Member Article

Expanding out from home office to international stage

Annie Barr started her business in 2009, offering consultancy and training services to health care professionals. Just two years later, Annie Barr Associates has grown from a home-based business into an international one. Bdaily spoke to Annie as she made plans to open an office in Australia.

“We are just going through the processes of being accredited out there, which is an important step. Australian healthcare is somewhere between 10 to 15 years behind ours, so I think this will give us a really good opportunity.”

Annie has already established an office in Singapore, and hopes that the combined presence in Australia will help to establish a hub for the company, from which the business can grow.

“The business has gone from strength to strength, where we were only based out of our home a couple of years ago, and now we have got to the stage where we have premises with full training facilities.”

Within this they provide advanced skills and knowledge, coordination and management of care, coaching of patients on understanding of their illness and self-care methods, along with management of communication between patients, GP, and family.

“Our work is hugely varied, and that’s part of why it has been interesting It can be very satisfying to train up nurses, and then see them equipped with the right skills and knowledge.”

As part of Annies’ growth strategy, she is looking to gradually build the workforce, with a focus on experience and expertise.

“I’m most interested in getting exactly the right people for the job, I’m not too concerned with getting people in quickly. They have to be the right person, and I’m looking for people I feel understand the business, and can be trusted to work independently.”

Looking to the future, Annie expects another period of sustained growth, particularly internationally.

“While we are busy in setting up the Brisbane office, we are also looking to Canberra and Sydney. We’ve also been invited out for some discussions in Germany, and Europe is an area I would really like to explore further.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .