Sarah Knows Support Workers

NDIS Self-Management Made Easier? Meet Hai Helper Founder Sam Fairbairn

Managing your own NDIS funding can be empowering, but let's be real, the paperwork, invoices, budgets and changing rules can be a headache!

In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, I chat with Sam Fairbairn, founder of Hai Helper, an Australian platform designed to make NDIS self-management easier.

Sam started his career in neurological physiotherapy before stepping into the world of technology and business. He saw how complicated managing NDIS funding could become and decided to create something that could help.

We chat about:

• How Sam went from physiotherapist to tech founder.

• Why he created Hai Helper and the problem he's trying to solve.

• How the platform helps participants and families manage invoices, track budgets and organise records.

• How AI is being used to explain NDIS information and help people find official sources.

• Why protecting people's personal information matters.

• The free Claim Helper Chrome extension.

• The challenges of starting a business and what Sam has learned along the way.

We also have a good laugh about networking, rejection and the many hats you end up wearing when you're running your own business!

Whether you're an NDIS participant, family member, support worker or provider, this conversation is about making things simpler and giving people more choice and control.

🔗 CONNECT WITH SAM & EXPLORE HAI HELPER

🌐 Hai Helper website:
https://haihelper.com.au/

💻 Try the platform (30-day free trial):
https://app.haihelper.com.au/

🧾 Free Claim Helper Chrome extension:
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/akjabmbcidpajifmfgggbdhnihjceifc

📅 Book a demo with Sam:
https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/[email protected]/

📸 Hai Helper Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/hai.helper/

💼 Hai Helper LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/company/hai-helper

🎙️ ABOUT THE PODCAST

Sarah Knows Support Workers brings you real conversations with people working across Australia's disability sector.

From support workers and participants to founders and industry leaders, we explore the stories, challenges and ideas shaping disability support.

Subscribe and follow for more conversations about the NDIS, disability support and the people making a difference.

The NDIS is changing, but does that mean it's all bad news? Absolutely not!

We've known for a while that changes are coming. Instead of focusing on everything that could go wrong, let's talk about what support workers can actually do to prepare for 2027.

In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, I'm sharing five things I'd be doing right now, especially if I was working independently.

We're talking about:

• Getting your systems organised and doing the basics really well.

• Delivering quality support that puts participants first.

• Exploring group supports and new opportunities in your community.

• Building your skills without spending thousands on qualifications.

• Thinking differently about how we provide supports.

Because here's the thing: change doesn't always have to mean something negative. It can also be an opportunity to grow, improve and do things better.

I'm not saying the changes ahead will be easy. But I do believe support workers have an opportunity to be part of the solution.

So, rather than asking what we're going to lose, let's start asking what we can build.

🎧 Have a listen and tell me: What's ONE thing you'd do differently as a support worker heading into 2027?

Sarah Knows Support Workers — Real conversations about disability support, the NDIS and the people doing the work.

#NDIS #SupportWorkers #IndependentSupportWorkers #DisabilitySupport #NDIS2027

Referral fees, gift cards, kickbacks and conflicts of interest. Where do we draw the line in the NDIS?

New laws targeting kickbacks and inducements are coming into effect in November 2026. And whether you're an independent support worker, support coordinator or NDIS provider, this is something you need to understand.

In this solo episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah breaks down what the changes mean in easy English.

We're talking about:

• What kickbacks and inducements actually mean.

• When a referral payment could become a problem.

• What independent support workers and providers need to know.

• Whether gifts, discounts and business promotions are still allowed.

• Why conflicts of interest matter.

• What could happen if providers break the rules.

• How to report concerns to the NDIS Commission.

Because here's the thing: a participant is not a sales opportunity to be traded between businesses.

There's nothing wrong with building relationships, recommending great providers or growing your business.

But participant choice should always come first.

Good referrals should be about finding the right support, not receiving a financial reward.

🎧 Have a listen and ask yourself: where should we draw the line between a genuine referral and a kickback?

Want to read the official information?

NDIS Code of Conduct:
https://www.ndiscommission.gov.au/ndis-code-conduct

Australian Government legislation:
https://www.legislation.gov.au

Search for the National Disability Insurance Scheme Amendment (Securing the NDIS for Future Generations) Act 2026.

This episode provides general information and is not legal advice.

#NDIS #SupportWorkers #NDISProviders #DisabilitySupport #SupportCoordination #NDISReforms #SarahKnowsSupportWorkers

The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) has released its 2025–26 Annual Report, and some of the NDIS figures are worth paying attention to.

In this solo episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, I'm breaking down the report in easy English. No complicated government jargon, just the facts.

We're talking about:

• Why NDIS review applications have increased by 130% in two years.

• The 7,077 cases still waiting to be finalised.

• Why the median waiting time has increased to 34 weeks.

• What it means when 65% of cases are resolved by consent.

• Changes to how NDIS access reviews involving young children are prioritised.

These aren't just numbers. Behind these applications are people with disabilities, families and people supporting them.

But don't just take my word for it. Read the report yourself!

📖 Official source: Administrative Review Tribunal Annual Report 2025–26

https://www.art.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-10/Administrative%20Review%20Tribunal%20Annual%20Report%202025-26.pdf

See pages 72 and 208 for the key NDIS findings and statistics.

🎙️ My question to you: Are we paying enough attention to how many NDIS decisions are being challenged?

#NDIS #DisabilitySupport #SupportWorkers #NDISReviews #SarahKnowsSupportWorkers

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 syndrome.

And trust me, Sam has some stories to tell!

From growing up with a disability and dealing with school bullying to dating, nightclubs, relationships and finding her independence, Sam shares the good, the bad and the moments that shaped her life.

We talk about:

• 💬 Growing up disabled in the 90s and fighting for inclusion.

• ❤️ Dating, relationships and the stigma around disability.

• 🚨 A frightening nightclub experience involving a stranger.

• 🏠 Moving out, accessing the NDIS and finding a home that truly suits her.

• 💪 Why being called "inspiring" isn't always a compliment.

• ✨ Why people with disabilities deserve the freedom to make their own choices, take risks and live their lives.

Sam also shares why parents and support workers need to stop wrapping people with disabilities in cotton wool.

This episode is full of humour, honesty, some wild stories and important conversations about disability, dignity, independence and choice.

Because having a disability doesn't mean missing out on life.

🎙️ Listen to Sarah Knows Support Workers and join the conversation.

❤️ Follow, subscribe and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

⚠️ 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 Services, for a deeply personal conversation about family, mental health, advocacy and hope.

Following my conversation with her son, Lachy, we hear the story from a mother's perspective.

Kym opens up about her family's experience navigating the mental health system, the challenges they faced, and how those experiences shaped her approach to supporting others.

We talk about the importance of recognising when someone is struggling, the challenges of accessing mental health services, the impact on families, and why listening without judgement can make such a difference.

Kym also shares how her experiences helped shape T&K Support Services, her passion for mental health education, the Hearing Voices support group and her belief in putting identity before diagnosis.

This is a conversation about more than the difficult moments. It's about learning, community, finding your voice and the importance of having people who will stand beside you.

Thank you, Kym, for trusting me with such a personal part of your family's story.

If this episode brings up difficult feelings, support is available in Australia:

• Lifeline: 13 11 14

• Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467

• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636

If you or someone else is in immediate danger, call 000.

You don't have to navigate difficult times alone.

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 diagnosis.

Lachlan shares his personal experiences of receiving mental health support, navigating the NDIS as a participant and how those experiences have helped shape his approach to working in the disability sector today.

One particularly meaningful part of Lachlan's journey is reconnecting with Prue, a nurse who supported him during his time in psychiatric care. Years later, they found themselves working as colleagues and recently shared the stage at a mental health conference, bringing together two perspectives on the same experience.

Throughout the conversation, Lachlan offers valuable insights into what meaningful support can look like, including the importance of listening, creating safe spaces, respecting individual experiences and understanding that sometimes simply being present can make a difference.

We also explore the work being done through T&K Support Services, the value of peer connection through the Hearing Voices group, and Lachlan's passion for using music as a way to connect with and support others.

Beyond his professional work, Lachlan shares what matters most to him, including his family, becoming a father and his hopes of one day establishing Second Chances Studio, a recording space where people can explore their creativity and express themselves through music.

This episode highlights the value of lived experience in shaping better services, challenging assumptions and creating a more person-centred approach to mental health and disability support.

Lachlan's story is his own, and we're grateful to him for choosing to share his experiences, perspectives and aspirations with our community.

Whether you're a support worker, NDIS participant, provider, family member or someone interested in understanding different lived experiences, we hope this conversation encourages reflection on how we listen, connect and support one another.

🎧 Follow Sarah Knows Support Workers for real conversations and diverse perspectives from across the disability and NDIS sector.

Content note: This episode includes discussions about mental health, psychiatric hospitalisation, hearing voices, substance use and homelessness.

#SarahKnowsSupportWorkers #LivedExperience #IdentityBeforeDiagnosis #MentalHealth

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 Workers, I'm sharing what I'd be doing RIGHT NOW to prepare an NDIS roster for Christmas, New Year's and January.

Drawing on my own experience in disability rostering, we're talking about staff availability, annual leave planning, participant choice, keeping your CRM accurate, checking SCHADS Award conditions and making sure you've got a backup plan when things go sideways.

Because good rostering isn't just about filling shifts. It's about communication, preparation and making sure the people we support receive consistent, quality care.

My biggest tip? The work you do in October can save you a whole lot of headaches in December!

🎧 Whether you're a support worker, roster coordinator, team leader or NDIS provider, this episode is for you.

💬 Tell me: What's the biggest Christmas rostering disaster you've ever experienced?

Because I reckon we've all got a story! 😂

#NDIS #SupportWorkers #NDISRostering #DisabilitySupport #SCHADSAward #SarahKnowsSupportWorkers

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 experiences from her career, including situations where people with disability were allegedly prevented from leaving services they no longer wanted, concerns around NDIS funding and providers, and what it can take to keep pushing when someone’s rights or safety are at risk.

We also talk about what support workers can actually do when something doesn’t feel right — starting with knowing your policies, procedures and Code of Conduct, documenting concerns, speaking up, and knowing when concerns may need to be escalated to regulators, police or other appropriate authorities.

Most importantly, this episode is about the people we support.

Because support workers are often the eyes and ears on the ground. And sometimes doing the right thing means being willing to say:

“No. This isn’t okay.”

Belinda’s advice is pretty simple: do the right thing, trust your gut, find people with integrity, and don’t stay silent just because speaking up feels uncomfortable. Pasted text

⚠️ Content warning: This episode discusses alleged abuse, exploitation, restrictive practices, sexual exploitation and other distressing situations involving people with disability.

🎧 Sarah Knows Support Workers
Real conversations about support work, the NDIS, disability and all the messy stuff in between.

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, independence, knowing when to speak up, and actually understanding what the person you support wants from their life.

Because you can be fun. You can be caring. You can remember the coffee order. You can be the favourite support worker.

But if you’re always late, never write useful notes, blur boundaries, or make someone more dependent on you… we need to have a chat. 😂

The sweet spot?
Be kind and professional.
Be fun and reliable.
Be caring and know your role.

That’s what makes a bloody good support worker.