The podcast for NDIS support workers, disability support workers, and aged care workers in Australia. Hosted by Sarah Heriot — interviewing support workers, NDIS providers, disability sector founders, and care sector leaders. Get real insights on NDIS, disability support, and working in aged care. Support workers: find clients fast — sign up free at SwiftyMatchy.com and get matched with people who need your support today!
Whistleblowing in the NDIS: What Happens When Speaking Up Is the Only Option?
What happens when you’ve reported concerns, followed the right processes, raised complaints… and nothing changes?
In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, I’m joined again by Belinda Toohey for a very real conversation about whistleblowing in the disability sector.
Belinda shares lived experiences from her career, including situations where people with disability were allegedly prevented from leaving services they no longer wanted, concerns around NDIS funding and providers, and what it can take to keep pushing when someone’s rights or safety are at risk.
We also talk about what support workers can actually do when something doesn’t feel right — starting with knowing your policies, procedures and Code of Conduct, documenting concerns, speaking up, and knowing when concerns may need to be escalated to regulators, police or other appropriate authorities.
Most importantly, this episode is about the people we support.
Because support workers are often the eyes and ears on the ground. And sometimes doing the right thing means being willing to say:
“No. This isn’t okay.”
Belinda’s advice is pretty simple: do the right thing, trust your gut, find people with integrity, and don’t stay silent just because speaking up feels uncomfortable. Pasted text
⚠️ Content warning: This episode discusses alleged abuse, exploitation, restrictive practices, sexual exploitation and other distressing situations involving people with disability.
🎧 Sarah Knows Support Workers
Real conversations about support work, the NDIS, disability and all the messy stuff in between.
5 Oct 2026
Are You a Good Support Worker… or Just a Nice Person?
Being kind matters. But kindness alone doesn’t make you a great support worker.
In this episode, I’m talking about the difference between being a lovely person and actually being good at the job.
We’re talking about reliability, case notes, communication, boundaries, professional judgement, independence, knowing when to speak up, and actually understanding what the person you support wants from their life.
Because you can be fun. You can be caring. You can remember the coffee order. You can be the favourite support worker.
But if you’re always late, never write useful notes, blur boundaries, or make someone more dependent on you… we need to have a chat. 😂
The sweet spot?
Be kind and professional.
Be fun and reliable.
Be caring and know your role.
That’s what makes a bloody good support worker.
27 Sept 2026
Choice & Control vs Duty of Care: When Should Support Workers Step In?
Choice and control sounds simple… until a participant makes a choice that might put them at risk.
So where does dignity of risk end and duty of care begin?
In this episode of Sarah Knows Support Workers, Sarah gets into the real-life situations support workers actually face.
What if someone wants to wear shorts when it’s freezing outside?
What if a participant with diabetes wants takeaway and a giant sugary drink?
What happens when someone refuses their medication?
Or stops eating?
Do you step in? Do you respect the choice? Do you escalate it? And when could “helping” actually cross the line into controlling someone?
We’re talking about:
Choice and control
Dignity of risk
Duty of care
Medication refusal
Health and safety concerns
Restrictive practices
Staying within your role
When to document and escalate
What to do when you genuinely don’t know what to do
Because good support isn’t about letting someone do whatever they want and ignoring risk.
And it’s definitely not about controlling someone because you think you know what’s best.
It’s about finding the balance between rights, choice, safety and your responsibilities as a support worker.
Sarah also shares five questions you can ask yourself when you’re unsure, plus where support workers can go for further guidance, including the NDIS Code of Conduct, the Working Together Guide for Workers and the Quality, Safety and You worker orientation module.
🎧 If you work in disability support, this is one worth saving.
Follow Sarah Knows Support Workers on Spotify and leave a review if these episodes help you on shift.
Who has been a guest on Sarah Knows Support Workers
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
James Bennett
Tara Shekede
Yvette Salvaris
Garth Belic
Matt Cagney
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Spotify
5.0 / 5
10 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 37 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
75
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
0
Host of Sarah Knows Support Workers?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
