Allied Health Business Brilliance

In this episode, we talk to Liz Brownlee, OT and founding director of Wise OT Solutions. Wise OT Solutions started 7 years ago and is now well-positioned in the industry. As an industry leader, they provide Occupational Therapy and rehabilitation services to people with varying illnesses, injury or disability. What is covered in this episode: Social workers and self-employment in NDIS Background of Spectrum Clarity, how and when it started, their plans for the business, and the services they offer The usefulness of Elaine’s university degrees in serving their business Who are the customers of Spectrum Clarity How the can-do attitude of the employees help them reach their goals The things that have taken them by surprise and problems they’ve encountered in the business How Elaine sees the future of Spectrum Clarity and her worries about several things including the viability of the businesses in the industry Tips for Allied Health Professionals involved in providing support to children and families Spectrum Clarity’s social work ethic and respect for the client Links: WebsiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we talk to Elaine Jackson, a social worker and founding director of Spectrum Clarity. Spectrum Clarity is a company that provides a customer-centric approach to social services such as service coordination and pre-planning in the NDIS space. What is covered in this episode: Social workers and self-employment in NDIS Background of Spectrum Clarity, how and when it started, their plans for the business, and the services they offer The usefulness of Elaine’s university degrees in serving their business Who are the customers of Spectrum Clarity How the can-do attitude of the employees help them reach their goals The things that have taken them by surprise and problems they’ve encountered in the business How Elaine sees the future of Spectrum Clarity and her worries about several things including the viability of the businesses in the industry Tips for Allied Health Professionals involved to provide support to children and families Spectrum Clarity’s social work ethic and respect for the client Links: WebsiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we talk to Eva Harrold, Speech Pathologist and founder of Healesville Speech Pathology. Healesville Speech Pathology provides consultations including diagnostic assessments and treatment programs for children with communication difficulties. What is covered in this episode: The start of Eva’s private practice Her Source of referrals Working through child-centered principles such as kindness, patience and respect and how it has helped her business The things she did to grow her business and how grapevine or word of mouth has contributed to this The reason why using telehealth is a good idea in her private practice Length of her private practice and the importance of her studying How delegating admin and bookkeeping tasks has assisted her in the business and has given her more time for more important things in life Advantages of practice management program in her private practice How having a collaborative approach towards her practice make parents feel more involved and empowered Engaging parents, especially dads, more in their child’s sessions What has Eva learned about herself in being a business manager The advantages of technology for her practice The reason her business is unique The application and effect of the NDIS to her practice Eva’s thirst for knowledge and service Allied assistant, Nibbler, and his effect on clients Cathy’s message to the world right now Links: Website FacebookSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we talk to Hannah Dunn, occupational therapist and founder of D.O.T.S. Paediatric OT. D.O.T.S. Paediatric OT offers occupational therapy services and education for children, parents, educators and other professionals. What is covered in this episode: The story of the first few years of Hannah’s private practice The premises of DOTS Paediatric OT Their private practice team Strategies used to get their good retention rate Working with communities, schools and home visits and how it is changing How they are working with the NDIS Thoughts and concerns about NDIS and the pending changes Growing the business with the help of policies and procedures How Hannah’s move and thoughts about stepping back from clients have improved her management focus and personal life Things she is proud of in her business Source of her knowledge and business confidence Going through an audit and how they dealt with it What’s in the future for DOTS Paediatric OT The ultimate dream of Hannah for her business One thing Cathy would’ve changed in her practice Links: Website Facebook InstagramSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, we talk to Natasha Hawker, CEO of Employee Matters. Employee Matters provides employee support to small businesses to maximise profitability through employee productivity. The company provides Employee Experts that will guide you in your HR needs. What is covered in this episode: Employee Matters’ business updates over the last year Managing the team and business The process of rebuilding and rewriting their website and the valuable information you can find there The reason why education is key to any business Discussion on the book: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss Key things you need to know about recruitment Tips on interviewing potential talent and building your talent pool Employee Value Proposition and why you need it The future of recruitment The importance of candidate management Current thinking and practices about performance development and management and the difference between the two How job descriptions and accountability matrixes help in achieving strategic goals Voxer App Ten (10) questions that can power up performance development sessions or one-on-one meetings The changing state of performance management 10-minute stand-ups and how it helps in action and accountability Discussion on independent contractors, casual & permanent employees Legal Contracts Services of Employee Matters Book: From Hire to Fire and Everything in Between Links: Website - Employee Matters Book - Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss Book - From Hire to Fire and Everything in Between by Natasha Hawker LinkedIn - Natasha HawkerSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today in the podcast we talk to Paul Dunn, chairman of B1G1 and a speaker and mentor for entrepreneurs globally. B1G1, a social enterprise, is a global movement that helps businesses become giving businesses. This non-profit organization helps small- and medium-sized businesses embed giving activities in their everyday business operations and transactions to create lasting social impact and transformation in the world. What is covered in this episode: How and why B1G1 started Giving businesses and concrete examples of how it is embedded in the way you do business How Cathy uses B1G1 in her business Transformations and connections a giving business creates and does to you and your business The power of small and how it can make a difference The boom of small businesses and the mindset of owners in the last five years The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals or Global Goals and how businesses can make an impact on these Links: B1G1 Projects of B1G LinkedIn - Paul DunnSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today in the podcast we talk with Madeline Avci, an occupational therapist and founder of Jump Up for Kids. Jump Up for Kids is a specialised child-centered development service that supports children through their programs, Jump Up Therapy and Jump Up Outdoors. Jump Up Therapy is Occupational Therapy that provides support, knowledge, skills, and abilities to parents and children in a positive and strengths-focused way for the management of their future development. Jump Up Outdoors offers fun, exciting and imaginative outdoor play opportunities for children with a focus on the development of the whole child. What is covered in this episode: Humble beginnings of her private practice People working with and helping Madeline run her business Description and benefits of OT outdoor play through the Jump Up Outdoor Program The beauty of the natural environment and its effect on kids development and learning Interest coming from different people and sectors and partnering with them Learnings over the years about finding, training and retaining great teammates and how a strengths-based approach has worked well for them The expertise of the Jump Up team Madeline’s work week and how she juggles clinical, management, marketing, and other business priorities Madeline’s proudest business moments Plans for Jump Up Kids Therapy and Outdoors in the next 2-3 years Discussion of Cliniko, a practice management software, and how it helps their business Preparation for NDIS Cathy’s recommendation for a practice management software Madeline’s thoughts on matching childhood development and health with activities to help children grow Links: Website - Jump Up for Kids Facebook - Jump Up For Kids Linked In - Madeline AvciSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today in the podcast we talk with Marijn Kortekaas, Senior Manager and Head of Asia Pacific for Physitrack. Physitrack is a cloud-based patient to client engagement solution used by 25,000+ healthcare practitioners with over 1.5M patients in 102 countries. With Physitrack healthcare practitioners better engage patients and help them achieve better outcomes. What is covered in this episode: How Marijn joined Physitrack Background of Physitrack - what it is, what it does and who can use it The story of how Physitrack was born and how it makes life easier for practitioners and patients Key things and various exercises on Physitrack that cater to different clients PhysiApp as a one stop shop for exercise, outcome measures and educational content Special features and available resources on the PhysiApp and how it makes a seamless connection between the practitioner and client How the 360-degree feedback on the app helps track and measure outcomes data which can be used for reports, studies, and the growing trend on collecting outcomes data The importance of Integration of the platforms used in the business Physitrack and how it integrates with other practice management software systems How Australia is tracking towards Telehealth and the digital health future Convenience of Telehealth Physitrack as an all-in-one platform that provides Telehealth services Recording audio on video calls in the app to make note-taking easier The future of Telehealth Physitrack as a marketing tool for practitioners The next 5 years for Physitrack Key things practitioners should look out for when looking for a platform Links: Physitrack PhysiApp Marijn Kortekaas - Linked in Marijnn Kortekaas Email - [email protected] omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the podcast we talk to Jacqui Pretty,  Founding CEO of Grammar Factory. Grammar Factory is a publishing company that works with small business owners and leaders, entrepreneurs, health practitioners, topic experts, and turn their knowledge into published books. What is covered in this episode: The reason people put off writing a book Ways to manage the fear or hesitation of starting Using a blueprint to guide you in writing your first book The importance of having a clear idea of who your readers are Identifying, testing, expanding and organizing your ideas into a blueprint The value of “how to” books Methods to help you focus when writing your book Recommended length for books Doing a self-review and finding an editor for your book Different editing and publishing services available in the market The steps Grammar Factory takes in editing your book The book cover’s internal layout and design process Difference of traditional publishing versus self-publishing companies Marketing your book and the value of building partnerships Why the Ebook is recommended Book Blueprint: How Any Entrepreneur Can Write an Awesome Book Grammar Factory and its services Links: Grammar Factory The Ultimate Guide to Writing an Awesome Book LinkedIn - Jacqui PrettySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today in the podcast we talk with Jo Muirhead, the founding director of the Purple Code. Purple Code is a company that helps people return to work following illness, injury and trauma and works with the tagline “Purpose for People.” What is covered in this episode: The story of how and why Purple Code was born Importance of sense of work and contribution for people People in her business Speed bumps in her business venture The story of how Jo changed her business model and how systems are very important to a business The advantage of using a recruitment company in finding people who were fit for the job Investments made when Jo started the business How a coach has helped her in running her business How the health system is not designed to help with the chronicity of health issues at hand and how chronicity is disabling people How to make a business sustainable instead of wanting overnight success ICF and Coach Training / Certification How Jo uses coaching principles and other skills associated with coaching has helped her business Coaching as a unique skill set Jo as an allied health business coach The benefits and differences coaching has made for Jo What happened to Jo’s business when her clinical load went down The future for Purple Code Jo’s upcoming book “The Entrepreneurial Clinician” Links: Purple Co. Linked In - Jo MuirheadSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today in the podcast we talk with Emma Price, founder of Source Kids. Source Kids, founded in 2014, is a multi-channel resource magazine for parents and carers who are raising children with disability. What is covered in this episode: Emma’s inspiration in building this business Range of channels where Source Kids information is available How Source Kids has grown over the course of 4 years Variety of the magazine’s audience Information available on the Source Kids’ website and directory 1st Disability Expo in Brisbane on July 6 & 7, 2018 Activities and exhibitors to expect in the Disability Expo Source Kids Disability Expo in Melbourne on March 29 & 30, 2019 Practical things supporters can do to help promote the expo The role of Source Kids as a support mechanism to parents and carers The mission and vision of the magazine The magazine as a visual feast which contains energizing content Sources of images in the magazine Not all disabilities are visible disabilities How source kids reminds health care professionals what real collaboration and partnerships with families are Parents, carers and people with disability making their own decisions How to establish the best relationships and outcomes with others Expansion roll-out of the magazine from national to localized state-based magazines The magazine’s need for expert content for its audience Links:   Source Kids Facebook Website Disability Expo Website Disability Expo Facebook Event in Brisbane Business Legal LifecycleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the podcast we chat with lawyer and author Jeremy Streten from the Business Legal Lifecycle. No matter what the size your practice is, you must pay attention to the legal aspects right from the start. If you don’t take care of your legal obligations and plan for the inevitable problems that will surface, you will be exposing yourself to additional stress as a private practice owner.  Jeremy breaks down the 13 phases of your business lifecycle to make it super easy for you to understand. What is covered in this episode: Jeremy’s different and holistic approach to service the type of clients rather than the type of work How the Business Legal Lifecycle is helping small to medium business owners make the right legal discussions at the right time The most common mistakes made in the first five years of business Why it is important to get advice from consultants in all areas of your business Why you need to have a service agreement in place before you start working with clients The importance of having a debt recovery process in place Why you need to consider when you start employing staff The difference between an employee and a contractor The dangers of listening to 'BBQ advice'  The four stages of your business An overview of the 13 phases of your business lifestyle What you need to consider when trademarking What is considered intellectual property in a private practice Starting with the end in mind with business planning The difference between scale and growth The importance of regularly updating your policies and procedures What you need to consider if you take cash payments Don't be afraid to ask questions to make sure you understand the advice you are getting Links: Business Legal LifecycleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the podcast we talk with Melbourne based clinician and private practice owner Dee Wardrop.   What is covered in this episode: How one family helped Dee to start her speech therapy business The juggle of balancing a family and starting an allied health business Highlights of her business development of the last 10 years that has led to currently 12 staff and 3 sites The importance of having a beautiful and supportive workplace facilities Tips for recruiting the right staff members that fit the culture of your team The importance of trusting your gut when recruiting Knowing the importance of a good brand and vibe of your business The mistakes Dee has made over her business journey The regret Dee has in naming her business by her name The importance of innovation and creativity in delivery of outcomes to families How she brings together a dynamic team of allied health professionals to deliver exceptional customer service Dee thoughts on the NDIS and the opportunities it can bring to speech pathology to bring about change Some of the timing frustrations she has found with the NDIS and the funding being allocated to families The importance of pre-planning and prep work for NDIS families The question of capping the number of NDIS patients allied health practices take on How Dee thinks the NDIS will look like in 5 years with a more collaborative approach Her unique leadership style and how she motivates her team through love and passion What owning a business has taught her about herself and how the business will look into the future See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the podcast we talk with Amanda Abel, founder of Northern Centre for Child Development (NCCD), a multidisciplinary paediatric practice in Preston Melbourne. Amanda has over fourteen years’ experience as a psychologist working with families and has a special interest in paediatrics, autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, learning difficulties, disabilities and behaviour management. She has worked in a variety of settings in both the public and private sectors which has allowed her to gain extensive experience helping a wide range of clients. What is covered in this episode: The importance of being authentic and transparent with her clients whilst sharing their knowledge and expertise in her practice How persistence and driving ambition has helped her to create the practice she always wanted, without a business plan What she has learnt in the first two years of being a private practice owner Importance of trusting your gut and instincts to avoid errors, especially around staff The joy of having a recognisable brand in the industry Amanda's impressive Facebook strategy that aims to build brand awareness and how she achieves that through interesting and engaging page content Her blogging efforts (or lack of!) The importance of having weekly team case discussions The difference adding Paediatricians to her practice has made How Amanda balances her busy week between being a business owner and a mother Creating boundaries between work and family time The benefits of investing in awesome administration support and how it has helped to reduce stress as the business owner The importance of having solid policies and procedures in place that evolve over time Why she outsources the HR function of the practice The lessons learnt in offering workshops and parent retreats What the future looks like for herself professionally and NCCD Who would she add to her team if money was no object How the NDIS is changing the way her business operates and why she didn't register as a provider The payoff of all the hard work knowing she and her team are changing the lives of their clients and the importance of celebrating these wins   Northern Centre for Child DevelopmentSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the podcast we talk with Tara Stafford who is the founder of Learning Links Speech Pathology about her start up journey of the last 2 years.   What is covered in this episode: Rebranding and the ups and downs of opening new clinics over the last 12 months. The steps and modelling she did in the planning phase and how that has led to rapid growth. How she came up with the business name. Her commitment to developing a family-friendly work culture. How she reduced her patient cancellation rate. Communication lines and relationships she builds with her referral partners. Key learnings on building a successful practice business and how she has learnt to distance her work and personal life. The importance of looking after yourself as the business owner so that you can look after your patients. Difference between being clinician and a manager. What Tara is most proud of in her business journey so far and how getting good support has allowed her to give back to the industry and community. The importance of developing guidelines with working with families. Marketing tactics to the importance of personal contact in your marketing. Facebook and email marketing tips she used to get referrals before opening the doors to a new practice location. Leadership techniques for bringing the team together and prioritising personal development. Creating a culture where staff are welcomed to ask questions. Training your staff in your marketing activities and relationship building. What to look for when recruiting staff that suit your brand. How she has customised their Practice Management Service software to boost productivity. How using templates has increased the practice's productivity. The year ahead, the impact of the NDIS and letting go of control. Tara's key learning around why you don't need to know everything. The supportive role Tara's husband provides for her and the business.   Resources Learning Links Speech PathologySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the podcast we talk with Sandra D’Souza, author of Social Media for Baby Boomers and CEO of social media and marketing agency Curate Bee.   What is covered in this episode: Social media tips for the allied health professionals Why it is important to understand how your customers use Facebook The struggles Sandra faced 8 years ago to find information online when researching her daughter's condition Understanding the buyers journey and why you need to identify the pain points of your potential customers when communicating to them The power of online communities for getting customer feedback The importance of having a person-centric focus instead of a system focus practice The big guys vs the little guys approach who have a priority on innovation and flexibility The importance of Facebook marketing as a sharing and community focused ecosystem How parents are using social media to research and gather community feedback How to get started using Facebook and why you need to post valuable information on what you know instead of just sales-based messaging 70% of customers do their research online before purchasing How to manager customers complaints online and create a moment of truth Understanding the more information you have out there, the easier it is for potential customers to find you The importance of good customer service 101 The important features every allied health professional needs to have on their website How to use blogs and simple language on your website to connect with potential new customers visiting it The future of online bookings How newsletters can nurture the customer relationship and how to repurpose the content How Curate Bee helps small business owners with their social media and content marketing Taking your knowledge, overcoming fear and marketing yourself online How practitioners can use their fears to their advantage.   Resources: Email  [email protected] to get a free copy of Social Media for Baby Boomers Curate Bee Curate bee FREEBeesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the podcast we talk with Steven Whittington, Chief Product Owner from coreplus. coreplus is an Australian online e-health practice management software that’s accessible anywhere, anytime saving time and money for their users. What is covered in this episode: How coreplus got started and the impact the cloud has had on the uptake of the software Developments in the last 6 months of the coreplus software including user interface upgrade, automated workflows and secure messaging A breakdown of how automated workflows would work practically into a practice A background to secure messaging and how it will impact the flow of patient records and communication between practices in the future A patient-centered focus for automated workflows and secure messaging The top 3 feaures and benefits of the coreplus software The ability to work with coreplus online anytime, anywhere Integrated workflows and costs saving with coreplus connecting directly with Medicare online Lessons learnt from communicating and working with allied health private practice business owners The need for greater investment in business management and mindset of clinical business owners What the digital health world will look like in the next 5 years The issue of Practice Managers changing where referrals go for cost savings The need to make the process receiving referrals as easy as possible for allied health providers The impact of the rollout of My Health Record for allied health providers The lack of a NDIS tech backend to enable practice software integration The future features rolling out on coreplus.   Resources: coreplus website Steven on LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the podcast we talk with Ingrid Cole from Everyday Independence. Based in Victoria, Everyday Independence supports children, adolescents and adults living with disabilities to improve their independence in everyday life through the provision of occupational therapy, speech pathology and physiotherapy     What is covered in this episode: What Ingrid learnt going 'back on the tools' recently Supporting for people beyond their physical needs Everyday Independence’s range of services and how they cater to the needs of their clients throughout their lives How theory works in between sessions, not just doing the actual sessions How Everyday Independence operates as a Person-Centred practice approach The use of one-page profiles for staff and clients How Everyday Independence implemented a coaching-based culture last year Adjusting the coaching approach when needed on an individual basis The benefits of having a Graduate Program 5% of the future workplace will be based around industries as part of the NDIS How to engage and retain experienced clinical staff Embracing and encouraging creativity and innovation with staff How Ingrid has developed her skills as a business owner through just-in-time learning and embracing mentors The importance of having a growth mindset within your organisation Ingrid's thoughts on the NDIS now and how it will be in the next 5 years What is unique about Everyday Independence Lessons learnt as a Co-Director Where the business will be in 12 months’ time.   Resources: Everyday Independence websiteSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My superstar guest this week is the founding director of Pro-Assist, Karina Follent. After embarking on her journey as a virtual assistant and finding that the market was peppered with talent and often hard to break into, she stumbled on her niche. Commencing work with a physiotherapist she discovered the lack of support available in the virtual space for allied health professionals. Thus, Pro-Assist was born. Pro-Assist is a VA service for allied health professionals. Pro-Assist is a team that enables business automation, development of a customer service model and business efficiency by taking on those nagging day-to-day tasks. Now 2 years into her business, Karina’s business has grown to a team and a very healthy client base. If you are a business owner looking to be more efficient in the administrative space and get back to focusing on your clients, you do not want to miss this conversation!   We also get to talking about: The processes and systems that private practices can automate Onboarding the right VA and establishing the relationship between practitioner and assistant The opportunities that the VA investment presents Client transformations – the difference a good night’s sleep can make and what a good VA can deliver The flexible business model – pay for what you use Creation and curation of social media content – getting to know your audience Social media scheduling tools, she reveals her favorite Who is on the Pro-Assist team Her opinion of practice management software The considerations that should be made when choosing a practice management software The lack of affordable support for allied health professionals in the virtual assistance space How she learnt about the business of business Books and blogs that she loves to binge Why you’re never too small to get a VA Her client list and what specialties it includes Tailoring your service to fit your business size What she would do with the business cash injection Her great question for me!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s super intelligent and talented guest is the founding CEO of Cliniko, Joel Friedlaender. Joel has a background in software development and has been introduced to private practice by his partner. His partner is an Osteopath and was becoming increasingly frustrated with the practice management software options available. She suggested to Joel that he spend a few months creating some practice management software.  Jump forward to now, 7 years later where Joel is working on Cliniko full-time with a team of 25. Joel is making leaps and bounds in the transformation of an all-inclusive practice management software and running a successful business. This chat will certainly teach you something about the tech space and the future of practice management software. We also get to talking about: How the plan has changed from a tool for appointments and notes The dream of a one-stop-shop for practice management software, what that looks like and where Cliniko stands How he prioritizes important feature development Cliniko as a responsive software and what this means What feedback Joel and his team are receiving – the good and the bad Cliniko’s current strengths – reliability, customer service and more Changes to customer service and what this means for the end user Cyber security and what it means for practice management What you should be focused on when it comes to cyber security Managing teams and how he does it – communication, management, productivity, applications, etc. The no management model – how does this work? His dislike of processes and how this works when you’re running a business and a team of 25 Management dashboards and how this is going to help the budding entrepreneur private practitioner What practice management is going to look like in 5 years’ time Big data 101 – a crash course Cliniko transparency – the scoop on what is coming up for the business His advice for those paper file lovers! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My very remarkable guest this week is Maria McKenzie, founding director of Adaptive Abilities and Hartley Knows. She has been working in the Private Practice space for 19 years, starting out ‘very part-time’ as a sole trader while on maternity leave. She gradually grew her business as her children got older to move into working with schools and in rooms with other private practitioners. Jump forward to now and she is practicing full-time as an OT, has gone on to develop a handwriting program and start her second business. Based in Mt Eliza on the Mornington Peninsula, Maria grew her business organically and away from a metropolitan hub. We also get to talking about: Offering school based services What the paediatric private practice community looks like on the Mornington Peninsula What the economic landscape is like on the Mornington Peninsula and the challenges this presents Her business knowledge when she started out Running her business manually – without the assistance of practice management software Her booking system, how it’s different and why it works Why she has made the decision to remain a sole practitioner What makes her business unique Hartley knows – why she developed the program, what it is and how it works Her business mentor – who it is and the value of having a business mentor The value of having coaching training The personal growth experienced by being in business What’s in the cards for the future of Adaptive Abilities and Hartley Knows Her tips for our listeners! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week’s exceptional guest is the Founding Director of Same View, Danny Hui. Danny is developing the Same View App to give families of those with a disability a collaborative platform to manage their care teams. The idea for this app came from his own experience with the stresses of managing a loved one’s care. Danny has a background in engineering, emergency and disaster management which has equipped him with the right tools along with his personal experiences to create the successful platform. Starting in November 2016, Same View is already in its prototyping phase and is getting noticed – with good reason! Danny and I get to discussing: Why he is personally driven to build and drive the success of this app His personal discovery of finding the right care and managing that care for a loved one How Same View kicked off About the Optus Future Makers recognition that Same View has received What Same View is going to look like, and will it be easy for busy parents? How allied health professionals will be able to use the app Duplication, how Same View is making it easier for the user and allied health professional The focus on adding value What has changed for his family by using the app The benefits he has personally experienced from using the app The collaboration involved in writing the goals of the app Who is picking Same View up in its prototype stage Who the app can be applied to The importance of getting feedback and what that means for the future of the app What the next 6-12 months looks like for Same View What Danny would like from allied health professionals His great question for me – not one that I have had before! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My very experienced and talented guest this week is Founding CEO of One on One Children’s Therapy, Sue Marden. Sue was the first mobile Speech Pathologist in Sydney’s eastern suburbs when her private practice journey began 27 years ago. Sue started her business when she was 6 months pregnant and by the time her son was born was already at a full case load. With baby number 2 the business moved to her garage before evolving when her third child was 3 to private practice rooms. Now flying high (25 stories high to be exact) over Bondi Junction, One on One’s Children’s therapy is a hugely successful, multi-disciplinary private practice with a wait list and more growth on the horizon. Sue also shares with me: What the private practice landscape looked like when she started out and what people thought of private practitioners A guided tour of her very unique practice rooms in Bondi Junction A who’s who on her growing multi-disciplinary team Her involvement with Latrobe University in developing an app for her clinical work What ESDM is and why this is such a large part of her practice Her opinion on how ESDM is different from the ABA How she finds and trains her team Her system and processes and how this drives her business The admin and finance side of her business and how this is constantly evolving What a typical week looks like for Sue – her business management to clinical ratio What her main challenges are with social media (hint: it doesn’t involve marketing) What her business has taught her – the good and the bad What her team does brilliantly and how the culture of her business has changed because of the team’s dynamic Mentoring – why it is important to the business and the development of the team The evolution of her administration team Where / how her business brain developed Learning from your mistakes and how this is valuable to business and self Where she sees the business in the next 12 months What she would do with a $50,000 cash injection into her practice Her question/s for me – they were some good ones!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My trailblazing guest duo this week are the founding directors of Therapy Connect, Sue Cameron and Simone Dudley. Sue Cameron a Speech Therapist and Simone Dudley an Occupational Therapist met online. They are both located in rural, Australian communities, married to famers and share a passion for providing therapy to those that aren’t able to access it as easily as those in metro areas. Therapy connect was born from this passion and is now a thriving telepractice providing teletherapy to those in rural communities within Australia and offshore. Their truly unique business model, their innovative natures and drive for continuous learning and improvement is sure to inspire! Sue and Simone also share with me: •A detailed explanation of ‘telehealth’ and ‘telepractice’ and the benefits of this technology •How and where the trailblazing duo met •What they are working on and where they are working from •The different requirements for teletherapy and how it all works •How they measure their success (hint: it’s not dollars in the bank) •The time it takes to adapt what they would do in a face to face session to a telepractice setting •The different online resources they are finding to assist them with telepractice and how this is shaping their business •Where they stand on the NDIS •How they are educating parents to be their child’s therapist and the lasting effects of this •The project that they are working on with the University of Sydney •Where their practice is flowing to off Australian shores •What their business has taught them in the last 2 years •What they are most proud of in their business life •Their question for me and my advice to them •And so much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My dynamic guest this week is the Founding Director of Melbourne Child Development, Robyn Stephen. Robyn is a pioneer of private practice in Melbourne. Starting out, like most of us, from her own home as Robyn Stephen and Associates she has grown to a multi-disciplinary practice in her very own building. With the assistance of some innovators in the private practice space and her husband as her business coach the possibilities are endless for this new venture. Robyn Stephen and Associates may have been parked to make way for Melbourne Child Development and all the exciting opportunities that come with a re-launch but the same love and standard of service has carried across. Robyn also shares with me: Being on the Speech Pathology Australia Board 6 years – her various roles and what she has learnt Developing a strategic business plan - what to do, how to do it and who to speak to The scary side of rebranding and the emotions associated with this huge transition to a business that no one knows the name of Having her husband as a co-director and business coach How she gets things done when she’s self-described as ‘not a planner’ How the launch has allowed them to connect with new clients, re-connect with previous clients and retain current clients How to successfully inform current clients of the re-branding of a business that they know and love Rebranding and organisational culture – does one influence the other How her staff have embraced the business strategic plan and incorporated it daily into the organisations culture Authentic marketing and messaging –the important pieces Upgrading the practice – how many times she’s upgraded the practice and why Being a pioneer in private practice, the changes she has noticed in the industry What her business has taught her about continuous improvement Why she is not afraid to spend money on seeking expert advice Her investment in her team (check out the Rockstar photos on the website) and who is in it Innovation and their point of difference Her philosophy of excellence and what that means for her and the business The future – what is in store for Melbourne Child Development See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest this week is the super savvy founder of Allied Health Marketing, Chris McCarroll. Allied Health Marketing looks after allied health professionals in a marketing capacity. While Chris is the first to say that he is not a business coach but in fact a service that sits between the business and business coach developing marketing strategies and offering a range of solutions to grow the business. Chris started out in fashion marketing at the tender age of 21 and straight out of uni. He then moved to not for profit marketing with Surf Lifesaving while working with freelance clients. After deciding that freelancing was where he wanted to be he was introduced to the allied health world by working the National Board of Exercise Physiologists and so, Allied Health Marketing was born. I am blown away by what I learnt in this conversation. Get a notepad because we also get to talking about: What he heard that Allied Health Professionals wanted from a marketer His response to “I’m not comfortable marketing myself” The best way to make connections with potential clients Selling outcomes – why it is important The changing landscape of marketing in allied health Where allied health professionals are coming unstuck with marketing Identifying your ideal customer and their need How to put yourself above everyone else and sell your services Who is in his office, what they do and how they do it Why he’ll never be hands-off and why he loves being involved in the strategy Why it’s important to take care of your team The process of getting started with Allied Health Marketing – the customer experience Websites – return on investment, are you getting yours? Instagram – the fun, the distraction, the casualness… Video marketing – why it’s important and why you should attend one of his incredible workshops (yes, please!) His own experience with a video marketing workshop The best way to start shooting your own social media videos What you have in your household to be able to shoot 5 videos today 3 types of video content that could benefit your business So many more tips for engaging content and video! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My incredible guest this week is the founding director of Occupational Therapy Helping Children, Lisa Hughes. Lisa Hughes is a Paediatric Pioneer when it comes to private practice. An extremely talented Occupational Therapist she opened her first private practice in 1994 on Sydney’s northern beaches, when most were working in the public health sector. Like most allied health professionals, she had minimal business and management training. With the assistance of her husband an accountant and business coach she has continued to pave the way for paediatric private practice opening additional practices, now at a total of 5! She has recruited an amazing team and expanded her business knowledge from 0 to superstar status! You are sure to get as much out of this inspiring conversation as I did. We also get to talking about: Outsourcing – why she swears by it and what she outsources now Going full circle on everything she thought originally She takes us on a tour of her practices Who is working in her team currently and potential additions in the future Engaging a practice manager – what got her across the line when deciding to hire Providing an ‘in school’ therapy service and her percentage of clinical and community based services What practice management system she is using and how this has changed her business game Practice policies and procedures, what state they are in and how she maintains these very important business elements Contractor or employee? How she structures her human resources for ultimate flexibility School holidays – is this a busy or quiet period for her business? How she works during this period The NDIS – her thoughts and how her business will work with this What her and her team do the best Marketing and social media – what she is trying and what seems to be working The struggles and dark moments of private practice The future – what is in store for Occupational Therapy Helping Children Her fascinating question for me! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest this week is the true wild card of the Private Practice Secrets Podcast, Jacinta McMahon. Jacinta McMahon is the founder and director or Learning Fundamental, a centre for children with a variety of learning difficulties. What makes Jacinta, a wild card? Her background is primary teaching, rather than allied health! Jacinta started as a primary school teacher in the catholic education system before going back to complete her post-graduate studies in learning disabilities. She then continued to work for catholic and independent schools in a coordinator capacity where she became increasingly frustrated by the lack of funding provided for children with difficulties. Thus, Learning Fundamentals was born in her home study and is now a thriving learning centre with a wait list of clients in Sandringham! Jacinta and I also get to talking about: A centre for children with a range of learning difficulties She talks us through that first moment moving from paid employment to working from home, for herself Why she would like for her and people like her to be referred to as Educational Consultants rather than tutors Her thought process around moving the office from home and her motivation behind this decision Her motivations to go into business for herself, aside from the support of her dad who was a true source of inspiration How long it took between making the decision to open the centre for the doors to open Why she thinks that she could have done more planning around business aspect of opening the centre What her biggest challenges were going into a new premises / business Why outsourcing has saved her time and frustration She walks us through her centre and her amazing team The investment in relationships that her team has and how this makes Learning Fundamentals special How she has such and incredible team without advertising for new staff Growth, her goals and managing these Her thoughts around setting up another centre to get rid of her waiting list Where she gets her energy from Building her business and team to a point where she can have Friday off and how to do it Updating the policies and procedures manual and why it is a constant work in progress Her plans for service expansion off the back of the budget release and what is in store for education What her business has taught her Her vision for the future and her thoughtful question for me! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest this week is Rebekah Fraser speaking to us from Auckland, New Zealand. I met Rebekah coming up on one year ago on a trip to Cambodia where we were invited as coaches, to work with a social enterprise start-up. Rebekah has since founded her own business, The Back to Work Coach, supporting mums on their journey back into the work force. Rebekah has an interesting background, starting with completing her masters in psychology. While living in Belfast, for research observed a primary school teacher which then inspired her to return to study in primary education. She has experience in psychometric assessment, communication practices and now coaching. You are sure to learn so much from this conversation, I know I did! We also get to talking about: •Her research into the biggest challenges facing women returning to the workforce •Her beliefs around women returning to the workforce with clear intentions and a suitable work/life balance •Looking at family as a team and defining what that this means for women and their household. •How The Back to work coach is the only offering on its type in NZ •Recognition of industry needs to be focused more in this space •Her diverse roles and what she has learnt from each of her experiences •Her passion for learning and how this assists her in owning and running her business •Being authentic and walking the walk as a coach and mother in the workforce •Self-leadership skills from utilizing her strengths and working around weaknesses •Why it is important to always reflects on best practice •Her vision board –where it is and her methodology in building this •The importance of partnerships and what this means for her business •Women needing to see how amazing they are and how much having a child strengthens you •That feeling of walking back into the office on the first day after maternity leave •Why there is no need to ‘get it right’ and to be perfect •Her biggest personal learning – what it is and how it can apply to anyone in business •Her tribe – who they are, when they meet and what they talk about •Outsourcing things that she doesn’t particularly enjoy doing and focusing on doing the things that she loves •Her tips for being a mother, entrepreneur, colleague and friend •Her life learning, what it is and why she wants this to be her legacy •Quality conversations – why this is important and why we need to stop expecting our partners to be mind-readers •The ‘Giving Up Control’ challenge – what it is and why she’s doing it •A message for the mums returning to work •Her fabulous question for me and so much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest this week is the remarkable Kim Sheppard aka ‘Cool Kim’. Kim is a family psychologist and founding director of Cool Kid Psychology. Kim’s private practice and solopreneur work started back as early as her undergrad years where she worked privately with families. Since finishing her masters and becoming registered, Kim has worked out of rooms and is now running her successful business from her beautiful home with the help of her incredible virtual assistant. She has created a safe space where families can be open and relaxed, not to mention, Kim can step into her own backyard for a kick of the footy after a long day of doing what she loves. We also get to talking about: Why she chose the awesome name for her business Her year working for a public intervention service The importance of knowing what the different disciplines do and how this assists with knowing when to refer a patient The early days and starting out on her own Why deciding to have her practice on her property wasn’t exactly an easy choice and how she came to make the difficult decision A walk though of her beautiful practice and the boundaries she has in place to protect her personal balance Her experience with working with her virtual assistant and the benefits this has had for her business Her 2 big struggles in business – what they are and how she is handling them The importance of referrals and how to get more of them Being life-long learners and the Paeds Biz Conference Business management and how she has learnt to outsource the things that she wasn’t good at to free up her time to focus on the things that she is good at Being a good decision maker and problem solver The digital marketing space – what she does in terms of social media and digital marketing Her current services and what she plans to offer in the future Trying not to be pigeon holed in terms of the services she offers Recruiting – what she is learning around interviewing applicants and how much information to give to applicants about the business What she’s loving about her business now What she does to look after herself and so much more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to season 2 of the Private Practice Secrets Podcast. This week it was my absolute pleasure to speak with the dynamic, Bev Sher, director at Bev Sher Speech Pathology. To say that Bev is a wealth of education and knowledge would be an understatement. She is a mother, with a triple degree, her own successful practice and has presented at international health professional conferences. Bev trained in South Africa where she graduated with a degree in Speech Pathology and Audiology. Having studied speech and drama from a young age she then went on to complete an associate’s degree in this area of passion also. After relocating to Australia in 1998 and being told that the likelihood of her finding work was slim, she hit the ground running working for the education department and in private practices before starting to work for herself in 2000. Her approach to business and her professionalism is inspiring and I know you will get as much from this episode as I did. We also get into: How volunteering lead to some great career opportunities, including paid work as an emerging Speech Pathologist Her experience as the Clinic Coordinator at the Fragile X Clinic, the only one of its kind in Australia Managing and supporting multi-disciplinary teams Being an attendee and presenter at 3 of the Fragile X conferences in the United States How her work has given her the opportunity to travel domestically and internationally How her business has grown quickly from starting in her living room – employing contractors after 1 year Taking a work call in the labour ward with her second child (that’s dedication!) Business management - what she knows and where it came from The pros and cons of working with family The importance of investing in professional relationships Her practice setup – the benefits of co-locating What she is most proud of in her career and business Her thoughts and preparation for the NDIS The work / life balance and her question for me about this How her work has inspired her children and so much more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest this week is the incredibly entrepreneurial Fran Nicholson, Director of Sensational Kids. Fran is a mother, mentor, innovator and management expert and has seen huge success in her practice. However, Fran did not start out in paediatrics. Fran was introduced to paediatrics by a friend and former owner of Sensational Kids. With his encouragement and training Fran made the transition, bought into the business 6 months later and took over the business solely in 2012. Sensation Kids has such an interesting history including being one of the first Australian practices to introduce the DIR Floortime model back in 2007. Fran’s passion, expertise and entrepreneurial spirit is certainly a breath of fresh air within our industry. We also got to talking about: Her expanding team and specialties - the importance of a diverse support team How to team around the child effectively – meet, discuss and debrief as a matter of importance Coordinating teams across 2 centers – how to manage and keep the team on track Her very careful hiring process and how important it is to recognize people’s strengths and the satisfaction they get from their work The secret to delegation - the systems and processes that she has in place and how they integrate their core values into these Flexibility and how being flexible allows her team to make decisions for themselves around charging for patient services NDIS – her excitement and thoughts on how this effects businesses and families What’s unique about Sensational Kids and how this has people travelling distances to engage their services The innovative culture and how this is fueling their new group programs for children Management, mother, mentor, entrepreneur – how she structures her week to accommodate all her different hats We discuss our favorite books and podcasts Her Wishlist – it’s on the wall and updated weekly by herself and her team! Clinic wear & tear – what she does for to keep up with the upkeep Her very interesting question for me… See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest this week is the incredibly talented Natasha Hawker, director of Employee Matters. She is an author, trainer, speaker and mother of 3. Her book, From Hire to Fire and Everything In-between is a handbook for business owners of the ‘how tos’ of managing staff and even having those difficult conversations. As chance would have it, we spoke on International Women’s Day which saw us discussing some important topics for women in the workplace. We got to speaking on women’s empowerment, both professionally and personally and the lack of strong female role models. That’s not all we had to talk about! We also cover: The home/work balance – juggling home and work life, the flexibility, the advantages, the challenges and the guilt Business management – learning how to manage without being taught how to manage The time-consuming task of managing people – factoring in time to nurture, develop and support your team Fear of HR for business growth - engaging contractors and part-time employees for the first time The importance of timing in hiring and job descriptions Improving interview techniques – the interview process, reference checks, background checks and understanding the 3 different interviewing types Celebrating milestones – the importance of reflection and how Natasha celebrates hers What she is most proud of professionally Environment vs. Productivity – surrounding yourself with the tools you need to be successful How she came to write her book, From Hire to Fire and Everything in Between The 9-step employee lifecycle – what is it? Performance Management – why is it important and what it means to manage an employee’s performance “Staff” – why Natasha thinks it’s a dirty word See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

My guest this week is Melinda Houghton, Director and Senior Planner at Houghton Strategic Solutions. Melinda is a mother, award winning business woman, consumer advocate and the best part – she offers financial planning for real people. Her down-to-earth nature is reflected throughout her work. Melinda’s decision to go into business for herself came from the frustration she felt after working within financial planning businesses that all followed the same flawed business model. Her vision for a better way has proved that you can build an ethical and profitable business while catering to those that aren’t wealthy… yet, anyway. On top of running a successful business and spending time with her beautiful family she is dedicated to improving financial literacy and transforming the not so favourable image of the financial planning industry! In this episode, we also talk about: The history of financial planning and why it gets a bad rap – the financial planner vs. the ‘financial product flogger’ Financial planning is about the strategy – products are secondary and they are only a tool to get you where you want to be The importance of focusing on your personal goals and objective when devising your financial plan The training requirements to be a financial planner – your financial planners will be required to have a degree equivalency Running your business - getting your head around the financial side by employing a team of experts and the confidence that it will give you Having someone with expertise taking care of the expert areas – have a team of advisors – it takes a village! What to look for when seeking an advisor – finances are important, don’t just sit down with anyone Mel’s upcoming book, The Insider’s Guide to Getting Quality Advice Before You’re wealthy How she came to win several awards for business and financial planning Her unique business structure and what drove her to go out on her own and challenge the industry norm The pride she takes in focusing on and representing people who are not yet wealthy What Mel would do with a whole free day! The first-hand advice she has for health professionals working with children and families The difference between an accountant and financial planner Her very interesting question for me… you’ll have to listen to find out! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jenna Moffat is the Co-founder of Clickability, a rating and review website for disability services that is best likened to Trip Advisor. Needless to say Jenna has a passion for social change which saw her starting her career as a carer and then social worker. Jenna was drawn to working with people with disability however quickly became frustrated by the lack of consumer-focused information and accountability available to help people navigate systems. She’s taken her social work principles and applied this to her new entrepreneurial role supporting the development of savvy consumers and working with service providers on this grass-roots, community driven organization, providing peer-driven information to subscribers. So impressive is the work that she and co-founder and director Aviva Beecher Kelk are doing, they are already being recognized and awarded for it! That’s not all we talk about, we also get into: The importance of informed choice and transparency in the disability sector The response from services providers to a service like Clickability and how they aim to work with service providers not against them The empowering response from participants, excited to have somewhere to speak about their services and know that services are likely to improve as a result Being the new kids on the block – after the site piloted for 9 months their official Victorian launch was only in January 2016 Challenging the culture of ‘fear’ about speaking up about services in a public forum. The NDIS, of course gets an honourable mention The NSW launch of Clickability and what they would like service providers to do to make sure their listings are correct The incredible team at Clickability and why their organisational culture in unique The creative ways they communicate being a remote team The end user, accessibility and their priorities when building the platform Richard Branson – you’ll have to listen to find out how he fits in And so much more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spectrum Speech Pathology runs two very busy sites in Melbourne. The large part time team is clinically mentored and supported, the small number of full timers have balanced week of clinical, admin and business development activities to prevent burn out. Their staff retention is exceptional. Christine Kendall and Gloria Staios have seen the private practice and disability landscape change significantly during their twenty years as co-founders of Spectrum Speech Pathology. During the chat Christine and Gloria energetically share their business journey, their passion for doing what they do well and their commitment to their staff. In this episode, we also discuss: What Gloria and Christine have learned about recruitment, supporting staff, customer service and team training The value of uninterrupted thinking time - I spoke to the dynamic duo while on a four day business planning retreat Tips for how to work with referrers The NDIS game Changer and keeping an open mind Their roles on the steering committee for the Autism Teaching Institute Their regular speaking gigs such as small group mentoring programs, lectures and large workshops And so much more, there is something for everyone! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Emma Price is the founding CEO of Source Kids, has a background in marketing and now leads a business team of 4. Source Kids, issues a phenomenal FREE magazine that links parents who have a child with a disability with product and service providers. This hugely successful publication now has a typical online reach of 240,000 people per month. The magazines are stunning. The content, images and adverts are bright, vibrant, professional and interesting. I am a huge fan and look forward to my bimonthly copy in the mail. Source Kids have big plans for the next twelve months, several of which are still top secret. What we can expect is more fantastic magazines, more video and a growing online presence. Stay tuned folks. In this episode, we touch on: •The difficulties that parents face when looking for disability service providers •How Source Kids is bridging the gap for families •Emma shares about her family and navigating Angel man’s syndrome with her daughter • The role of health professionals •Dr Google gets a mention •The challenges of finding writers, sponsors and distribution partners during the first year has paid off. •And so much more!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tahnee is an occupational therapist and the owner of Sydney’s Hopalong Occupational Therapy for Children. She has extensive private practice experience and has been the owner of Hopalong for ten years. Her two clinics sound wonderful and her team also provide community services. It takes a team to raise a business, Tahnee has a strong admin and business team and readily delegates to their fields of expertise. Her typical day includes a maximum of 3 clients, clinical supervision and marketing activities. In addition to this Hopalong Occupational Therapy for Children is an award-winning business. They apply for local business awards and win them, including Business of the year and Business Person of the year.  You are sure to get as much from this episode as I did, here’s more of what we talk about: Hopalong Occupational Therapy for Children’s business journey to 2 clinics The challenges of operating a private practice for over 10 years Having an expert team and delegating according to strengths Facebook and the need for an editorial mission Applying business awards and winning them, including Business of the year and Business Person of the year What the 8 week Bounce Back for Kids Program is How she self-trained as a business manager Business software to swear by The year ahead and so much more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cate Schreck is founding owner of Lightbulb Training Solutions a fabulous business that provides customer service training that educates and motivates. Cate is also the author of ‘The A-Z of Service Excellence, the essential guide to becoming a customer service professional’.  Her book is a must read for all business owners who have team providing direct client services, it is clear, motivating and practical.  Cate has worked in disability services and been a small business owner for many years. She understands the world of the private practitioner and has delivered content to Cathy’s tribe for years. They know each other well, they like a chat and a wine.   Here is what they get into on this episode of Private Practice Secrets: The Lightbulb Training business journey A bit about Cate’s book, The A-Z of Service Excellence, the essential guide to becoming a customer service professional Her work in disability services and the private practice sector What it’s like being a small business owner Soft skills and hard skill and what they mean for your business How behavioural profiling such the DISC and the benefits for your business Service excellence tips and tricks for the disability sector Work / Life balance and so much more! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dino Mennillo is the co-owner of OT for Children, a large well-established private practice in Adelaide. Dino describes the early days of his business, the horrendous hours, not being quite available for family and fun and how he turned it all around. Dino shares all, including how he spent 12 months systematising every aspect of his business so he and his family could take a three month holiday without his practice missing a beat. OT for Children have a large admin and clinical team, the senior management team are organised, proactive and accountable. Dino’s passion, energy and commitment flavour this conversation. We also talk about: Clinical excellence and innovation in private practice Service delivery, customer service and the challenges involved The importance of investment in self Team and business growth NDIS and the impact on his business – being in Adelaide we went into depth on this one Insights into management of teams See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.