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The Hearth Story

Founded on personal experience – Justin’s story

Hearth began through the lived experience of founder Justin and his son Tristan, built from scratch from 2017 to transform disability support, constantly evolving through experience with hundreds of support workers and participants and strengthened through deep sector collaborations, including with leading universities.

Justin had little experience with disability before he and his wife learned that their son had Cerebral Palsy. They both realised that Tristan required specific support to match his needs. Hearth was founded to provide responsive support without the hassle, while understanding that every person with a special need is truly different and unique. The initial focus of Hearth was recruiting, employing, matching and training support workers. In 2021, the services were extended to incorporate Allied Health and Housing. This was based on a need for Hearth participants and the rest of the sector. The “Hearth way” of participant support works best when the entire team comes together to support and enable the participant’s goals.

Justin continues to wear two hats every day. One, as a founder of Hearth and the other, like many, a parent of a person with a complex disability. Justin took over the full coordination of his son Tristan’s support from his wife when he founded Hearth (she coordinated the first 10 years). This provides ongoing and constant learnings for Hearth.

About Us

Play Video about Hearth Support Services

Hearth is a registered and audited NDIS Provider of Support Workers, Allied Health and Positive Behaviour Support services across Metropolitan Melbourne, Greater Geelong, and Greater Bendigo.

Hearth introduced a fresh and innovative approach to disability services. Several aspects of the “Hearth Approach” set Hearth apart from a more traditional provider, including the Relationship Manager role, the passion for support worker matching to the Participants needs and interests and the quality of the central support team including expert compliance.

We are in the exciting first phase of “Hearth Housing”, working on establishing houses in Metropolitan Melbourne, Greater Geelong, and Bendigo. Once the initial houses are established and the model proved, we plan to be able to scale across metro Melbourne and regional Victoria.

Hearth Mission & Vision

We will provide quality support services (NDIS Registered) which enables participants to realise their strengths and lead fulfilling lives. Our services focus on participant-centred long term sustainable support that allows participants to lead fulfilling lives at home and in their community.
Our vision is to lead Australia when it comes to supporting individuals with a disability to lead their best life.
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Our Leadership Team

Hearth Advisory

Supporting Hearth building & developing the workforce of the future.

A group of leaders who are accomplished in their respective fields with a passion now to leverage their experience, knowledge and connections to make a difference for the benefit of many outside their respective fields or organisations.

GM Hearth Allied Health with significant core experience in Speech Pathology

Positive Behaviour Support & School Education settings

Psychiatry, intellectual disability/ dual disability

Speech Pathology, Speech Pathologist and researcher with over 25 years experience in the disability

48+ years in the sector, from Kew Cottages to melba Support Coordination

Occupational Therapy in Specialist Schools, with a passion for very complex disability.

Frequently asked questions

  • What funding do I need to use Hearth?

    You can use your NDIS funding or Transport Accident Commission (TAC) funding. You are also able to pay for Hearth’s services privately if you are not eligible for the NDIS or wish to purchase additional support services.

    As a registered NDIS provider we are fully accredited to provide your support needs as outlined in your NDIS Plan. 

    For both NDIS and TAC funding, we do not provide respite or interim support, but long-term sustainable supports.

  • How does Hearth fulfil its commitment to continuous improvement of services?

    At Hearth, we are with you in person right from the start. Our commitment begins when we first meet families, guardians, informal carers, loved ones with the disability and Support Workers. We personally discuss needs and priorities, and help you find the right match and combination of supports.

    Even after support has commenced, we work to ensure training continues so that the support we provide reaches standards which match your goals.

    We will then continue to review, refine and forward plan so that the optimum level of support provided is sustained, ensuring reliability and certainty into the future

  • How does Hearth accommodate the specific needs of individuals with a disability of Aboriginal and Torres Islander backgrounds?

    Hearth recognises the importance of heritage, culture, language family and community to Australia’s indigenous peoples and their lives.

    Our disability care support for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders of Australia will reflect our aims to always grow towards a culturally informed approach, including respect for cultural protocols.

    Hearth will base its approach to working with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the following principles including:

    Supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients right to culture when accessing Hearth services

    Providing a culturally safe environment and experience for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander clients.

    Based on these principles, Hearth expects that its workers, independent contractors, volunteers and other stakeholders will:

    Show respect for Aboriginal culture, heritage and language

    Show understanding for the way its Aboriginal clients, their family and their community, live and work

    Recognise that the starting point for many Aboriginal people with a disability is that they do not self-identify as people with a disability

    Support its Aboriginal clients right to choose and control the planning, delivery and evaluation of Hearth services

    Ensure its Aboriginal clients are receiving the most appropriate service, which may include partnering with local Aboriginal community controlled organisations, so that we are working to self-empower the community around them

    Consult with its Aboriginal clients to identify ways to constantly improve Hearth services.

    Hearth management has a responsibility to ensure that its workers have access to the detailed policies underpinning our principles as outlined here.

  • Where can I provide Feedback?

    Hearth is constantly growing and evolving. We welcome your feedback and suggestions to improve our services.

    For feedback and related enquires please email us at feedback@hearthaustralia.com.au and we will be in touch soon.

    If you have a complaint, please contact your Relationship Manager or email us at feedback@hearthaustralia.com.au. You can also speak with our Head Office directly on 1800 894 013. Alternatively, you can lodge your complaint with the NDIS Commission at www.ndiscommission.gov.au or on 1800 035 544.

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