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Is support work just "entry-level" labor, or is it the core product driving quality across the NDIS and Aged Care sectors? In this episode of the Profitable NDIS Provider Podcast, host Paul Bryan and co-host Tania Gomez sit down with Carly, founder of the Support Worker Association of Australia (SWAA). Together, they challenge the "just a support worker" mindset and dive deep into how treating frontline staff as respected professionals directly impacts client outcomes, business growth, and staff retention. What you’ll learn in this episode: Changing the Narrative: Why support work is skilled, vital work—and how the industry can shift from generalist care to specialization. Investing in Your Team: How providers can deliver practical, continuous micro-training without breaking margins or requiring full-day workshops. Allied Health Collaboration: Why OTs, clinicians, and allied health professionals need to treat support workers as expert partners in a participant's care team. Building Safe Workplace Cultures: Strategies for establishing open feedback loops, toolbox meetings, and psychologically safe spaces where staff feel confident asking for help. Overcoming Burnout & Retention Leakage: How matching support workers’ passions and skill sets with the right participant dynamic leads to longevity and lower turnover. Connect with Carly & Support Worker Association of Australia (SWAA): Website: supportworkersassociation.org.au Email: [email protected] Connect with The Profitable NDIS Provider: Enjoyed the episode? Subscribe, leave us a review, and share it with fellow NDIS providers and leaders looking to elevate their practice!

The Bill Has Passed: What the NDIS Amendments Mean for Providers with Shane Stewart The Securing the NDIS for Future Generations Bill (amending the NDIS Act) and the Integrity and Safeguarding Act have officially passed, signaling a definitive shift toward "NDIS 2.0." But what do these legislative updates mean for day-to-day provider operations, compliance, and financial sustainability? In this episode of the Profitable NDIS Provider Podcast, hosts Paul Bryan and Tania Gomez sit down with Shane Stewart, Principal Advisor on NDIS Home and Living at Resolv and former NDIA Director with a decade of internal agency experience. Shane shares invaluable insider perspective on the intent behind the new legislation, why the commission is taking a "formidable regulator" approach, and how providers across all sectors—especially home and living—must adapt to tighter compliance, funding resetting, and the upcoming planning framework. Key Content Covered In This Episode: De-mystifying the Bill: Why the scheme is shifting from open-ended "choice and control" toward defined budgetary controls to secure its long-term future. Tougher Penalties & Fraud Fusion: Where the NDIA and NDIS Commission draw the line between honest administrative errors and intentional fraud. The "Formidable Regulator": How the Commission is using its expanded powers to target compliance breaches, ban fraudulent consultants/auditors, and uphold participant safety. Funding Caps & Community Access: What the 1st of October funding adjustments mean for community participation budgets and why high-intensity critical care remains exempt. The Future of Plan Reviews & The 90-Day Rule: Unpacking unscheduled plan reassessments, the push toward 21-day review turnarounds, and how the upcoming I-CAN assessment will streamline decision-making. Duty of Care vs. Reduced Budgets: How providers can navigate plan reductions without running at a loss or compromising participant care. Myth-Busting Home & Living: Why "ratios of support" and "rosters of care" are becoming obsolete concepts in the eyes of the NDIA, and how to navigate SIL supports in a modern framework. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & Introducing Shane Stewart (Resolv) 01:30 – Inside the NDIA: Shane's Background & Policy Experience 03:15 – What is the "Securing the NDIS for Future Generations" Bill? 06:40 – Honest Mistakes vs. Criminal Intent: Fraud Controls & Self-Disclosure 10:15 – The Formidable Regulator: Auditing, Banning Orders, and Quality Standards 13:10 – Impact of Community Access Funding Caps (Starting Oct 1) 16:00 – The I-CAN Assessment Framework & Streamlined Decision-Making 18:30 – The 90-Day Unscheduled Review Rule & Evidence Requirements 21:15 – Managing Funding Reductions: What Happens When Budgets Shrink? 24:45 – Myth-Busting: Ratios of Support, Rosters of Care, and "SIL Homes" 28:30 – Wrap Up

In this episode, Tania and Paul are joined by Tommy Trout to unpack a glaring issue across the disability support sector: why does provider marketing often feel so generic, outdated, and uninspired? Tommy shares his belief that people with disabilities deserve branding that is bold, human, and genuinely cool—moving away from overuse of stock photos, inspiration porn, and stereotypical heart imagery. Together, the group explores: The Current State of Marketing: What a review of dozens of provider websites reveals about repetitive language and how the sector ended up in this routine. Branding Foundations: Where to actually begin when improving messaging, who a brand is really for, and why getting it right matters so much. Real Transformations: Case studies of providers who overhauled their brand identity and the tangible business and client results that followed. Actionable Growth: Details on Tommy’s program designed to teach providers how to apply these core branding principles to their own services. Tune in for a practical discussion on how providers can break out of the cookie-cutter mold and build authentic connections through better marketing.

How do you build a sustainable business when the ground beneath you is completely shifting? In this episode of the Profitable NDIS Provider Podcast, hosts Tania Gomez and Paul Bryan tackle the massive elephant in the room: the impending transition toward mandatory registration, tighter regulations, and the introduction of "NDIS 2.0." Tania and Paul unpack why the good old days of the NDIS are behind us as the scheme shifts its focus from "choice and control" to strict budgetary constraints. From the exit of plan managers and support coordinators to the rise of commissioned models and the potential consolidation of SIL (Specialist Disability Accommodation) providers, this episode is a crucial wake-up call. If you are a small to mid-sized provider, this is not the time to freeze. It is time to make sober, strategic decisions, explore other options outside the scheme, and find the innovation that always breeds in times of difficulty. Key Takeaways From This Episode: The Transition to NDIS 2.0: Why Treasury interventions and new integrity acts are shifting the NDIS from a social-access model to a strictly budgeted scheme. The Commissioning Wave: An in-depth look at how plan managers, support coordinators, and early childhood providers are being transitioned out of the traditional provider model into centralized, commissioned arrangements. Is the Small Provider Viable? Why rising administrative burdens and high regulation costs mean small businesses must consider consolidating, merging, or executing a strategic exit. Branding and Trust in SIL: How mid-to-large providers who choose to stay can position their brands to successfully absorb market share as unregistered and smaller players exit. Life Beyond the Scheme: Utilizing the Ikigai framework (combining what you love, what you are good at, and what people will pay for) to build thriving, non-funding-dependent services that families will gladly pay for out-of-pocket. Episode Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome & Tackling the Elephant in the Room 02:00 – Welcome to NDIS 2.0: The Shift from Choice to Budgetary Control 04:00 – The Commissioning Model: The Future for Plan Managers, Support Coordinators, and Early Childhood Providers 06:20 – The Scale Problem: Why Small NDIS Businesses Face a Viability Crisis 10:30 – Strategic Consolidation, Mergers, and Leadership Opportunities 14:10 – How Larger Providers Can Build Trust and Safely Scale 17:30 – Is SIL Safe? What Internal NDIA Metrics Say About "Medium" vs "Small" Providers 19:50 – Creating Opportunities Outside the Scheme: The Rise of Private-Pay Services 23:25 – Applying the Ikigai Principle to Innovate in the Disability Sector

The NDIS landscape is undergoing significant transformation, leaving many providers wondering what the future holds for their businesses. In this episode, hosts and industry experts Tania Gomez and Paul Bryan dive deep into the latest NDIS reforms to help you separate the noise from the facts. From shifts in compliance and registration requirements to changing operational frameworks, Tania and Paul break down the practical impacts of these legislative updates. Whether you are an established registered provider, a sole trader, or navigating the sector as an unregistered provider, this conversation offers valuable insights into staying compliant, protecting your business, and adapting to the evolving scheme.

Co-Hosts: Tania Gomez and Paul Bryan Guest: Jonathon Salgo

In this episode of the Profitable NDIS Provider Podcast, Tania and Paul are joined by Greg Chadwick (Simply Stronger Supports / Chadwick Digital) to answer a big question providers keep asking: does a website still matter when social media is everywhere?   Greg explains why your website is the trust and conversion hub of your digital footprint, how it supports referrals, what “above the fold” must include, and the most common mistakes NDIS providers make (stock photos, generic copy, unclear services). Expect practical, NDIS-specific advice on building clarity, credibility, and connection online.   Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro + why this topic matters now 01:20 Meet Greg: disability sector leader + digital marketer 02:20 Do websites still matter in the age of social media? 04:10 The “digital footprint” and why people Google you after meeting you 05:20 Why people bounce fast (and what to fix) 06:40 How a website should align with your socials (trust + consistency) 08:40 The referral connection: relationships first, website closes the loop 10:10 Touchpoints: why trust takes multiple exposures 11:45 What “above the fold” must include (value prop, real images, CTA) 14:10 Biggest website mistakes NDIS providers make (stock photos, generic services list, AI slop) 18:10 Humanising your brand: founder section, real photos, real language 21:10 Greg’s BHAG: impacting 30,000 providers through education 24:30 How to find Greg / Chadwick Digital   Listen via: Podbean: ⁠https://profitablendisprovider.podbean.com/⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3UQI0cA⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-profitable-ndis⁠ YouTube: @ProfitableNDIS_ProviderPodcast   #NDIS #NDISproviders #NDISbusiness #disabilityservices #NDISmarketing #NDISreferrals #NDISwebsite #NDISSEO #NDISoperations #NDISleadership #ProfitableNDISProvider #SILprovider #SDA #NDIScomplianceIn this episode of the Profitable NDIS Provider Podcast, Tania and Paul are joined by Greg Chadwick (Simply Stronger Supports / Chadwick Digital) to answer a big question providers keep asking: does a website still matter when social media is everywhere?   Greg explains why your website is the trust and conversion hub of your digital footprint, how it supports referrals, what “above the fold” must include, and the most common mistakes NDIS providers make (stock photos, generic copy, unclear services). Expect practical, NDIS-specific advice on building clarity, credibility, and connection online.   Episode Highlights: 00:00 Intro + why this topic matters now 01:20 Meet Greg: disability sector leader + digital marketer 02:20 Do websites still matter in the age of social media? 04:10 The “digital footprint” and why people Google you after meeting you 05:20 Why people bounce fast (and what to fix) 06:40 How a website should align with your socials (trust + consistency) 08:40 The referral connection: relationships first, website closes the loop 10:10 Touchpoints: why trust takes multiple exposures 11:45 What “above the fold” must include (value prop, real images, CTA) 14:10 Biggest website mistakes NDIS providers make (stock photos, generic services list, AI slop) 18:10 Humanising your brand: founder section, real photos, real language 21:10 Greg’s BHAG: impacting 30,000 providers through education 24:30 How to find Greg / Chadwick Digital   Listen via: Podbean: ⁠https://profitablendisprovider.podbean.com/⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3UQI0cA⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-profitable-ndis⁠ YouTube: @ProfitableNDIS_ProviderPodcast   #NDIS #NDISproviders #NDISbusiness #disabilityservices #NDISmarketing #NDISreferrals #NDISwebsite #NDISSEO #NDISoperations #NDISleadership #ProfitableNDISProvider #SILprovider #SDA #NDIScompliance

In this episode, Paul Bryan and Tania Gomez are joined by Hank from de Jonge Read, who shares his personal journey of losing a successful tourism business after 9/11, and how that experience led him to spend decades helping business owners navigate financial distress.   The conversation is especially relevant for NDIS and aged care providers, covering early financial warning signs, practical steps to stabilise cash flow, when to seek help, and what a “smart exit” can look like when a business is under pressure.   Episode Highlights: 00:00 Welcome + intro to Hank 01:00 Hank’s story: 9/11 collapse → liquidation + bankruptcy 04:00 Advice gap: insolvency practitioner duty is to creditors 06:00 Early warning signs: BAS/super behind, bill juggling, ATO letters 08:30 First steps: weekly cashflow forecast + act early for more options 11:30 Restructure vs sell vs close: decide based on goals + numbers 14:30 If you’re panicking: stop tipping personal money in, get advice 17:00 “Smart exit” options: controlled sale or small business restructure 20:00 Mindset: you’re not alone; clarity reduces fear 22:00 Contact: free chat + written advice; djra.com.au   Listen via: Podbean: ⁠https://profitablendisprovider.podbean.com/⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3UQI0cA⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-profitable-ndis⁠ YouTube: @ProfitableNDIS_ProviderPodcast   #NDIS #NDISProviders #NDISBusiness #DisabilityServices #AgedCare #CashFlow #BusinessRestructure #SmallBusiness #ATO #BAS #PAYG #Superannuation #DirectorLiability #BusinessAdvice #BusinessExit #NDISLeadership #NDISOperations #ProfitableNDISProvider #Compliance #SCHADS

In this episode of the Profitable NDIS Provider Podcast, Tania Gomez and Paul Bryan unpack the 5 traits of sustainable providers and the 5 red flags that show a provider is on the path to failure.   They explore structure vs chaos, building capacity before growth, understanding your numbers, investing in compliance and quality, staff retention, and what real leadership looks like in an NDIS business.   You’ll also get 7 powerful self-audit questions to test your business today.   00:00 Intro 02:25 Trait #1 – Structure over chaos 04:00 Trait #2 – Build capacity before you grow 05:55 Trait #3 – Know your numbers 08:00 Trait #4 – Invest in compliance & quality 11:25 Trait #5 – Culture & retention 13:10 Red flags: grey zone & growing too fast 15:40 Red flags: no unit economics & reactive hiring 20:00 Red flag: inconsistent leadership 21:10 What long-term providers do differently 22:30 Embracing regulation & building culture 24:00 Decision-making frameworks & fast adaptation 25:15 Self-audit questions 26:50 Wrap-up   Listen via: Podbean: ⁠https://profitablendisprovider.podbean.com/⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3UQI0cA⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-profitable-ndis⁠ YouTube: @ProfitableNDIS_ProviderPodcast   #NDIS #NDISProviders #NDISBusiness #SILProvider #SDA #DisabilityServices #Compliance #SCHADS #NDISAudit #NDISQualityAndSafeguards #NDISRegistration #NDISLeadership #NDISOperations #ProfitableNDISProvider

Paul Bryan and Tania Gomez recap a huge two months: the National SIL Summit, fresh short-term respite (STR) guidelines, the new NDIS Price Guide, Tania’s Auditly AI policies pilot, Provider X highlights, and what’s coming up for November/December (including two free community sessions).   Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome & why this is a Sept/Oct double wrap 01:05 – National SIL Summit: 170 in-room + 100 online, format & feedback 03:35 – Behind the scenes: hiccups, learnings, shout-outs (hi, Chris!) 06:05 – Paul’s wins: Provider X Melbourne, Profitable Provider October on-ramp 08:00 – Auditly (AI policy platform): what it does, why it matters, pilot details 12:55 – AI as leverage (SXSW takeaways, using tech beyond email drafts) 15:10 – Short-Term Respite (STR) guidelines: what’s in/out, kids, travel, food 19:55 – New NDIS Price Guide: expected shifts, ops impact, change management 22:50 – SIL Summit recordings inside Provider Collective (how to access) 24:05 – Paul’s Dec/Jan free sessions: Holiday Like a Pro & 26 Launch 26:15 – Coming soon: Future-Proofing your SIL/SDA books (timelines) 28:40 – November on-ramp (bonus intake) & why community going solo 30:10 – Final thoughts, subscribe/ratings   Listen via: Podbean: ⁠https://profitablendisprovider.podbean.com/⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3UQI0cA⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-profitable-ndis⁠ YouTube: @ProfitableNDIS_ProviderPodcast   #NDIS #NDISProviders #SIL #SDA #ShortTermRespite #PriceGuide #AuditReadiness #Policies #AIinNDIS #Australia

Tania Gomez and Paul Bryan sit down with Amy Gray, founder of NDIS Blackbelt and mum to Illyana, to explore how lived experience can reshape provider culture, retention, and day-to-day care. Amy shares practical frameworks (built from the cracks she’s lived through) to help providers turn heart into sustainable strategy.   Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Welcome & Amy’s story: parent, nurse, founder 02:15 – “Personal pain to professional purpose” why she built NDIS Blackbelt 05:20 – The gap families live in vs what services deliver 07:10 – From lived experience to usable frameworks (not theory) 09:05 – The Five Rs of Retention: born from turnover & instability 10:30 – Breaking Barriers Workshop & Culture from Day One induction 12:00 – The “Language of Us”: changing culture by changing words 14:05 – Heart vs strategy: how to avoid burnout and “hollowing out” 16:40 – Rhythm rules: culture as repetition, not policy 18:25 – Being “too close” & building structure around lived truth 20:10 – Legacy: doing good with pain; modeling resilience for kids 22:05 – The one thing providers should remember: culture is everything 23:20 – “We’re not building a workforce—we’re building nervous systems” 25:00 – Habits, language, and cultural tattooing (deliberate, repeated)   Listen via: Podbean: ⁠https://profitablendisprovider.podbean.com/⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3UQI0cA⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-profitable-ndis⁠ YouTube: @ProfitableNDIS_ProviderPodcast   #NDIS #NDISProviders #DisabilitySupport #AlliedHealth #CareLeadership #ProviderCulture #Retention #LivedExperience #Australia

Tania Gomez and Paul Bryan sit down with Michael Clark (Athletic Koala) to unpack how NDIS providers can build a reliable flow of referrals, without burning cash on ads or burning out. Michael covers what actually works: authenticity over polish, relationship-driven marketing, becoming referral-worthy, and using LinkedIn & podcasting the right way.   Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Intro & why consistent referrals matter more than ever 02:05 – The #1 marketing mistake providers make: not being themselves 04:10 – Ads strategy: why paid is “short-term rocket fuel” (and what to do instead) 06:40 – Crafting a promise you can actually keep (and putting it in your ads/website) 08:30 – Trust at scale: how to become genuinely referral-worthy 11:10 – Reliability beats “gloss”: consistent, predictable, and reliable wins 13:15 – Specialise to be remembered (you can’t be “the everything” provider) 15:05 – Podcast power: relationships, downloads (and how to start smart) 18:40 – LinkedIn that works: help first, connect with leaders, be human 22:10 – Relationship compounding: keep promises, give generously, follow up 24:30 – If starting from scratch: the lowest-effort, highest-return moves   Listen via: Podbean: ⁠https://profitablendisprovider.podbean.com/⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3UQI0cA⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-profitable-ndis⁠ YouTube: @ProfitableNDIS_ProviderPodcast   #NDIS #NDISProviders #NDISMarketing #Referrals #LinkedInMarketing #PodcastMarketing #AlliedHealth #DisabilitySupport #Australia #CareBusiness

Paul Bryan and Tania Gomez sit down with Gabriella Ptasznik (Founder, GRP Speech Pathology) to unpack how an all-mobile allied health team (40+ speechies) is staying viable and person-centred amid pricing freezes, travel cuts, and rising costs. We cover efficiency without cutting care, AI-assisted documentation, wellbeing-first leadership, KPI visibility, telehealth pivots, and communicating change with certainty.   Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Intro & why this topic matters now 02:05 – What policy & pricing shifts look like at ground level (travel, wages, rent) 04:10 – Efficiency without cutting care: templates, automation, admin capture 06:05 – AI for notes (Heidi), freeing time for better therapy & records 08:00 – Supervision, leadership curriculum & consistency across teams 09:40 – Protecting clinician wellbeing: debriefs, buddy systems, flexible work 12:05 – Talking about “change” (without saying “change”): certainty + cadence 14:00 – Communicating with participants: person-first framing & continuity 15:45 – Mobile service reality: auditing schedules, reducing dead time 17:10 – When long drives don’t stack up: shifting to telehealth (done well) 19:00 – Data that drives decisions: KPI tool synced to practice software 21:15 – Low-cost dashboards (APIs → Sheets) vs expensive BI tools 23:00 – Advice to new providers: sober market view, systems early, grow a team 25:00 – Where to find Gabriella & GRP Speech Pathology   Listen via: Podbean: ⁠https://profitablendisprovider.podbean.com/⁠ Apple Podcast: ⁠https://apple.co/3UQI0cA⁠ Spotify: ⁠https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/the-profitable-ndis⁠ YouTube: @ProfitableNDIS_ProviderPodcast   #NDIS #NDISProviders #AlliedHealth #SpeechPathology #NDISCompliance #Telehealth #CareOperations #CareTech #DisabilitySupport #Australia