Specialised Care Where It Matters Most: Brain Matters Allied Health
At the centre of Brain Matters Allied Health is a deep commitment to improving quality of life for people living with complex neurological and medical conditions.
Founded by Laura O’Loughlin, Brain Matters Allied Health is a specialised allied health provider delivering expert, compassionate care to adolescents and adults who need it most.
Based on a strong clinical foundation, the practice offers speech therapy, psychology and dietetics services, with a clear focus on assessment and treatment for individuals with brain injury, progressive neurological diseases and other complex medical conditions. This includes support for people living with Parkinson’s Disease, Dementia, Motor Neurone Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Huntington’s Disease, Head and Neck cancer, and many other neurological presentations.
Laura’s inspiration for starting Brain Matters Allied Health came from years spent working across SA Health hospitals in both acute and rehabilitation settings, followed by time in community practice. Through this experience, she identified a significant gap: a lack of specialised community-based services equipped to support people with complex neurological needs once they left the hospital system. Determined to change this, Laura set out to build a team of highly skilled clinicians with the knowledge, experience and empathy required to support this vulnerable population and their families.
As the business grew, Laura recognised the value of external guidance and connection, which led her to join the Women in Business Foundations Program through Adelaide Business Hub. At that stage in her journey, she was seeking clarity around next steps and welcomed the opportunity to learn from mentors who had faced similar challenges in their own business paths.
Like many allied health providers, Brain Matters Allied Health has had to navigate an increasingly oversaturated market, with a growing number of sole traders offering broad-scope services. Despite being a registered NDIS provider and operating as a company with a specialised focus, this shift impacted referral numbers and visibility.
Through the Women in Business Foundations Program, Laura worked with Priya from PM Enrich and gained invaluable insights into strategic referral partnerships, learning how to identify and connect with professionals best placed to refer ideal clients. She also worked with Amy from The Visibility Project and received expert marketing advice that helped optimise the business’s online presence, something she admits would have been difficult to achieve alone.
The impact has been clear. With improved marketing strategies, stronger referral relationships and focused planning and goal setting, Brain Matters Allied Health is now on a steady upward trajectory in both visibility and growth. The business has experienced a noticeable increase in website visits, phone enquiries and referral numbers, standing out in a competitive Adelaide allied health landscape.
Reflecting on the experience, Laura strongly encourages other business owners to consider the program. Whether just starting out or well established, she believes there is enormous value in having experienced mentors to bounce ideas off. For Brain Matters Allied Health, the program has already paid for itself many times over, both financially and strategically.
To learn more about Brain Matters Allied Health and follow their journey, connect with them on social media:
Website: https://www.brainmattersalliedhealth.com.au/
Facebook: Brain Matters Allied Health
Instagram: @brainmattersalliedhealth
LinkedIn: Laura O'Loughlin