These days more people show interest in gardening. This includes senior citizens and individuals with disabilities as well, who want to keep their gardens tidy and well-organised. A well-kept yard not only supports their mental health but also their emotional well-being. With this, the demand for NDIS gardening services is growing significantly. So if you are passionate about gardening and want to become an NDIS lawn mowing service provider, this blog is for you.
Qualifications and Skills Required for NDIS Gardening
The key responsibility of NDIS gardeners is to ensure the participants’ yards are in tip-top condition. You should possess the necessary gardening skills, from basic lawn mowing and weeding to designing outdoor spaces. Apart from technical knowledge, soft skills are also required to work with an NDIS participant. Let’s discuss these skills one by one.
Hard Skills for NDIS Gardeners
The technical abilities and knowledge of gardening are often acquired through learning or on-the-job training. They are essential in producing professional, high-quality gardening work. Some of the important hard skills required for providing exceptional NDIS gardening services to individuals with disabilities:
- Light Gardening: Lawn mowing is one of the basics of gardening. You should know how to evenly cut down grass using a scythe or a mowing machine. Additionally, weeding, clearing debris, and minor garden maintenance are the requirements to work as an NDIS gardener.
- Plant Identification: A deep understanding of plants is crucial in gardening. This includes identifying different plant species and understanding their specific requirements regarding water, soil, and sunlight.
- Pest and Disease Management: Some participants may apply to get NDIS funding for full gardening assistance. Aside from getting their yard’s grass cut and keeping the weeds at bay, they can opt for timely pest control. Therefore, a professional gardener should have the ability to understand different types of plant diseases and pests. They should also know the methods to handle the issues efficiently.
- Yard Maintenance: An NDIS gardener ensures that the outdoor environment is participant-friendly. This means you need to take extra care that the driveways, paths, and wheelchair ramps are free from slippery moss and in safe condition. In addition, your regular tasks for maintaining the yard may include clearing leaves and other debris.
- Proficiency in Handling Gardening Equipment: There are many tools that gardeners use regularly. Such as leaf blowers, spades, mowing equipment, pruning shears, and so on. For you to work as an NDIS garden maintenance worker, learning how to use these tools safely and efficiently is important. It will ensure that you perform your job well and prevent any injury.
- Knowledge of Fertilisers and Soil Type: A gardener creates a suitable environment for every kind of plant in a yard. Hence, an understanding of various soil types and fertilisers is crucial. Knowing these elements can help you greatly enhance the growth of plants.
- Landscape Designing: While not all NDIS participants opt for landscaping, the ability to design a garden can give you a significant professional edge. It can also help you get more work. If you have a deep understanding of colour theories, basic architectural principles, or plant growth patterns, then it is a bonus.
Soft Skills for NDIS Gardeners
When participants take NDIS gardening services, they want to relax knowing that their home’s outdoor conditions are in safe hands. This means they expect that all the required gardening tasks are being taken care of. However, a good NDIS gardener shall have several admirable qualities while working with participants. Hence, you should not overlook basic work ethics. So, here are some soft skills that are needed while working as an NDIS worker:
- Strong Communication Skills: One of the most important soft skills NDIS providers look for is the worker’s ability to communicate effectively. Good communication skills are key to providing a high standard of service to participants. It also ensures that the care plan is being followed efficiently. You should be able to communicate any concerns or changes to the service user or their family clearly and concisely.
- Knowledge of Disability: Since every person with disability has unique abilities and needs, you should not make any assumptions about their situation. It’s better to self-educate yourself about various kinds of disabilities. So that you can understand them better and be more compassionate.
- Empathy: An NDIS worker provides support to people with disability with empathy and kindness. This means you should have the ability to understand their feelings without judging them.
- Patience: Many soft skills can make you a successful NDIS worker, however, patience is the most essential skill you need to harness. You have to understand that when working with participants, patience is the only way to face difficult situations.
- Flexibility: Sometimes NDIS participants may make sudden changes to their plans. So you need to have a flexible nature to be able to support them without getting irritated.
- Problem-Solving Skills: A good problem-solving attitude is an outstanding quality a professional NDIS worker can have. It can make a huge difference if you can respond effectively and quickly to unexpected situations.
Steps to Become an NDIS Gardener
Improving your gardening skills will not only make you a better gardener but will also help in your career progression. Take a look at some steps you can take to become a part of NDIS approved gardeners:
- Educational Requirements: Formal educational qualifications are not mandatory to work as an NDIS gardener. However, a vocational qualification may assist you gain essential knowledge and skills.
- Gaining Practical Experience: Gardeners spend a lot of time squatting, bending, and lifting objects, that too during the day and in all kinds of weather. Since this work can become physically demanding, you need a high level of physical fitness to be able to undertake the work. Therefore, gaining practical experience is a great way to maintain your physical health and upgrade your skills.
- Obtaining Necessary Certifications: You can take online courses like Certificate III in Horticulture which can prepare you for entry-level NDIS lawn mowing services. Besides, you can thoroughly go through the NDIS training module to understand the ways to better support people with disability. They will provide you with the necessary certifications after you complete the courses.
Why Choose Bunji Community Care to Start Your Journey As An NDIS Gardener?
If you are an NDIS participant, you can use the funding to maintain your garden properly. Bunji Community Care specialises in providing reliable and affordable.NDIS registered lawn mowing services in Melbourne. They have a team of skilled gardeners and landscaping specialists who can enhance the appearance of your garden. This registered NDIS provider’s core mission is to:
- Empower individuals
- Promote independence
- Foster community connections
- Provide high-quality care
- Treat each individual with compassion and empathy
Contact Bunji Community Care, a reliable and trustworthy NDIS service provider, to start your journey as an NDIS lawn mowing worker in Melbourne. Call them on (03) 8790 5503 or you can email them at [email protected] to know further details.
