SEQ’s best professional organisers reveal what the industry is really about
The world of professional organising can seem unattainable to many, but a lineup of South East Queensland’s best organisers has revealed the truth.
Ipswich
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The idea of a professional organiser coming to your home and making magic out of your mess has often seemed something only accessible to the rich and famous — a service that is a luxury that most can’t afford.
However, the industry seemingly exists on both ends of the spectrum, from Pinterest worthy linen cupboards and pantries, to almost counselling level assistance for those suffering from disability, old age or hoarding disorders.
We heave spoken to southeast Queensland’s top professional organisers to get the inside scoop on what the industry is really about.
BONNIE BLACK- LITTLE MISS ORGANISED
Bonnie Black, the brains behind Little Miss Organised, and its sister podcast Little Home Organised, started her business in 2011 in an attempt to escape the monotony of the standard 9-5.
Now her business has grown to be so much more than that.
“I used to be a primary teacher and my husband works for the government so we did a lot of moving, often a quite late notice,” Ms Black said.
“I’d always wanted to start a business for the flexibility and so I didn’t have to slog it out from nine to five at someone else’s behest.
“I just wanted to wake up and feel like I was doing what I loved and getting paid for it.”
Ms Black said her business had grown rapidly since its conception, now with a team of staff who shine working within the NDIS and aged care spaces, challenging the stereotype that these services are only for the upper echelons of society.
In fact, Ms Black is one business in the industry who doesn’t work with clients who simply need someone to come in and do things for them, preferring only to work one-on-one with clients who truly need the help.
“Chronic disorganisation or hoarding behaviours are conditions that are so misunderstood – it feels good to be able to be that person who can break through where others haven’t been able to,” she said.
“They have given up hope but then we have a go and meet them and then there’s some really big progress.”
“Just seeing the relief on peoples faces, their body language changes, the impact this has on their families,”
“Our society falling apart is because families and mums are under attack, we are expected to do it all and be it all and social media shows us all the perfect, its exhausting. But being able to help is amazing.”
“The clutter isn’t ever the problem, its just a symptom of a deeper problem so we try to help them identify what that is.”
Ms Black said one of the best things about her job is when clients start to change their mindset and reframe the way people think about ‘stuff’.
AMY GEORGE- A PRACTICAL SORT
Following a slightly different path to many organisers, Amy George from A Practical Sort, got into the business off the back of her PHD in Environmental science.
She had seen the devastating effects that over-consumption was having on waterways, and was overwhelmed by the endless amounts of rubbish and waste littering these spaces.
“For me its all about functionality, my business focus is about increasing the awareness and reducing your environmental impact,” Ms George said.
“I try to follow the 80-20 rule – 80% of what you have you and don’t want can be reused, recycled or donated. If you focus on intentionality, you’ll only throw out 20% of what you have.
“Its all about intentionality.”
Similarly to many other organisers, Ms George focuses on ‘training’ her clients in one-on-one sessions and helping them learn and develop strategies to cope with the mess.
“Organising is all about giving your brain space to breathe,” she said.
“Sorting and organising is never about the stuff, it’s about the thoughts and feelings associated with the stuff.”
“If you just get rid of the stuff you will never address the issue, the stuff represents the anxiety and the stress that they have.”
“Everyone has their own level of clutter that they are comfortable with, not everyone can be a minimalist, but its about how much stuff can you live with. Clutter tolerance, it’s about helping them find that.
Ms George also doesn’t focus on creating aesthetic, social-media worthy spaces.
“It’s not about being Pinterest perfect, I’ve never done Pinterest type organising,” she said.
“You are creating more mental load by making it look pretty, the whole part of organising is reducing that mental load. The more decisions you have to make, the more likely you are to go back to that clutter.”
JORDY FABIAN- ORGANISED SIMPLICITY
Jordy Fabian launched her business, Organised Simplicity, right at the tsrat of 2020, just as the country was about to be thrust into the chaos of the coronavirus crisis.
Yet, despite the challenges that came with that, Organised Simplicity has thrived, and has branched out across southeast Queensland and now into Sydney, with an extensive staff trained by Ms Fabian herself.
In fact, the business services the whole spectrum of society, from those on NDIS to celebrities, sportstars and influencers.
“I always loved organising my home and having a system, I was always reorganising and buying new stuff and I just thought ‘could I make a business out of this?’” she said.
“During the lockdowns, people were becoming so much more aware of their surroundings because they were home all the time and getting overwhelmed.”
“A lot of people feel like it‘s a service that is really out of reach, but people on aged care packages and NDIS can access it, though it is usually that middle-class and upper-class mum who is too busy,”
“Obviously doing celeb clients is really amazing and aspirational, and that motivates me to always put my best foot forward.”
“But I have had time with mums with severely disabled children who just didn’t have time for themselves, as just full-time carers. I’ve had women who’ve just broken down crying and thanking us and so grateful.”
“Its these people who really make it so worthwhile.”
“We have one client, her baby had never been able to walk around the home because there was broken glass, rubbish everywhere. She called me after we came in and was just so grateful because her baby could finally walk around the house and they’d had never been able to before.”
“We are about completely changing peoples lives for the better”
Ms Fabian said that despite these clients being the most rewarding, they are often the most challenging and time-consuming, including hours and hours of unpaid correspondence with the clients, and said the payments they receive under the NDIS is not enough.
“Unfortunately we have to go under price caps and we aren’t earning anywhere near enough,” she said.
“I can only charge $65 an hour where my normal charge is $100.”
“I really am just doing it because I know how life-changing it can be.”
COURTNEY KANAS- ORGANISED LIVING
Maternity leave was the thing that sparked Courtney Kanas’ foray into the world of professional organising, after a career od store merchandising, which simply did align with her new life as a mum.
“I see a whole variety of clients … some want a Pinterest-worthy style pantry and some need help decluttering their garage,” Ms Kanas said.
“I work with NDIS clients with disabilities to elderly wanting help removing items to new mums needing a closet overhaul.”
Ms Kanas said that she focuses a full-day on each of clients, meticulously going through every aspect of their lives and homes, either with them working to declutter or on our own organising their spaces.
“People don’t realise how time consuming organising and decluttering takes, it’s a very meticulous thing to do and I already make sure no corner is unturned and this takes time,”
“I find it so rewarding having immediate satisfaction at the end of the day, I enter and it almost feels like we will never finish but once everything comes together it’s very exciting.”
“Every client is meaningful and special in their own way, when I finish a job especially if we have gone through their whole house I almost feel like a part of the family and I’m so happy for them that they feel happy and proud in their home.”
ARWEN DROPMANN- CALM SPACE PROFESSIONAL ORGANISING
Peer-labelled ‘queen of Brisbane organising’, Arwen Dropmann combined her passion for organising and her professional experience in social work to create Calm Space Professional Organising.
Ms Dropmann works with a wide-range of clients, with a focus on complex situations, including helping clients with conditions like ADHD, autism, people with hoarding disorder or experiencing hoarding behaviours as well as other mental health concerns, people who are experiencing grief and loss or major life transitions like moving or downsizing.
“Typically the people I work with will have a complicated relationship with their possessions because of the challenges they may be experiencing,’ Ms Dropmann said.
“Most days I have 1 or 2 sessions. Sessions are 3-4 hours long but can be up to 6 or 7, this is less common as that takes a lot of stamina from the client.”
“Most client sessions are a mix of decluttering and organising, including a lot of support around decision making and emotional issues that may arise. It‘s important to me that I ensure they make decisions they feel good about in the long term.”
Asides from the incredible work she does guiding her clients through what can be an incredibly difficult task for them, Ms Dropmann is also an influential member of the industry, and has taken a role on the advisory board of the Institute of Professional Organisers.
“There is a focus on collaboration, not competition as well as working towards increasing the recognition and professionalism of the organising industry,” she said.
Ms Dropmann said that there are some misconceptions of the industry and of those that work in it.
“There is the misconception that organisers homes are perfect and maybe others are!”
“I'm pretty far along in my own organising journey so it is uncluttered and well maintained, but definitely looks lived in and not perfect.”
“Also that decluttering and organising services are a luxury. I prefer to describe it as discretionary, a lot of people I work with have made the decision that it is essential for their wellbeing to get some help.”
The most rewarding part of the job for Ms Dropmann is seeing both the practical change her assistance has on a home, but also to the heart and mind of her clients.
“Before and after photos don’t show this part of the transformation,” she said.
“I get to see people experience some amazing personal growth, that is the best part.”
“I think one consistent theme is that when I meet people they are so overwhelmed and feeling very down on themselves about their clutter and disorganisation, however even after one session they often have a sense of relief and hopefulness.”
“Seeing that type of transformation over and over again will keep me doing this work for a long time.”
STEPH MAGUIRE – SORT IT OUT SUSTAINABLY
Not every organiser gets the epic opportunity to use their skills on television to help as many people as possible, but for the brains behind Sort It Out Sustainably, Steph Maguire, this her reality.
Ms Maguire is currently in Sydney working on the show Space Invaders, as an assistant Professional Organiser.
“Its super exciting, doing these massive life-changing speed decluttering projects every week for a different family,” Ms Maguire said.
“I thrive when I am organising. When I discovered it was an actual profession, I jumped in and made it happen.”
“My clients are regular normal people who have had clutter building up and are now ready to deal with it, and get really intentional with their home organisation.”
Ms Maguire said she wants people to understand that professional organisers are not simply cleaners with a different name.
“A big misconception is that Professional Organiser are glorifies cleaners,” she said.
“I always get confused when people think I clean for work … yeah I will wipe a shelf down here and there, but most of it is managing stuff, creating systems, facilitating decluttering coaching, brainstorming solutions and arranging donations and more.”
“There’s a special or meaningful moment every week in my work.”
“Results like creating calm and function in playrooms for kids, bringing function back to kitchens so people can enjoy cooking again, creating systems that work with peoples ADHD not against it, reclaiming living spaces to actually live in.”
“I am all about creating intentionality around stuff; what comes into your home, how you store it in your home, and what happens after it leaves your home.”
“ Clutter takes up too much space in our homes, minds, time and eventually our landfills. Everything our eyes see is information processed by our brains. And that creates more mind clutter when the items we see have to-do tasks associated with them.”
“ Our brain (especially mum‘s brain) keeps a mental inventory of the items in our home and where they are kept. On average there are 300,00 items in a family home.
“Reducing the size of our stuff inventory to just the items that add value to our life will bring us more time, joy, and organisation to our lives as well as remove stress.”
DONNA DONALDSON- ORGANIZEIT
A downsize from a huge home into a little cottage with a family of 5 was the turning point that sparked Donna Donaldsons business OrganizeIt.
“When the move finally happened I had no idea how confronting it was trying to squeeze everything into such a small place,” Ms Donaldson said.
“I vividly remember sitting on the front steps of our small two bedroom cottage balling my eyes out as I felt like the Beverly Hillbillies, with things stuffed in every possible space inside and out.”
“One might say ‘stuffocated’”
“This became my big turning point where I never wanted to feel so consumed by stuff ever again.”
Ms Donaldson see clients from all walks of life, from those who are simply time-poor and cluttered, people in crisis, people moving houses and even businesses. My typical clients are many and varied from:
“Often on arrival clients apologise for the state of their home, to which I remind them that I am not
there to judge, merely here as an extra set of hands to assist with the decluttering and organizing
process.”
“Generally we will start in the area that is of most concern or discomfort for them. The common problems are that people accumulate too much stuff, not enough storage, but more often than not, it’s a combination of both and this is why just tidying up doesn’t fix the problem.”
“I often meet my clients in crisis mode, overwhelmed, exhausted, frustrated and unsure where to turn to for help or even how to get started.”
“My goal is to shine some light at the end of the tunnel, walk them through teaching them new skills and putting systems into place to empower them for the future and to then bring them out the other side with new skill sets feeling a sense of relief, peace, accomplishment and satisfaction.”
Ms Donaldson has had many clients who have touched her in their own ways but said there was one client who had a particular impact.
She had been contacted by a friend of the elderly woman, who had never been to her home and had some concerns.
“She (the friend) described seeing narrow tracks for her friend to shuffle around the 1 bedroom unit to get to the areas she needed to access, while the rest of the unit was piled up to shoulder height with clutter,” Ms Donaldson said.
“Cans of food had exploded in the kitchen cupboards, with the inside shelves blackened by the expired food.”
“After a number of falls and a gruelling 3 stories to climb, she (the client) had realised that a move would be inevitable, yet impossible the way things were.”
“Over a period of about 4 months I worked with her as I was available in and out of my other appointments, starting at the door and working our way through area by area.”
“Due to her age and health I sat her in the Queen’s chair as I asked questions of each area of what she would keep and get rid of.”
“Every day there was a car or ute load to remove to charity or the tip for the rubbish.”
Together the two worked to declutter and clear, and eventually the client was able to move, free from the things that had been weighing her down for years.
KRISTIE MCKIBBEN – ASK ORGANISING SOLUTIONS
Kristie McKibben put her background in HR and business to good use as she started up ASK Organising Solutions, which takes her love of helping people and combines with her natural flare for organisation
Each work day varies greatly for Ms McKibben, and can span from working with NDIS clients to downsizers or busy professionals
“One day I could be in a garage that has been packed up for 10 years, while the next may be in a beautiful new home waiting for the owners to move in,” Ms McKibben said.
“Working with a professional organiser can get very personal.”
“Clients need to be comfortable with the professional organiser or would not be a positive experience.”
“There is lots of talking and decision making and juggling curve balls as they are thrown your way. It can often get very emotional so knowing how to handle your client in these situations is important.”
“Throughout the session I am constantly thinking of the clients needs and their end goals while also making sure we recycle what we can, donate items to appropriate places and reducing the impact of landfill.”
“I take away anything I can fit into my car at the end of the session as the ‘donating’ part can often be a barrier for clients.”
Ms McKibben said she is also faced with similar misconceptions of the industry as her peers.
“The two things I find most people believe about the industry is that ‘its only for the rich’ or ‘you must deal with lots of hoarders’.”
“The most common clients are busy households and households wanting to downsize.”
“The clients that get the most benefit out of using a professional organiser are those everyday people who value your service, have been brave enough to ask for help, and who want to live a more organised life.”
“ They have usually tried on their own and realise it would be faster & easier with help.”
“I often say it’s like going to the gym – you can do it on your own but if you use a PT at the gym it can give you a more focused workout.”
She said she loves seeing the weight lifted from her clients as she finishes for the day and drives off with a load of their donations, rubbish or recycling.
“Homes are not storage units – they need to be places of calm so you can relax and live your best life.”
“One client was so relieved to have been sorted so she could finally sell her home and downsize – she had tried for 5 years on her own.”
“I have another client who calls me her ‘birthday fairy’ – she books me in each year around her birthday so she can declutter and streamline her home.”
“Many clients often tell me when they are shopping they often think – what would Kristie say? It’s like I’m sitting on their shoulder helping them decide to purchase items or not.”
“When you live with everything you need, and everything has a place your desire to constantly shop and fill your household again is diminished. You spend less money and more time to enjoy a decluttered lifestyle.”
TAMARA SPEEDIE – SORT MY SPACE
Marie Kondo’s 2019 Netflix special – Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, was what inspired Tamara Speedie to begin her company, SORT My Space.
“I have always been tidy and particular about my items having a home which I attributed to my upbringing and that feeling of “I AM AMAZING” that immediately follows needing a particular item you think you own but aren’t sure of and being able to find it when you think about where it “should” be in your home.”
“It was after watching Marie’s Netflix Special I realised that there are people who struggle with decluttering and home organisation and furthermore, this is actually something I could do and be good at.”
Ms Speedie’s clients are anything from recently separated parents to busy mums and neurodiverse people.
“A normal day for me varies greatly,” Ms Speedie said.
“This week alone I have helped one client book a car service, co-ordinate the delivery of some new furniture and review the contents of their linen cupboard ahead of an upcoming move.”
“I helped another sort and declutter the contents of their bedroom so they could stop sleeping on the couch and get back into bed. I also transformed the Kitchen and Pantry for a busy family of 5 to make sure things flow better at meal time and hopefully delay the seemingly desperate need for a Kitchen renovation (as that is not in the budget right now).”
Ms Speedie said that many believe a professional organiser will force you to become a minimalist, but to that she said, “if they do, find a new one.”
“People think you need to spend hundreds of dollars on pantry containers and decant everything. – No, that might make it pretty but it won’t make it functional.”
“I often see posts in Facebook Groups looking for “someone to clean and organise my {location}. Cleaning is not organising. Cleaning takes care of the dirt and the environmental factors within the space, while organising takes care of the items and their placement.”
“Most Professional Organisers will wipe out the drawer in the bathroom cupboard but they will not clean the bathroom as part of the organisation process.”
“My favourite part about being a Professional Organiser is seeing the results that same day. Taking before-and-after photos and sharing those with my clients to remind them how things were this morning and how they are now is amazing.”
“Also, a short scroll through my message history with my clients is often filled with lots of ‘This is amazing, I love it,’ ‘I couldn’t have ever done this without you’ and ‘things are so much better now, everyone understands the system and follows it so {location} has stayed organised!’ messages which is pretty great too.”
“There have been some icky moments, there was shed in Northern NSW that had more huntsman spiders than I think I have ever seen in my life cumulatively by that point.”
“It worked as exposure therapy for me thankfully and I no longer squeal and panic if I find one in our home. I simply get a hockey stick (we play Ice Hockey so we have them at the ready) and move it outside.”
“I also picked up some underwear, in a bedroom last week, that had actually been soiled. Thankfully, because it was a teenage boys bedroom I was wearing gloves and was promptly given permission to discard the item by the client.”
One of Ms Speedie’s most inspirational stories blossomed from tragedy.
“Early in 2021 I was called by a prospective client who was a new mum, this client lives with Hashimoto’s and was struggling to keep up with her bouncing baby along with all of the tasks required to manage a household.”
“At our Strategy Session she showed me through her home and I could hear her internal struggle with the shame and guilt regarding how her home was. I reminded the client I wasn’t there to judge and being a new mum was a big life change and she should have more grace for herself.”
“The very next day, Brisbane flooded.”
“The flood water came through their home approximately 1m high and destroyed almost everything it touched.”
“Fast forward a month or so, the client (who I had remained in contact with during this time) called to say they were setting themselves up in their new home and could I help unpack and set things up.”
“While we chatted during the move in/set up day we began talking about the KonMari Method™ for reviewing your items and how clients were beginning to circle back to share with me how they were carrying those principals through into the rest of their lives.”
“Throughout our sessions to review her items and fill her home with only the things that Spark Joy for her we developed a beautiful friendship.”
“We are still friends now and I am still called in to help in my professional capacity when circumstances change and things in the home need adjusting, but I also get invited to join for family birthday parties too.”
“ If you have a problematic pantry, a worrying wardrobe or it’s literally ‘Casa de Chaos’ at your place, please reach out to a local organiser.”
“Things don’t have to be this hard, there won’t be a gold star on your death certificate to say ‘{name}, struggled to the bitter end’.”
“You’ll be surprised what a fresh set of eyes can bring to a problem. Professional Organisers are not here to judge you, we only want to help make things better for you.”
JANE DUFTY - SORT THIS
Jane Dufty of Sort This has serviced 500 homes in her ten years in business, and her website provides an in-depth look at her journey to this epic milestone.
“After completing university and pursuing a career in law, I found myself unfulfilled and uninspired,” Ms Dufty wrote.
“Your work fills a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you love and love what you do.”
“So in 2012, I founded Sort This and since then I have helped hundreds of individuals reclaim their homes, simplify their lives and become more organised.”
The new mum is currently on maternity leave, but not for long, with clients expecting her back on board this month.
“Growing up in a small country town in Northern NSW, I was raised the old fashioned way by a long line of industrious “collectors”. I was taught early on that nobody ever died from hard work.”
“I am living proof that you can take the girl out of the country, but you can’t take the country out of the girl.”
“While everyone was telling me I should be pursuing more, my heart was telling me to pursue less. I have finally found a way to do both and the balance is liberating.”
“For me, helping others become organised is more than just a profession; it’s my passion. Everybody has that one thing they do to help them feel centred and for me, it’s organising.”
Asides from one-on-one professional organising within clients homes, Ms Dufty also rusn workshops including “Going Green: Minimalism and Reducing your Carbon Footprint”, “Money Matters: Basic Budgeting Skills for Young Adults” and “Downsizing: Preserving the Past and New Beginnings for Seniors”.
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