Five years ago, I wasn’t launching a company, I was reclaiming my life. 

Allara Support Services didn’t begin with a business plan. It began with a baby on my hip, a laptop on the dining table, and a deep desire to turn lived experience into leadership. I was a new mum, navigating maternity leave and reflecting on everything I’d survived. Addiction, domestic violence, self-doubt and wondering how I could use it to build something that mattered. 

Allara was born from purpose. From the belief that disability support should be participant-led, not profit-led. That Supported Independent Living (SIL) should be grounded in empathy, not bureaucracy. That care should be real, respectful, and empowering. 

Where It Began 

I didn’t enter the NDIS sector with a degree. I entered with grit. As a teenager, I lived through trauma that nearly broke me. Rehab saved me. My family held me up. And when I was ready to rejoin the workforce, I asked myself, “Who would hire me?” My mum answered with something that changed everything:
“Why don’t you use your lived experience to give back?” 

So I did. I became a disability support worker. And for the first time, I felt like I belonged. I thought I was there to care for others, but really, they were saving me. 

The Early Years 

I’ve worked in group homes since before the NDIS rollout, and over nearly 15 years with one organisation, I grew into leadership roles that challenged me in the best ways and helped me realise my potential. Penrith became my home. Western Sydney became my community. And Maggie Vincent – my GM, became the kind of leader I aspired to be: strong, compassionate, and deeply human.

The Hustle Years 

I worked three jobs at once. I pushed myself to the edge, trying to prove I was worthy. Then I fell pregnant, and everything shifted. That insecure voice inside me, the one that said “you’re not good enough” came back. But this time, I faced her. Motherhood forced me to slow down, to heal, and to redefine success. 

A friend said, “You should do something on your own.” And for once, I listened. 

The Birth of Allara 

I registered for the NDIS and told myself I’d open one small group home. Just enough to replace my income. But purpose has a way of expanding. I realised I could build something bigger, something that redefined Supported Independent Living and community-based care. Something that gave people with disability the power to choose, lead, and thrive. 

Allara started in my lounge room. Trestle tables, laptops, and a baby being passed around between meetings. Eventually, someone said, “We don’t fit in the house anymore.” So I got an office. And the rest is history. 

Looking Back 

From a scared teenager to a CEO of one of Australia’s fastest growing NDIS providers, this journey has been raw, real, and relentless. Every setback shaped me. Every sleepless night taught me something. And every person we’ve supported reminded me why I started. 

“I owe everything to the disability community. You gave me purpose. You gave me a reason to rebuild. And you continue to inspire me every single day.”

Final Reflection 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a woman in business, it’s this:
You don’t have to have it all together to start. You just have to start, and keep showing up. 

To every participant, family, team member, and partner who’s walked this journey with me.. Thank you. Allara is what it is because of you. And we’re just getting started.