Allied Health Business Brilliance

Good customer service depends on good business systems and standards. And this episode with Cate Schreck is brimming with information on how we can improve customer service in our allied health businesses. Cate is the boss lady of Lightbulb Training Solutions and author of the book “The A - Z of Service Excellence - The Essential Guide to becoming a Customer Service Professional.” Lightbulb Training Solutions design and deliver training programs that create and maintain focused and skilled frontline staff for businesses in Geelong, Ballarat, Melbourne and beyond. Episode highlights: Cate tells us more about Lightbulb Training Solutions. The power of selling slowly. The services Cate provides for business frontline teams. Main customer service challenges in businesses today. Millennials in the workplace. The NDIS audit process. The problem with undocumented systems and standards in allied health businesses. Top tips for setting business standards. The most important thing customers are looking for and how to apply it in your business The 3 P’s that customers make assessments on and what you can do about it. 3 steps for business owners to start the process of having excellent customer service. Cate’s Book: A - Z of Service Excellence - The Essential Guide to becoming a Customer Service Professional The benefits of working with external trainers. Useful Links Lightbulb Training Solutions Website Lightbulb Training Solutions Instagram Lightbulb Training Solutions LinkedIn Lightbulb Training Solutions Email Lightbulb Training Solutions Facebook A - Z of Service Excellence - The Essential Guide to becoming a Customer Service Professional Nacre Links:  Website LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When I started my Allied Health Business, it had fast growth although it wasn’t particularly well managed in hindsight. As allied health professionals, being a business owner isn’t what we went to university for; and having time for proper business training isn’t always the case. So, the business side of things can feel very overwhelming. Running a business with great support There are two things I want to ask you: Who are your business co-pilots? Who are your support crew? Running any business without great support, without mentoring, without an extra set of eyes and that trusted co-pilot is really doing business the hard way. I know this for a fact because as soon as I got the support I needed in my own private practice, I felt and saw a massive difference. It went from zero to significant on every single factor you would want to measure. What is covered in this episode: The Business Continuum. Accelerating your private practice to a starring business. Important questions you need to ask yourself. The process of how I worked on my private practice. What I learned really fast. The outcomes of the process. Our business community and services. Getting the right support you need for the business. Nacre Links:  Website LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A practice management software can be a total game-changer in your allied health business if optimised and maximised correctly. In this episode, we chat with Darren Rieck, co-founder of Nookal, to share with us the benefits and common worries regarding technology and the use of practice management softwares in your business. Nookal is a practice management software that helps you keep everything in your business running on time, automate bookings and reminders, take clinical notes, writing letters and storing client files, invoice and submit claims easily, keep data safe inside and out and report and track your goals. Episode highlights: The reason behind the development of Nookal and its present shape and scope. Their virtual team’s workflow and how technology helps make it easier for them. The worries of allied business health owners today. How Nookal supports people with productivity and collecting data. Hurdles business owners face that lead to the under-optimisation of their practice management software. How they encourage people to use their software to its full potential. Cathy’s experience with selling her business and how her practice management software has helped in this process. Struggles of allied business health owners who use practice management softwares. The importance of planning out trainings for allied health professionals. Darren’s learnings from his Nookal adventure. The story behind how Darren learned to make the business work and lead his team. Plans for Nookal in the next few years. Darren’s thoughts on what’s going to happen with the NDIS and My Health Record. Darren’s advice for allied business owners Nacre Links:  Website LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allied health business owners often have hesitations in reviewing and adjusting their fees. Many probably don’t know how to identify the increases needed and, ultimately, have a hard time justifying and explaining these changes to clients and even to themselves. This episode will help you make informed decisions on fee reviews and adjustments you need in your practice today. Increasing your fees to get positive results in your business I have also been through this predicament of fee increases when I had my private practice. It surely wasn’t an easy task but going through the process has made a tremendous positive difference in my overall business. I want you to experience the same benefits when I made these changes in my practice. Armed with knowledge about reviewing and adjusting your fees the right way will empower and inspire you to work on implementing this process in your business. I will share my knowledge on some of the biggest bits I’ve experienced and have heard and understood from other allied business owners to help you get started on the right track. Episode highlights: Typical problems and challenges that allied health business owners encounter when adjusting fees. Reviewing and increasing your fees. Finding the right timing to introduce a new fee structure in your practice. The benefits of reviewing your current fees. The importance of reports in going through this process. Reasons why you should consider time-based billing. Essential questions you need to ask yourself and think about. The impact of leveling up your fees to you, your clients, team and business Nacre Links:  Website LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Private Practice Made Perfect Podcast, be inspired about running and scaling your private practice while having enough time for family and the things that matter the most. Be inspired by Emily Hayles’ story, a Physio who founded Move and Play Pediatric Therapy in Australia in 2015. Learn how she grew her private practice and her team while managing to have a 3-day work week as a business owner. Move and Play Pediatric Therapy is the leading children’s therapy service in the Mackay region. They specialise in providing high-quality physiotherapy and occupational therapy services for children of all ages including babies and infants, toddlers, children, adolescents and young adults. Episode highlights: Emily’s story of how she started her private practice. Her initial thoughts on starting her own private practice and being self-employed. The situation of her business in the first year. Bringing in another physio to be her teammate in the business. The setup of her team 4 years into the business. How she started her team-facing strategy in the business. Building her remote team and hiring a virtual assistant. Tips to create a bond between team members and making them feel part of the team. A glimpse into her 3-day work week schedule. Emily tells us more about her upcoming book. The program that inspired her to have 3-day work weeks to have more time for people and things that matter the most. Valuable lessons that she has gotten from running her private practice. A description of her high-performing team. The idea of building a leadership team in her business. The amazing thing about working with her and working in her business. Future plans for Move and Play Pediatric Therapy. Thoughts on the NDIS. Her inspiration for writing her book. Her plans for the business if she won $50,000. Cathy answers Emily’s question about how to figure out how big you want to go in terms of your practice. Nacre Links:  Website LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We business owners are incredibly busy and our time is precious. It’s important we make the most of it, especially when it comes to efficiently running an allied health business. One of the best ways you can keep on top of things is by using the reports generated by your practice management software. For whatever reason though, I’ve noticed many allied health business owners don’t bother. The main problem seems to be because they are simply too busy, but I wonder if the bigger issue is that people are simply unaware of the function and the amazing range of reports that can be generated. Episode highlights: Discovering a hidden opportunity - practice management software reporting Business is a numbers game - understanding your customer data numbers and using them to drive your business The types of reports that can be generated by practice management software - billing, sales, cancellations Using reports to determine future numbers How reports can help you stay on top of trends in your business Adjusting workflow based on your report data Understanding your allied health team and their work - retaining clients, cancellations, session numbers Nacre Links:  Website LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Occupational Therapy services are evolving now more than ever. And in today’s episode, I am joined by Dino Mennillo, an Occupational Therapist, Co-Founder and Director of Occupational Therapy for Children. He tells us the story of how their business evolved 15 years later to build a new practice that provides support for children, most especially teens. Occupation Therapy for Children provides support to teens with ASD, depression and the like by offering one-of-a-kind therapy services. The standards that make them stand out from the rest is that they’ve built a business and a space that caters to the physical and mental needs of these teens while giving them the support and respect they need as individuals. Their business offers services such as building life and social skills. They help children increase their capacity around their goals and make them more functional by offering different activities for teens that spark their interest. Episode highlights: The new business model of Occupational Therapy for Children. The occupational therapy services they offer The environment of OTC and an overview of what the kids are doing. The response of the teens on the space and the support they feel. How Dino’s background in mental health has been invaluable in their practice. Background on their team, how it grew and how they started outsourcing staff. The mindset ceiling for many business owners that hinder them from undergoing a shift and process of trusting and delegating work. The engagement of teens and carers as idea contributors in the development of their business and strategic plans. Their plans to keep consumer feedback as part of their business evolution. Cathy’s thoughts on the landscape of private practice in 5 years time. The role of NDIS in making it easier or harder for health professionals to enter private practice. The possibilities that may happen when NDIS is implemented. Cathy gives sample figures on the charges made by private practices. The things that Cathy likes to do for fun Nacre Links:  Website LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paper-based files and reports are now a thing of the past. In this world of smart technology, it is imperative that your businesses also jump on the bandwagon to make it efficient, effective, and future-ready. One of the most important things that you need to focus on and develop is your Human Resources (HR) and Workplace, Health and Safety (WHS). Growing your business with the help of cloud-based HR and WHS Programs As you know, I am all for bringing in technology into business. HR and WHS are two important aspects that I feel we need to give equal business attention and love. Whether you like it or not, you need HR and WHS documents. This is because you have legal obligations when you bring in any kind of team in your business - clinical, admin, HR, etc. It doesn’t matter what kind of employment they have. You still have legal obligations to keep them safe and engage them in a legally compliant way. Cloud-based HR and WHS programs can help you run your business efficiently and effectively. Numerous cloud-based HR and WHS programs are now readily available at your fingertips and there is no reason why you shouldn’t take advantage of the wonderful benefits they offer in helping your team and business grow. They are your partners walking with you side-by-side and guiding you and your team every step of the way. Episode Highlights: The importance of HR and WHS documents in a business. Reasons why you shouldn’t write your own HR and WHS documents. The option of purchasing HR and WHS documents. An important thing to ask when considering or choosing an HR and WHS program. Pros and cons of having a cloud-based HR and WHS program. Getting creative with your training modules. Improving performance development. Measuring compliance through the program. Protecting your business from the problems you may face with exiting clinicians. The advantage of having good support from your HR and WHS program Hot topics to be discussed by the CEO of Happy HR, Christopher Smith, at the Private Practice Virtual Conference 2019 happening on May 31. 5 Key Takeaways Nacre Links:  Website LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of the Private Practice Made Perfect Podcast, we will be exploring the idea of improving and elevating leadership and teams in your business. Jan and Michelle Terkelsen, founders of People Leaders, will share valuable information with us on their expertise: creating high performing teams and teaching leadership for businesses who want to have work environments that are inclusive and inspiring for all. People Leaders has worked with numerous organisations, big and small, in Australia and New Zealand such as Westpac, NAB, Origin Energy, Shell, Jetstar, Acrewood Childcare Centres, Consolidated Pastoral Company and many more. They use frameworks and custom fit them to your business and your teams’ situations. Some of the services they provide are facilitation, coaching, MBTI profiling and workshops, LSI profiling, their own proprietary High Performing Team Assessment Tool and Framework, and a Hundred Day High Performing Team Plan for People Leaders and their Teams. Episode highlights: What is People Leaders and what do they do. The people and groups they love to work with. The principles of leadership and lifting a team to high performance as an industry agnostic practice. The importance of trust and respect within a team. Most common leadership challenges. Reasons why leaders get fatigued and depleted physically, mentally and emotionally and how this affects their leadership and their team. Biggest success factors for efficient and effective leaders. Helping your team’s development using the High Performing Team Indicator. How they help teams to improve and perform better. What to do when pro-leadership and pro-team behaviour gets lost in the busy-ness of the business. Tips for helping leaders to transition from clinical therapeutic work to a more team-facing role. The importance of Personal Development Plans for leaders. Things that are vital to great leadership. Useful Links People Leaders Website People Leaders Podcast People Leaders Facebook People Leaders Twitter People Leaders LinkedIn High Performing Team Assessment Tool Nacre Links:  Website LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Private Practice Virtual Conference 2019 happening on May 31st is an all-online, all day conference that is going to be differently awesome. We have prepared interesting topics and lined up wonderful guest speakers to join us as we reclaim your time and business mojo. Why did we chose CLAIM your happy as the conference theme? At NACRE Consulting, everything we do has a solid mission and commitment behind it. The reason why we chose CLAIM your happy as the conference theme is because we know how complex running your private practice can be. Our mission is to help you through this and get your business smart back on. We know how claiming your happy back will make such a beautiful difference to you, your family, team and clients. So we look forward to e-meeting you at the Private Practice Virtual Conference happening on May 31st, Melbourne Time. What is discussed in this episode: Why CLAIM Your Happy is the theme for this year’s conference. What CLAIM stands for. Ticket access Presentation topics and speakers Useful Links: Private Practice Virtual Conference Program Buy your tickets here Email for queriesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we talk about the power of practice management software, specifically Cliniko, and how it is changing the way Allied Health services are being delivered today. We pick the brains of none other than the Founder and CEO of Cliniko, Joel Friedlaender, to help us see the benefits we can take advantage of by using this innovative practice management software such as increased online bookings and decreased no-shows, useful data management and report production, and many more. Cliniko is a safe, secure and reliable allied health practice management software that takes care of your practice’s data management. It allows you to access your data anytime and anywhere in the world and, most importantly, it is trusted in over 95 countries worldwide. Episode Highlights: The benefits of meeting up with your remote team face to face which Cliniko did in November 2018. Most recent updates on Cliniko. Business reports that Cliniko users can take advantage of using their software. Experimenting on advertising to broaden your reach. Cliniko’s compliance on data management in privacy laws in many countries, including GDPR in Europe. Joel’s advice for businesses who continue to work with pen and paper files. The latest on My Health Record and how Cliniko fits into that. The latest on integrating the use of payment gateways for Medicare. Trends, behaviours, and questions of Australian Cliniko users on optimizing Cliniko. Joel’s thoughts on competition between businesses, especially in Allied Health. Positive and negative trends that Joel is seeing in the Allied Health Industry regarding software and technology. How to improve your security and the passwords you use. Cliniko’s biggest projects for 2019. Latest on NDIS on Cliniko’s perspective. Cliniko’s goal in supporting clients and developing their software. Useful Links Cliniko Website Cliniko Facebook Cliniko TwitterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Embracing technology in business is something that may save your sanity and give you better business success; but many business owners still brush-off this idea because of the problems and experiences they’ve had about IT. Today, I share my knowledge and thinking about this key tool that may help your business grow and run to its full potential. Seeing technology as an investment I am a huge fan of technology and have invested in it for both my private practice and business coaching practice. That’s around 15 or 16 years of bringing value to my time, productivity and business outcome. It has definitely made a positive difference to me as a business owner, my team, and my clients. Many business owners often think about the problems they may encounter before even considering the vast amount of positive benefits that technology can bring to their business. My goal is to make you understand why taking the leap to becoming a tech-loving practice is essential to your business today and beyond. Episode Highlights: Main problems that allied business health owners see about technology. 3 important technology-related things and ideas you need to have for your business. The benefits and opportunities that technology can bring to you as the business owner, your team and your business. Actions you need to take towards a more confident and leveraged tech future in your private practice. Outcomes and results of having a tech-savvy business. Nacre Links: WebsiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I take a look at the fascinating topic of technology in the allied health sector and its many benefits for both clinicians, practice owners and patients. No one understands the importance of technology better than Katrina Otto, owner of Train IT Medical. The company provides medical practice management consultancy services. The company also provides medical software training, including Medical Director, PracSoft and Best Practice Specialist, as well as My Health Record and Digital Health training and change management expertise. Katrina started the company in 2006 after seeing a gap in the market. Over her 30 year career, she has managed several medical practices and accredited day surgery facilities. She is a qualified teacher, and is now one of Australia’s most experienced digital health and medical software trainers. Episode highlights: What Train IT Medical does and why Katrina started the company Katrina’s female mentors Changing her psychology degree to adult education and teaching at TAFE part-time Being contacted by TAFE and asked to teach doctors and realising teaching IT medical was her calling Katrina still teaches mostly doctors but it’s shifted from ‘how-to use technology’ to ‘how do we improve our practice?’ Introducing ideas to practices based on what she’s seen that works well at other practices Working with high-performing practices - those that are progressive and are leading the way Medical practices and allied health practices - are they one in the same? 23 different disciplines in allied health Katrina’s soft spot for occupational therapy The technological challenges facing the allied health industry - marketing and billing and a lack of options Katrina’s frustration at the lack of options - she wants technology to be more adaptable and faster because a lot of allied health businesses want that and are ready for it Ensuring patients don’t slip through the cracks - using technology to support your protocols Building your allied health business using data analytics The practice of the future - implementing TeleHealth, SMS contact and integrated technology How technology can help create happier medical practices Katrina’s hope to help prevent clinician burnout and keep joy in the profession and practices How Katrina thinks patients will be using technology to participate in their health experience going forward Katrina’s thoughts on what the future of allied health looks like - apps for patients will take off Electronic notes during a session - getting used to the change and embracing it Collaborating with the client on the next step in their health experience - encouraging record-keeping Finding what motivates each member of your allied health team - there isn’t a ‘one size fits all’ The technology will come but allied health professionals need to shift their thinking to think as a team Useful Links Katrina Otto on LinkedIn Train IT Medical Website Train IT Medical Twitter Train IT Medical Facebook Train IT Medical YouTube Katrina Otto Pinterest Nacre Links:  Website LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Forming a relationship with your clients is crucial to allied health business success. It’s not easy, but investing a little time and money into your marketing strategies will always pay off so I’m sharing my favourite marketing tips to help boost your allied health business. Topics covered in this episode: My marketing strategy when I had my private practice - everything you say and do Pitch yourself - the importance of being able to properly introduce yourself at any networking opportunity Encourage your team to practise pitching themselves because they also represent your business and services Build memories with clear, consistent voicemails across the board Take a look at your email signatures - are they on-brand? Are they visual and interactive? Making the most of your website - it should be amazing and a big priority Use videos to make it personable and more inviting Only use professional photography throughout, including for your headshots Ensure your website is optimised for smartphones and iPads etc. Don’t be shy to shout about who you are and what you stand for - explain your motives and vision to your current and future clients Do your homework so you know what search terms people are using when Googling business and services like yours Invest in your referrals - manage your partnerships with a regular phone call, email or visit Be present on social media, especially Facebook - post at least once a day Survey your customers to understand their needs and wants - they are an untapped resource Useful Links Website LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is it that so many allied health business owners shy away from content marketing? In this episode I chat with Brett Jarman, business and content strategist and CEO and founder of Help Me Leverage and Experts On Air, which produces this podcast. He specialises in helping business owners build their reputation through content marketing, or ‘authority marketing’ as he likes to call it. He’s a firm believer that the more of a reputation you have, the easier business will be, and it doesn’t have to be difficult. Brett is also the author of ‘Soul Operator - How to Be Your Own Boss and Build a Business With Purpose’. In this episode, he shares his knowledge of the content marketing space and how it can benefit any business, especially those in the allied health sector. Episode highlights: What Brett does as CEO and founder of Help Me Leverage and Experts On Air How Brett defines content marketing What are forms of content marketing? Podcasts, interviews, blog posts, social media Why a blog is a good place to start as a content marketer - you control the real estate Speaking as a form of content marketing as an allied health business owner - a great way to communicate your expertise and get instant feedback Brett’s suggestions for clinicians to start out blogging - choose a micro topic, write bullet points on your subject, and work through those An exercise for coming up with micro topics to write or talk about Is the podcast the new blog post? Brett’s prediction for podcast growth in Australia People underestimate the opportunities for growing themselves internationally Brett’s creation of the Reputational Credit Score Tool - it will help people measure how effective they are in the marketplace Imposter syndrome - ‘who am I to be doing this!?’ We put someone else on a pedestal but there’s room for everyone The importance of consistency - people who succeed put out content every single week, don’t do it half-heartedly Publish prolifically and promote persistently Useufl Links:  Website LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram Pinterest Help Me Leverage Website Experts On Air Website Brett Jarman LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There’s a lot to know about the marketing world, but if you’re a business owner, no matter what your industry, it’s important to understand the basics. I’ve noticed that a lot of allied health business owners tend to be cautious of marketing, maybe even fearful. And it’s understandable. But if you get your head around the jargon and learn the basic concepts and language associated with marketing, you can do wonderful things for your business. Episode highlights: Why allied health business owners tend to ignore marketing strategies The Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA) and its restrictions Adwords - creating industry-specific adverts How you can use Google Analytics to understand your website traffic Analytics for other social media platforms What is a blog and what’s the purpose of one? Why it’s important to know what a bounce rate is and how to lower it The different types of content you can create as an allied health business owner Engagement Rate - knowing how long your website visitors are engaging for and what is making them engage with your business Inbound Marketing - how to bring people to your website Painting a picture that can tell a thousands words with infographics The importance of knowing the keywords for your business and industry Why you need to pay attention to how your website looks on a mobile phone Net Promoter Score - what it is, why it’s important and how to find it What do you offer potential customers? Why having an ‘offer’ on your website is important What’s your ROI and how can you improve it? Sales Funnel - staged marketing campaigns to get people to trust you and ultimately buy from you Social Media - the big players like Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and others Understanding the importance of SEO A free download from the Nacre Consulting website - A-Z of Marketing Terms Website LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Instagram PinterestSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having an online presence is important for any business person, including allied health business owners. One of the best ways to do that is via LinkedIn. As it continues to evolve, it becomes a much more powerful personal branding tool. In this episode, I chat with Adam Houlahan, the Founder and CEO of Web Traffic That Works, and a global keynote speaker, about how allied health professionals can use LinkedIn to not only grow their presence but their referral network too. Adam is not only a LinkedIn expert, he’s an Amazon Best Selling Author of several books, including his latest ‘Influencer’. His international team of over 20 teach business owners how to use social media, specifically LinkedIn, to stand out in their respective industries. In addition, Adam runs group-based 12-week programs that help people expand their presence in their niche and connect with like-minded people. Episode highlights: About Adam’s company, Web Traffic That Works - training programs for LinkedIn What Adam thinks of LinkedIn and the way it’s changing after being bought by Microsoft The importance of LinkedIn and how best to position yourself How allied health professionals can use LinkedIn to grow their business - building your referral network Content is the most critical part of LinkedIn - the types of content you should be creating How best to use LinkedIn as your personal branding tool - three action steps to ensure your profile is the best it can be Background on Adam’s 12 Week Influencer Challenge - what it covers and how it can help professionals Adam’s social media books - ‘The LinkedIn Playbook’ and his latest book, ‘Influencer’ How long you should be spending on LinkedIn each day The main benefit of LinkedIn when it comes to connecting with people - no middle man Useful links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcast Adam Houlahan Links:  Website LinkedIn Twitter Facebook InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running a social enterprise is about making a positive change in the world. That’s exactly what Weh Yeoh, the founder of OIC Cambodia and the co-founder and CEO of Umbo, is doing. Even though Weh’s background is as a physiotherapist, he has mostly worked with children with disabilities in the public and non-profit sector and has volunteered in Vietnam and interned in India. After arriving in Cambodia in 2012, Weh discovered there wasn’t a single Cambodian speech therapist in the entire country and so he founded OIC Cambodia to introduce the profession, with the aim of having 100 therapists in the country by 2030. But it’s not just developing countries Weh is invested in helping. With Umbo, he’s is trying to bridge the gap in health care for children with disabilities in rural and remote Australia so they can participate better in society. Episode highlights: What OIC stands for Weh’s background as a physiotherapist but mostly working with children with disabilities in the public and non-profit sector Finding out there wasn’t a single speech therapist in the whole of Cambodia - a country with 16 million people How do you solve problems in developing countries? Feeling an emotional reaction and knowing how to act on that 600,000+ people in Cambodia need speech therapy but the profession doesn’t yet exist The difference between solving symptoms and solving problems and applying that logic to projects internationally OIC Cambodia started making itself redundant from the start - it will have 100 speech therapists in the country by 2030 and then it will dissolve Key priorities in the first five years - structure, strategy, right people Weh is most proud of the fact that OIC Cambodia was founded by him, led by him for four years Applying the principles of social model of disability and how it’s showing up in OIC Cambodia Social model of disability - gently challenging some of the traditional notions and the medical model in Cambodia Australia plays it too safe - too many rules and regulations to keep the status quo What motivated Weh to start OIC Cambodia and Umbo Umbo stats - been going for 11 months and just signed first partnership with a non-profit based in NSW who are registered with NDIS How do we get a great face-to-face clinician to become a great online clinician? Umbo’s first goal is to become a service provider and to learn everything it can Milestones for Umbo - working with advisors to Tipping point in the world - the number of wealthy people is equal to the number of poverty-stricken people Weh’s vision to expand to Africa - it’s where the opportunities lie Umbo’s goal to become NDIS registered Umbo’s social impact and how to measure that to be able to show people what they’re actually doing to help people Umbo is looking for trainers, clinicians and partners - visit the website for more information on how to work with Umbo Useful Links:  OIC Cambodia Website Umbo Website Weh Yeoh LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is a question I get asked a couple of times a week: How do I build a team? When I’m asked this question, people aren’t always referring to their clinical team, often they’re talking about their admin team. I am a big fan of bringing admin into the business before you bring in clinical teammates because if you bring a clinician in first, guess what doubles? The admin. It may seem like a simple question to ask, but building the right team, at the right time, is key to building a successful allied health business. In this episode, I chat about: The Business Legal Lifecycle: How to Successfully Navigate Your Way from Start-Up to Success by Jeremy Streten (click here for an interview I did with Jeremy on the podcast) Building a team vs building staff Understanding what it means to employ independent contractors vs employees The pros of independent contractors vs casual employees Using the ATO and Fair Work Australia websites to ensure compliance Investing in advice from a HR professional Useful links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you sometimes get the feeling like/that your onboarding process for new team members in your allied health business might leave a little something to be desired? In this episode, I talk about... Problems allied health businesses are having with onboarding new recruits Current challenges in hiring and retaining staff Why having a strong onboarding process matters Why you need to go slow Suggested onboarding process timeframes Top priorities and where to start with your onboarding process How to document everything Processes to follow What format to deliver your onboarding in for maximum employee engagement Communication, reflection, and feedback How to incorporate NDIS compliance into onboarding Who in your team needs to get involved How to continually evolve and improve Useful links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcast  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I get asked time and time again, “How do I learn about the business side of things?” What’s more accurate is allied health business owners telling me, "I've never learned the business side of things”. It makes complete sense, they're different sides of the same coin. When I was at university doing my occupational therapy degree, there was not a single sniff of any sort of business education. But things are changing. In this episode I share my top 10 tips for improving your business skills so you can be the allied health business owner you strive to be. Episode highlights: Business education - universities taking notice and building business awareness Educate yourself - read business books Listen to podcasts on the future, personal accounts, technology, marketing, mindset and more Engage with the allied health industry online - Facebook groups Participate in programs, events, webinars and courses The importance of building your team - lawyers, mentors, coaches Investing in your future - book yourself into programs to build your business skills Remember to ask for help when you need it Building good habits will help you in the long run Collaborate with your customers - find out what works for them and what they need from you Patience is key to success Useful Links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I talk about all things NDIS with Renee Townsend and Tarry Dee, co-founders of My Diffability. We discuss the challenges as an online supplier, hearsay in the allied health sector, and, perhaps most importantly, remembering the bigger picture: it’s about helping people. The Victoria-based company is an online store that provides therapy resources, equipment, toys and gifts for people with different abilities, special needs, sensory processing disorder, autism ASD and learning difficulties. Both owners are successful in their respective fields of Paediatric Speech Pathology and Occupational Therapy and after seeing a gap in the sector, made the leap to become business owners in 2011. While they’d put their success down to “good fortune”, they’ve worked hard to upskill in order to set up the business and continue to grow, even through the challenging channels of the NDIS. In this episode we cover: Why Renee and Tarryn started My Diffability in 2011 - knowledge of affordable resources and how to use them What the initial business plan looked like How they found the start-up phase - a lot of good fortune through solid relationships What My Diffability looks like today - 3 employees, still a small home-grown company How do you build a business that serves you? Systems and processes and a good business partner balance Taking calculated risks Lessons learned from building a team - the challenge comes from working remotely What does the working week look like for Renee and Tarryn? What differentiates My Diffability from other therapy suppliers - hold customer service highly Renee has learned a lot about communication - how to interact with different people and personalities Tarryn has found a love for business - enjoying accounting, coding, editing etc. Being a registered NDIS provider and what that looks like for them How do they think the NDIS might change for everyone - we can’t expect it to be perfect now or in five years Renee and Tarryn’s vision for My Diffability - holding a conference, upping the public speaking and education, employ people with disabilities Favourite toy or product that My Diffability sells - Time Timer Watches, Vibrating Wiggle Pen How do Renee and Tarryn decide what to stock - queries and searches from customers What products do families love the most? The Move n’ Sit Wedge Their approach to marketing - minimal, a lot of word of mouth, focus on organic traffic Slowing your business growth so you don’t compromise the quality of what you’re doing Useful Links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcast Renee and Tarryn's Quick Links Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Tarryn Dee LinkedIn See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allied health business owners invest a lot of time and money into their craft and their technical skillset, but tend not to invest the same energy into the business and team management side of things. Running an allied health business can be lonely and isolating and emotionally and mentally draining. Sticking together to help each other get the most from our private practices is the way to go. In this episode I chat about getting the right business advice, my Business Advantage Membership program, and what I think you need to do to ensure a successful allied health business. Episode highlights: Investing time and money into technical skills vs management skills What allied health business owners have told me they find difficult Asking for business advice - is it too general for the allied health sector? Developing a needs-based resource specifically for allied health business owners My Business Advantage Membership program - what it can do for you and your team Program feedback - building a better resource for you My business tips - business development time, a business plan and asking for support Useful Links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The allied health sector is all about caring, but often it’s the health of the caregivers themselves that’s overlooked or not handled as well. In this episode I chat with Emma Small, an “entrepreneurial Occupational Therapist and co-founder of NSW-based company, Risk Managed. Emma’s background is in working with people with disabilities and care organisations. After a number of years rehabilitating injured workers, she founded Risk Management with her business partner, Aideen Gallagher. The company works with disability care organisations, consulting on health and safety and providing training to help keep support workers injury free so they can continue to provide quality care. Her second time running a business means the “serial entrepreneur” has learned many valuable lessons. She has also gone on to write a book, Handle With Care: how to avoid injuries, reduce costs and become a provider of choice, coming soon. Episode highlights: Emma’s business background - working for herself Being a “serial entrepreneur” - starting a new business for the second time and getting it right Emma’s new business, Risk Managed What it’s like working with a business partner and why Emma chose that the second time around What Risk Managed is working towards - developing its services like training packages and packages aimed specifically at allied health professionals Working with staff vs working alone Finding the right staff - the importance of value Emma’s time spent mentoring - offering casual work Who’s on the Risk Managed team? Several Virtual Assistants, a full-full-time OT and a casual OT How Emma found her Virtual Assistants - using Upwork to find the right fit The benefits of using Upwork as a start-up business A bit on Aideen’s book, The Manual Handling Revolution: How Health Professionals Can Achieve Creative Solutions for People with Disabilities and Their Caregivers   What Emma’s learned from writing her book, Handle With Care: how to avoid injuries, reduce costs and become a provider of choice Business 2.0. - The opportunities that come from writing a book What Emma’s business has taught her - celebrate the small wins Being a bold female business owner Useful Links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcast Emma's Website Emma on LinkedIn Emma FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to ensuring a successful allied health business, or any business for that matter, a business plan is a must. The power of the one-page business plan is often overlooked because business owners say they don’t have enough time to develop one. Some say they want to and might even start the planning process, but never have quite enough time to finish it. It’s not easy to implement, let alone when it isn’t fully baked. But I think if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Topics covered in this episode: Allied health business owners overlooking business plans - not enough time Planning to do the same and yield the same results the next year might not work - increased competition in the industry Increased competition means increased opportunities Business planning doesn’t have to be hard - preparation is key Thinking ahead about what needs to be done - pulling reports from your accounting and practice management software My virtual business planning workshop - following my seven success factors for private practice Following the business planning document Useful Links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Whether you’re a solo practitioner, have a small team, or are a large practice, it’s important to spend time and money on your brand. For many, it seems like a waste, but that could not be further from the truth. It could help you significantly grow your new client list. I spoke to Tristan Gray, co-founder of digital marketing agency Studio 56, who shared his knowledge of successfully building a brand and online presence. The Geelong-based company works with healthcare practices throughout Australia on marketing and business development, predominantly digital marketing: SEO, Google Ads (AdWords) and websites. After starting the business just four years ago, Tristan now has a strategy he says works for the allied health industry, particularly for helping businesses shift away from depending on referrals for new clients. As a result, Studio 56 now focuses solely on allied health clients. He spills some of his secrets for success for the trickier, technical stuff like SEO, website content and the importance of good imagery on your website. Subscribe here: Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Subscribe on Android, Player.fm, RSS Episode highlights: About Studio 56 and what it offers - marketing and business development The difficulty of relying on referral networks for new clients Showing up on Google - working on your online brand and presence The importance of SEO Common issues - allied health business owners don’t see the benefits of a website Hitting the sweet spot with your content - helpful but not selling something Refreshing content - continually add new content to your website Google Ads (AdWords) explained - be targeted so you don’t spend money on the wrong words How Studio 56 builds and manages allied health websites Homepage - 3 seconds to... How important is imagery? It needs to be real and authentic What Tristan thinks websites will look like in a year or two - the introduction of video A little about Studio 56 - based in Geelong, VIC, team all over Australia Useful Links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcast Links:  Studio 56 Website Tristan Gray LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today I’m talking about writing a book; the process and all that goes with it. I speak to many business owners who have plans to write a book. It was something I thought about, and something I was always encouraged to do. Different people poked and probed and said, "What about a book? You should write a book." I never really took them seriously. I was of the belief that because I work with families and children, like everybody else, I had nothing different or interesting to say. It was during a business program that it really dawned on me that there were some glaring gaps in the allied health market so I wrote ‘Becoming Chief: How To Lead Your Child's Special Needs Tribe’. In this episode I cover:     Realising the opportunity to write a book     Keeping parents’ needs in mind when writing the book     The planning process - working with a book mentor to come up with a structure     The writing process - how I wrote my book in 30 days     Editing, illustrations and graphics - when the real adventure began     A brief outline of the contents of my book - what you’ll find in each chapter Useful Links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever wondered if maybe you should start a podcast for your allied health business? Or how difficult it might be to get set up and running with a podcast of your own? In this episode, I talk about podcasting, pull it apart, and demystify it a little bit. I’ll walk you through the main reasons why you should (probably) start a podcast and the steps to get started (because it’s actually not as hard as it sounds!).   Topics covered in this episode: Why start a podcast Why podcasting is the new blog The benefits of podcasting for time-poor clients Why podcasting is a great marketing tool Simple steps to get started with your podcast Figuring out the purpose of your podcast Knowing your listener My process to brainstorm ideas and plan out content Why you should hone in on a micro-topic for each episode The ideal length for your podcast episodes Recommended styles, formats, and approaches for your podcast The tech I use to record my podcast What to say in your intro and outro What you need to know about editing and publishing your podcast Common excuses and objections to starting a podcast Useful Links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most people underestimate the importance of a good night’s sleep. It affects your day-to-day function, including speech, and it’s no different for kids. I caught up with Sharon Moore, a Speech Pathologist superstar, to talk more about the connection. She’s the founding director of Well Spoken, a private practice in Canberra servicing referrals from medical and dental specialists, for patients of all ages, and has dedicated 38 years to the industry. Her background in the complex issue of sleep apnea and how it affects our speech stems from her training in Adelaide and a deep interest in Orofacial and Myofunctional principles. By integrating these into traditional speech pathology, Well Spoken takes a unique approach to managing disorders of the upper airway including breathing, swallowing, chewing, phonation, resonance and speech. She also spent 10 years in child psychiatry, which she cites as her grounding for socio-emotional counselling, in understanding people and communication. Sharon is also an international speaker, travelling for local, national and international conferences. Her extensive knowledge and training has also resulted in her receiving an invitation to be on the trans-disciplinary team for Canberra Sleep Clinic. On top of that, she is the author of Sleep-Wrecked Kids, which is aimed at helping parents raise happy, healthy kids one sleep at a time. Episode highlights: An insight into Sharon’s background - 38 years’ experience, trained in Adelaide About Sharon’s speciality - what a speech pathologist actually does Sharon’s primary area of interest - the upper airway health and function New research on upper airways - the connection to sleep apnea Being part of the Trans-disciplinary team for Canberra Sleep Clinic Society’s attitude towards sleep Feedback on Sharon’s book, Sleep-Wrecked Kids Developing a sleep screening tool with a specialist in Sydney, Dr Jim Papadopolus SSS-Disturbed Rest - developed for allied health professionals Screening children’s sleep is critical Many parents don’t know what to look for when looking at their children’s sleep patterns Sharon’s private practice clients - a mix of general sleep-related clients and higher upper airways clients   The benefits of a sleep screening questionnaire How Sharon developed her business skills - learning from her “dumb mistakes” Where Well Spoken is headed next - global domination of sleep Glymphatic system - a newly discovered system in the brain that’s only there when we sleep Sharon’s global mission: increase parents’ understanding of sleep Parliamentary enquiry into sleep health awareness Sharon’s sleep tips for business owners Sharon's Website Sharon on LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running group programs is a popular topic that seems to be bending the minds of many allied health business owners, particularly those working with children and families. It’s often something private practices want to offer to their clients, but can’t make work from a profitability point of view. While running groups are a lot of work, they’re also a lot of fun. In this podcast, I share my tips on how to make group programs work for you, your team, your business, and your clients. Topics covered: NDIS fee schedule for group programs Crunching the numbers - looking at the costs of staff, preparation and resources Looking at the profitability of your group program Planning a new group program - start with a blank canvas Knowing your clients and planning around them Handouts - branding, language, form The use of interactive handouts/video Creating solid communication with parents, carers and educators - Facebook groups, phone, email, Zoom, Skype Social media apps for group participants - Seesaw. Sameview app founded by Danny Hui Providing a whole experience Useful Links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Knowing your numbers is essential for running a successful business but it seems many allied health business owners don’t know how to manage their books properly. To learn more about how to gain more control of the books, I chatted with Allison Joyce, Managing Director of Efficiency Partners, a financial management consulting and education company. The company offers high-level bookkeeping, education and management accounting services for SMEs in a range of industries, but specialises in allied health and medical industries. Allison founded the company in 2004, when she was working as an accountant and consultant and noticed a large number of SMEs with poor bookkeeping. Although the company is based on the Sunshine Coast, the team of seven works virtually with business throughout Australia providing “clarity, consistency and confidence”. Episode Highlights: When and why Allison founded Efficiency Partners Has being a business owner been everything Allison thought it would be? What Allison has learned from being a business owner Getting a professional bookkeeper for your business can give you more control Why are businesses cautious of engaging a bookkeeper? What Allison likes about Xero software Allison’s thoughts on DIY vs experienced advisor Xero setup The best way to engage a bookkeeper The future of bookkeeping - working virtually Benefits of virtual bookkeepers What services Efficiency Partners offers - 3 different packages Falling in love with the numbers and what that can do for your business What a bookkeeper brings to the mental health of a business owner Finding your way with the NDIS Allison’s tips on managing your summer cash flow Allison’s everyday tips for running a business - regular invoicing and remove paper from your business Useful Links: Efficiency Partners WebsiteEfficiency Partners LinkedInAllison Joyce LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

No one knows a business's unique rhythms better than the business owner themselves, but we nearly all experience a busier life across the last quarter of the year. Business gets even more frantic in the last few months, especially in December, as the holidays hit. At this time of year we start to notice seasonal cycles and changes, like seasonal client demands and so on. One major thing we should concentrate on though is maintaining personal energy throughout the chaos. In this episode I cover: Seasonal changes and cycles of business Being vulnerable to drama Overreaching and over servicing clients Prioritise your work The benefits of a to-don’t list - delegate the less important items Work using the three by 3:00 pm rule Useful Links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you have quality embedded in your overall allied health operation? I spoke to Susan Hawkins, one of the founding directors of Practical Quality plus (PQplus), about quality assurance for allied health business owners, the NDIS audit process and how the company helps both new and existing allied health providers. PQplus was founded as the NDIS was rolled out across Australia. The company helps new and existing providers understand the compliance requirements around quality. Having previously worked in the human services sector across disability, mental health and aged care, Susan is well positioned to ensure quality is embedded in all aspects of allied health operation. Episode highlights: What PQplus offers Helping new and existing NDIS providers understand compliance requirements Quality should be embedded in the organisation Helping allied health business owners get ready for the NDIS audit Creating customised but flexible policy documentation The shift of the NDIS’ expectations of allied health businesses Susan’s thoughts on the national practice standards - translation issues What Susan thinks should be included in the national practice standards - basic HR and professional development standards Susan’s allied health social background - trained as a social worker, worked in England. Dramatic NDIS changes to come - managing the risk How NDIS will be advantages for business owners - opening up the market and client base How PQplus helps allied health providers - different packages and products on offer for both new providers and existing providers Launch - a guide around understanding audits for the long-haul [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcast QP plus Website Susan Hawkins LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are plenty of dietitians in Australia and while the number of those specialising in paediatrics is growing, so are the number of children and families needing help. In this episode, I chat with expert paediatric dietitian and business owner, Miriam Raleigh, about the specialist nutrition sector, telehealth services and balancing private practice duties with family duties. After studying at Monash University with a placement at the Royal Children’s Hospital, Miriam went on to work in adult health services and paediatric dietetics both in Australia and overseas in London. Upon returning to Melbourne in 2009, she used her 16+ years of experience and her new experience as a parent to found Child Nutrition, a private practice providing expert nutritional advice for children and their families. Since opening, Child Nutrition has grown with another 3 locations now open across Melbourne. The practice also offers Telehealth services to help reduce the wait time for such a prolific sector. In this episode, I cover: What Child Nutrition is and what the practice offers Miriam’s background in paediatric dietetics What the first year of Child Nutrition looked like - making time to grow the business Learning to run a business - business workshops, SEOs Building a team over the years with the birth of Miriam’s children Baby-proofing the business - being selective about the hiring process Moving to Practice Management Software Taking the admin load off with a Virtual Assistant New projects for the year - an online course for parents of children with coeliac disease How Miriam built the online course - getting it out in front of GPs and families What will the course look like in 6 months’ time? Miriam’s grand vision for her private practice - what will it look like in 6 months’ time? Moving more towards Telehealth services How Miriam divides her time across the week - juggling admin, marketing, projects, clients, family How Child Nutrition fits in with other allied health services Fussy eaters vs children with oral aversions Dietetics and NDIS - a limited number of children are self-managed Miriam’s thoughts on NDIS Finding a dietitian - through the Dietitian Associations of Australia (DAA) website What it’s like running a private practice - hard work but more time for one-on-one to build a relationship with families What the business has taught Miriam Bringing other experts onboard - finding the balance and making better use of her time Miriam’s advice to budding dieticians Useful Links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedInNacre WebsitePrivate Practice Made PerfectPodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s getting to that time of year when everything seems to speed up, blurring past us at record pace. It’s a busy time of year but it’s also the perfect time to delve deep into strategic business planning for the year ahead. A lot of business owners tell me they will do their business planning in January, which is OK. It’s a lot better than no business planning. But would they benefit more from getting a red hot run in the last few months of the previous year? I think so. In this episode, I cover: Why is it good to plan for the year ahead? How to use real life information to build a solid business plan Identifying your highs and lows Dissecting your business - profit, team, services, clients, pricing Looking at your software and systems - are they working for you? Do you have ‘background business hum’? Asking yourself the all-important question: what do you want your business to look like? Taking a look at your marketing and promotional material - how will clients find you locally, nationally and internationally? Playing the numbers game to build a better plan Useful Links:  [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedIn Nacre Website Private Practice Made Perfect PodcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The allied health industry is slowly moving into the digital age, but needs to do more to respond to changing technology. I chatted to Yianni Serpanos who’s helping Australia do just that. Yianni is the CEO and Founder of coreplus, Australia’s leading digital health practice management platform. The company is focused on delivering a “practice happy” experience that’s available anywhere, anytime. coreplus allows health professionals to manage client records, appointments, Medicare billing/ claiming and finances in one online system accessible from any internet browser, smartphone or tablet. coreplus began in 2009-10 and continues to grow after implementing a number of firsts in the allied health industry, including Medicare online claiming. In this episode we talk about the digital healthcare experience, implementing changes for allied health professionals and the digital marketplace. Topics covered: coreplus is Australian focused - staying up to date with allied health rules and regulations How the platform works for allied health professionals What is interoperability? How systems connect with each other. Agreed language between allied health providers Yianni’s thoughts on the digital healthcare system in Australia How the client/patient experience is being impacted by the changes in technology The full digital health experience - an emerging idea The evolving customer experience Merging digital marketing thinking with health tech Making the most of the ‘exit phase’ - following up on the client and building the relationship The next steps allied health business owners should be taking - understanding the Privacy Act Data breaches - human error in the healthcare industry Change isn’t a one-off event - allied health business owners need to continually improve their understanding of the rules and regulations with the help of advisors What’s the digital marketplace? Yianni’s thoughts on how the digital marketplace will progress Are GPs going fully digital in the next 12 months? Connecting allied health business owners with secure messaging Cooperating with the Australian Digital Health Agency What will digital healthcare look like in the next 5 years? Australians need to build an integrated health team Reimagining the business model of healthcare - can we introduce a subscription style healthcare service? coreplus Website Yianni's LinkedIn coreplus Facebook Yianni's TwitterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Navigating the disability sector is challenging at the best of times but having a care team that is connected and on the same page is giving families and allied health providers the ‘confidence to thrive’. Danny Hui, Founding Director of sameview, a digital platform designed to help address the problem of disability care coordination. The app works by bringing the care team together - doctors, care workers, therapists, educators, family members etc. Using the app, users and providers can track and share goals and events and keep the team up-to-date to enable effective collaboration. Prior to starting the business, Danny worked in the utilities industry and has a background in engineering. The idea for the app came from his own experience with the stresses of managing a loved one’s care. Last time we spoke, Danny was in the middle of an accelerator program with Optus, which he ended up winning. Fast forward 10 months and the app has officially been launched, with many users and allied health professionals enjoying its benefits. In this episode we chat about the development of the app, feedback from users, NDIS and what success looks like to Danny. Topics covered: Winning the Optus Future Makers accelerator program Building a market-release version of its product using generous funding Danny’s background in engineering Upgrading the platform to engage and reward its users How the app works - social media-type interface, creating a profile, inviting the team Feedback from allied health professionals - creating an efficient platform for allied health professionals Launched in Brisbane - week-on-week growth ever since Seeing growth from educators, mobile therapists and support workers and family members Breaking into the medical sector - working to gain traction with paediatricians and hospitals How the platform is working for families - an opportunity for self-managing (NDIS)  families Danny’s work to measure results to prove the platform’s value Keeping the app open for NDIS goal setting - the ability to customise goals What can be uploaded to sameview - photos, documents Co-designing based on users’ feedback 2019 plans - University research project What does success look like to sameview? Building special features for providers - plan reviews All the information needed for allied health professionals - www.sameview.com.au Online community on Facebook - feedback, communicating about goal setting and teams A platform for users of all ages - built for everybody who needs care Danny’s NDIS plan for his son, Monty Working with allied health professionals to solve the issue Useful Links [email protected] Cathy Love LinkedIn Nacre Website Private Practice Made Perfect Podcast Danny Hui LinkedIn Sameview Website Sameview Facebook Sameview TwitterSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Understanding all aspects of your financials is key to the successful running of any business, but it can be a major downfall for some. Having a good bookkeeper can not only ensure you don’t ‘muddy the waters’ but can also be used to set budgets, KPIs and address any financial weaknesses. This and more is covered in my interview with Chris Stenhouse, Business Manager at Professional Booking Services (PBS). The Melbourne-based family business was founded in 1983 by Chris’ mother. Though he is now a successful bookkeeper, Chris’ background was in technology, having worked for Apple for seven years. Built from the ground up by Chris’ family, the company continues to grow and is now located in its own purpose-built premises in Melbourne’s Notting Hill. From there it provides full financial and administrative solutions to businesses throughout Australia and overseas. Working across all industries, PBS bookkeepers support businesses with turnovers ranging from $50,000 to $12million. Topics covered in this episode: Chris’ favourite clients - Allied Health Professionals Every business owner needs a finance team - what’s the difference between a bookkeeper and an accountant? What makes a good bookkeeper? Chris’ advice on how to know if your information is being wrongly recorded - know what you’re looking for The importance of a good rapport between the bookkeeper and business owner Making bookkeeping love happen - conference calls, phone calls, emails Teaching the basics to business owners Better understanding your cost of sales Learning to account for other business expenses Chris’ thoughts on how often fees should be increased How bookkeepers can set up a budget for business owners Understanding your earning potential through budgets and billable days New ideas in the industry - direct debit reports Building your budget from nothing Setting KPIs with your bookkeeper - you always want to stretch your business The importance of testing and measuring your business before any change takes place The financial habits of allied health business owners Chris’ advice for keeping an eye on the trends and how often business owners should be checking their financials Bookkeepers are for every business owners - no matter how small The importance of getting your financials in order from the beginning - a bookkeeper’s knowledge of GST needs to be ‘spot-on’ What are profit losses and balance sheets and what are the differences between them? Accounting for unusual expenses correctly Monthly reviews of your financials are key to protecting yourself from surprises Chris’ tips on dealing with debtors - have a set time before you write them off, chase them up and bill in advance Chris’ thoughts on connecting your practise management software to your cloud accounting What Chris learned from ZeroCON Chris’ tips on staying on top of your payable reports     Useful [email protected]  Nacre Website Private Practice Made Perfect Find out more about PBS on their website. Follow them on Twitter. PBS on LinkedIn. Chris Stenhouse on LinkedIn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Running a successful private allied health practice depends on many things, but one of the key elements that can sometimes be underestimated is knowing and understanding your local community. In this interview Lisa Fruhstuck, director and speech pathologist extraordinaire at Shine Early Intervention, shares her secrets for running a successful private practice and providing opportunities for both families and children as independents from her local community. Shine Early Intervention is based in the Macarthur region of New South Wales. The private practice provides high quality mobile speech pathology services for children with Developmental Delay, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Down Syndrome and other complex diagnosis aged 0-7. The practice is the brainchild of Lisa who saw a need for a private early intervention team in the wider Sydney region and, 5 years later, are expanding to provide more opportunities for their local community. Lisa has over 18 years’ experience working in Australia with children with special needs, having working in the government and not-for-profit sectors prior to opening the practice. Listen to the short 30-minute chat to find out more about Lisa, her plans for the future and her words of wisdom for her fellow allied health business owners. Topics covered in this episode: Where did private practice start for Lisa? What the first 5 years have been like - a rollercoaster adventure Who’s in the team? Managing the team What makes Shine Early Intervention different? The importance of a local team and a local business Getting the message across - Facebook, local expos + word of mouth Secret sauce for recruiting Dreams and plans for the next year Follow Shine Early Intervention progress on Facebook What have you learnt so far in business?   Work experience for children with disabilities What have you learnt about yourself? The development of the Shine Shed - what will it provide? How will the Shine Shed be used for delivering therapy? Countdown to Opening Day - October 2018 Plans for 2019 - implement groups, recruit more therapy staff + developing current staff Using the play facility to develop future staff Dreams post-Shed Clinical work vs management work - 2 days a week clinical Words of wisdom for allied health business owners Follow Shine Early Intervention on Facebook. Learn more about Shine Early Intervention on its website. Follow Lisa Fruhstuck on LinkedIn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Administration work is of paramount importance for any business, but it often takes too muchtime. Outsourcing work to a Virtual Admin Assistant can free up your time whilst keeping overheads low. It’s a win-win. To highlight the value of Virtual Assistants, I interviewed Jenny Pither, founding director of Allied Health Admin Services, with more than 25 years experience within the medical and allied health industries. She helps businesses keep costs low, and efficiency high and has enough NDIS knowledge to be deemed the NDIS post-processing queen. It’s 45 minutes of insightful business chat, but without the boring business jargon. In this interview you’ll hear Jenny’s predictions for the future of NDIS, her favourite practice management software and the ins and outs of virtual assistants helping to run a successful business. This episode covers: What exactly does a Virtual Assistant do? What services can a Virtual Assistant offer? How can hiring a Virtual Assistant keep running costs down? Helping allied health professionals navigate the NDIS portal Admin work and how it’s one of the biggest hassles for allied health business owners Getting the most from invoicing using a Virtual Assistant Quality, Safeguards and Auditing Process of the NDISs Getting the basics done right - policies and procedures that every business should have in place Providing evidence to the Quality and Safeguards Commission Being transparent to your client base and the general public Jenny’s favourite Practice Management Software - Cliniko vs Nookal Supporting allied health professionals Starting Virtual Assistants on a basic contract Why you should learn to trust Virtual Assistants - knowing what to ask for and how to word it Learning a client’s voice as a Virtual Assistant Jenny’s professional background in radiology and general practice to allied health Medical transcription dying out Lessons Jenny’s learned by starting her own business - upskilling yourself is important The future of Allied Health Admin Services - consulting on NDIS and moving into the planned management sector Running a business without a strict business plan Using a Business Advisor to better your business Proud moments in business for Allied Health Admin Services - Finalists in its local Business Awards Lessons Jenny’s learned about herself Jenny’s question to Cathy: how are you navigating NDIS? Why Cathy de-registered from the NDIS in 2017 NDIS predictions - the future could be bleak Will tiered pricing come to fruition? Will NDIS be just as big a financial strain on Australia as Medicare is? Why business models should be adapted to be less one-on-one Pricing models - reducing NDIS therapy fees so clients can get more sessions in their package The importance of experimenting with different pricing models to find a happy medium Value of allied health Virtual Assistants Follow Allied Health Admin Services on Facebook. Learn more about Allied Health Admin Services on its new website. Connect with Jenny Pither on LinkedIn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s everyone’s dream to operate a stress-free business but is it actually possible when dealing with the everyday challenges of the NDIS? It seems it’s not impossible. In this episode, I talk to Trudy De Silva, a Speech and Language Pathologist. She is also Director of De Silva Kids Clinic, a multidisciplinary private practice offering speech pathology, occupational therapy, psychology and music therapy for children with disabilities. The Melbourne-based practice runs clinic sessions on-site as well as outreach services at schools, kindergartens and homes. Trudy has built her clinic from the ground up and has grown it significantly over the past 10 years, so she knows what she’s doing. She graduated with a Bachelor of Speech Pathology from La Trobe University and has been working in the paediatrics sector ever since. Delivering family-centred therapy and an allied health team is her number one priority and she’s got some some sneaky tips up her sleeve when it comes to developing a strong team, being at the mercy of the NDIS, and dealing with cash flow and debt collection. Topics covered in this episode: A brief history of De Silva Kids Clinic Being a Clinician vs managing a business Top tips for leading a great team - your relationships are key Boosting Therapist’s performances through regular scheduled meetings De Silva Kids Clinic: delivering a family-centered approach How to navigate NDIS Trudy’s thoughts on NDIS tiered pricing Navigating your team through NDIS changes The differences in management and clients post-NDIS Debt collection tips - uninterrupted admin time is key Cutting rental costs for better cash flow - one way is to buy a property Have the confidence to solve your biggest problems Ways to recruit: ads, Facebook, LinkedIn and word-of-mouth Hybrid business models - the stability and flexibility of hiring both contractors and employees How to be a paperless business Managing client data Optimise your practice performance using your CRM data The importance of Admin staff - the only thing they don’t do is the therapy A look at Trudy’s typical week juggling motherhood and being a small-business owner Navigating the transition from Clinician to Manager - make room for business work and don’t wait until you’re forced to drop your client work The future of the business - a second premises in the pipeline What percentage of the business is clinic-based services vs outreach services? Furthering community involvement through family workshops Helping families understand and navigate NDIS The importance of a homely Clinic Highlights of De Silva Kids Clinic Links Follow De Silva Kids Clinic on Facebook De Silva Kids Clinic website  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

our website is the gateway to your business for many of your potential clients. If it doesn’t give a good first impression or if it isn’t easy to use, chances are you could lose some business.   So in this episode I’ve brought in my go-to man for all things to do with websites. Jon Hollenberg is the owner of Five by Five Website Design and the Author of "Love at First Site - How to Build the Website of Your Dreams" (see below for a link to a free copy of it).   You’ll love this chat because Jon talks at the level of a ‘normal’ person like you and I without baffling us with tech speak.   It’s like a 40 minute Website Masterclass! Jon talks about treating your website as your own piece of online real estate, how to position yourself as a thought leader and how to use content and images to support that. We discuss being bold in the age of video. And, thank heavens, we talk about search engine optimisation (SEO) in terms that even I understand.   Jon knows his stuff. He first started building websites 18 years ago and has now grown his team to 20 people worldwide. Jon is based on the Gold Coast but has clients all over the county and has worked with brands such as Qantas, Jetstar, Jeep, Chrysler and Dodge. Here’s the breakdown of what’s in store for you: When Jon first started creating websites he started from a spare bedroom in his boardshorts and now his team has grown to 20 people Where to start when it comes to creating your website Building a website does not need to be a chore A website can be one of the first points of contact for a customer and you want to put your best foot forward Make your website work harder for you People often undervalue the experience and value they bring to their customers/clients and they tend to not want to make their website stand out from the crowd The importance of content and being an authority in your marketing place Getting in the right mindset for creating your website and getting ‘unstuck’ The importance of putting value on your website The best tools for the job Why Google loves Wordpress Wordpress is driving 30% of all websites on the internet The importance of visual design A website is not set and forget. You also need a content strategy in place and high value content to back it up The different ways to drive traffic to your website My learning curve with my first website [Hint people don’t just flock to your website, you need to promote it] The website is a validation tool that you are an authority and leader in your chosen industry Generating new leads through your website SEO 101 The two components to SEO The emphasis on speed,load time and mobile friendliness Plugins that can help you with SEO Backlinks and why it’s useful How you can rank your website higher than your competitors The advice Jon gives his clients for headshots Remember the business owner and team is the product and the power of photography Using videos on the website and the importance of a WHY video A little trick Jon uses to capture videos for his clients Having visual consistency with your brand Technical intelligence and the user experience for your website Creating a diagnostic tool for your website Demystifying a call to action Jon’s book is a how to guide on partnering with a website designer and easing the process for people about to build their new website   Jon Hollenberg on LinkedIn Five By Five Website Love At First Site - How To Build The Website Of Your Dreams - You can download a copy of Jon’s book for free. Cathy Love on LinkedIn  Nacre Website  Listen to more episodes hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There is considerable value in being a published author as a professional. In this episode, I talk to Michael Hanrahan, the Director of Publishing at Michael Hanrahan Publishing (MHP) in Melbourne. MHP helps professionals and small business owners self-publish their books. Michael has been in publishing for his entire working career, starting with Wrightbooks, a small publishing house and progressing to Managing Editor at John Wiley & Sons Australia. In 2003, Michael decided to become a freelance publishing provider, working for many of the major publishing houses, including Oxford University Press, Random House and RMIT Publishing. With experience in all areas of publishing from editing to printing to ebook and bookshop distribution, Michael started MHP in 2014. Today, MHP is a leading provider of small business self-publishing in Australia, with a focus on high-quality professional books that help those business people stand out from their competitors, sets them up as the experts in their field and helps them promote their business to a wider audience. Michael has been featured on radio, in magazines and in The Huffington Post Australia. He is also one of the original contributors to Andrew Griffith’s Smallville community, and has written a book on how to self-publish. We talk during the interview about all things writing, from structuring your book to the editing process and how to get started with your book. In This Episode: What is an end-to-end publishing service? I haven’t written a book but I think I’ve got it in me… Where do I start? Where to start in the actual writing process TIP: Why are you writing your book, and what are you actually going to write about? The central question for your book: What is the single question you’re trying to answer with your book? The importance of a brainstorming session What is a content list and how many do you need? Your first draft is just that TIP: Just write it down! The editing process is where we can make your book beautiful The second draft is when you should start sending it to people to review The importance of breaking it down into chunks Michael stresses you’re a lot closer to having a book at a scramble of 40,000 words than a perfect 5000 words How self publishing allows for you to really have your own voice Readers want practical advice. They’re not really after the’ academic fluff’ Michael is not a fan of the phrase ‘You should write as you speak’. He says, “writing is writing and speaking is speaking” but that doesn’t mean you can’t add your personality and tone to your book A sneak peak into the editing process The art of editing The different levels of editing The interior design process of creating a book The advantage of self publishing is the author gets to make the final decision with the design The most difficult part of the whole process... the cover The worst thing you can do for the cover design process The reason why Michael turns down some authors Writing the book is the easy bit, it’s the promotion phase that can be difficult A book is a business card on steroids The wrong approach to writing a book is thinking it will be a great revenue for earning cash The emerging field of audio books and the value of ebooks Michael Hanrahan Publishing Michael Hanrahan on LinkedIn Cathy Love on LinkedIn  Nacre Website  Listen to more episodes hereSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we talk to Kerri-Anne Telford, an Occupational Therapist with a private practice in the Eastern suburbs of Melbourne. We talk about team culture, using private practice softwares, NDIS opportunities and challenges and a lot more What is covered in this episode: The team The combination of the practice’s independent contractors and employees Her story in starting her own private practice - finding team members and a new office Kerri-Anne’s weekly schedule Goals of the practice The surprises and learnings from the 3-year growth and run of her practice Her business smarts and where, when and how she got it Her favorite books How she uses emotional intelligence in leading her team The impact of practice management software to her business Her thoughts on the NDIS Her hunch on what is to happen in September with tier pricing Families and fundings from the NDIS The next 12 months for her private practice What Cathy would do if she had a private practice with clinicians and her thoughts in terms of leading a team with the NDIS The importance of organizational culture in her business   Links: LinkedIn WebsiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we talk to Anjelee Khosla, Founding Director of Anjelee OT. We discuss many things about business including the value of going slow, steady and mindfully into business, business plans, power of networking, social media and a lot more. Anjelee OT is a start-up company that was founded in January 2018. The company’s mission is “to empower families of children with challenges by enhancing their strengths, building their skills and creating solutions within a fun and therapeutic environment to achieve positive and meaningful goals." What is covered in this episode: Private work of Anjelee before starting Anjelee OT The things she has been doing to get started Finding networks for the business Working on her Instagram business account Learnings from building her own website What she’s doing to get clients, introductions, and opportunities Business plan for the next 1-2 years Source of her business skills Dancing through family, business and all matters in life How Anjelee OT will be by the end of 2018 Cathy’s plan on coming back to clinical work and doing a workshop on NDIS   Links: Anjelee OT Website Anjelee OT Instagram Angelee OT FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we talk to Sonja Walker, Founding Director of Kids First Children’s Services. She has also recently launched her first book. We also will talk about her team and her values-based business. Kids First provides support for families and children with sensitive needs. The company has gathered a highly trained, vastly experienced team of children’s speech pathologists, occupational therapists, psychologists and teachers who can provide children and parents with the practical, caring help they need. What is covered in this episode: Background on Kid’s First Children’s Services How Sonja anticipated the business when it started and the challenges she has gone through Thoughts on women working in allied health Highlights in her private practice What to expect and love from her book: School Ready - A practical and supportive guide for parents with sensitive kids Extra bonus materials from the book How Sonja’s week looks like Key learnings from being a business owner The story of figuring out the values that she practices in her business Doing charity work and working with B1G1 Their team’s daily huddle and how communication works throughout the team Apps and programs they use in their business The stage of the business today and in the next 5 years   Links: Kid’s First Children’s Services Book: School Ready B1G1See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode we talk to Alyce Svensk, Occupational Therapist and Founding Director of Sensational Start Occupational Therapy. Sensational Start is 12 month old business that provides families with a holistic services that support the development of children, identifying areas of concern and providing genuine evidence-based paediatric therapeutic support. What is covered in this episode: The start of the business Learnings from working for her in-law’s business Importance of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures) in a business The difficulty of creating SOPs for OT Integration and maintenance of SOPs into the business Sensational Start’s business plan 12 months ago Where Alyce picked up her management know-how The reason her business took off to a flying start in a 12-month period Suggestions for word-of-mouth marketing and how she made her business stand out from the rest What worked for the business to bring in early referrals Practice management software used by the business Bringing in admin support and an additional clinician How Alyce feels about being an employer What sets Sensational Start offer that makes it different from the rest How the support from family in therapy is being received In terms of packaging, pricing and planners, how will the NDIS support the holistic approach to therapy Is the business setting quotas for clients coming from different areas including the NDIS Next steps for Sensational Start Information about their workshops for local therapists What Alyce thinks Telehealth will look like - what things will and will not work The things Alyce is most proud of about her business What has her business, Sensational Start, taught her How Alyce sees the future of Sensational Start in the next 12 months Words of wisdom for people in the first 2-3 years of business   Links: Website Facebook Page Alyce Svensk LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we talk to Nardine Presland, Member Development Adviser of ESSA. ESSA is the Exercise & Sports Science Australia is a professional organisation that establishes, promotes and defends the career paths of tertiary trained exercise and sports science practitioners. What is covered in this episode: What is ESSA? 4 professions covered by ESSA, their accreditations, services, and differences Number of members and practicing exercise physiologists at present The services offered by exercise physiologists in the NDIS and NDIA Trend on private practice with exercise physiologists and scientists Exercise psychologists working with families and children Employing exercise physiologists and their pay Professional development investment activities needed for engaging exercise physiologists and scientists Insurance for exercise professionals The future of ESSA and its members in the next 5 years The roles and services exercise professionals can bring in when working with children, teens, and people with different abilities Exercise physiologists working with children and teens with autism and the neurodisability space The Exercise Right Awareness Campaign Insight and take away from the podcast episode Links:  ESSA Exercise RightSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we talk to Nicole Grant, Occupational Therapist and Founding Director of Gateway Therapies in Brisbane, Australia. Gateway Therapies offers mobile NDIS support services, mobile occupational therapy, mobile speech therapy and autism therapies for adults and children of all ages. What is covered in this episode: Background of Gateway Therapies Reception of clients on their mobile therapy services Their workplace and how they use their space The Gateway Therapies team, their employment statuses and experience levels The need for an engagement process and on-the-job training for young professionals and early career clinicians Innovative ideas on teaching/learning for Allied Health students The things Nicole is most proud of in what she’s doing in her business Time spent by Nicole in a week doing clinical and business development work and how she achieved this The reason why Nicole chooses to retain clinical work as part of her role especially with the NDIS How Nicole developed all her business know-how Why she invests in and supervises her team closely The difference of Gateway Therapies from other practices Positioning their practice for the NDIS Experimenting, implementing, testing and mentoring in business and what you can learn from it What would Cathy be doing differently Links: Gateway TherapiesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we have a rich and interesting conversation with Ingrid Moyle, owner of Heart Harmony Communications and Australian Employee Manual. Heart Harmony Communications is a company that helps small businesses with content marketing, web content, and design. Australian Employee Manual guides small businesses in writing effective and clear business policies and procedures to comply with human resource legal requirements and build team productivity. What is covered in this episode: Ingrid’s story from being an employee to starting businesses A backgrounder on Heart Harmony Communications What allied health business owners should be doing in the content marketing space The shift of how people engage with content and businesses and what is needed to address this Valuable tips on what and how to write your content Ingrid’s prediction for newsletters in the future and the use of other channels to get your business’ message out Repurposing content for different channels to serve different audiences The kind of content that engage people nowadays The reason why you need to review and go through your published content yearly and the 3 questions you need to ask yourself when doing so A run-through on the history, services, and products of Australian Employee Manual Examples of the policies and procedures covered in the manual The users of the manual Suggestions on how business owners can work through the manual The importance of developing policies and procedures in a business Ingrid’s words of wisdom for allied health businesses going into the NDIS process The future of the Australian Employee Manual and Heart Harmony Communications - where are they headed? The idea of a 3-year business review Cathy’s thoughts about one consistent problem encountered by allied health professionals and businesses and Ingrid’s view about it Links: Website - Heart Harmony Communications Facebook - Heart Harmony Communications Website - Australian Employee ManualSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.