What this site is
Shift Notes Guide is a small, focused resource about one thing: writing good NDIS shift notes. It has two guides, one on how to write shift notes that hold up, with examples, and one comparing the apps support workers use to write them. It is written by Kim Matthews, who runs two disability support businesses, is a parent of NDIS participants, and built the shift notes app Sparks Scribe. Because Sparks Scribe appears on this site, every mention of it is written as its founder, and every competitor detail is limited to what that company publishes.
Who I am
I am Kim Matthews. I run two disability support businesses in Australia, I am a parent of two NDIS participants, and I have spent more evenings than I can count writing and reading shift notes. That frustration is why I built Sparks Scribe, an app that turns what a support worker types or says into a clean, professional note.
I want to be upfront about that. Sparks Scribe is my product, and it is one of the tools I write about here. So when you read my verdict on it, read it knowing I made it, and check every claim about the other apps against what those companies publish themselves. The guides on this site are meant to be useful whether or not you ever try my app.
The guides
How to write NDIS shift notes (with examples)
What a good shift note includes, the one rule that fixes most weak notes, before-and-after examples, the SOAPIE format, and a simple step-by-step you can follow after every shift.
Read the guide →Best shift notes apps for NDIS support workers (2026)
An honest comparison of five apps, on how each one actually handles note-taking: who writes the note, which offer structured formats, and what one person really pays.
Compare the apps →Want the writing done for you?
Sparks Scribe turns what you type or say into a finished shift note in about 60 seconds. 14-day free trial, every feature unlocked, no card required.
Start your free trialCommon questions
What are NDIS shift notes?
NDIS shift notes are the record a support worker keeps of each shift: who they supported, when, what support they provided, how it went against the participant's plan goals, and anything that needs following up. They are your evidence that a funded support was actually delivered, and they protect both you and the participant if a shift is ever questioned.
Who writes Shift Notes Guide?
Kim Matthews, who runs two disability support businesses in Australia, is a parent of NDIS participants, and is the founder of the shift notes app Sparks Scribe. Sparks Scribe is one of the tools reviewed on this site, and that interest is disclosed on every page.
Is Shift Notes Guide free to use?
Yes. Every guide on this site is free to read, with no sign-up. The site does recommend Sparks Scribe, which is a paid app built by the site's author, but nothing here is behind a paywall.