How it all began: The story behind Support Studio

Every organisation starts with a reason. For Support Studio, it started with three people who had spent decades doing the work and believed it could be done differently.

Three leaders, one shared set of values

Brian, Rob and Ann Marie met through their work in youth homelessness, where each of them had spent decades in leadership roles. Over those years they led teams, built services and supported young people through some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Along the way, they discovered they shared more than a workplace. They shared a set of values: a commitment to social justice, to integrity, and to practice that puts the person at the centre of their support. They also shared a belief that, with the right foundations, they could build an organisation that lived those values every day.

In 2021, they decided to do exactly that.

Built on community

From the beginning, Support Studio was shaped by place. Brian, Rob and Ann Marie each lived in a different community: Melbourne, Geelong and the Northern Rivers. Rather than choose one, they started in all three.

It was a deliberate choice. Good support depends on strong community connections: knowing the local services, the people, and the places that make a community work. Starting where they lived meant Support Studio was grounded in those connections from day one.

The early days

Like most new organisations, the beginning was hard work. In the founders’ words, it was a bit like flying the plane while building it.

There were staff to recruit, participants to meet, and systems and processes to design from scratch. There were plenty of lessons along the way, and each one shaped how Support Studio works today.

A major turning point came when Support Studio became a registered NDIS provider. Registration reflected the standards the team had set for themselves, and it opened the door to delivering specialist services such as Behaviour Support.

Doing things well

From the start, the founders were clear about what kind of organisation they wanted to build. The goal was never simply to grow. It was to do things well.

That meant employing qualified people, providing a high standard of care, and making sure every quality and risk measure was met. It also meant investing in staff, because the founders knew from experience that great outcomes come from well-supported teams.

Why “Support Studio”?

The name was chosen with care. The founders wanted something different: a name without the labels, connotations or stigma often attached to services in this sector. “Support Studio” felt fresh, welcoming and focused on what the organisation is really about: creating support, together.

Where we are today

What began with three founders in three communities has grown into an organisation of around 150 employees across Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. Today, Support Studio provides high-quality support to more than 200 NDIS participants.

Over that time, our services have grown too. Alongside support work and behaviour support, we now offer psychology and Supported Independent Living, with each new service built on the same foundations as the first.

What’s next

The focus now is on building on those foundations. That means consolidating the services we offer, growing sustainably, and continuing to reach more people, without losing sight of what matters most.

For us, that’s quality over quantity. It’s supportive relationships and supportive environments. And it’s the same values Brian, Rob and Ann Marie started with: social justice, integrity, and putting people at the centre of everything we do.

We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and excited about what’s ahead.