Season 6 Episode 1: The First Hire: Growing a Practice and Growing as a Leader

In this episode of OT Coaching Confidential, I'm joined by Chris, an occupational therapist running his own small private practice specialising in home modifications and assistive technology.

Chris has been working for himself full-time since 2023, building steadily from a standing start during COVID into a practice with subcontractors, a full-time VA, and a part-time support person. Now, with his first full-time employee, a new graduate OT is about to start, Chris is stepping into a new chapter of his business and a new identity as a clinical leader.

Together, we explore what it really looks like to grow a small OT practice intentionally, and what it takes to bring on and support a new graduate well.

We explore:

• Building a small OT practice from the ground up in the NDIS and aged care space
• The realities of recruiting in a challenging market, even when you are doing everything right
• The difference between onboarding an experienced therapist and genuinely teaching a new graduate
• Training versus supervision, and why they are not the same thing
• Building clinical reasoning, not just clinical tasks
• Documenting competency in a way that supports both the new grad and the practice
• Structuring your week to absorb the demands of leadership without burning out
• Using existing systems and team members more strategically as you grow
• What it means to think clearly about the business you are actually trying to build

Key takeaways:

• Recruiting is hard even when you are doing everything right - persistence matters more than strategy in the current market
• Bringing on a new graduate is a leadership transition, not just a hiring decision
• Training and supervision are different functions and need to be held separately
• Teaching clinical reasoning requires making your own thinking visible, not just delegating tasks
• Competency frameworks do not have to be complex - a simple sign-off checklist goes a long way
• A dedicated onboarding block, even just two weeks, can reduce the pressure of trying to do everything at once
• Growth requires a clear vision of what you are building, not just a desire to be bigger
• Employer brand starts with having a team to show

Mentioned in this episode:

• Gerda Muller's podcast on building a self-running business
• Verve OT training modules for foundational NDIS knowledge
• ATSA and competency framework development in the assistive technology space
• The Health Professionals and Support Services Award and what changes at the middle management tier mean for small practices
• Using a VA strategically to manage contractor check-ins and reduce clinical leadership load

Brought to you by Alyce Svensk at The OT Coach Australia

Supporting allied health professionals to build confidence, clarity, and connection through mentoring, supervision, workshops, and The OT Coach Academy.

If this conversation resonated with you and you would like support through supervision, business mentoring, or reflective practice, visit www.theotcoach.au to explore how The OT Coach Australia can support you.

The OT Coach Australia. Where therapists come to grow.