But] it has made me happy a lot."

Haiden Button, a 32-year-old disability worker from Loxton, also made the switch to disability support work after more than a decade in a trade.

"Without making it sound too dramatic, changing to disability support work has changed my life for the better," Mr Button said.

"I didn't quite realise how maybe unhealthy my mental health was, and also just my wellbeing, until starting something where I was happy to come to work every day."

"There's been challenging days for sure, but none where I wouldn't want to be here."

Rising trend

National data suggests that more men are choosing to work in disability support. The National Disability Services' 2024-25 workforce census survey showed that men in the workforce had risen from 29 per cent in 2015 to 33 per cent in 2025.

"It's positive to see more men choosing disability support as a career," said Karen Stace, director of policy and advocacy at National Disability Services.

"The bigger opportunity is ensuring the sector is able to invest in attracting and retaining a diverse, skilled workforce so people with disability can access high-quality support wherever they live."