Our First 12 Months in Business

Introduction

The journey of an individual support worker in the disability sector is both challenging and incredibly rewarding. The first 12 months on this path can be particularly transformative, filled with learning experiences, heartwarming moments, and personal growth. In this blog post, we'll take you through our first year developing Bullet Support Solutions, from the initial steps to the meaningful connections and lasting impact we hope to make within the disability community.

Months 1-3: The beginning

After Nathan's recovery from 2 serious back injuries, it was time for him to get back into the workforce. He couldn't go back into the physical labour world and needed a new career path. He thought about his time off, and although he had a strong support system, it was still an isolating, lonely and confusing process. He was unsure where to turn for support, who to reach out to, and what help was available. That got him thinking that there are many people in this world that must also feel this way, but for them there is no recovery process, this is their forever.  He thought how can we help them.

So it started with just Nathan, getting his ABN, and starting off as an independent support worker. Gaining the first client was the hardest. It takes time to develop trust in the disability community and often participants want a personal referral for someone that is going to be looking after them. 

After weeks of dropping business cards into support coordination companies, responding to online requests, talking to people we knew etc it happened! Our first client came. It was a referral from a friend in the industry that didn't have capacity to support this person themselves.

And the adventure finally began.......

In the early days there were lots of nerves, beginning a totally new career with no formal training in the industry, was a scary journey. Luckily he had life experience and some great people skills, and soon found out he was actually really great at connecting with people, and ensuring they felt heard, understood and supported.

It wasn't long after that, we gained a second client and then a third. It continued to grow and grow.

Months 4-6: Hiring Staff

It was in the 4th month of business that it was time to bring on another staff member. Our clients had outgrown the time that Nathan had available himself and we needed to grow in a new way. We knew a few people in the industry by that time and began talking to them to see if we could find the right fit to join our team. We began doing interviews and in the first week of February 2023, we officially hired our first team member.

Over the next 2 months we added another 4 team members including our full time Chief Operating Officer Kellie to help manage the business, and support staff and clients.

Months 7-9: Building Relationships

As we continued to grow we worked hard to build relationships with our clients, within our staff team and within the disability community. During this time we gained experience, and learnt the importance of implementing active listening, empathy, and tailoring support plans to meet the unique needs of each person.

We also continued to grow adding in another 3 team members during these months, as our name began to spread in the area and our number of clients increased.

We decided it was time to find a space that we could claim as our headquarters and secured an office in Traralgon. It was somewhere our team could attend staff meetings, trainings and be free to visit us if they wanted to catch up. We could also meet clients there and ensure we got a few hours of focused work completed before going home to our family.

Months 10-12: Continuous Learning and Growth

As we reach the 1 year mark we have hired another 2 team members and met more and more amazing people to add to our network. We now collaborate with several different companies that have taught us so much over the past year and been a big part in our business development.

For our team we are involved in continuous learning and growth. We encourage our individual support workers to attend workshops, engage in professional development, and expand their skill set. We have begun professional reviews to reflect on their experiences and setting goals for the future.

We are working with our accountant on what the last year looked like and our goals for future growth, development and how we can better serve our clients and community moving forward.

The Challenges:

• Proving oneself as a novice support worker.

• Managing the emotional toll of difficult situations.

• Balancing the personal and professional aspects of caregiving.

The Triumphs:

• Witnessing participants achieve personal milestones.

• Strengthening trust and rapport with participants and families.

• Finding deep fulfillment in the work.

Conclusion

The first 12 months in the disability sector is a journey marked by challenges, triumphs, and profound personal growth. While the road may be challenging at times, the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of people with disabilities is an incredible reward. As we continue to learn, grow, and deepen our connections within the disability community, we know that we are are on a path toward a fulfilling and impactful career that truly changes lives.