Emotional Story Behind Able Minds Services

In this episode of What Are We Drinking?, Rachel Carey sits down with Penioni “Penny” Tohi, founder of Able Minds, for a raw and honest conversation about disability employment, culture, business pressure, and building meaningful impact in the NDIS sector.

From growing up in a traditional Tongan household in Western Sydney and chasing an NRL dream, through to working in autism support and launching Able Minds, Penny shares the experiences that shaped his mission to create fairer employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

The episode dives deep into supported employment wages, why some participants are still being paid only a few dollars an hour, and the challenges providers face trying to create genuine innovation inside an increasingly difficult NDIS system.

Rachel and Penny also unpack entrepreneurship, burnout, work-life balance, provider sustainability, masculinity, family expectations, and the reality of trying to build purpose-driven businesses in today’s climate.

This is one of the most honest conversations yet about the future of disability employment in Australia.

Key Topics
- Penioni Tohi’s journey from rugby league to the disability sector
- Founding Able Minds and creating supported employment pathways
- The reality of subsidised disability wages in Australia
- Why some supported employees earn under minimum wage
- Tongan culture, family values, and serving community
- Growing up in Western Sydney in a household full of women
- Entrepreneurship, burnout, and relationship sacrifices
- Challenges facing NDIS providers in 2026
- Innovation, sustainability, and fixing disability employment
- Why meaningful work creates dignity and independence
- Building gardening crews and employment opportunities through Able Minds
- The future of disability employment in Australia

Видео Emotional Story Behind Able Minds Services канала What Are We Drinking?