# Support Types Source: https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/scheduling/support-types > The Support Type options available when scheduling a support, including Shadow Shift, and what the Support Type is used for. Scheduling add-on - This feature requires the Scheduling add-on, which is available on Astalty Premium. See How to enable Scheduling. The **Support Type** describes what kind of support is being delivered. You choose it on the **Create Shift Event** form when you add a [1:1 Shift](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/scheduling/adding-shifts/adding-a-11-shift) or a [Group Shift](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/scheduling/adding-shifts/adding-a-group-shift), and you can change it later when editing the support. Every Support Type is available to all organisations - there is nothing to turn on, and no setup required before you can use one. ![The Create Shift Event form with Direct Support selected and the Support Type dropdown open, listing Personal Care, Shadow Shift, Short-Term Accommodation, Supported Independent Living and Therapy Support, each with a short description underneath. Shadow Shift is highlighted.](https://docs.astalty.com.au/assets/support-types-shadow-shift.png) ## Shadow Shift **Shadow Shift** is used when you are introducing a new worker to a Participant with complex individual support needs, before that worker commences providing the support independently. In practice this is the shift you roster when a new or incoming Support Worker works alongside an experienced worker to learn a Participant's routine, preferences and support requirements - often called a *buddy shift* or *shadowing* a shift. > **Rostering both workers** > > A Shadow Shift is scheduled the same way as any other support - select **Shadow Shift** as the > Support Type, then assign the workers. The **Support Worker** field accepts more than one worker, > so you can roster the worker who is shadowing alongside the experienced worker on the same > support. Each assigned worker gets their own shift, so both are scheduled and paid for the time > they are on shift. > **Check how the shadowing time is funded** > > Choosing **Shadow Shift** categorises the support - it does not change how the support is charged > or how the worker is paid. Those still come from the Charge Item Set and the worker's pay > configuration. Confirm with your finance team whether the shadowing worker's time is billable to > the Participant's funding or absorbed as an internal cost, and set the charges on the support > accordingly. ## Available Support Types The dropdown is searchable - you can type to match on either the name or its description. The options are: | Support Type | Description | | -------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Behaviour Support Implementation | Where the shift involves following strategies from a behaviour support plan. | | Capacity Building | Helping Participants develop skills like cooking, cleaning, budgeting. | | Community Access | Support to get out and about - social outings, errands, recreation, appointments. | | Education Support | Assistance to attend school, TAFE, or learning programs. | | Employment Support | Support to maintain or develop employment skills or routines. | | Group Support | Structured group activities or centre-based support. | | High Intensity Support | For complex care needs - includes mealtime management, seizure care, continence, etc. | | In-Home Support | General support provided in the home, not limited to personal care. | | Other | Other support type not listed. | | Personal Care | Tasks like showering, toileting, dressing, grooming, etc. | | Shadow Shift | Introducing a new worker to a Participant with complex individual support needs before they commence providing the support independently. | | Short-Term Accommodation | Time-limited support in alternative accommodation. | | Supported Independent Living | Daily supports provided in a shared living or 1:1 home-based setting. | | Therapy Support | Support Workers following therapy programs set by professionals. | | Training | Training related to Participant support needs. | | Transport | Supporting Participants to travel to activities, appointments, school, etc. | > **Support Type is not the same as Event Type** > > The **Event Type** - Direct Support, Group Support, Shift or Unpaid Break - is the choice at the top of > the Create Shift Event form and determines the shape of the event. The **Support Type** is a > separate dropdown further down the form that describes the nature of the support being delivered. > *Group Support* appears in both lists. On the Schedule, the equivalent filter for Event > Type is called > [Shift Type](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/scheduling/viewing-the-schedule#shift-type-filter) - there is no Support Type > filter on the Schedule itself. ## What the Support Type is used for The Support Type is a way of categorising supports. It flows through to: - **[Schedule Colours](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/scheduling/schedule-colours)** - supports and group supports can be coloured by their Support Type. - **[Cost Codes](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/finance/cost-codes)** - cost code rules can match on the Support Type. - **[Supports Report](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/reports/supports-report)** - filter the report by one or more Support Types. - **[Sites](https://docs.astalty.com.au/guide/sites)** - selecting a Site with a Default Support Type fills it in on a new support (you can still change it); Ask Astalty uses the same default when it books one for you.