Behaviour support is sometimes talked about as though practitioners spend their days writing reports and collecting a high hourly rate. Laura Barnes gives a much more honest account of what the work actually involves, especially when supporting people with complex mental health needs, dual diagnoses, substance use, violence and significant risks to themselves or others.

In this episode of the NDIS Provider Growth Journey, Michael speaks with Laura, a behaviour support practitioner and clinical manager at Conscious Care Therapeutic Support. They talk about the difference between building a service around billable targets and doing the level of clinical work that participants genuinely need. Laura explains why strong behaviour support requires proper assessments, thoughtful risk management, useful training and a willingness to understand the details that cannot be captured in a generic strategy.

Laura also shares the business realities behind the hourly rate. A complex report may take 60 hours when only 30 hours have been funded. Practitioners may travel for hours to reach someone who cannot consistently use telehealth, while being able to charge for only a small part of that journey. There are also appointments to organise, research to complete and difficult clinical decisions that cannot always be billed.

The conversation also looks at AI and why Laura believes it cannot replace clinical judgement. AI may help with research or simple tasks, but it does not attend the sessions, hear the phone calls or understand the small moments that can completely change how a person’s behaviour is understood. For Laura, the challenge is finding a way to run a sustainable business without turning behaviour support into a report-writing sweatshop.

Learn more about Laura and Conscious Care Therapeutic Support:

https://therapeuticsupport.com.au/

That was a great podcast.

If you want some one-on-one support, get in touch with me, michael@athletickoala.com.au

In this episode of the NDIS Provider Growth Journey, Michael sits down with Jackson Morton, founder of Better Support in South Australia, for a very different kind of conversation. They had only met moments before recording, and what followed was an honest discussion about the questions many young NDIS business owners are asking but do not always say out loud.

Jackson shares what it has been like building a support business in his early twenties, growing a team of 13 staff and supporting around 30 participants while trying to get the systems, compliance and structure right. The conversation quickly moves beyond growth for growth’s sake and into the harder questions around profitability, workload, identity and whether the business is actually giving enough back to the person running it.

Michael challenges Jackson to look closely at where his time is going, what could be handled by software or a virtual assistant, and why running a great service is not enough in a price-capped industry. They also talk about the danger of building a larger business that remains unprofitable, and why Jackson needs to create a business that can support his upcoming marriage rather than constantly pulling him away from it.

This is a raw and practical conversation about making better decisions before growth creates more pressure. It will be especially useful for NDIS providers who care deeply about the people they support but are starting to realise that passion alone will not make the business sustainable.

You can learn more about Jackson and Better Support at:

https://bettersupportsa.com.au/

If you want some one-on-one support, get in touch with me, michael@athletickoala.com.au.

In Episode 60 of the NDIS Provider Growth Journey Podcast, Michael speaks with Dion Tobi from DMT Coaching and Support Services.

Dion is an independent support coordinator in Brisbane and previously worked as an LAC for more than seven years. They talk about why support coordinators often ignore generic provider outreach, how providers can build real relationships and what makes information useful when funding decisions are being made.

They also cover why longer reports are not always better, what clear supporting evidence should explain and how good support coordinators help participants understand their options without making unrealistic promises.

DMT Coaching and Support Services:
https://www.dmtcss.com.au

Athletic Koala:
https://www.athletickoala.com.au

Listen on Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3sruYKcihnI94xnKmL7Rv0

#NDIS #SupportCoordination #NDISProviders #NDISFunding #DisabilitySupport #AthleticKoala

AI is already being used inside NDIS businesses, often before owners have decided where it should be used, where it should not be used, and what safeguards need to be in place.

In this episode of the NDIS Provider Growth Journey, Michael speaks with Tania Gomez about what AI and automation really mean for NDIS and aged care providers. They discuss why ignoring AI is no longer a realistic option, especially when providers are facing tight margins, rising costs and back-office processes that take staff away from the people they are there to support.

Tania explains that AI should not be used to replace knowledge or expertise. It should help people become faster and more effective at work they already understand. When someone knows what a good policy, proposal or process looks like, AI can help them complete the manual parts more efficiently. When they do not understand the work, they may not recognise when the information AI produces is wrong.

The conversation also explores the growing problem of shadow AI. Staff are already finding their own ways to use these tools, whether business owners have approved them or not. Without clear systems, policies and training, providers can create compliance, privacy and business continuity risks without even realising it.

Tania shares how she uses AI within her own business, including turning meetings into actions, updating management tasks, completing internal audits and monitoring hundreds of pieces of legislation for changes. Rather than replacing her compliance expertise, AI has allowed her to apply that expertise more quickly and support more providers.

They also discuss Innovate Care, Tania’s AI and automation forum for NDIS and aged care providers, taking place in Sydney on 5 August 2026. The event will explore practical automation, robotics, AI governance, compliance and what care businesses need to start preparing for now.

Learn more about Tania and Innovate Care at:
https://taniagomez.com.au/innovate-care

That was a great podcast.

If you want some one-on-one support, get in touch with me, michael@athletickoala.com.au.

Growing an NDIS business is never just about getting more participants. It is about adapting, making tough decisions, and building a service that continues to meet people's needs as the sector changes.

In this episode of NDIS Provider Growth Journey, Michael sits down with Danielle Creffield, founder of Quad Care, to talk about what it has really been like growing a multidisciplinary care business through more than a decade of change. From nursing and allied health to support work and changing funding models, Danielle shares why having everything under one roof can create better outcomes for participants and their families.

The conversation also explores the challenges that provider owners rarely talk about. Danielle opens up about the financial uncertainty that comes with growth, the setbacks of changing government programs, and why coaching played such an important role in helping her build a business with more than 75 staff. She explains why good leaders never stop learning and why solving today's problems while planning for tomorrow is one of the most valuable skills an NDIS provider can develop.

If you're growing an NDIS business, navigating change, or wondering how experienced providers continue moving forward through uncertainty, this episode is full of practical lessons from someone who has lived it.

Learn more about Quad Care:
https://quadcare.com.au/

That was a great podcast.

If you want some one-on-one support, get in touch with me, michael@athletickoala.com.au.

In this episode of the NDIS Provider Growth Journey Podcast, Michael sits down with Sukhy Bansal, chartered accountant and founder of ERS Advisory, to talk about the money leaks most NDIS and allied health business owners never see coming.

From overdue invoices and unnecessary software subscriptions to poor staffing structures, inefficient systems, and expensive debt, Sukhy shares the practical changes that can dramatically improve profitability without sacrificing care.

This is not a conversation about cutting corners. It is about understanding your numbers well enough to make better decisions, protect your cash flow, and build a business that serves both your participants and your future.

If you've ever wondered why your business is busy but the bank account does not reflect it, this episode will help you find out where the money is really going and what to do about it.

Connect with Sukhy Bansal:
🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sukhy-bansal/
🏢 https://www.ersadvisory.com.au/

#NDIS #NDISProviders #AlliedHealth #BusinessGrowth #CashFlow #Accounting #NDISBusiness #ProviderGrowthJourney

In this episode of the NDIS Provider Growth Journey Podcast, Michael sits down with Keturah Charlesworth from Quality HQ to tackle one of the least exciting, but most important, parts of running an NDIS business: quality and compliance.

Most providers know the feeling.

The audit date gets closer. Everyone starts scrambling. Policies are dusted off. Documents are updated. Managers stop focusing on growth and spend weeks trying to work out whether everything is compliant.

Keturah believes there is a better way.

Rather than treating compliance as a frantic project every few years, she helps providers build systems that work every day. In her view, compliance should be the outcome of running a quality organisation, not the goal itself.

Michael and Keturah unpack why so many providers fear audits, why compliance often feels overwhelming, and how businesses accidentally create huge amounts of unnecessary non-billable work for themselves.

They also discuss:

• Why compliance is often driven by fear
• The difference between compliance and quality
• Why many providers are using systems that are far more complicated than they need to be
• The hidden cost of clunky policies and procedures
• When it makes sense to use an external quality specialist instead of hiring internally
• How better systems reduce risk, stress and staff workload
• Why quality frameworks should be built around your organisation, not around generic templates
• And how to stop spending six weeks in panic mode before every audit

One of the most valuable parts of this conversation is Keturah’s explanation that standards rarely tell providers exactly what to do. They provide criteria, but organisations still need to build systems that work for their own staff, participants and culture. That gap is where most of the fear comes from.

This episode is not just about passing an audit.

It is about building a business that runs more smoothly, wastes less time, reduces unnecessary admin, and gives directors confidence that their systems are actually working.

If you are an NDIS provider who dreads audit season, feels buried under compliance tasks, or wants to simplify how your organisation operates, this episode is packed with practical insights.

Connect with Keturah:
📧 hello@qualityhq.com.au
🔗 LinkedIn: Keturah Charlesworth

If you want to spend less time ticking boxes and more time running a great organisation, this conversation is well worth watching.

#NDIS #NDISProviders #NDISAudit #Compliance #QualityManagement #DisabilityServices #NDISBusiness #ProviderGrowth

In this episode of the NDIS Provider Growth Journey Podcast, Michael sits down with Justin Beddow, one of the most experienced ads specialists you will ever come across.

Justin has managed advertising campaigns for everyone from small businesses through to massive multinational companies and even government campaigns. Across Google Ads, Facebook and Meta Ads, LinkedIn Ads and YouTube, he has spent more money on ads than most people could imagine in a lifetime.

But this conversation is not about hype or “marketing hacks.”

It is a practical breakdown of how NDIS providers and allied health businesses can actually use ads properly without burning money.

Michael and Justin unpack why the old “word of mouth only” mindset is becoming dangerous in the current NDIS climate, especially as competition increases and referrals tighten. They explain the difference between Google Ads and Meta Ads, when each platform works best, and why most businesses waste huge amounts of money simply by sending people to the wrong landing pages.

They also talk about:

• Why Google Ads work differently from Facebook and Meta Ads
• The mistake most providers make with their homepage
• How retargeting works and why it matters
• Why fast websites lower your ad costs
• What A/B testing actually means
• How to know if your ads are profitable
• Why “set and forget” advertising wastes money
• And how providers can test ads themselves before scaling

There is also a really interesting discussion around how quickly businesses can grow now compared to ten years ago. Michael shares stories of businesses growing fourfold in just a few months using the right ad strategy and landing pages.

One of the biggest takeaways from this episode is that ads are not magic. They are data. If you know your numbers, your margins and your audience, ads become one of the fastest ways to scale a business.

And if you do not understand how the platforms work properly, you can burn thousands very quickly.

If you are an NDIS provider, allied health business owner, or someone trying to work out how to consistently generate leads without relying only on referrals, this episode is packed with practical insight.

Connect with Justin:
🔗 LinkedIn: Justin Beddow

If you are serious about growing your business and want a realistic conversation about ads, marketing and scaling properly, this episode is worth your time.

#NDIS #GoogleAds #MetaAds #NDISProviders #AlliedHealthMarketing #BusinessGrowth