The Hidden Cost of Avoiding the Truth (And Why It’s Not Worth the Price)

Keturah Charlesworth Author

Fear of facing the facts might feel safer, but it could be holding your NDIS organisation back. Here’s why knowledge really is power—even when it’s uncomfortable.

My dad used to say that if your car started making weird noises, the best solution was to turn up the radio. Problem solved!

Or was it?

Sure, drowning out the persistent clunking noise with a bit of Guns N' Roses might provide temporary relief, but the underlying issue doesn’t magically disappear. In fact, left unchecked, it often gets progressively worse.

Sound familiar? That’s because avoiding perceived or potential problems is something most of us do—both personally and professionally.

The Everyday Art of Avoidance

Think about it:

• We ignore that suspicious ache, itch, or lump, afraid of what the doctor might say.
• We dodge checking our bank balance because ignorance feels less stressful (and slightly more fun) than budgeting and penny-pinching.
• We put off difficult conversations, worried we’ll upset someone or make things awkward.
• And yes, as NDIS providers, we avoid auditing our practices, systems, and participant outcomes, just in case we uncover issues we’d rather not deal with.

Why do we do this? Because fear tries to convince us that not knowing somehow protects us. If we don’t see the problem, maybe it isn’t real. But really we’re just fooling ourselves: avoiding the issue doesn’t prevent the fallout. It just delays it—and often makes it worse.

The Professional Price of Avoidance

In NDIS organisations (or, in fact, any organisation), avoidance isn’t about fear of the unknown; it’s about fear of consequences:

• What if digging deeper reveals something beyond repair?
• What if identifying a gap gets me blamed?
• What if fixing the problem adds more work to my already overloaded to-do list?

But without facing the facts, nothing improves. Issues fester, small cracks become structural flaws, and opportunities for growth slip away unnoticed.

What we should really be focusing on is what if we don’t look openly and objectively at what we do? What if the systems, practices, and frameworks we’ve built that help us prepare for our NDIS audits, drive our businesses forward, and get our participants to where they want to go is on the verge of a critical failure, and we’re just cranking up the tunes to drown out the noise?

The Good News: It’s Often Not as Bad as You Think

When we're brave enough to shine a light on potential problems, we often discover they’re not as overwhelming as we feared. Catching issues early usually means simpler fixes, less stress, and stronger outcomes.

Because, when you know, you know (you know?).

How to Identify Gaps for NDIS Providers

If you’re ready to face your organisational blind spots, here are four simple ways to start:

1. The Power of Internal Audits for NDIS Compliance

Think of audits as your organisational check-up. Whether you're reviewing participant files, employee records, or operational systems, audits help identify gaps early. The sooner you spot them, the easier they are to fix.

2. Using Participant Feedback to Improve NDIS Service Delivery

Your participants (and their support networks) are on the receiving end of your services. Who better to tell you what’s working—and what’s not? Regular surveys, feedback forms, and open conversations can reveal valuable insights. Don’t shy away from the tough questions; that’s often where the gold is.

3. How Your NDIS Registration Audit Can Uncover Improvements

Few things trigger anxiety like an NDIS registration audit. But they’re actually a treasure trove of insight. An external auditor brings fresh eyes and a wealth of experience from working with, and auditing, other providers. Their feedback can uncover opportunities for meaningful improvement that you might miss from the inside.

4. Why Employee Feedback is Key to Creating Meaningful Change

Your team is in the trenches every day. They see what works and what doesn’t. Create safe, accessible channels for honest feedback—then listen. Celebrate their ideas, address their concerns, and make them feel heard. They’re not just staff; they’re your frontline experts.

Knowledge Is Power (Even When It’s Uncomfortable)

Facing uncomfortable truths isn’t easy, but it’s the fastest way to create lasting, meaningful change. With uncensored knowledge about how you're performing as an NDIS Provider comes the power to:

• Improve your systems
• Strengthen your services
• Support your team and,
• Deliver even better outcomes for your participants

And if that’s not worth a little discomfort, I'm not sure what is.

PS: For the record, my dad is one incredible man and, in fact, quite safety-conscious. So, for anyone who might consider taking his “turn up the radio” advice on-board – please note, it was made with a healthy dose of humour, not as a serious suggestion to ignore actual car troubles. Please don’t drive off into the sunset, black smoke billowing from your spluttering exhaust, blasting Guns N' Roses.

What About You?

What’s your biggest roadblock when it comes to uncovering gaps in your NDIS organisation? Share your thoughts in the comments below—or reach out directly. I’d love to hear from you (and who knows, I might just be able to help!).

Categories: : Auditing, Continuous improvement, Data analysis