Brisbane allied health practice Brain Train enters liquidation

A Brisbane allied health practice providing therapy and care for children with autism has entered into liquidation, as operational costs soared but therapy costs didn’t budge.

Brain Train is an allied health practice that provides multidisciplinary therapies primarily to children with autism and developmental delay in Southeast Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne. Picture: File

An inner-city Brisbane allied health practice for children with special needs, that was started by two parents and an aunt, has been forced into liquidation by rising costs of running the business.

The Brain Train Co Pty Ltd, 6 Allison St, Bowen Hills, has entered into voluntary liquidation, ceasing trade at Bowen Hills on April 28, 2024.

Brain Train is an allied health practice that provides multidisciplinary therapies primarily to children with autism and developmental delay in Southeast Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne.

The company was founded in 2018 by parents Marietta and Justin Goddard, and special needs teacher Paula Fabiani, who is the company’s director.

Brain Train is an allied health practice that provides multidisciplinary therapies primarily to children with autism and developmental delay in Southeast Queensland, Sydney and Melbourne. Picture: File

In citing the causes for the appointment, Ms Fabiani noted that “all of our costs and compliance obligations have increased each year — and in recent years very substantially so — whilst the hourly rate for therapy has remained the same since 2019,” Ms Fabiani said.

“We have reached the point where this is neither sustainable nor viable.

“These financial challenges in addition to the significant uncertainty imposed by the recommendations outlined in the 2023 NDIS Review as they relate to children with developmental delay and autism, have unfortunately made the future of Brain Train untenable”.

Appointed liquidator Travis Pullen said there were 25 employees at the Brain Train’s Bowen Hills location.

“We are still working through the figures and therefore cannot confirm the amounts owing to creditors,” Mr Pullen said.

Originally published as Brisbane allied health practice Brain Train enters liquidation