Sarah Knows Support Workers

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 HireUp into the CEO role, and what it takes to lead one of Australia’s best-known support platforms.

This conversation dives into NDIS leadership, support worker flexibility, provider partnerships, culture, aged care, workforce growth, AI in support work, and how HireUp is responding to sector change. Peter also talks about building strong teams, protecting culture as organisations grow, listening to feedback, and why support workers bring some of the most valuable real-world skills into the sector.

If you are an NDIS participant, aged care participant, family member, support worker, provider, or someone looking for flexible support options, this episode gives you a real behind-the-scenes look at how HireUp thinks about quality support, worker choice, and the future of care.

Want to learn more about HireUp?
Visit the HireUp website to explore support services, find support workers, learn about provider partnerships, and see how HireUp can support participants, families, and care teams across AustraliaIn 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 HireUp into the CEO role, and what it takes to lead one of Australia’s best-known support platforms.

This conversation dives into NDIS leadership, support worker flexibility, provider partnerships, culture, aged care, workforce growth, AI in support work, and how HireUp is responding to sector change. Peter also talks about building strong teams, protecting culture as organisations grow, listening to feedback, and why support workers bring some of the most valuable real-world skills into the sector.

If you are an NDIS participant, aged care participant, family member, support worker, provider, or someone looking for flexible support options, this episode gives you a real behind-the-scenes look at how HireUp thinks about quality support, worker choice, and the future of care.

Want to learn more about HireUp?
Visit the HireUp website to explore support services, find support workers, learn about provider partnerships, and see how HireUp can support participants, families, and care teams across Australia.

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, getting curious, and actually caring about the person in front of you.

We cover:

• Turning up vs showing up as a support worker
• Why curiosity is your biggest strength
• How to spot opportunities that aren’t written in a plan
• Supporting independence in real, everyday moments
• Following through and building trust over time

This episode is for NDIS support workers who want to go beyond the basics and genuinely make an impact.

Because the best support workers?
They give a sh*t.

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 person-centred care, support plan flexibility, documentation, shift notes, patterns of refusal, when to involve a support coordinator, and how to protect yourself professionally. This is a practical episode for NDIS support workers who want to build trust, respond well in the moment, and support participants in a way that actually fits their life.

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 Perth to hosting events across Australia, Cody shares how local community events are transforming how people find support, build connections, and grow in the disability and aged care sectors.

You’ll learn:

• How community events are helping participants find the right supports
• Why networking matters more than ever in the NDIS and aged care sectors
• How providers can build real connections (not just collect business cards)
• The power of community-led events across Australia
• What’s next for Disability Events Community and Aged Care Events Community

The Disability Events Community (DEC) connects people living with disability, families, carers, and professionals with local, quality supports and services through accessible community expos across Australia.

The Aged Care Events Community (ACEC) focuses on helping older Australians and their families connect with supports, services, and information in their local communities through smaller, more meaningful events.

This conversation is packed with insights on community, connection, networking, and building meaningful relationships in the disability and aged care space.

🎟️ Disability Events Community

👉 https://www.thedec.com.au/

🎟️ Aged Care Events Community

👉 https://www.theacec.com.au/

• NDIS Participant
• Aged Care Participant
• Support Worker
• Provider
• Allied Health
• Plan Manager
• Support Coordinator
• Or Anyone Passionate About Community

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, to explore how technology is transforming home care, aged care, and disability support across Australia.

This episode is for support workers, NDIS providers, families, and aged care professionals looking to simplify care coordination and improve outcomes.

• Why NDIS families struggle to coordinate care
• How Harmony Home Health Hub improves communication
• The gap between care plans and real-life delivery
• How technology supports independence
• What better care coordination looks like in Australia

👉 Follow Lisa Thomson & Harmony Home Health Hub
👉 Subscribe to Sarah Knows Support Workers for more NDIS insights

In this episode you'll learn:

https://harmoniehealth.com.au/

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 participants.

This episode is essential for NDIS providers, business owners, and quality managers.

• Why audits can strengthen your NDIS business
• What the NDIS Commission looks for
• How to build quality systems that work
• Why off-the-shelf policies fail providers
• Where AI fits into NDIS compliance

👉 Follow Keturah & Quality HQ
👉 Subscribe to Sarah Knows Support Workers

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
• Why isolation is common in 1:1 supports
• How burnout impacts participants
• What providers should do differently
• How to improve support worker wellbeing

👉 Follow Sarah Heriot
👉 Subscribe to Sarah Knows Support Workers

In this episode you'll learn:

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
• Personal branding for support workers
• Ethical storytelling in disability
• Building trust with families
• Marketing strategies for NDIS providers

👉 Follow Solomon
👉 Subscribe to Sarah Knows Support Workers

In this episode you'll learn:

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 clothing for disability support
• Continence products and dignity
• Product recommendations for support workers
• Disability supply challenges in Australia
• Person-centred care products

👉 Follow Bec Parry & InCare Supports
👉 Subscribe to Sarah Knows Support Workers

In this episode you'll learn:

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.

This episode is for NDIS providers, support workers, and disability business owners wanting to attract more participants and build a strong reputation.

• Common marketing mistakes NDIS providers make
• How to build referral networks in the disability sector
• Personal branding vs business branding
• Marketing strategies for NDIS providers in Australia
• How to grow your NDIS business sustainably

👉 Follow Chris Lapa
👉 Subscribe to Sarah Knows Support Workers

In this episode you'll learn: