Where do I start?
- Andrew Thomas
- May 14
- 5 min read
Aspire & Grow Therapy Services turns 3 years old…..however the journey is much longer!
Phew…what started out as a hypothesis and outright rebuttal of what I believe to be the rather repulsive ‘National’ model of KPI (billable) culture driven through control and command of what should be autonomous Allied Health Professionals has turned into something quite wonderful, and I just wish I was smart enough to have foreseen the growth and delight!
No wonder the industry is undergoing such seismic shifts at every regulatory and political level. If only the Commission, Regulators and Politicians had cared about the profiteering and destruction of values based professionals earlier, no doubt the corrections being now felt would have not been so severe.
At Aspire & Grow our recruitment processes has us doing things a little differently. So much so there is not a Competency Based question in sight, with our interviews simply referred to as ‘Initial Conversations’ where we tell and listen to stories.
Everyone hears the same message, I never intended to be running an Allied Health business. But I am delighted it found me. I simply wanted to prove that it therapy could be delivered better!
What started out as curiosity and concern for the professionals Nikki would tell stories about, being churned and burned all with the focus of hitting a number under the auspices and ruse of ‘delivering quality care’. The numbers didn’t lie, and the system wasn’t changing.
I remember the time, day and location (12th May 2023) I had to finally disclose to Nikki that I had embezzled our family savings 😂😂 to become a NDIS Registered Provider without her knowing (although it was disclosed it my Commission Audited Governance Standards and Conflicts of Interest - for anyone about to jump on the Practice Standards😉😂).
Fast forward 4 years and Aspire & Grow Therapy Services turns 3 years old on 19th May 2023, when our first advertisement, rather scarily went live on Seek!
Why was the journey longer?
In it’s purest form NDIS Registration takes a year from Application/Audit so our application was submitted in April 2022, and was written over 3 months by myself from Jan to March 2022.
This old Publican and leisure retailer (hospitality in Australia 😉😂) knew nothing about NDIS till Aspire & Grow was started in March 2021 and Incorporated in Jul 2022, let alone what the NDIS Practice Standards were and how to go about truly understanding their impact and benefit.
If it wasn’t for a close friend Helen Grey seeking my help as a consultant when I launched Aspire & Grow to help create, establish and gain NDIS Registration for Empowering Abilities Together, Aspire & Grow Therapy Services certainly would not exist – thanks Helen. Sincerely and truly. (www.eat.org.au)
You opened my eyes to a world of truly dedicated professionals who love what they do, great at what they do but all too often either the business, organisational knowledge gaps or the targets get in the way of truly serving those who need it!
Where are we now?
Aspire & Grow Services have now helped many companies through their NDIS Audit, scale and improve profitability for their businesses and in doing so with a zero non-conformity mindset.
Utilising ‘big business’ systems, knowledge and processes coupled with people centred practices for employees & contractors to scale, do more and do better.
I now find myself as Managing Director of Aspire & Grow Therapy Services as a qualified Lead Auditor, certified Specialist Support Coordinator, proven consultant and strategist in the a marketplace that all too often knows what they wish to achieve, but not knowing how to achieve it sustainably and profitably. Charged and privileged to be leading the very best of experienced clinicians across the Perth Metro Area and South-West alongside my best friend, mother of our children and Clinical Director Nikki Thomas of approaching 23 post graduate years of experience.
To say I am humbled and proud is to say the least. Shocked and surprised a close second.
The validation that we have now fully proven that there is a sustainable, profitable and scalable model for therapy services very different from the conventional target driven culture. Operating with zero billable targets, quality therapy service delivery and no waitlists in a collegiate, collaborative and fun environment with the best team ever is one heck of an achievement everyone at Aspire & Grow Therapy Services has contributed to, past and present. Thanks Team - you're the best! And I've had some teams - sorry Heath/Mark/Kez & Abs 😉😂you've been there from the start though
What next?
Having sailed through our most recent NDIS Re-Certification for PBS, Therapeutic Supports, Early Years Intervention, Specialist Support Coordination and now adding Daily Supports to provide additional capacity building opportunities – yes, we grow again, whilst we strive to consolidate we continue to strive to meet the market demand for our services through organic and evolutionary growth.
At a group level Support Work for Capacity Building is next on the cards, and no doubt followed by our own Support at Home registration now the regulators have done their thing.
Ultimately we know who we are, comfortable that we cannot help everyone and for those we will continue to support and act within the community rather than in competition (I still hate those Waitlists, and the regulators could step in to fix that problem too!), stay committed to engaging and enabling the growth of our Therapy team individually whilst in pursuit of delivering the very best of care & supports.
We will remain nimble, personable, individual and true to our values. We have already successfully navigated scything cost cutting from therapy and travel, and used that to innovate thereby improving services, capacity, capability and increased market share.
Thriving Kids, SIL, Budget cuts and announcements are just more changes we will approach and adapt to in the same manner.
For me personally?
To continue to support our team, in the best way I can. And as this post is reflective of, sometimes the introvert in my has to actually nail my colours to mast and sing loud and proud of everything Aspire & Grow Therapy Services has achieved in such a relatively short period of time.
And for the critics?
To everybody who mocked, labelled and castigated me as ‘another MBA’ and ‘it’ll never work, you’re not a clinician, you just don’t understand’. Thank you. Sincerely.
It’s the critique and challenge to our thoughts, ideas and opinions that fuels us, creates further ideation and refinement. So long as we keep our minds wide open.
It is very pleasing to see lots of our ideas and approaches to market now being replicated by others – plagiarism can be the greatest form of flattery, however there is nothing like the feeling of blazing your own trail when others doubt you. Please keep doubting us – it helps us raise our bar further.
If you ever want a chat, soundboard an idea or think there is an opportunity to collaborate don't hesitate to reach out. My enjoyment of a cold one 🍺is closely matched by cup of Joe 🍵☕
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