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. 13 hr ago

    Good People Still Need Good Training | Taieri Walsh Cora Workforce

    What actually makes a great support worker? In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, I chat with Taieri from CORA Workforce about why being kind and having good intentions is only the beginning. Taieri started as a support worker before moving through team leadership, management and support coordination. Along the way, she kept seeing the same problem — good people were being put into complex support roles without always being given the skills, confidence or training they needed. We talk about: 💥 The difference between being a good person and a skilled support worker💥 Why support workers need more than basic compliance training💥 Professional boundaries — being friendly, not friends💥 Why independent support work also means running a business💥 Training for the actual person you're supporting, not just ticking boxes💥 Why support workers need to understand the “why” behind what they do💥 The gaps Taieri saw that led her to create CORA Workforce💥 How better training can improve support for participants AND protect workers💥 Why an informed support worker can make a massive difference Taieri also explains how CORA Workforce uses practical, scenario-based learning designed specifically for frontline disability support workers, including more than 90 courses and training pathways for individual workers and providers. 🎓 Want to check out the training? If you're an independent support worker wanting to build your skills, or you're an NDIS provider wanting better training and capability across your team, check out CORA Workforce: 👉 coraworkforce.com.au You can explore the courses, individual support worker options and provider plans, or request a demo directly through the website. Because participants deserve great support — and support workers deserve the training to actually deliver it. 💚

  2. 7 Sept

    They Saw the Disability. She Saw Her Son | Lily Grubb, LGO Therapy Group

    When Lily Grubb’s son Liam was diagnosed with Level 3 autism, was non-speaking and had global developmental delay, her entire world changed. But what frustrated Lily most wasn’t the diagnosis. It was watching people see the disability before they saw her child.In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Lily shares how she went from a 10-year career in HR to retraining, entering the therapy world and eventually building LGO Therapy Group. We talk about: • Why early intervention can matter so much• What parents should look for when choosing therapists• Why being labelled a “difficult parent” isn’t always a bad thing• Following the child instead of forcing them into a framework• Why connection matters before qualifications• Building a predominantly neurodivergent workforce• What great support workers actually do• Why simply “supervising” someone isn’t good support• Celebrating progress — even when it feels tiny• And the incredible story behind the Little Grubbs Orchard Foundation Lily also shares why the foundation was created: to help children and families access therapy and supports they may otherwise struggle to afford. The Foundation says its mission is to financially support people who don’t have adequate access to therapy supports, including costs the NDIS may not otherwise cover. 🌱 Learn more about LGO Therapy Group or enquire about their services:LGO Therapy Group 💚 Learn more about the Little Grubbs Orchard Foundation or make a donation:Little Grubbs Orchard Foundation The Foundation states that 100% of online donations go towards educating children with special needs, and donations over $2 are tax deductible. 🎧 Follow Sarah Knows Support Workers for more real conversations about disability, the NDIS, support work and the people doing things differently.

  3. 3 Sept

    Give Them the Chance to Shine | Julie Fisher

    What does good support actually look like from a family’s point of view? In this episode, Sarah sits down with author, speaker, radio host and mum Julie Fisher to talk about raising her son Darcy, who has Down syndrome, and everything her family has learned along the way. Julie shares the reality of receiving Darcy’s diagnosis, navigating medical challenges, raising three boys, finding the right support workers and providers, and why understanding the whole family matters when you’re supporting someone with disability. They also chat about inclusion, community attitudes, NDIS changes, Julie’s books, her advocacy work and the simple message that has become a huge part of everything she does: Give people the chance, and you’ll see them shine. A warm, funny and very real conversation about disability, family, choice and what great support can look like.

  4. 23 Aug

    Why Is the NDIS Drowning in Admin? Mark Woodland on Kismet & Better Healthcare

    Mark retired. It lasted two weeks. Then he bought a farm, got a tractor, collected around 40 chickens and somehow ended up back building technology. 😂 In this episode, I sit down with Mark, founder of Kismet, to ask a pretty important question: Why do we keep making healthcare and NDIS supports harder to access than they need to be? We talk about removing pointless admin, making healthcare more affordable, giving people more flexible ways to access services and why “that’s how we’ve always done it” is not a good enough answer. Mark also shares his journey from the Army to early childhood education, software, farming and eventually Kismet. We also discuss the good happening within the NDIS and why the people creating real change deserve more attention. And yes, the Emu War somehow makes an appearance. Don’t ask. 😂 Download the Kismet app to explore services, find provider matches and keep your NDIS information together: Apple App Store:https://apps.apple.com/au/app/kismet/id6443745099 Google Play:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=healthcare.kismet.app You can also check out Kismet online:https://www.kismet.healthcare/ The 2026 Kismet Awards for Health + Disability Services are also coming up, celebrating the people, providers, products and programs making a positive difference across disability, healthcare and support services. Learn more about the Awards:https://www.kismet.healthcare/awards/info/about

  5. 19 Aug

    Sex, Consent & Disability: What Every Support Worker Needs to Hear

    Sexuality doesn’t disappear when someone has a disability—but access to clear, respectful education often does. In this episode, Sarah sits down with sexuality and relationships educator Melanie Guiney, someone she first learned from more than 15 years ago. Together, they unpack the conversations support workers are often expected to handle—but are rarely trained for—including: • Consent and the importance of being able to say no• Privacy, dignity and public versus private behaviour• Healthy relationships, body safety and warning signs• Answering awkward questions without creating shame• Supporting people who communicate differently• Knowing when it’s time to bring in a specialist This conversation is honest, practical and sometimes confronting—but it’s one our sector needs to have. Because people with disability deserve more than protection. They deserve choice, privacy, dignity, relationships, pleasure and accessible education. If you’re a support worker, team leader, parent, carer or allied health professional, this is an episode to save and share. Find Melanie at:https://thriverehab.com.aumelanie@thriverehab.com.au Content note: This episode discusses sexual assault, abuse, consent and trauma.

  6. 6 Aug

    From Support Worker to NDIS Business Leader | Kelvin Kamara

    What does strong leadership really look like in disability support? In this episode, Sarah chats with Kelvin Kamara from Hopewell Community Care about his journey from support worker and house supervisor to helping grow a family-run NDIS provider alongside his wife. Kelvin shares the honest reality of starting fresh, building industry relationships, supporting people with complex health and behaviours, and learning that experience alone doesn’t automatically bring referrals. They also discuss leadership, workplace culture, the lessons Kelvin has carried between the disability sector and the Army Reserve, and why quality support should always come before business growth. Connect with Kelvin through LinkedIn or visit Hopewell Community Care online.

  7. 3 Aug

    KoalaOne: The AI-Powered NDIS CRM for Support Workers & Providers | Bhavin Patel

    What if NDIS providers and support workers could spend less time completing admin—and more time supporting participants? In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah chats with Bhavin Patel, founder of Koala One, an AI-powered platform created by an experienced NDIS provider. They discuss how Koala One can help with: Writing case notesManaging NDIS budgetsRostering and worker matchingTracking compliance gapsManaging staff, vehicles and propertiesReducing everyday administrationBringing important information into one systemSupporting independent workers, growing teams and larger providersBhavin also shares how Koala One began as a university project and grew into a real platform used by NDIS businesses—including his own. Less time buried in admin. More time delivering quality support. 🙌 👉 Explore Koala One: https://koalaone.com 🎧 Subscribe to Sarah Knows Support Workers for honest conversations about support work, disability services and the Australian NDIS. #KoalaOne #NDIS #NDISProviders #SupportWorkers #DisabilitySupport #SupportCoordination #NDISSoftware #NDISCompliance #ArtificialIntelligence #CaseNotes

  8. 20 Jul

    NDIS Compliance Made Simple: Get Audit-Ready with AI | Adam Stefano, Cenaris

    NDIS compliance does not have to mean messy spreadsheets, scattered documents and a last-minute panic before your audit. In this episode, Sarah sits down with Adam Stefano, psychologist and co-founder of Cenaris, to unpack how his experience in mental health, healthcare leadership and compliance inspired him to build a smarter way for providers to stay audit-ready. Adam explains how Cenaris helps registered and aspiring NDIS providers organise their evidence, map documents against the NDIS Practice Standards, identify gaps and receive practical guidance on what to improve. The platform can support everyone from solo providers starting their registration journey through to larger organisations. Sarah and Adam also chat about: ✨ Why compliance should improve care—not just tick boxes✨ The risks of relying on generic policy packs✨ How AI can support providers without replacing human judgment✨ Keeping sensitive healthcare information safe in Australia✨ Building an affordable platform while working full-time✨ Adam’s hopes for Cenaris and the future of quality care Cenaris is currently offering a 30-day trial with no credit card required, so you can explore the platform before deciding whether it is right for your business. 👉 Ready to become audit-ready without the chaos? Register and start exploring Cenaris at cenaris.com.au.

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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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