Sarah Knows Support Workers

Can ChatGPT actually help NDIS support workers — or is it something we should be wary of?

In this episode, Sarah Heriot shares how she uses ChatGPT in everyday NDIS support work to plan meaningful activities, support goal-focused programs, and write clearer professional notes — without replacing the human side of support.

With over 17 years in the disability sector, Sarah explains how AI can reduce mental load for support workers, help expand ideas, and support better outcomes — when used intentionally and ethically.

This episode is for NDIS support workers, independent support workers, providers, and anyone curious about AI in care — explained in plain English, no tech jargon, no fear-mongering.

• How ChatGPT can support planning in NDIS work

• Why AI is a tool, not a replacement for support workers

• How to use prompts properly to get useful results

• Ways AI can assist with professional progress notes

• Where the boundaries are when using AI in support

• Why human judgement and connection still come first

ChatGPT, Sarah Heriot, NDIS support work, AI in disability care, support worker tools, meaningful programs, progress notes, human-centred support, future of support work

👇 Subscribe for more real conversations about support work, the NDIS, and doing this work well.

In this video, you’ll learn:Topics covered:

In today’s episode, I sit down with Tara Shekede, founder of Me Plus More — one of Australia’s leading online platforms supporting people with intellectual disability to build real independence, confidence and life skills.

We talk about:
• The real reason Me Plus More was created
• Why easy read, accessible learning and clear language matter
• Digital safety, scams and online risks for people with disability
• How support workers can use Me Plus More as a toolbox for skills-building
• How NDIS participants, families & providers can access the platform

Whether you’re an NDIS provider, support worker, or a family member supporting someone with an intellectual disability — this episode is packed with insights, practical advice and real stories of independence.

⭐ Check out Me Plus More:
https://meplusmore.com.au/

👉 Free 5-day trial
👉 No credit card needed
👉 Easy Read, videos, gamified learning & workbooks
👉 Suitable for NDIS participants, support workers and providers

From Drama Teacher to Care Trainer — meet Yvette “Spaghetti” Salvaris!

In this episode, Sarah from the Support Worker Store sits down with Yvette Salvaris, founder of Ethical Training Solutions, to talk about her wild career pivot from teaching drama to transforming the care and training sector.

They dive into:
💬 How Ethical Training Solutions started (and what “ethical” really means)
💡 Why career pivots are booming post-COVID
🐶 How volunteering (with therapy dogs!) keeps her grounded
👥 Why empathy + real skills matter more than certificates
☕ How Yvette’s networking events are creating safe spaces for care professionals
🌏 Her plan to expand Ethical Training Solutions nationally

If you’re a support worker, educator, or care industry pro thinking about upskilling, pivoting, or growing your network — this chat is your sign.

📌 Timestamps
00:00 Meet Yvette “Spaghetti” Salvaris
02:41 From Drama to Care Training
05:30 Launching Ethical Training Solutions
07:37 The Power of Career Pivots
10:26 Volunteering & Therapy Dogs
12:53 The Truth About Working in Care
18:22 How to Make Training Fun (and Not Boring)
20:01 Safe Networking for the Care Sector
22:48 What’s Next for Ethical Training Solutions

✨ Hit Subscribe for more real convos with changemakers in the care and NDIS space.
🎧 Listen to the full podcast: [insert Spotify/Apple link]
💻 Find Yvette: https://ethicaltrainingsolutions.com.au
💖 Follow Sarah: @SupportWorkerStore

#NDIS #CareIndustry #SupportWorkers #CareerPivot #TrainingSolutions #EthicalTraining #Volunteering #PersonalDevelopment #Education #Networking #NDISPodcast #SupportWorkerStore

From humble garage beginnings to becoming the go-to name in NDIS & aged-care payroll — meet Garth Belic, founder of PayCat 🐱💼

Sarah (aka the Brat) chats with Garth about how PayCat turned the pain of SCHADS payroll into a smooth, automated system that actually makes sense.

In this ep, they cover:
💥 How PayCat was born in a garage (and built into a 30+-staff powerhouse)
💥 The truth about SCHADS — why it’s so messy and how PayCat simplifies it
💥 Saving hours (and money) with award-costing + automation
💥 The upcoming game-changing API that lets CRMs cost rosters in real time
💥 Lessons in balance, health, and building a business that lasts

If you’re a small NDIS provider, payroll officer, or support-biz owner who’s ever screamed at an Excel sheet — this one’s your new religion.

👉 Listen now, follow the show, and check out PayCat.com.au for free SCHADS resources + demos.

#NDIS #AgedCare #SCHADS #Payroll #PayCat #SupportWorkerStore #BratEnergy

If you’re tired of juggling apps, emails, and endless admin, this episode’s for you.

Sarah sits down with Matt Cagney, CEO of ShiftCare, to unpack how his platform became the one-stop shop for disability and aged care providers across Australia. From client management and rostering to billing, compliance, and communication — ShiftCare’s doing it all (and doing it well).

Matt shares his journey from the tech world to the care industry, what it takes to design software that genuinely supports support workers, and how community feedback drives every update. They chat about innovation, automation, and how tech can still have heart in a sector built on people and purpose.

Whether you’re running a small NDIS business, managing a large provider, or working 1:1 with participants, this episode gives you a front-row seat to what’s next in care tech.

In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Doherty, founder of Empowered Livability, who drops one of the realest lines you’ll ever hear in the NDIS sector:
👉 “If you’re going to be in this sector — don’t be a dickhead.”

Nicole has over 25 years of experience in community services and has built Empowered Livability on one core value — treat people like people.

We talk about:
🏠 Creating homes that actually feel like home
💬 How emotional intelligence changes everything in care
⚖️ The balance between compliance and compassion
💡 What strong leadership really looks like in the NDIS world

Whether you’re a support worker, provider, or just curious about what good care really means — this one’s a must-watch.

🎧 Also available on Spotify + Apple Podcasts under Support Worker Store Podcast

#NDIS #SupportWorkers #EmpoweredLivability #NDISLeadership #DisabilitySupport #NDISCommunity #CareWithRespect

The first few years of business? Brutal. 💀
But Cedar from MyAssista and Support Worker Store spill the truth: it’s the grind that builds the gold.

In this episode, we talk about:
💬 The messy, unglamorous side of startup life
💡 Why “hustle” still matters when you’re building something from nothing
🧱 Learning skills you never thought you’d need (and wearing all the hats)
🔥 What keeps founders pushing through when the money’s tight and the doubt’s loud

If you’ve ever felt like giving up on your dream — this one’s your pep talk and reality check all in one.

👀 Tune in now to Sarah Knows Support Workers — the podcast for the real, raw, and ridiculously resilient.

#MyAssista #SupportWorkerStore #Entrepreneurship #StartupLife #WomenInBusiness #NDISBusiness #Founders #AustralianStartups #PodcastForFounders

With 19 years in the disability sector, Brett Sams has seen it all — from the overwhelming early days of community care to becoming a behavior support practitioner shaping workplace wellbeing. In this conversation, Brett shares how personal experiences influenced his career, why understanding behavior triggers is essential, and how collaborative support plans can change lives.

We dive into the real talk on burnout, why men in the sector struggle to open up about self-care, and how building a toolbox of wellbeing strategies can protect workers and improve company culture. Whether you’re a support worker, team leader, or provider, this episode will remind you why looking after yourself is just as important as looking after others.

✨ Takeaways:

• Collaborative care = better support outcomes

• Self-care looks different for everyone

• Corporate wellbeing programs can shift workplace culture

In this episode of Support Worker, Sarah chats with Belinda Toohey — a powerhouse in the disability sector. Belinda shares her journey from the early days of deinstitutionalization to creating Including You, a service built on social justice and advocacy.

They dive into:

• How the NDIS changed disability support (for better and harder)

• Why choice and control matter for people with disability

• The real challenges support workers face every day

• Why skill development and community inclusion are key to independence

Belinda’s story is all about adaptability, leadership, and creating real change. If you care about disability support, NDIS, and building inclusive communities, this conversation is for you.

👉 Keywords: disability support, NDIS, deinstitutionalization, choice and control, skill development, community inclusion, support workers, Including You, social justice, advocacy

In this episode, we sit down with Connor Greene, a passionate support worker and ADHD advocate, to explore the realities of supporting neurodivergent children within the NDIS framework.

Connor shares his journey from aged care to working with kids with ADHD and autism, unpacking the unpredictable nature of daily support work and the importance of communication, self-regulation, and education.

We dive into:
✨ Why Connor believes ADHD should be redefined as a self-regulation disorder
✨ The changing role of schools in ADHD awareness and mental health support
✨ How parents can better understand their child’s neurodivergent needs
✨ The power of passion in creating great support workers
✨ Building community and connection in the neurodivergent space

This episode is a must-listen for parents, educators, support workers, and NDIS professionals who want to strengthen their understanding of ADHD, autism, and community support.

NDIS, ADHD support Australia, autism support, support worker podcast, neurodivergent community, parenting ADHD Melbourne, education ADHD awareness, self-regulation disorder, mental health NDIS, ADHD Australia 2025