PODCAST · business
Sarah Knows Support Workers
by Sarah Heriot
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!
Episodes
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Dating, Drinking & Disability: Let's Talk About It | Samantha Prior
What was it really like growing up with a rare disability in Australia during the 1990s? In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, I sit down with Samantha Prior (Sam), who was one of the first people in Australia diagnosed with the ultra-rare condition MPS VI, also known as Maroteaux-Lamy...
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A Mother’s Perspective: Mental Health, Advocacy & Hope | Kym McMinn
⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes personal discussions about suicide, suicide attempts, self-harm, mental illness and experiences of hearing voices. Please take care while listening. In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, I sit down with Kym McMinn, founder of T&K Support…
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Beyond the Diagnosis: Lachy's Journey from Lived Experience to Advocacy
Identity before diagnosis. A message that sits at the heart of Lachlan's story. In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah is joined by Lachlan for an open and meaningful conversation about lived experience, mental health, the NDIS and the importance of seeing the person beyond their...
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NDIS Christmas Rostering: Plan Now, Avoid the Chaos!
Christmas is coming… and if you work in NDIS rostering, you know the chaos can start well before December! 🎄😂 Annual leave, public holidays, staff shortages, changing participant routines and those dreaded last-minute cancellations. Sound familiar? In this solo episode of Sarah Knows Support...
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Whistleblowing in the NDIS: What Happens When Speaking Up Is the Only Option?
What happens when you’ve reported concerns, followed the right processes, raised complaints… and nothing changes? In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, I’m joined again by Belinda Toohey for a very real conversation about whistleblowing in the disability sector. Belinda shares lived...
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Are You a Good Support Worker… or Just a Nice Person?
Being kind matters. But kindness alone doesn’t make you a great support worker. In this episode, I’m talking about the difference between being a lovely person and actually being good at the job. We’re talking about reliability, case notes, communication, boundaries, professional judgement,...
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Choice & Control vs Duty of Care: When Should Support Workers Step In?
Choice and control sounds simple… until a participant makes a choice that might put them at risk. So where does dignity of risk end and duty of care begin? In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah gets into the real-life situations support workers actually face. What if someone wants...
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"That’s Not the Support Worker I Ordered” — Why I Built SwiftyMatchy Sarah Heriot
In this special episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, the microphone is flipped. James Loveday takes over as host and interviews Sarah about SwiftyMatchy—the support worker finding app created to help NDIS and aged care participants find support workers who genuinely align with them. Sarah…
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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…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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…
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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…
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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...
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How Luke Wilson Built Paylos: NDIS Support Workers, Youth Work & Early Intervention
What happens when lived experience, youth work, case management and a belief in doing support differently all come together? In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah sits down with Luke Wilson, founder of Paylos, for an honest conversation about the journey from working in…
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How to Go From Solo Support Worker to NDIS Business Owner
Thinking of going from solo support worker to running your own business? This episode is for the support workers who are amazing on shift but are starting to ask, “Could I actually turn this into something bigger?” We’re talking about the jump from doing the work to building something that can...
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Think Buying an NDIS Business Is Like Coffee or Hair? Think Again.
Most people think buying an NDIS business is just a matter of snapping up a shiny registration online—big mistake. Sarah dives into why that "easy buy" is a dangerous illusion and how rushing in without proper checks can threaten your reputation, your finances, and most importantly, the people…
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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.…
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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...
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SIL & Respite Explained: What Every Support Worker Needs to Know | Pure Living Accommodation
In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah chats with Stevie-Lee Molina, founder and director of Pure Living Accommodation and Care, about what quality support can really look like in the NDIS. Stevie-Lee shares her journey from support work, crisis work and child protection into...
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You Are Not Just a Support Worker — Em Hoskin from Your Best Support on What You're Really Worth
In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah sits down with Em Hoskin from Your Best Support to talk about what real, person-centred NDIS support actually looks like. Em shares how she went from support worker and support coordinator to building a registered NDIS provider during COVID…
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NDIS Changes 2026 Explained: Support Workers, Funding Cuts & The Future of Care
What’s really happening with the NDIS right now… and what does it actually mean for support workers, providers, and participants? In this episode, I join Jackie for a real, unfiltered conversation about the latest NDIS changes, funding cuts, and the growing uncertainty across the sector. We break...
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HireUp CEO Peter Willis on NDIS Leadership, Support Workers and the Future of Disability Care
In this episode, Sarah sits down with Peter Willis, CEO of HireUp, to talk about leadership, support workers, provider growth, and the future of disability care in Australia. Peter shares his journey from consulting and public policy into the disability sector, how he worked his way through…
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The Support Workers Who Actually Change Lives (It’s Not What You Think)
Not all support workers are the same. Some turn up… and some actually show up. In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah talks about the real difference between average support and life-changing support. This isn’t about ticking boxes or following routines — it’s about being present,...
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Support Worker Guide: What to Do When a Participant Refuses Their Support Plan
What should a support worker do when an NDIS participant says no to their support plan? In this episode, Sarah breaks down why participants say no, what support workers often get wrong, and how to respond in a way that respects choice and control while still doing your job well. She covers...
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"How Support Workers Are Using Community Events to Get More Participants | Cody Thompson
In this episode, Sarah sits down with Cody Thompson, co-founder of Disability Events Community (DEC) and Aged Care Events Community (ACEC) — two fast-growing platforms connecting NDIS participants, aged care participants, providers, and support workers across Australia. From humble beginnings in...
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NDIS Home Care Technology: How One App Is Solving the Family Coordination Problem | Lisa Thomson
NDIS families across Australia are struggling to coordinate care, manage communication, and keep everyone informed. When Lisa Thomson couldn’t find a solution, she built one. In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah sits down with Lisa Thomson, founder of Harmonies Home Health Hub…
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NDIS Compliance & Auditing Explained: How Australian Providers Can Turn Audits Into a Growth Strategy
NDIS providers across Australia often fear audits — but what if audits became your biggest business advantage? In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah speaks with Keturah from Quality HQ about building strong compliance systems that actually support providers, support workers, and...
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Support Worker Burnout in Australia: Signs, Causes & How NDIS Providers Can Stop Losing Their Best People
Support worker burnout is one of the biggest issues in Australia's NDIS sector — and it's impacting participants, providers, and the workforce. In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah shares real insights from 15+ years in the disability sector. • Signs of support worker burnout •…
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NDIS Provider Marketing: Why Authentic Relationships Beat Algorithms Every Time | Solomon
NDIS providers across Australia are trying to grow — but many are doing it backwards. In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah speaks with Solomon about building authentic relationships, personal branding, and growing your NDIS business. • How relationships grow NDIS businesses •...
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Adaptive Clothing & NDIS Supplies: How Better Products Restore Dignity for Participants | Bec Parry, InCare Supports
The right products can restore dignity for NDIS participants — but many support workers don’t know what's available. In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah speaks with Bec Parry about adaptive clothing, disability products, and improving daily life for participants. • Adaptive...
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NDIS Provider Marketing & Growth Strategy: What's Actually Working in Australia Right Now | Chris Lapa
Many NDIS providers across Australia struggle to grow — not because their services are poor, but because their marketing isn’t working. In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah sits down with Chris Lapa to break down what actually works when growing an NDIS business in Australia.…
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Why NDIS Support Worker Matching Matters More Than Funding, Hours or Compliance
Two NDIS participants. Same funding. Same hours. Completely different outcomes. The difference? The support worker. In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah shares why matching the right support worker is one of the most important decisions in disability support. • Why matching…
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Trauma-Informed NDIS Support for Young People: From Support Worker to CEO | Yosmerys Aparicio Cuencas
Supporting young people with disability requires trauma-informed care, leadership, and strong support worker teams. In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah sits down with Yosmerys Aparicio Cuencas to discuss youth mentoring and building an NDIS business. • Trauma-informed support…
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Stop Posting for Posting’s Sake: Ethical NDIS Marketing That Works with Michelle Flynn
In this episode I sit down with Michelle Flynn, Growth & Marketing Manager at aryse (https://aryse.com.au/) — a service doing great things in the disability space. Michelle unpacks what ethical, effective marketing really means in an industry where trust and connection matter more than slick ads....
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The Hidden SIL Problem No One Is Talking About: Rostering & Claiming
Running a SIL service and feel like you’re constantly juggling rosters, funding, staff needs, and compliance… and still wondering if you’re getting it right? You’re not alone — and you’re not failing. In this episode, Sarah chats with Josh Pix from Resolv, a team that works alongside SIL…
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From Mugs to Matchmaking: A Support Worker Tale
I’m not great at elevator pitches — and honestly, I don’t want to be. I’m better at listening. Listening to why you do what you do. How you got here. And what actually matters to you. In this episode, I share the real story behind Support Worker Store — how it accidentally turned three years old,...
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NDIS Career Pathways: How to Go from Support Worker to Leadership in Australia's Disability Sector | Joel Scott
Support work can lead to leadership — and Joel Scott proves it. In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah speaks with Joel Scott about career growth in Australia's disability sector. • Career growth in disability support • From support worker to leadership • Skills needed to grow •...
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Rebuilding Allied Health: Inside Australian Therapy Hub & the Tech Changing Care
What happens when people inside the NDIS get fed up with broken systems… and decide to build something better? In this episode, I’m joined by Ammar Kazi and Valentina Aushana, the founders of Australian Therapy Hub (ATH) — an all-in-one platform designed to make therapy simpler, fairer, and more...
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10 Years, No Shortcuts: Vision, Hustle & Balance with James Bennett
We’re back for 2026 — and kicking off with a powerful conversation. In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah sits down with James Bennett, Director of Evergreen Disability Care, to talk about what it really takes to build a disability business with integrity, long-term vision, and...
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17 Years in the Disability Sector: Lessons Every Support Worker Needs to Hear | Sarah Heriot
What do you learn after 17 years in the disability sector? In this episode, Sarah Heriot reflects on her journey through support work — from the early days to the major shifts in advocacy, choice, and independent living we see today. Sarah shares real, lived lessons from working directly with...
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Thriving in 2026 as a Support Worker | Skills, Tech & Confidence in the NDIS
Support work is changing — fast. In this episode, Sarah Heriot unpacks what it really means to thrive as a support worker in 2026, not just survive the shifts in the NDIS. We talk about how expectations are evolving, why technology now plays a bigger role than ever, and how support workers can…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
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!
HOSTED BY
Sarah Heriot
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Sarah Knows Support Workers have?
Sarah Knows Support Workers currently has 124 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Sarah Knows Support Workers 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....
How often does Sarah Knows Support Workers release new episodes?
Sarah Knows Support Workers publishes regularly with 124 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Sarah Knows Support Workers?
You can listen to Sarah Knows Support Workers on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Sarah Knows Support Workers?
Sarah Knows Support Workers is created and hosted by Sarah Heriot.
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