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Business Management Consulting Human Services Northern Rivers NSW
The Planning and Practice Hub partners with NDIS registered providers, ACNC-registered charities, aged care services, child safety organisations, child care providers and business owners diversifying across human services sectors to close the policy–practice gap: where regulatory, reputational and board risk actually lives.
Our work aligns with regulatory expectations of the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), aged care regulators, and state child safety and child care authorities.
Based in Northern NSW. Working nationally. Serving private and not-for-profit organisations Australia-wide.
The governance problem: When policies don't match practice
Most human services organisations discover the policy–practice gap when something goes wrong.
An incident occurs. The NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission asks questions. The board reviews documentation. And everyone realises: what's written in policies doesn't reflect what actually happens on shift.
That gap creates regulatory exposure, reputational risk, and board liability.
The problem is structural:
  • Policies are written for auditors, not frontline staff
  • Procedures don't account for Tuesday-shift reality
  • Boards see audit artefacts, not practice variance
  • Incident reviews reveal systemic gaps too late
The Planning and Practice Hub helps boards and executives see and govern what actually happens, before the regulator asks.
What is Practice-First Compliance?
Start with what happens on shift
We map actual practice: decision points, escalation thresholds, and frontline judgement, not just policy intent.
Make compliance observable
If-this-then-that decision logic. Role-specific behaviours. Micro-scenarios that can be coached and measured.
Give boards visibility into practice
Dashboards showing recognition rates, reporting timeliness, escalation adherence, and site/shift variance.
Integrate across sectors
One governance view across NDIS, aged care, child safety, child care and charity obligations: no silos.
Charity governance and ACNC compliance for multi-service organisations
Most ACNC-registered charities delivering human services operate across multiple funding streams: NDIS, aged care, child safety, child care, and community programmes.
The Planning and Practice Hub helps charity boards meet ACNC governance standards while managing the complexity of multi-sector service delivery.
ACNC governance obligations we support
Governance Standard 1: Purposes and not-for-profit nature
Ensuring service delivery aligns with charitable purpose across all programmes and funding streams.
Governance Standard 2: Accountability to members
Board reporting frameworks that reflect actual practice and risk across NDIS, aged care and community services.
Governance Standard 3: Compliance with Australian laws
Integrated compliance view across NDIS Practice Standards, aged care requirements, child safety regulations and charity law.
Governance Standard 4: Suitability of responsible persons
Board capability frameworks for governing complex, multi-sector human services organisations.
Governance Standard 5: Duties of responsible persons
Decision-making frameworks that support directors' duties in high-risk service environments.
The Planning and Practice Hub provides fixed-price governance support that meets ACNC expectations while reflecting the operational reality of multi-service charities.
Child care and early childhood education governance
Child care providers and early childhood education services face unique governance challenges: managing National Quality Framework requirements, child safety obligations, workforce compliance, and funding accountability simultaneously.
The Planning and Practice Hub supports child care boards and executives to govern with confidence across regulatory, operational and strategic domains.
Child care governance support
National Quality Framework compliance
Governance systems that align board oversight with NQF standards, quality improvement plans, and regulatory assessment processes.
Child safety and wellbeing
Observable child safety practices, incident recognition protocols, and reportable conduct frameworks that work in early childhood settings.
Workforce governance
Staff-to-child ratios, qualification requirements, working with children checks, and Code of Conduct implementation for early childhood educators.
Financial sustainability
Strategic planning for child care services navigating subsidy changes, occupancy challenges, and multi-site operations.
Whether you're a community-based child care provider, an ACNC-registered charity operating early learning centres, or a multi-service organisation with child care programmes, The Planning and Practice Hub provides governance support that reflects the operational reality of early childhood services.
Integrated governance for multi-service organisations
The Planning and Practice Hub works across your whole organisation: NDIS, aged care, child safety, child care, and community services, so governance, strategy, and practice stay connected.
Most human services organisations aren't single-sector. Your board governs NDIS registered services, aged care programs, child safety initiatives, child care centres, and community services, often with one workforce, one risk framework, and one strategic plan. Traditional consulting separates advice by sector. NDIS consultants don't talk to aged care advisers. Child safety experts work in isolation. That creates cost, delay, and dangerous silos. The Planning and Practice Hub provides integrated governance support across all your funding streams.
What integrated governance looks like in practice
Recognition and reporting discipline
Clear decision pathways aligned to 24-hour and 5-day reporting thresholds.
Actionable procedures at point of care
Shift-ready checklists tied to support plans, medication, mealtime safety, and authorisations.
Explicit escalation thresholds
"If-this-then-that" rules so staff don't guess under pressure.
Code of Conduct made observable
Role-specific behaviours and micro-scenarios that can be coached on shift.
After-action learning
Decisions and outcomes converted into improvements within defined timeframes.
Governance that sees practice
Dashboards that show recognition rates, reporting timeliness, escalation adherence, and site/shift variance.
Who engages The Planning and Practice Hub
  • NDIS registered providers managing practice standards compliance and NDIS Commission scrutiny
  • ACNC-registered charities governing multi-service delivery across NDIS, aged care and community programs
  • Aged care and Support at Home services navigating reform and regulatory change
  • Child safety organisations strengthening incident recognition and reportable conduct frameworks
  • Child care providers and early childhood services managing NQF compliance and child safety obligations
  • Multi-service organisations seeking integrated governance across all funding streams
  • Business owners who have diversified or want to diversify their income streams across NDIS, aged care, child safety and community services
  • Boards and executives who need board-ready outputs fast, not long consulting engagements
  • CEOs managing reform fatigue, workforce pressure, or regulator scrutiny
  • Organisations seeking an alternative to traditional sector-siloed consulting models

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The Planning and Practice Hub Business Profile

Based in Northern NSW. Operating Australia Wide

Governance that sees practice, not just policy
Recent decisions by the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission, regulatory actions by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, and child safety inquiries across Australian states make one thing clear:
Policies don't protect providers. Practice does.
If your answers to regulators rely on audits alone, anecdotes, or end-of-year assurance: your operating system needs attention.
The Planning and Practice Hub helps boards and executives of NDIS registered providers, ACNC-registered charities, aged care services, child safety organisations and child care providers see Tuesday-shift reality, not just audit artefacts.
Based in Northern NSW | Serving human services organisations Australia-wide
The Planning and Practice Hub is based in Northern NSW and provides governance and compliance support to not-for-profit organisations across Australia.
We work with NDIS registered providers, ACNC-registered charities, aged care services, child safety organisations, child care providers and community services in NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
Services are delivered nationally via virtual engagement and in-person workshops where it matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is The Planning and Practice Hub?
The Planning and Practice Hub is an Australian governance and compliance consultancy specialising in Practice-First Compliance for NDIS registered providers, ACNC-registered charities, aged care services, child safety organisations, child care providers and multi-service human services organisations.
Where is The Planning and Practice Hub located?
The Planning and Practice Hub is based in Northern NSW, Australia, and serves not-for-profit organisations across all Australian states and territories including NSW, Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Western Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory.
What services does The Planning and Practice Hub provide?
The Planning and Practice Hub provides governance support, strategic planning, practice system design, compliance frameworks, board capability development, and integrated assurance systems for multi-service human services organisations. Services include NDIS Practice Standards compliance, ACNC governance support, aged care regulatory frameworks, child safety systems, and child care governance.
What is Practice-First Compliance?
Practice-First Compliance is The Planning and Practice Hub's approach to governance and compliance. It focuses on what actually happens on shift, not just what's written in policies. This includes observable decision-making, if-this-then-that escalation logic, role-specific behaviours, and governance dashboards that show practice variance across sites and shifts.
How does The Planning and Practice Hub help with NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission compliance?
The Planning and Practice Hub helps NDIS registered providers close the policy-practice gap by building systems that align frontline practice with NDIS Practice Standards, incident management requirements, reportable incidents frameworks, and 24-hour and 5-day reporting thresholds. Our approach focuses on what actually happens on shift, not just documentation.
Does The Planning and Practice Hub support ACNC-registered charities?
Yes. The Planning and Practice Hub provides governance support for ACNC-registered charities delivering human services, helping boards meet ACNC Governance Standards while managing multi-sector service delivery across NDIS, aged care, child safety, child care and community programs.
What makes The Planning and Practice Hub different from other consultants?
Practice-First Compliance is our approach. Unlike traditional consultants who work in sector silos, The Planning and Practice Hub works across your whole organisation: NDIS, aged care, child safety, child care, and community services, with one integrated governance view, fixed-price delivery, and board-ready outputs that reflect operational reality.
Who is Rachel Willis?
Rachel Willis is the founder and principal consultant of The Planning and Practice Hub. She specialises in governance and practice systems for NDIS registered providers, ACNC-registered charities, aged care services, child safety organisations and child care providers across Australia.
Does The Planning and Practice Hub work with child care services?
Yes. The Planning and Practice Hub provides governance support for child care providers and early childhood education services, including National Quality Framework compliance, child safety frameworks, workforce governance, and strategic planning for community-based and multi-site child care operations.
How does The Planning and Practice Hub deliver services?
The Planning and Practice Hub delivers services nationally via virtual engagement and in-person workshops. All engagements are fixed-price with clear scopes and board-ready outputs. Services are designed for fast delivery to support boards and executives managing time-sensitive governance and compliance challenges.