The Business of Allied Health

Supported by CliniScribe AIIn this episode of the Business of Allied Health series, Barry is joined by Murray Leyland, a highly regarded sports physiotherapist and former Head Physiotherapist for the Central Coast Mariners in the A-League. Having played a pivotal role as a mentor in Barry’s own clinical journey, Murray brings decades of elite-level experience and a unique perspective on professional development and clinical excellence.Tune in as Murray discusses his transition from high-performance sports environments to clinical mentorship, the evolution of physiotherapy standards in Australia, and the importance of finding the right guidance early in a career. He also shares insights on managing the physical and mental demands of professional athletes, the core principles of effective rehabilitation, and his philosophy on what it takes to be one of the best in the field.Timestamps:[00:00] - Introduction to Murray Leyland and his influence on the profession[01:30] - Reflecting on the role of Head Physiotherapist at Central Coast Mariners[04:15] - The importance of mentorship and clinical guidance for early-career practitioners[07:00] - Bridging the gap between elite sports performance and private practice[10:30] - Key philosophies on rehabilitation and maintaining clinical standards[13:45] - Murray’s final advice for the next generation of allied health professionals

Supported by CliniScribe AIIn this episode of the Business of Allied Health series, Barry sits down with Fiona White, founder and director of Own Body and winner of the 2019 Telstra Victorian Small Business Award. From her early days working across hospitals and private practices to identifying a crucial gap in home-based rehabilitation, Fiona has built a thriving mobile network from the ground up. Today, her company operates with a dedicated team of over 90 clinicians spanning the East Coast of Australia.Tune in as Fiona discusses her entrepreneurial journey, the realities of scaling a healthcare business without a formal business background, and the value of accelerator programmes. She also shares key insights on tracking Net Promoter Scores (NPS), building robust systems that allow a practice to grow independently of its founder, and why avoiding 'shiny object syndrome' is essential for long-term success.Timestamps:[00:08] - Introduction to Fiona White and the origins of Own Body[01:45] - Early career experiences and identifying the gap in home-based rehabilitation[03:20] - Taking the leap to start a mobile practice and overcoming initial business hurdles[06:15] - Scaling the network to over 90 clinicians across Melbourne, Sydney, and Queensland[09:40] - The turning point: joining the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO) accelerator programme[12:10] - Navigating 'shiny object syndrome' and staying fiercely focused on core values[14:30] - Taking maternity leave and building systems to let the business thrive in the founder's absence[17:45] - Key metrics: The importance of a 95%+ NPS and retaining quality practitioners[20:10] - Fiona’s final advice and truth on running a successful allied health practice

In this episode of the Business of Allied Health series, Barry sits down with Jonathan Moody, founder of Physio Inq. With a journey spanning early struggles in a single medical centre to building a massive national network of over 400 employed clinicians, Jonathan has continually evolved his business model. From traditional clinics and franchising to becoming a major player in NDIS and in-home aged care, his story is one of remarkable resilience and vision.Tune in as Jonathan shares his strategies for scaling teams, the exact profit and rent margins you should be targeting, the psychological barriers clinic owners face when raising fees, and his ultimate truth on why your quietest employee might actually be your most valuable asset.Timestamps:[00:08] - Introduction to Jonathan Moody and the origins of Physio Inq[01:05] - Starting out in a medical centre and early growth strategies[02:27] - Scaling too quickly, financial hurdles, and pivoting to a franchise model[03:43] - The shift to in-home care, NDIS, and letting franchisees go independent[05:25] - The realities and challenges of co-founding a business with your spouse[08:11] - Managing 400 practitioners: Building scalable systems and the "pizza methodology"[09:23] - Accountability, governance, and utilizing a formal board of directors[10:23] - The future vision: Gaining the size needed to impact government legislation and protect allied health[13:20] - Changing the game in aged care: Moving from cost-based brokering to premium reablement[17:11] - Key business metrics: NPS, clinical outcomes, ROI, and rent-to-turnover ratios[20:59] - Navigating minimum wage increases and overcoming the fear of raising private fees[24:16] - Jonathan’s ultimate truth: Cherishing employee capacity and leading with supportSupported by CliniScribe AI

Supported by CliniScribe AIIn this episode of the Business of Allied Health series, Barry sits down with Winnie Wu, founder of the Movement Laboratory and Papaya Clinic in Sydney. As one of Australia's most respected voices in women's health, Winnie shares her journey from starting as a solo practitioner to scaling multidisciplinary, integrative clinics that offer physiotherapy, Pilates, natural therapies, and Chinese medicine.Tune in as Winnie discusses the realities of the startup grind—from bootstrapping her first clinic and building her own reception desk with IKEA parts, to the critical role of engaging a business coach from day one. She also reveals the key metrics she tracks, why gross profit should sit at 55%, and shares an unpopular lesson: why a founder's biggest bottleneck to growth is often their leadership skills, not their clinical expertise.Timestamps:[00:05] - Introduction to Winnie Wu, Movement Laboratory, and Papaya Clinic[01:31] - The founder journey: From Pilates instructor to solo practitioner and scaling to a group practice[04:06] - The startup grind: Being a one-woman show, bootstrap funding, and building IKEA desks[06:40] - Integrative care: Blending physiotherapy, natural therapies, and Chinese medicine[10:16] - Business coaching: Why having a mentor from day one is critical for sustainable growth[12:35] - The number one metric: Why Gross Profit needs to be sitting at 55%[13:35] - Unpopular lesson: Why clinic founders aren't always the best clinicians and the importance of leadership skills[16:08] - Where to find Winnie Wu and her coaching programmes

Supported by CliniScribe AIIn this episode of the Business of Allied Health series, Barry sits down with Ben Corso, founder of The Physio Clinic and BAC Business Consulting. With over 33 years in the industry, Ben has navigated every stage of the practice owner’s journey—from renting a single room in a medical centre to scaling multiple sites and eventually exiting to a publicly listed corporate.Tune in as Ben shares his "macro" approach to clinic management, the importance of engaging mentors from outside the healthcare bubble, and why the most critical metric for any owner isn't just revenue—it's understanding whether you’ve built a sustainable asset or just a high-pressure job.

Supported by CliniScribe AIIn this clip from the Business of Allied Health series, Barry sits down with Matt Pallozzi, practice owner of Instinct Health and Chair of the APA (Australian Physiotherapy Association) Victorian Branch Business Group. Matt shares his diverse career journey—from navigating the public hospital system and working in elite sports with the AFLW, to taking the leap into private practice.Tune in as Matt discusses the gritty reality of starting a clinic from scratch (including DIY plastering and working without a pay cheque for two years), the most critical metrics practice owners should be tracking, and a controversial piece of advice on why clinic owners need to check their ego and empower their staff.

Running an allied health clinic is a business — but most of the real lessons are never shared publicly. Behind every clinic are decisions about hiring, pricing, growth, and risk.In this inaugural episode, Barry Nguyen (Founder and CEO of CliniScribe AI | Physiotherapist & Software Engineer) sits down with industry veteran Michael Kenihan. Having established and operated over 50 clinics throughout his career, including 13 within the LifeCare network, Michael shares his hard-earned insights on what it truly takes to balance clinical excellence with commercial success.Tune in to explore the realities of scaling a regional clinic, the essential metrics every practice owner must track to avoid stagnation, the "3 A's" of patient retention, and the unpopular truths of managing practitioner performance.Supported by CliniScribe AI.Timestamps:[00:00] - Introduction to The Business of Allied Health[01:31] - Managing Over 50 Clinics & Early Career Lessons[02:18] - The Most Transformative Clinic Investment[04:09] - The Challenge of Developing Clinical Excellence[05:14] - Hands-On Mentoring & The Secret Shopper Routine[07:34] - The Ultimate Metric for Growth: The 80% Rule[09:25] - The 3 A’s: Ability, Availability, and Affability[10:19] - The Unpopular Truth About Clinic Management[12:35] - The 4 Stages of a Health Practitioner's Journey[14:27] - Final Thoughts & Outro