NDIS in the Garden

Matt Sevier (Steppr PBS)

NDIS in the Garden is a long form conversation podcast exploring the people behind the system. Hosted by Matt Sevier, Founder & Director of Steppr PBS, the podcast moves beyond policy, funding and clinical language to uncover the real stories, personalities and inner worlds of people connected to the NDIS. People from all walks of life including allied health, coordinators, support workers, practitioners, founders, families, tech enthusiasts, business professionals and advocates sit down for honest conversations that are thoughtful, strange, funny, psychological and deeply normal. These are conversations about identity, behaviour, relationships, coping, meaning, work, loneliness, resilience and the environments that shape us. Sometimes uncomfortable. Sometimes chaotic. Often unexpectedly funny. Just people talking honestly in the garden.

Episodes

  1. From support worker to PBS provider, with Matt Sevier (interviewed by 'Sarah Knows Support Workers') (Eps. 5)

    Jun 12

    From support worker to PBS provider, with Matt Sevier (interviewed by 'Sarah Knows Support Workers') (Eps. 5)

    Send us Fan Mail This episode was originally recorded for Sarah Knows Support Workers, where Sarah interviewed me about my journey into disability support, Positive Behaviour Support, and the story behind Steppr. We discuss what good behaviour support should look like in practice, why plans need to be clear and useful for frontline teams, the importance of training, and how families can identify a practitioner who takes the time to understand the whole support environment. We also talk about my background as a support worker, my lived experience, the challenges of growing Steppr, the role of systems and technology in service delivery, and the thinking behind our upcoming fitness app. Thank you to Sarah for having me on the podcast and for allowing me to share the episode with the NDIS in the Garden audience. Learn more about what good PBS is in practice by finding my team and I at Steppr PBS. You can find your practitioner and discover the real benefits of Positive Behaviour Support at www.steppr.com.au. Find Sarah's podcast at: https://open.spotify.com/show/4b5KluehnHGR5bwD2sXQoi?si=7927638be8d74a3a Matt and his team at Steppr offer 'Weirdly Different' Positive Behaviour Support. Find his team at www.steppr.com.au Thanks for watching!

    32 min
  2. Relationships first: rethinking support coordination, with Anna Skora (Eps. 4)

    Jun 11

    Relationships first: rethinking support coordination, with Anna Skora (Eps. 4)

    Send us Fan Mail What does good support coordination actually look like for people with complex needs? In this episode, Matt speaks with Anna Skora, Founder and Director of Mindbridge. Anna shares how her own early experiences with mental health challenges, housing instability, and support services shaped her approach to working with people. With more than 13 years of experience across mental health, counselling, community services, and the NDIS, Anna discusses the importance of relationship based practice, clear communication, face to face support, and proper handovers between providers. The conversation also covers the reality of managing complex cases, responding when priorities change quickly, setting boundaries to prevent burnout, and building a team that stays aligned with its values as a business grows. This episode will be useful for support coordinators, NDIS providers, and families looking to better understand what strong coordination looks like in practice. You can find Anna and Mindbridge through their website at mindbridge.net.au, or connect with them on LinkedIn and Instagram. Matt and his team at Steppr offer 'Weirdly Different' Positive Behaviour Support. Find his team at www.steppr.com.au Thanks for watching!

    26 min
  3. Ethics, trust & the future of the NDIS, with Ward Sheehan (Eps. 3)

    May 29

    Ethics, trust & the future of the NDIS, with Ward Sheehan (Eps. 3)

    Send us Fan Mail What does ethical practice look like in the NDIS? In this episode of NDIS in the Garden, Matt sits down with Ward Sheehan, founder of Ethical Tick and a veteran of the disability and aged care sectors with more than 30 years of experience. Together, they explore the growing tension between business growth and ethical service delivery, the rise of transactional relationships in the sector, and why trust remains one of the most valuable currencies in disability support. Ward shares the experiences that led him to create Ethical Tick, why he refuses to promise referrals, and what he believes participants, families, and support coordinators should look for beyond registration and compliance. The conversation dives into provider culture, accountability, leadership, and the latest NDIS reforms. Matt and Ward also tackle a philosophical question that sits at the heart of the sector: do ethical people create good systems, or do good systems create ethical people? Ward opens up about his father's battle with Motor Neurone Disease, the challenge of running 3,650 kilometres in 12 months to raise awareness and funds, and why every Ethical Tick membership contributes to the fight against MND. This is a conversation about values, integrity, and what it means to do the right thing when nobody's watching. Find out more about Ethical Tick: https://ethicaltick.au/ Matt and his team at Steppr offer 'Weirdly Different' Positive Behaviour Support. Find his team at www.steppr.com.au Thanks for watching!

    19 min
  4. Business, relationships and getting your life back, with Michael Clark (Eps. 2)

    May 28

    Business, relationships and getting your life back, with Michael Clark (Eps. 2)

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of NDIS in the Garden, Matt sits down with Michael Clark from Athletic Koala. Michael is a former teacher, business owner, author, podcaster, connector and long-time supporter of NDIS providers. He is also a good friend of Matt’s, known for sending books across the country, making people think more deeply, and helping business owners stop letting work take over their lives. This conversation moves through Michael’s background in teaching, his work with young people, his passion for helping directors get their time back, and what he has learned from speaking with providers across the NDIS space. Michael shares why many business owners feel trapped by their own workload, why strong relationships still matter, how providers can build trust, and why showing up online becomes easier when the focus shifts away from yourself and towards serving other people. Matt also surprises Michael with a question about Gary Chapman’s The Five Love Languages, leading into a broader discussion about marriage, communication, family, presence and the parts of life that matter beyond work. This is a conversation about business, but also about people. It is about reputation, relationships, family, self-awareness and the small decisions that help business owners build something without losing themselves in the process. Find Michael and say hello: https://athletickoala.com.au/ Matt and his team at Steppr offer 'Weirdly Different' Positive Behaviour Support. Find his team at www.steppr.com.au Thanks for watching!

    20 min
  5. Systemise like your hair is on fire, with Paul Bryan (Eps. 1)

    May 27

    Systemise like your hair is on fire, with Paul Bryan (Eps. 1)

    Send us Fan Mail Most providers in the NDIS space care deeply about the people they support. That part matters. But Paul Bryan, host of The Profitable NDIS Provider podcast, explains why care alone does not build a sustainable business. In this episode, Paul unpacks how strong business systems, clear processes, healthy profit margins, and better operational decisions allow providers to support more people, reduce chaos, retain good staff, and deliver better outcomes. If you are tired of constant staff turnover, compliance pressure, cash flow stress, and feeling like everything depends on you, this episode breaks down the practical strategies needed to build a more stable, profitable, and impactful support business. Paul works with Australian care providers to streamline operations and shift how they think about growth. His message is clear. Caring about people is essential in the NDIS space, but without the right systems behind the scenes, even the most well intentioned providers can burn out, stall, or struggle to deliver consistently. In this conversation, Paul shares the frameworks that separate good providers from great ones, including why hiring too quickly, relying on the wrong people, or partnering before your business is ready can create bigger problems later. He also covers how better onboarding, clearer roles, stronger team culture, and practical systems can improve staff retention, resource use, and long term sustainability. You’ll hear about: The common mistakes early stage providers make when scaling from zero to two million dollars in revenueWhy trying to solve every problem by hiring more people can backfireHow to replace burnout and turnover with simple, scalable processesPractical ways to systemise onboarding and support workflows, even with a small teamWhy profit and margin can help you deliver better care without guiltThe importance of niching down and communicating your value clearly in a crowded sectorThis episode is about building a business that can help more clients, pay its team properly, and keep doing good work without relying on constant firefighting. Whether you are just starting out or already feeling the pressure of growth, Paul’s insights offer clear and practical steps for building a more resilient support business. Perfect for NDIS providers, care business owners, and support coordinators who want to grow without losing sight of why they started. Guest Paul Bryan is a business coach who helps Australian care providers grow through smarter systems, stronger operations, and clearer mindset shifts. His work focuses on building profitable, impact driven organisations that can last beyond short term tactics and reactive decision making. Listen now to learn how to reduce chaos, strengthen your systems, and build a business that gives you more freedom, more capacity, and more room to make a real difference. Find Paul's podcast - The Profitable NDIS Provider Or find his programs - Action and Intent Matt and his team at Steppr offer 'Weirdly Different' Positive Behaviour Support. Find his team at www.steppr.com.au Thanks for watching!

    21 min
  • 5 Episodes

About

NDIS in the Garden is a long form conversation podcast exploring the people behind the system. Hosted by Matt Sevier, Founder & Director of Steppr PBS, the podcast moves beyond policy, funding and clinical language to uncover the real stories, personalities and inner worlds of people connected to the NDIS. People from all walks of life including allied health, coordinators, support workers, practitioners, founders, families, tech enthusiasts, business professionals and advocates sit down for honest conversations that are thoughtful, strange, funny, psychological and deeply normal. These are conversations about identity, behaviour, relationships, coping, meaning, work, loneliness, resilience and the environments that shape us. Sometimes uncomfortable. Sometimes chaotic. Often unexpectedly funny. Just people talking honestly in the garden.

Information

  • Creator
    Matt Sevier (Steppr PBS)
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    5
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 NDIS in the Garden
  • Show Website
    NDIS in the Garden