Case Study 1: Supporting NDIS Participants in Safe Sexual Exploration

Working in the NDIS sector, support goes far beyond day-to-day care. One area that often receives less attention, but is vital to holistic wellbeing, is helping participants safely explore their sexual expression while staying within the scope of your role.

Many participants may not have had the same opportunities as others to learn about or explore aspects of their sexuality. Providers, coordinators, and support workers often become consistent, trusted people in a participant’s life. That trust means participants may turn to us with personal questions or for guidance they might not feel comfortable raising with clinicians they see only occasionally.

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Why This Matters

Sexuality is a fundamental part of human wellbeing. When sexual needs are overlooked, participants may feel isolated, confused, or unable to express themselves fully. Providers play a crucial role in creating safe, non-judgmental spaces where participants can ask questions, learn, and make informed choices.

Building Trust and Respect

Support workers often spend more time with participants than other professionals, which creates a unique responsibility to:

• Nurture trust by listening without judgment.
• Respond thoughtfully when questions arise.
• Recognise limits and refer participants to specialists when the matter is beyond your scope.

Reflecting on personal biases, cultural beliefs, and boundaries is essential. Acknowledging these ensures participants receive the best support without compromising staff wellbeing.

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Case Study 1 Example: Safe Exploration

Imagine a participant who wishes to explore new aspects of their sexual expression. They saw a short reel on TikTok about bondage. They have a long-term partner who is also a NDIS participant.

As a provider, our first step is to consider the scope of our role in that individual’s life and our own level of comfortability and personal biases. We never want to leave a person feeling uncomfortable exploring their preferences because of our personal views. You need to decide if you are comfortable having that discussion; if not, support the individual to speak to someone on their team who is. Following this, it would also be

beneficial for your own work journey to unpack why these decisions provide a sense of unease for you—personal reflection is key in your journey as a support worker/support provider.

A provider can assist with:

• Helping the participant understand potential risks and benefits of what they want to explore.
• Discussing tools like safe words that protect emotional and physical boundaries.
• Supporting them to research activities online or write down pros and cons, without attaching judgment.
• If another person is involved, considering whether that partner has the capacity to understand consent and safety.

These conversations can be entirely appropriate within a support worker’s role, provided they focus on education, wellbeing, and safety.

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Knowing When to Step Back

Not every provider will feel comfortable discussing sexuality or gender, and that’s okay. Key moments to step back include:

• When a participant needs referral to a sexual health specialist, counsellor, or psychologist.
• When personal values prevent offering non-judgmental support.
• When a participant’s needs are better met by a provider with specific expertise.

Respecting boundaries ensures safety, dignity, and choice remain central.

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