Emma Williamson is a 26-year old National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) worker, who specialises in taking care of other people her age.
Her business, Alternative Access Support, focuses on helping young adults with disabilities take part in the social interactions and life experiences others might take for granted.
“It’s not a generic group programme,” says Emma. “I put more of an alternative spin on it. It’s basic care, yes, but it’s also things like bushwalks in nature, yoga sessions, visiting hot springs, and other therapeutic activities.”
What she aims to do is offer “support that feels like mateship”. She looks after her clients as a support worker, but in a way that makes them feel like they’re “just hanging out”. As part of her work, she helps her clients access gigs and festivals, make social connections, and travel.
“These things may feel normal for other people, but my clients need support to do them - there’s a lot more to think about,” says Emma.
It’s a hugely fulfilling career, as she gets to watch people grow and succeed, while growing her own business.
“I’m doing something I love,” she says, “and I can do things my own way. There’s no one to answer to except yourself, and of course your clients, and there’s no boss being negative towards you.”
Business admin? Enter Hnry
But while she enjoys the freedom of being self-employed, Emma faced a steep learning curve in becoming a sole trader. She started out with just one client and grew her base through networking and word-of mouth referrals. And as her business grew, so too did the admin and paperwork.
Before she knew it, she was in charge of all aspects of running a business - including keeping her own books, and paying her own taxes.
“At first I was winging it, trying to do spreadsheets and keep every record ever,” she remembers. “I had to do the stuff that takes you away from your actual work, like financial admin, claiming tax deductions properly, and lodging at the end of the financial year. I was so slow, and I didn’t realise how much time it was taking me. And then I wasn’t sure if I’d done it all correctly.”
Emma tried going to a traditional accountant, but didn’t feel like it was a good fit for her as a sole trader. Their service wasn’t geared towards her needs, and she still had to do a lot of the bookkeeping herself - despite the high fees.
So she started looking around for another solution, and that’s when she found Hnry.
“It just takes away the stress of getting it all right - the mental load I was carrying has been totally relieved by Hnry,” she says. “With Hnry, you can actually speak to someone and ask questions. The invoicing feature is much faster than my previous software too - I didn’t even realise how much time it was taking me.”
But the best bit about Hnry is the peace of mind she gets when claiming expenses. There’s a lot of grey area when it comes to claiming tax deductions, and Emma worried about whether or not her business expenses were eligible.
But using Hnry has given her an added layer of confidence, knowing that all her expenses are managed by tax experts before they’re claimed. She now hardly has to think about it any more. Instead, she’s free to focus on growing her business, or on some precious downtime.
“Hnry is such a valuable resource because it’s giving me back time I can use to take care of myself,” says Emma. “It’s a support team in my pocket.”
Self-employment, self-care
Carving out time to take care of herself, so she can take care of others, is something Emma’s had to practice all her life. Her mum suffered an acquired brain injury before she was born, meaning Emma has played a caring role for as long as she can remember.
Growing up, she always knew something was different about her family, but she couldn’t quite put her finger on it. In her early 20s, something clicked into place.
“It was something about the word ‘disability’,” says Emma. “It had never been used around my family. I always thought there was something different about mum, but I wasn’t sure what. It was very confusing.
“But once I realised what her having a disability truly meant, I saw my mum in a whole new light. It also gave me a different perception of myself as a child too. It was very validating.”
Although it was hard that the person who was supposed to be her carer also needed to be cared for, Emma’s relationship with her mother taught her valuable skills: self-sufficiency, self-care, and how important empathy is.
These skills feed into her work now, and help her deeply relate to the needs of her client. Although she hadn’t meant to start her own business, she realised that using the skills she’d grown up with actually made her happy. So she started taking on extra hours, and gradually stepped out of her casual job as a swim teacher.
“Obviously, I’ve been around disability my whole life, and while I became an NDIS worker organically, I felt ‘qualified’ to do it,” she says. “I really get what people need, I guess I’m uniquely positioned due to my background.”
Freedom for the future
Now, she’s looking to use all her business skills learned - and the time-saving support she gets using Hnry - to start her next venture: a business in the holistic health and sustainability space with high-ticket affiliate marketing. Basically, making an impact, while taking advantage of the freedom that comes with working online. She launched two months ago, and is determined to stay a sole trader in charge of her own time and direction.
“Being a sole trader has been a huge part of my journey,” says Emma. “It’s gotten me into this mindset that no one else is going to do this for me, I have to do things myself.
“There are advantages and disadvantages – things can feel less certain, and you don’t have the same entitlements as PAYG employees. But your income isn’t capped like it is with a salary. You can have a steady income, while supporting yourself to follow your own path.
“I wouldn’t change a thing,” she says, “and I’m so excited to pursue this new business venture.”
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