In Episode 51 of the HerStory Podcast, Kylie King sits down with Sarah Sydir, co-founder of The Right Coordination, to share the powerful story behind building a business shaped by disability, lived experience, and relentless determination.
Sarah opens up about what it’s really like being “unemployable” in the traditional sense – navigating physical disability, mental health, parenting four children, and supporting a son with significant disability. That reality pushed her to create a career on her own terms and eventually build a business that now supports others through NDIS Support Coordination and a groundbreaking initiative called The Visible Program.
You’ll also hear why Sarah is launching her upcoming show, Unemployable Podcast, to amplify disabled founders across Australia and the incredible story of how her son Rowan’s love of collecting broken glass turned into a thriving small business and the seed for a much bigger mission.
If you’ve ever been told something “isn’t possible,” this episode will remind you that different doesn’t mean less and that the right support can change everything.
What You’ll Learn in Episode 51
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What Sarah means by being “unemployable” (and how she turned that into power)
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How The Right Coordination supports people through the NDIS (and why advocacy still matters)
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Why employment can be so difficult for people with disability in Australia and what’s driving Sarah’s new podcast
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How The Visible Program helps disabled people start their own businesses and create real income
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Rowan’s inspiring sea-glass business story and the ripple effect it’s had on confidence, choices, and independence
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Why processes and systems matter (even when you hate them)
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How Sarah built a sustainable business model around her health, family, and energy
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Sarah’s best advice: don’t let people who aren’t doing it tell you what’s possible
Guest: Sarah Sydir
Basically, on paper, I’m unemployable.
I’m a 47-year-old woman with 4 children who has a physical and psychosocial disability – which means sitting at a desk from 9-5, Monday to Friday, is quite literally impossible.
My son has ASD level 3, a moderate Intellectual Disability, and requires 24/7 care, so also being a carer has forced me to be underemployed my entire adult life (I became a mum at 24).
At 40, I had never worked full time, had tens of thousands of dollars worth of debt, so superannuation for retirement, and no bank would give me a loan when our family car died. The only way out of this that I could see was to create my own business!
I launched the BizABLE Microenterprise Program with a co-founder just under a year ago. This helps train, support, and sustain small businesses for people with disability who have little access to employment or community.
My son has his own business, which he’s been supported in running for 2 years, and it has been life-changing!
I’m new to hosting Unemployable the Podcast, a venture with an aim to inspire and amplify Disabled Voices. Brought to you by The Right Coordination BizABLE Program, we hope the narratives shared in “Unemployable” will challenge and reshape perceptions about disability and entrepreneurship. By documenting the journeys of disabled entrepreneurs, we aspire to foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial environment for all.
Through this collection of stories, we can help pave the way for future generations of entrepreneurs with a disability, ensuring that their voices and stories are heard and celebrated!
Find Sarah:
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