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. 22 de jun.

    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

  2. 10 de jun.

    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

  3. 8 de jun.

    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

  4. 1 de jun.

    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

  5. 28 de mai.

    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

  6. 18 de mai.

    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

  7. 14 de mai.

    Keeley’s Cause: From School Exclusion to 691 iPads for Kids With Autism

    She Was Denied an iPad at School — Now Keeley’s Cause Has Helped 691 Kids With Autism In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah chats with Sharon from Keeley’s Cause about the powerful story behind the charity changing lives through iPads, communication, and inclusive education. Keeley struggled through school, bullying, and being denied the technology that could have supported her learning. After receiving a diagnosis of mild intellectual disability, Keeley turned her pain into purpose and told her mum she wanted to start a charity so other children would not have to go through what she did. Today, Keeley’s Cause has provided 691 iPads to children with autism, intellectual disability, and communication needs across Australia. Sarah and Sharon talk about: How Keeley’s Cause startedWhy iPads can be life-changing for autistic and non-verbal childrenThe reality for families trying to access assistive technologyWhy inclusive education still has a long way to goThe emotional impact of giving children a way to communicateThe upcoming Keeley’s Cause Gala and how people can support This is a beautiful conversation about advocacy, disability, education, family, and what happens when one young person decides to make the world a little fairer. Support Keeley’s Cause:Website: keeleyscause.org.auInstagram/Facebook: Keeley’s Cause

    46 min

  8. 7 de mai.

    How We Made It to 100 Episodes: Support Workers, NDIS Stories and Real Sector Conversations

    We made it to 100 episodes of Sarah Knows Support Workers — and honestly, I don’t think I realised how big that was until now. This podcast started with no fancy business plan, no perfect strategy, and no big production team behind it. It started because I genuinely enjoy talking to people in the NDIS, disability and aged care sector. I love hearing how people got started, what they have learned, what they are still figuring out, and how they keep showing up when things get hard. In this solo episode, I reflect on the journey to 100 episodes and what this podcast has taught me about support workers, NDIS providers, business owners, participants, leadership, burnout, sector change and resilience. The truth is, the NDIS sector is not easy right now. There are big changes happening. Providers are under pressure. Support workers are tired. Participants and families are trying to understand what comes next. But through all of that, there are still people doing incredible work every single day. This episode is a celebration, but it is also a real conversation. I talk about why the podcast has lasted this long, why curiosity matters, why support workers need more honest conversations, and why storytelling is so important in this sector. Every guest, every solo episode and every listener has helped shape this podcast into something much bigger than I expected. If you work in the NDIS, aged care, disability support, support coordination, provider space, or frontline care, this episode is for you. Thank you for listening, sharing, supporting and being part of the first 100 episodes. Here’s to more real talk, more learning, more sector stories and more conversations that actually matter.

    12 min
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Sobre

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!

Informações

  • Criado por
    Sarah Heriot
  • Anos de atividade
    2024 - 2026
  • Episódios
    107
  • Classificação
    Explícito
  • Copyright
    © Sarah Heriot
  • Site do podcast
    Sarah Knows Support Workers

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