If you work as a disability support worker, chances are you’ve already thought about what you’d do in a medical emergency. And while there are many situations you might prepare for, seizures tend to sit near the top of the list — not because they’re necessarily dangerous every time, but because they can be frightening to witness and the wrong response can cause real harm.
Many NDIS participants live with conditions associated with a higher likelihood of seizures, including epilepsy, acquired brain injury, cerebral palsy, and Down syndrome. Knowing how to respond calmly and correctly isn’t optional for support workers — it’s an essential part of the role.
Here’s what you need to know.
Understanding Seizures in a Disability Support Context
A seizure occurs when there’s a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain that temporarily disrupts normal function. Seizures can look quite different depending on the type. The most recognisable is the tonic-clonic seizure (formerly called a grand mal), which involves loss of consciousness, muscle rigidity, and rhythmic jerking movements. But seizures can also present as a brief blank stare (absence seizure), unusual repetitive movements, or sudden muscle limpness.
For NDIS participants with a known seizure disorder, your organisation may already have guidance in the participant’s Health Support Plan about what their typical seizures look like, how long they usually last, and what response is expected. Familiarising yourself with this information before an event occurs is one of the most practical steps you can take as a support worker.
Step-by-Step: Responding to a Tonic-Clonic Seizure
The following steps are consistent with guidelines from the Australian Resuscitation Council (ARC) and Epilepsy Action Australia.
1. Stay calm and stay present.
Your response sets the tone. Keep others nearby calm and clear the immediate area of bystanders where possible.
2. Note the time.
Start timing the seizure from the moment it begins. This is critical information for emergency services and medical staff.
3. Protect the person from injury.
Gently guide them away from hard surfaces or hazards if you can do so safely. Place something soft under their head — a folded jacket, a bag, anything available. Move furniture and sharp objects out of the way.
4. Do not restrain them.
Do not hold down their arms or legs. Restraining someone during a seizure does not stop it and can cause injury to both of you.
5. Do not put anything in their mouth.
The idea that a person can swallow their tongue during a seizure is a myth. Placing objects in the mouth can cause broken teeth, jaw injuries, or injury to your own fingers.
6. Stay with them throughout.
Do not leave the person alone. Monitor them closely for the duration of the seizure.
7. After the seizure — recovery position.
Once the seizure ends and if the person remains unconscious or is drowsy, gently roll them onto their side into the recovery position. This keeps their airway clear and supports breathing. Stay with them and offer calm reassurance as they regain awareness. It’s normal for a person to feel confused, exhausted, or distressed after a seizure — this phase is called the postictal state and can last from several minutes to an hour.
8. Document what you observed.
Note the time, duration, type of movements, any loss of consciousness, and how the person was afterwards. This information is valuable for their treating health professionals and required for incident reporting under NDIS obligations.
When to Call 000
Seizures do not always require emergency services, but there are situations where calling 000 immediately is the right call. These include:
- The seizure lasts longer than five minutes
- The person does not regain consciousness after the seizure stops
- One seizure follows another without the person recovering in between
- This is the person’s first known seizure
- The person is injured, is having difficulty breathing, or is in water
- You are unsure whether this is a seizure or another medical event
If a participant has a known seizure disorder and their Health Support Plan specifies a different response protocol, follow that plan — but always err on the side of caution. When in doubt, call 000.
What Not to Do
In the heat of the moment, well-meaning instincts can sometimes lead to responses that make things worse. To be clear:
- Do not hold the person down or try to stop the movements
- Do not put anything in their mouth, including your fingers
- Do not give food or water until the person is fully alert and responsive
- Do not leave the person alone during or immediately after the seizure
- Do not splash water on them or use smelling salts
These actions are not only ineffective — they can cause injury and distress.
NDIS Practice Standards and Your Obligations
The NDIS Practice Standards, overseen by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, require registered providers to support the health and wellbeing of participants, including having appropriate processes in place for managing health emergencies.
For participants with a history of seizures, this typically means having a current Health Support Plan that outlines the participant’s seizure type, usual duration, and agreed staff response. It also means ensuring that staff working with that participant have the training and knowledge to implement the plan.
Support workers should know where to find a participant’s Health Support Plan and understand what it says before a seizure occurs — not during one. If you haven’t been provided this documentation for the participants you support, raise it with your supervisor. It’s not an unreasonable ask; it’s a practical safety requirement.
Providers are also required to report certain incidents, including seizures that result in injury or require emergency medical treatment, through the NDIS Commission’s incident management system.
Why First Aid Training Matters for Support Workers
Reading a guide like this one is useful preparation, but there is no substitute for hands-on first aid training. Knowing the steps and actually practising them are two different things. In a real emergency, training helps you act with confidence rather than freeze up or make decisions that could cause harm.
The nationally recognised qualification HLTAID011 (Provide First Aid) covers emergency responses including seizure management, anaphylaxis, CPR, and a range of other scenarios that are directly relevant to NDIS support work. For support workers, having a current first aid certificate is not just good practice — it is increasingly expected by NDIS providers as a baseline requirement.
Training also supports compliance with NDIS Practice Standards and gives your employer, your participants, and their families greater confidence in the quality of care being provided.
Book Your First Aid Training with AB First Aid
AB First Aid provides practical, hands-on first aid training in Tullamarine for NDIS support workers, disability providers, and care teams. Courses are delivered by experienced trainers who understand the realities of working in the disability sector — not just the theory.
Whether you’re renewing a lapsed certificate or training for the first time, we offer flexible scheduling to fit around your work commitments. View the course schedule and enrol today, and make sure you’re ready when it counts.
References
- Australian Resuscitation Council. (2021). Guideline 9.2.9 – Seizures. ARC. https://www.resus.org.au/guidelines
- Epilepsy Action Australia. (2023). Seizure first aid. https://www.epilepsy.org.au/about-epilepsy/seizure-first-aid/
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. (2023). NDIS Practice Standards and Quality Indicators. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/providers/registered-ndis-providers/provider-obligations-and-requirements/ndis-practice-standards
- NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission. (2023). Incident management. https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/providers/registered-ndis-providers/provider-obligations-and-requirements/incident-management
- Safe Work Australia. (2022). First aid in the workplace. https://www.safeworkaustralia.gov.au/safety-topic/hazards/first-aid
