Advertise on podcast: The Business of Allied Health

In Episode 30 of The Business of Allied Health, host Barry sits down with legendary allied health business coach, physiotherapist, and author Paul Wright (creator of Practiceology™ and author of *How to Run A One-Minute Practice*). Paul shares his hilarious and candid journey into private practice—including why he describes himself as a "hopeless employee" who once got sacked from a public hospital job—and how he transitioned into building highly profitable, turn-key health businesses that run without the owner.They dive deep into the evolution of allied health business education, why traditional accountant P&L data often fails clinic owners, how to escape the clinical grind, and why building robust systems and retention frameworks is the true key to freedom. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: Meeting allied health mentor and business legend Paul Wright. 01:30 Paul’s early career journey: Being a "hopeless employee" and getting sacked from a public hospital. 03:15 Transitioning to private practice and discovering the missing business skills not taught at university. 05:45 Why university prepares you to be a clinician, but leaves you blind to business, marketing, and profit. 08:20 The birth of Practiceology™: Helping clinic owners earn more, work less, and enjoy life. 11:10 Why your accountant's P&L data won't help you run a great health business (and what you should look at instead). 14:05 How to structure your practice so it can run successfully without you. 17:30 Avoiding the burnout trap: Setting strict boundaries and designing a lifestyle business. 20:10 How to connect with Paul Wright and grab his best-selling resources.

In Episode 29 of The Business of Allied Health, host Barry is joined by James Grafton, Founder of Champion Health. James shares his rapid ascent from renting a single room in a chiropractic clinic to building a massive 80+ clinician enterprise that now operates fully under management, generating over $10M in revenue. James drops some hard-hitting, unconventional truths about scaling a healthcare business. They discuss why true leadership requires an uncomfortable balance with strict management, the controversial benefits of running a bulk-billing model as a real-world training ground for new grads, and why the most successful practice owners are rarely the loudest voices on social media. Now a scaling coach, James reveals the specific growth phases every clinic hits—and exactly what breaks at each stage. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: Meeting James Grafton and his rapid scale from renting a single room to 80+ clinicians. 01:31 Why James transitioned away from clinical treating to focus entirely on business building and scale. 02:53 The predictable growth phases of a clinic: From lead generation to recruitment to the ultimate bottleneck—leadership. 03:59 Leadership vs. Management: Why inspiration is useless if you can't hold your team accountable. 05:22 The controversial benefits of bulk-billing: Using accessibility models as an "apprenticeship" for new graduates to learn without high-ticket pressure. 07:20 The most important metrics for an allied health business (and why clinician utilization is king). 08:23 An uncomfortable truth about the allied health industry: The most successful clinic owners aren't the loudest voices on social media. 09:15 James's current role as a scaling coach and how he helps practice owners step away from the daily operations. 10:08 How to connect with James Grafton and learn more about his coaching for 7- and 8-figure clinics.

Alex shares the raw realities of building a Practice Management Software (PMS) from the ground up, including bootstrapping Pogozo, building a team of 20 engineers, and navigating a process that took 10x the budget and twice as long as expected. She breaks down why clinic owners need to stop settling for clunky "workarounds," why treating software like an employee changes how you manage tech, Pogozo's philosophy on all-in-one platforms vs. specialized AI integrations, and what she would do differently if she were building a 10-clinician practice today. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: Alex Forde's path from Physio to Pharmacist to Tech Entrepreneur 01:00 Why a chronic back pain patient inspired Alex to study Pharmacy 02:18 Opening a hybrid clinic & gym practice and hitting software limitations 03:24 Bootstrapping Pogozo and bringing family on board as investors 04:14 Scoping Pogozo: Interviewing 200+ clinic owners to define the product 05:32 The reality of tech startups: 20 engineers, 10x costs, and timeline delays 07:50 The startup grind: Working 16-hour days to build a modern platform 09:27 Eliminating "workarounds" and why you should treat software like an employee 12:08 The 3 main reasons switching Practice Management Software is so hard 14:58 All-in-One vs. Best-of-Breed: Pogozo's philosophy on integrations and specialized AI 18:00 What Alex would do differently if she built a 10-clinician practice today 19:22 Official Announcement: CliniScribe & Pogozo integration partnership

In Episode 27 of The Business of Allied Health, host Barry Nguyen is joined by Craig Hankridge, Founder and Director of ProFeet Podiatry in Melbourne. Craig shares his journey from initially studying occupational therapy to finding his true passion in podiatry, eventually scaling his practice to a multi-site operation with a team of 40 across the span of 11 years They discuss the unique challenges of allied health, focusing heavily on recruitment, preventing the dreaded "five-year burnout" among practitioners, and how to balance professional growth with personal goals. Craig also shares an insightful "Southeast Asia truck" analogy to explain why high patient visit averages (PVA) are actually crucial for patient health literacy, and drops an unpopular truth about why clinic owners need to stop coddling their team and embrace honest, accountable feedback. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: Meeting Craig Hankridge and his path into podiatry. 01:48 Early career experiences, working in London, and deciding to start a private practice. 02:58 Connecting with co-founder Shane Davis and launching ProFeet Podiatry in Melbourne. 04:45 Scaling the clinic to a team of 40: The philosophy of organic, bottom-up growth. 06:54 Why allied health practitioners burn out at year five and how Pro Fit combats it. 10:18 The trap of a "catch-all" marketing funnel and the importance of finding your ideal client. 13:30 Key metrics for clinic growth: Why rebooking cadence and frequency matter for patient success. 15:22 The "Overloaded Truck" analogy: Why cramming all your advice into a new grad’s first assessment fails. 17:15 Craig's unpopular clinic lesson: The danger of "coddling" your team instead of holding them accountable. 20:14 How to connect with Craig and ProFeet Podiatry.

In Episode 26 of The Business of Allied Health, host Barry sits down with Shane "Guna" Gunaratnam, a well-known business coach and successful former clinic owner. Shane shares his unfiltered journey from working as a physiotherapist for a decade to launching, scaling, and ultimately selling a highly profitable clinic—all while navigating a global pandemic. They dive deep into the realities of modern clinic ownership, discussing why the traditional "bootstrap" startup hustle might no longer be the most viable path and exploring the challenging "messy middle" that traps many business owners. Plus, Shane reveals the single most important metric every clinic should track and drops a controversial, unspoken truth about what it actually takes to survive and thrive in private practice today. Timestamps: 00:00 Introduction: Meeting Shane "Guna" Gunaratnam 00:44 Shane’s clinic ownership journey and partnering with Life Ready 01:51 Scaling a physio clinic from startup to profitability during a pandemic 02:42 The Life Ready acquisition and why Shane transitioned out 03:44 Why a partnership model beats the traditional "bootstrap" method today 05:50 The harsh reality of starting a clinic and surviving the "messy middle" 07:24 The biggest challenge for clinic owners: Staff recruitment and retention 07:41 The #1 metric for success: Net Promoter Score (NPS) vs. Google Reviews 10:01 The controversial truth: Why clinical excellence is non-negotiable in private practice 13:01 Final thoughts on continuous learning and mastery

In Episode 25 of The Business of Allied Health, host Barry Nguyen sits down with Stephen Lee, Partner at Total Physio Care, a multi-location clinic in Melbourne. Stephen reflects on his 15+ year journey from a new grad under the mentorship of pioneering sports physio Barry Gavens to managing a large, long-tenured team of over 20 practitioners. They dive into the unique benefits of integrating hospital contracts into a private practice, the hard lessons learned from expanding and subsequently downsizing footprints, and the real secrets to achieving a 10+ year staff retention rate. They also touch on their collaboration in developing robust AI tools for clinical workflows. Timestamps: [00:00] Introduction to Stephen Lee and his pathway into musculoskeletal physiotherapy [01:42] Early career mentorship and working a hybrid hospital-private practice model [04:42] Developing clinical reasoning and improving referral efficiency with surgeons [05:47] Building a custom hospital software application for notes and billing tracking [07:09] Lessons learned from expanding the clinic footprint and managing overheads [09:28] Secrets to retaining staff for 10+ years and managing a team of 20 physios [10:59] Why communication and personality outrank clinical skills when hiring new grads [12:54] Advice for new practice owners on the initial hustle required for referrals [14:46] Teaser: Upcoming episode on developing AI forms and treatment plans for CliniScribe AI

In this episode of The Business of Allied Health, we sit down with Paul Ness, the Senior Director of Medical Services and Senior Physiotherapist for the ATP Tour. With over 23 years of experience traveling the globe and treating some of the world's greatest tennis players, Paul shares unparalleled insights into the realities of working in elite professional sports. Paul discusses his journey from a local clinic to the Australian Open, the intense pressure of treating top-tier athletes who need results immediately, and why injury prevention programs require deep adaptability. We also dive into the critical lessons private practice teaches you about time management, and why so many sports physiotherapists drastically undervalue their services when working with elite teams. Supported by CliniScribe AI. Subscribe for more interviews with allied health leaders and clinical business insights! Timestamps: [00:00:00] - Introduction and welcoming Paul Ness [00:00:46] - Right place, right time: How Paul transitioned from a local clinic to the ATP Tour [00:02:51] - Being "put under the microscope" by players who need immediate results [00:03:59] - Building trust quickly with top players (Federer, Nadal, Djokovic) [00:05:55] - Why you should treat a 75-year-old patient the same as a professional athlete [00:07:07] - The nuance of injury prevention programs and adapting to unique athletic bodies [00:09:42] - Force plates and strength testing: Where tennis currently stands [00:11:12] - Crucial lessons private practice teaches you that elite sport doesn't [00:13:25] - Why sports physiotherapists severely undervalue their worth and how to determine your salary [00:17:57] - The unglamorous reality of elite sports: 11-hour days, windowless rooms, and travel fatigue [00:21:47] - How to connect with Paul and what it takes to join the ATP Tour team

In this episode of The Business of Allied Health, we are joined by Jordan Gauder, Founder and CEO of Gen Physio, a rapidly growing nationwide provider of in-home allied health services. Jordan shares his incredibly unfiltered and authentic journey of scaling his business, transitioning from a clinical founder to a true CEO, and the hard financial lessons he had to learn along the way. From an embarrassing $55,000 superannuation oversight to fund a custom Range Rover in his twenties, to later trading his luxury car for a Toyota Corolla to support his team during tough NDIS pricing changes, Jordan holds nothing back. We discuss the critical importance of tracking Gross Profit Margins, why being "busy" doesn't always equal profitability, and the mindset shift required to successfully lead a scaling healthcare organization. Supported by CliniScribe AI. Subscribe for more interviews with allied health leaders and clinical business insights! Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction and welcoming Jordan Gauder 01:10 - Discovering physiotherapy and early career path 03:07 - Identifying the gap in the market for in-home care and starting Gen Physio 06:53 - Scaling to $2M revenue and understanding profit vs. volume 09:09 - The Range Rover lesson: A $55,000 cash flow wake-up call 14:13 - Why Gross Profit Margin is the critical metric for clinic owners 15:52 - Making the hard mindset shift from Clinician to CEO 19:20 - Navigating NDIS pricing challenges and downsizing to a Corolla 21:58 - Future goals and how to connect with Jordan 24:35 - Final thoughts on transparency and removing ego in leadership

In this episode of The Business of Allied Health, we sit down with Rob LoPresti, CEO of the Australian Physiotherapy Association (APA). Rob shares his unique career journey, starting as an ICU physiotherapist before moving into high-level education and executive roles, and eventually returning to lead the peak body for the profession. We dive deep into the most pressing issues facing private practice owners today, including the squeeze between rising wages and stagnant funding across schemes like the NDIS and DVA. Rob also provides a behind-the-scenes look at the APA's long-term advocacy strategies, their push for a recognized sustainable hourly rate, and how the newly formed AI advisory group is helping practitioners safely adopt emerging technologies. Whether you are an early-career clinician or an experienced clinic owner, this conversation provides a transparent look into the future of the physiotherapy profession. Supported by CliniScribe AI. 🔔 Subscribe for more interviews with allied health leaders and clinical business insights! Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction & Welcome Rob LoPresti 00:38 - From ICU Physio to CEO: Rob's Career Journey 04:16 - Leadership Tips & Mentorship for Early Career Clinicians 06:10 - The Biggest Challenges for Private Practice Owners (Costs vs. Funding)08:21 - Navigating NDIS Cuts, DVA Fees, and Private Health 10:59 - How the APA Delivers Practical Value to Clinics 13:29 - Researching the Sustainable Hourly Rate for Physiotherapy 17:11 - Safely Adopting AI in Allied Health & The APA AI Advisory Group 20:09 - The Reality of Advocacy: What Members Should (and Shouldn't) Expect 24:47 - Passing the Baton: The Future of the Physiotherapy Profession

How can physiotherapists step up their clinical reasoning to beat the rise of AI-generated exercise programs? In Episode 21 of The Business of Allied Health, we are joined by Craig Phillips, the inventor of Clinical Pilates and founder of DMA Pilates. With over 38 years in the profession, Craig breaks down the specific movement-based classification systems (directional load) that are outperforming standard care in global RCTs. We also discuss the harsh realities of health economics, why physios are massively underfunded by the government, and actionable advice for new grads to avoid the dreaded 5-year burnout. Topics Covered: - The difference between standard Pilates and Clinical Pilates - Moving beyond structure-based classification for chronic pain - The threat of AI "physio bots" and generic protocols - Using heuristics and directional preference in patient assessments - The financial value of conservative care vs. surgical intervention - Why the physiotherapy profession needs to get political Timestamps: 00:00 The Origins of Clinical Pilates 05:38 The Rise of AI Physio 08:49 Groundbreaking Research 15:31 Heuristics in Clinical Reasoning 28:04 Combating the 5-Year Attrition Rate 30:16 The Health Economics of Physio 34:48 Political Advocacy

In Episode 20 of The Business of Allied Health, host Barry Nguyen sits down with Jason T. Smith — founder of Back in Motion. Starting from his garage, Jason built a $100 million physiotherapy empire over two decades before successfully exiting the business. In this episode, Jason shares the untold, behind-the-scenes realities of scaling one of Australia's largest health groups. They discuss the delicate balance between clinical excellence and commercial strategy, the brutal tax of giving up control, and the difference between owning a business and just owning a high-paying clinical job. Jason also reflects on his biggest mistakes, the relational cost of extreme growth, and the harsh realities young ambitious physiotherapists need to hear before trying to build an empire. This episode is proudly supported by CliniScribe AI. KEY TAKEAWAYS: - Clinical vs. Business Excellence: Why being a brilliant clinician isn't enough to scale, and the 60/40 rule that drives a national brand. - The Founder's Tax: The hardest thing founders must surrender to stop being the bottleneck in their own company's growth. - The 3-Month Test: How to determine if you've actually built a true business or simply bought yourself a demanding, self-employed job. - Leadership over Structure: Why Jason believes his biggest mistake was underestimating the power of leadership and culture in the early days. - The Cost of Ambition: A candid look at the burnt bridges, scar tissue, and relational toll that often accompanies a 20-year scaling journey. ABOUT THE GUEST: Jason T. Smith is the founder of Back in Motion Health Group, an author, and a leadership coach. Over a 20-year period, he scaled his practice from a single garage clinic to a massive national franchise before exiting. Today, he focuses on leadership development and mentoring. You can connect with him at jasonsmith.com.au. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction to Jason T. Smith and the Back in Motion story 01:31 - Did Back in Motion scale because of clinical or business excellence? 04:46 - The 60/40 rule of building a national healthcare brand 07:07 - Surrendering control: The hardest compromise for a founder 11:12 - Do you own a true business or just a self-employed job? 14:38 - Jason's biggest mistake: Underestimating leadership and culture 16:49 - The brutal truth for young physios wanting to build an empire 19:15 - Burnt bridges and the relational cost of extreme growth 20:45 - Conclusion and how to connect with Jason

In Episode 19 of The Business of Allied Health, host Barry Nguyen sits down with Dr Todd Cameron — a highly respected General Practitioner, serial entrepreneur, and co-founder of Scale My Clinic. With 23 years of practice ownership and multiple successful exits (including a directorship at ASX-listed Zenitas), Todd provides a rare, unfiltered look into the business of healthcare from a GP's perspective. They discuss the honest truth about what GPs think of physiotherapists, the critical mistakes allied health professionals make when trying to secure referrals, and why dropping off a free sushi lunch is no longer an effective strategy. Todd also shares his philosophy on exiting businesses, the dangers of modern telehealth startups bypassing the GP, and the financial realities of renting rooms within medical clinics. KEY TAKEAWAYS: - The "Die With Zero" Philosophy: Why Todd believes clinic owners should exit their businesses before they actually want to. - Building Trust: The exact communication standards GPs expect from allied health professionals to maintain a strong referral relationship. - The Telehealth Threat: Why treating convenience over quality — and bypassing the GP for imaging — creates a dangerous diffusion of accountability in patient care. - A Better Marketing Strategy: How creating 60-second YouTube joint examination videos for GPs is a far more effective referral tool than traditional networking. - Room Rentals: The pros and cons of setting up a physiotherapy satellite clinic inside a GP practice. ABOUT THE GUEST: Dr Todd Cameron is the founder of Modern Medical, GP Hero, and GP Bookkeeper. He currently serves as a business coach for general practice owners through his company, Scale My Clinic, helping them achieve time freedom and profitability. TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 - Introduction to Dr Todd Cameron 01:45 - Todd’s journey from medical graduate to multi-clinic owner 04:35 - Exiting clinics, Zenitas, and founding Scale My Clinic 05:56 - The "Die With Zero" philosophy and knowing when to exit 07:22 - Thoughts on family businesses and intergenerational wealth 09:25 - What GPs really think of physiotherapists 11:16 - How to build (and lose) trust with referring GPs 14:38 - The dangers of telehealth startups bypassing the GP 21:56 - How to effectively market to GPs (why free lunches don't work) 25:54 - A unique referral strategy: Educating GPs with short-form video 27:54 - Do in-house physio room rentals in GP clinics actually work? 32:25 - Conclusion

How do you build a globally recognised clinical brand around a single injury? In Episode 18 of The Business of Allied Health, I’m joined by Mick Hughes, an elite sports physiotherapist, clinic owner, and co-founder of the Melbourne ACL Rehabilitation Guide and Learn.Physio. Mick has become one of the most prominent voices in sports medicine by narrowing his focus almost entirely to ACL injuries. In this conversation, Mick pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to build a specialized regional practice. We discuss the transition from working in professional sport (including the Melbourne Storm) to co-founding a multi-disciplinary sports clinic, the commercial reality of digital products, and the high-stakes lessons learned from clinic partnership expansions.We dive deep into:* Extreme Specialisation – How focusing on a specific, high-intent injury niche drove global organic brand authority and local patient volume.* Digital Leverage – The origin story of the Melbourne ACL Rehab Guide and how to build digital clinical assets that actually scale.* The Professional Sport Illusion – The stark differences between working inside elite sporting clubs versus running a sustainable private practice.* Partnership Expansion Risks – The unscripted commercial and personal lessons learned when expanding a clinic footprint with multiple business partners.* Utilisation & Systems – How elite sports physios protect their clinical energy and optimize day-to-day operations to avoid clinical burnout.Whether you are an aspiring sports therapist or an established clinic owner looking to dominate a local market through hyper-focused branding, Mick’s unfiltered insights are incredibly valuable.Supported by CliniScribe AITimestamps:[00:00:10] Introduction: The power of a clinical niche[00:03:15] From elite professional sports (Melbourne Storm) to private practice[00:06:40] Co-founding the Melbourne ACL Rehabilitation Guide[00:10:20] How hyper-specialisation drives local private practice volume[00:13:45] The commercial reality of digital clinical assets[00:16:55] Expanding clinic locations: Lessons, partnerships, and pitfalls[00:20:40] Managing clinical energy and avoiding practitioner burnout[00:23:15] The most important lesson for building a modern allied health brand[00:26:50] Clinic update and where to connect with Mick

What happens when a pediatric physio transitions from a solo mobile provider to a multi-clinic owner, to a policy advocate, an AHPRA board member, and finally a health-tech startup founder? In Episode 17 of The Business of Allied Health, I’m joined by Carolyn O’Mahoney, a true multi-hyphenate in the allied health space. Carolyn shares her incredible journey—starting a clinic simply to afford her PD while raising a family as a defense spouse, and ultimately scaling it to 28 staff members across three locations. But her most valuable insights come from her MBA and policy work. Carolyn unpacks the hard data she collected during the NDIS rollout, revealing how the shift to NDIS funding initially decimated clinic profit margins—and how she used her clinic's data to advocate for the entire profession, leading to the approval of billable non-face-to-face time. We dive deep into: * Scaling from Scratch – Building a 28-staff practice starting with just two clients a week in a 3-hour window. * The NDIS Data Reality – The "alarmingly huge" profit erosion that clinics faced early on, and how she helped change the policy. * Exit Strategies – Why she sold to a corporate entity, and the crucial lesson she learned about clinical founders vs. business operators. * The AHPRA Reality – Demystifying the notification process from a board member's perspective (and the #1 thing that saves practitioners). * Wait Once – Her new venture solving the massive "rescheduling revenue leak" that costs clinics hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. If you’re a clinic owner navigating the complexities of NDIS funding, team utilization, or looking to understand the real levers of clinic profitability, you cannot miss this episode. Also streaming now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! Supported by CliniScribe AI **Timestamps:** [00:00:09] Carolyn's journey: From pediatric neuro physio to AHPRA and startups [00:04:40] Starting a mobile clinic as a defense spouse with 3 hours a week [00:06:47] Scaling to 28 staff and surviving the transition to NDIS [00:08:28] Advocacy: How Carolyn's data helped increase the NDIS hourly rate [00:10:49] Selling her practice to a corporate and pursuing an MBA [00:14:13] The biggest lesson for clinicians exiting their business [00:15:37] The most critical metric for clinic survival (Utilization) [00:19:37] Inside AHPRA: The true purpose of the board and how to avoid trouble [00:22:38] Why she built Wait Once: Solving the massive cost of schedule gaps [00:26:36] Wait Once integrations and future plans

Do you need a massive loan and a fancy fit-out to start a successful private practice? Not at all. In Episode 16 of The Business of Allied Health, I sit down with Ben Herde, founder of Grand Slam Physio. Ben and his wife Belinda initially built their clinic as a "lean startup" on the mezzanine floor of an indoor tennis center. Their goal? To create a business that supported their lifestyle of traveling on the professional tennis circuit (including the WTA and 2016 Rio Olympics). Today, they run highly successful, purpose-built clinics in the Geelong and Torquay region. We unpack exactly how they transitioned from a humble space into a thriving regional business. We dive deep into: * The Lean Startup – How starting with cheap rent and a minimal setup allowed them to take calculated risks early on. * Spousal Co-Founders – The strict "25-minute commute" boundary they use to separate the business from their marriage and family life. * Niche Domination – How leaning into their deep expertise in tennis physiotherapy drove massive organic growth. * Referrer Management – The simple, consistent communication strategies that built their local network (and how they use CliniScribe AI to automate it). * The "P" Word – Why profit isn't a dirty word in healthcare, and how it enables better patient care, facility upgrades, and staff retention. If you’re a clinic owner looking to build a business that serves your lifestyle rather than consuming it, this episode is packed with practical takeaways. Also streaming now on Spotify and Apple Podcasts! Supported by CliniScribe AI **Timestamps:** [00:00:00] Introduction & the impact of mentorship [00:00:40] The accidental origins of Grand Slam Physio [00:01:34] Rules for running a business with your spouse [00:02:55] Leveraging a specific niche (Tennis) to grow organically [00:03:39] The lean startup approach: Starting on a mezzanine floor [00:04:24] Overcoming early growth challenges and local competition [00:05:29] "Clinical excellence drives commercial success" & managing referrers [00:07:12] Why profit is the ultimate enabler in healthcare [00:08:08] The most important lesson for new clinic owners