Sarah Knows Support Workers

Sarah Heriot
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The podcast for NDIS support workers, disability support workers, and aged care workers in Australia. Hosted by Sarah Heriot — interviewing support workers, NDIS providers, disability sector founders, and care sector leaders. Get real insights on NDIS, disability support, and working in aged care. Support workers: find clients fast — sign up free at SwiftyMatchy.com and get matched with people who need your support today!

  1. 1 day ago

    How to Go From Solo Support Worker to NDIS Business Owner

    Thinking of going from solo support worker to running your own business? This episode is for the support workers who are amazing on shift but are starting to ask, “Could I actually turn this into something bigger?” We’re talking about the jump from doing the work to building something that can actually grow. Clients, boundaries, systems, pricing, confidence, admin, and the part no one likes to say out loud… you cannot just wing it forever. Because being good at support work is one thing. Building a business around it is a whole different beast. In this episode, we chat about: How to know if you’re ready to go solo Why local support work still matters The difference between being busy and being profitable What support workers need to think about before scaling Why systems save your sanity How to stop treating your business like a side quest This is real talk for support workers who want more freedom, more impact, and less chaos. No fancy business fluff. Just the stuff you actually need to think about before you make the leap. 🎧 Listen now and send this to a support worker who keeps saying, “I reckon I could do this myself.”

    10 min

  2. 3 days ago

    Think Buying an NDIS Business Is Like Coffee or Hair? Think Again.

    Most people think buying an NDIS business is just a matter of snapping up a shiny registration online—big mistake. Sarah dives into why that "easy buy" is a dangerous illusion and how rushing in without proper checks can threaten your reputation, your finances, and most importantly, the people you support.This isn’t a quick flip like selling burgers or clothes—you're stepping into a complex world where trust, compliance, and participant safety are everything. Sarah shares the real risks of buying a "clean skin" registration, explaining why registration isn’t a shortcut but a license to deliver safe, quality care. She breaks down the critical questions you must ask before signing any dotted line: What exactly are you buying? Who are the people involved? Are the participants aware and protected? And crucially, do you understand the responsibilities that come with each registration group?You’ll discover: how to spot red flags like poor audits, staff issues, or murky systems that spell disaster down the road. Sarah unpacks the legal, financial, and ethical landmines lurking behind careless purchases—and why the sector is demanding higher standards. Plus, her top tips for vetting providers, interrogating sales promises, and embracing the true responsibilities of a quality provider.Why does it matter? Because buying blindly could mean risking people’s lives for a quick profit, and that’s a gamble nobody should take. The shift toward accountability and compliance isn’t just bureaucratic red tape—it’s a safeguard for vulnerable lives. If you’re considering buying an NDIS business, or just want to understand the risks of jumping in unprepared, this episode is your crash course in doing it right.Ready to avoid the costly pitfalls and actually do right by your future participants? Tune in. Sarah’s no-nonsense advice could save you—and the people you serve—a whole lot of trouble.

    13 min

  3. 22 June

    NDIS Price Guide 2026–27: What Support Workers Need to Read Before January 2027

    The new NDIS Annual Pricing Review is 186 pages long… and respectfully, most support workers do not have time to read it front to back unless they have lost a bet. In this solo episode, Sarah breaks down the key pages support workers, independent support workers and sole traders should read — in order — to understand what the NDIS is proposing, why it matters and what could change before January 2027. We cover: Pages 6–14 for the executive summaryPages 32–36 for the reasoning behind registered vs unregistered provider pricingPages 37–59 to understand how support worker rates are builtPages 136–154 for community participation, travel, cancellations and the proposed 10% reduction for some unregistered providersPages 176–178 for the Disability Support Worker Cost ModelThis is not a new invoicing rate card. It is the NDIA’s Annual Pricing Review and its recommendations for future pricing. If you invoice NDIS participants, work independently, run a small support-worker business, or deliver community access and participation supports, this episode is your easy-English starting point. Go read it. Understand it. Do not let January 2027 sneak up on you wearing a fake moustache.

    7 min

  4. 10 June

    Behaviour Support That Actually Makes Sense with Matt Sevier

    In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah chats with Matt Sevier, Founder and Director of Steppr, a Positive Behaviour Support provider based in WA. Matt shares how his own lived experience, time as a support worker, and work as a behaviour support practitioner shaped the way he sees the NDIS, PBS, families, and support teams. We talk about what Positive Behaviour Support actually means in easy English, why behaviour support plans need to be easier to understand, why training matters, and how support workers and families often hold the most important information. This is a must-listen for support workers, families, PBS practitioners, and NDIS providers who want behaviour support to feel less like paperwork and more like real support. Because let’s be honest… if no one understands the plan, the plan isn’t helping anyone. To learn more about Matt and the work he’s doing at Steppr, visit:https://www.steppr.com.au/

    32 min

  5. 8 June

    What Works for Me on Social Media in 2026 | NDIS Provider Marketing

    NDIS providers, support worker businesses and independents, this one is for you. In this solo episode, I’m talking about why social media in 2026 needs to be more than copied Canva posts and “we’re hiring” tiles. Instagram and TikTok are where many support workers are scrolling. YouTube is where you can build a trust library with deeper content. LinkedIn is where business-to-business relationships happen with providers, support coordinators, plan managers and sector leaders. But the big message is this: your content needs to feel real. People want to see helpful information, real stories, clear education, reels, carousels, collaboration and proof that your organisation actually understands the people it supports. If you want support workers to join you, families to trust you, and support coordinators to refer to you, your social media needs to do more than look pretty. It needs to connect.

    19 min

  6. 1 June

    Chosen Family, Real Belonging & the Support Work That Changes Lives

    In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah chats with Traidy, founder of Chosen Family, about support work, advocacy, inclusion, and what it really means to create a place where people feel safe, seen, and supported. Traidy shares how he went from law, ministry, and community work into support work, and how one unexpected shift helped lead to the creation of Chosen Family. This conversation dives into LGBTQIA+ inclusion, cultural care, disability support, belonging, AI, leadership, and why good support work is never just “a shift.” It is connection, trust, choice, and sometimes helping someone build a whole new life. We also talk about the power of chosen family, why providers need to keep learning, and how support workers can make a real impact when they take the time to truly know the person in front of them. To learn more about Chosen Family, visit:https://www.chosen.family/

    45 min

  7. 28 May

    Creating SIL Match: Helping People Find the Right Supported Living Arrangement

    In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, I chat with Umberine Williams, founder of SIL Match, about her journey through the disability sector and why she created a platform to help people find better supported living matches. Umberine shares her background as a Local Area Coordinator, her volunteer work with the Office of the Public Advocate, and what she learned from seeing supported accommodation before and after the NDIS. We talk about the real challenges participants, families, support coordinators and providers face when trying to find the right SIL arrangement — because finding a house is one thing, but finding the right people to live with is a whole different story. We also unpack how SIL Match works, why profiles are anonymous, how matching is based on real preferences and support needs, and why participant choice and safety need to sit at the centre of everything. This is a great listen for support coordinators, SIL providers, participants, families, and anyone who cares about people living in homes that actually feel like home. Find SIL Match at silmatch.org or connect with Umberine on LinkedIn.

    41 min

  8. 18 May

    Kindship CEO Hayley Thiele on NDIS Reforms, Parents and Plan Management

    In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, I sit down with Hayley Thiele, CEO of Kindship, for a real and honest chat about NDIS changes, plan management, parenting, support workers, and what families are feeling right now. Hayley shares her story as a mum of three, her journey into the disability sector, and how her lived experience led her into support coordination and now Kindship. We talk about: NDIS reforms and why families are feeling overwhelmedWhat Kindship does for parents and carersWhy clear NDIS information mattersThe role of plan managersHow Kindship is building community and education for familiesWhy support workers are still the beating heart of good care This conversation is honest, easy to understand, and full of lived experience. No fear-mongering. No jargon soup. Just a real chat about what is happening in the NDIS and why families, providers and support workers need clear information more than ever. Learn more about Kindship here:https://www.kindship.com.au/supportpathways

    55 min
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About

The podcast for NDIS support workers, disability support workers, and aged care workers in Australia. Hosted by Sarah Heriot — interviewing support workers, NDIS providers, disability sector founders, and care sector leaders. Get real insights on NDIS, disability support, and working in aged care. Support workers: find clients fast — sign up free at SwiftyMatchy.com and get matched with people who need your support today!

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