Client Advisory Board

Co-design, for real. Not PowerPoints.

The Comm.care CAB is a working group of 8–12 provider leaders who shape our product roadmap alongside us. Quarterly. Confidential. Action-driven.

We've seen enough “co-design” frameworks sit in slide decks to last a lifetime. This is the opposite: a real forum, with real decision-makers, where real feedback turns into real roadmap changes — and we come back next quarter to show you what we built because of what you told us.

The honest pitch

Co-design is one of the most abused words in our industry.

Let's be clear about what the CAB is — and what it isn't.

What it isn't

  • A focus group
  • A product demo
  • A sales meeting
  • A customer appreciation event
  • A PowerPoint parade
  • A talk-fest with no follow-through

What it is

  • A strategic partnership
  • A real co-design forum
  • A closed loop — input → action → feedback
  • A 12-month commitment (both sides)
  • 8–12 provider leaders at the table
  • Decisions that shape our roadmap

Why we built this

We took co-design from the talk-fest to the next level.

Most care-sector software gets built in one of two ways. Either a vendor ships what they think providers need — and providers bend their workflows to fit. Or a vendor runs a “co-design workshop” once a year, takes notes, and quietly goes back to building what they were going to build anyway.

We've been on the receiving end of both. Neither works.

The Client Advisory Board is our answer. It's a standing, quarterly forum where a select group of provider leaders shape the Comm.care roadmap with us — not as a ceremonial consultation, but as an operational commitment. What the CAB decides, we build. What we can't build, we explain why. And every meeting opens with the receipts: what we built because of what you told us.

It's strategic (2–3 years ahead), not tactical. It's confidential, so members can speak freely about what's actually going wrong in their organisations. It's structured, so no one's time gets wasted. And it's free — because your expertise is worth far more to us than any fee could cover.

This is what real co-design looks like when you take it seriously.

The receipts

What we built because members told us to.

Everything below shipped in the last year, and each one started as CAB feedback — not as a line on our roadmap. Read the full story.

Shipped

Push notifications on mobile

Support workers and managers now get real-time alerts in the Comm.care app. Vacant shifts get filled with an @mention instead of a WhatsApp group.

Shipped

Multiple roadmap funding periods

NDIS plans can carry multiple budget periods on a single Roadmap — matching how funding is actually released, not how software wished it was.

Shipped

Alert on total hours booked

A 38h/week warning on the Schedule view when a staff member is being over-rostered.

Shipped

Sort & filter lists

Dropdowns sort alphabetically and are searchable — including when you’re assigning staff to shifts.

Shipped

CHSP My Aged Care IDs

MacID captured as a mandatory field, ahead of the 30 June DEX deadline.

How it runs

Structured, quarterly, action-driven.

A light-touch, high-impact program. Designed to respect your time while delivering real influence.

01

Quarterly meetings

60 minutes, virtual (Zoom/Meet), four times a year. 3:00–4:00 PM AEST. We listen 80% of the time; you talk 20%.

02

A real agenda

Strategic discussion (industry, regulation, pain points) — roadmap preview and prioritisation — actions and next steps. Not a demo session. Not a sales meeting.

03

Between meetings

Occasional asks for feedback on specific features or decisions — a short email, not a survey treadmill. Nothing onerous.

04

We act on it

Every meeting opens with what we built because of what you told us last time. If we didn’t do it, we’ll tell you why. That’s the deal.

What CAB members receive

It's a two-way street.

You give us strategic guidance and honest feedback. We give you influence, access and visibility.

Direct influence

Your voice in the roadmap. We bring strategic decisions to the board before we commit, and we show you what we built because of what you told us.

Peer network

Quarterly time with 8–12 provider leaders across NDIS, aged care, metro and regional. Honest conversations, shared war stories, no sales pitch.

Market intelligence

Anonymised trends from across our provider base, early warning on NDIS / CHSP / DEX regulatory changes, competitive context.

Recognition

Featured case studies (with permission), speaking opportunities at our events, positioned as the industry leaders you are.

Ground rules

The charter we all sign up to.

Confidentiality

Roadmap and strategic discussions stay inside the room until public release.

Respect

All perspectives are valued. Honest feedback is welcome — critics included.

Participation

Active engagement expected. Speak openly; we rely on it.

Action-oriented

We focus on practical insights that drive real change — not nice-to-haves.

Peer learning

Share experiences and best practices generously with the rest of the cohort.

Closed loop

We come back every meeting and show you what we built because of what you told us. No exceptions.

Apply to join

Want a seat at the table?

Membership is selective — 8–12 seats per cohort — because we want every voice to carry weight. If you're a decision-maker at an NDIS or aged care provider and you've got strong opinions about where this industry is heading, we'd love to hear from you.

We're looking for diverse perspectives: NDIS, aged care, metro, regional, large and small.
Critics welcome — your frustrations are more useful than polite praise.
Application doesn't lock you in — we'll have a chat first to make sure it's a good fit on both sides.

Express your interest

CAB membership is selective — we pick 8–12 providers each year. Tell us a bit about your organisation and we'll be in touch.

No spam. Quarterly commitment only. Confidentiality respected.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the time commitment?

Four quarterly meetings (60 mins each, 3:00–4:00 PM AEST) plus the occasional request for feedback between meetings. The term is 12 months, renewable. If you can’t make a meeting, send a delegate — we’d rather hear a second voice from your team than lose yours entirely.

Who sits on the CAB?

Decision-makers — CEOs, Managers, Clinical Leads, Directors — from a deliberately diverse mix of providers. Large multi-site operators, mid-sized services, growing startups. NDIS specialists, aged care, hybrid. Metro and regional Australia. We deliberately include "thoughtful critics" — members whose feedback is more valuable than cheerleaders.

Is this for Comm.care customers only?

Primarily yes. The CAB exists to shape the Comm.care platform, so members need to be active users who can speak to real workflows and real pain. We’ll occasionally invite non-customers for specific perspectives, but the core is current clients.

What does it cost?

Nothing. CAB membership is free. We cover the cost of the program because your input is worth more to us than any fee.

Is the discussion confidential?

Yes. Roadmap and strategic discussions stay inside the room until public release.

What if I apply and don’t get selected this round?

We rotate members annually and keep a waiting list. If this cohort is full, we’ll keep you warm for the next one. Membership is capped at 8–12 so every voice gets real airtime — that’s the whole point.