Afford Living
Welcome Home
ISSUE 33 - 2022
Rainbows after the rain Over the last two months, many of our sites have experienced rain bombs and flash flooding thanks to the current La Niña weather pattern. For Afford’s True Blue Supported Independent Living (SIL) home, the wet weather highlighted that they desperately needed an undercover area. Thanks to bequest funding that had been saved for a rainy day, a pergola was installed and the benefits were instant. At Afford’s SIL homes, our priority is always the resident’s safety and ensuring they have everything they need to enjoy the Afford lifestyle. “Jean and Stephen’s home was constantly flooded due to heavy rainfalls. Water was entering the bedroom, hallway, kitchen and dining room. Our plumber from Advanced Plumbing came out to eliminate the problem and advised that a pergola would be perfect for this area,” said Team Leader, Kylie Sorby. An outdoor pergola was an idea that Kylie and District Manager, Donna Haviland, had considered in the past, as the residents enjoy spending time outdoors. It would provide them with coverage from the elements in rain, hail or shine. Grants and Fundraising Coordinator, Toni Preston, was able to assist right away. “Toni was amazing and approved our request immediately. Wizard Home Improvements came out straight away and within a week, the products were ordered. The following week they started building and it was completed in one day,” continued Kylie. As the rain continued to fall, the house was now able to withstand the wet weather. This upgrade has provided peace of mind to the residents and improved their daily living experiences. “Jean and Stephen are delighted and don’t have to worry about their home flooding. It’s also a comfortable area to sit when they want to be outside. We now need to buy an outdoor dining set,” said Kylie. While the rain was initially very unwelcome, the new pergola is the rainbow after the rain. Afford is thankful to the selfless individuals in our community who leave bequests to our organisation. Their selflessness allows us to provide the best quality support to our residents.
In this issue: Page 1 • There are no rainbows without any rain • Wise Words
Page 2 • A spectacular Saturday adventure
Page 3 • The Disability Royal Commission
Page 4 • A day out on the water • Top Selfies • Have A Laugh
Wise Words: “There is no path to happiness, happiness is the path” — Buddha.
For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au Month 00, 0000 Lorem Sit 1
Afford Living
Welcome Home
ISSUE 33 - 2022
A spectacular Saturday adventure Ashley, Ivonne and Sharon from Afford’s Nowra Supported Independent Living (SIL) home took full advantage of the weekend and visited their favourite local spots. Arcade games, natural wonders and a spot of shopping were on their schedule as they embraced their time together. It was a fantastic opportunity to achieve their goals and make special memories. Afford’s SIL homes provide you with opportunities to build your independence and discover more about the world around you. “It can be a challenge to get all the ladies out together but this was a fantastic day and everyone had a great time. Ashely doesn’t always feel motivated, but she was so excited this day. She was smiling from ear to ear,” said Lifestyle Assistant, Kylie Dempsey. Saturday morning, the ladies bounced out of bed and headed to their first location, TimeZone, the local amusement and entertainment centre. This is one of Ashley’s favourite places and her housemates, Sharon and Ivonne, also enjoyed the visit. “Sharon went on the spin ride and drew such a crowd from her infectious laughter. Once she got the hang of the ride, she was doing 360’s everywhere,” continued Kylie. Purchasing arcade tickets and shopping afterwards was an excellent way for the ladies to experience inclusion in the local community and practice their money management skills. Ivonne purchased a new shirt from Kmart before the ladies headed to some local tourist destinations. “With the recent crazy weather, we decided to stop by the Kiama Blowhole. It was the same day the water reached heights of around 40 metres and it was caught on a TikTok video. You could hear the waves roaring underneath and the ladies had a great time watching the spray,” said Kylie. On the way home, they visited the new Shellharbour marina. It was completed during the last COVID-19 lockdown and this was their first opportunity to stop by. “When we got home, they had a massive sleep. It was a big day. They all had such a great time and were glad that they traded their Saturday sleep in for a day out. Everyone is still talking about it this week,” shared Kylie. When you join an Afford SIL home, you will develop friendships to last a lifetime and explore the world around you.
For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au
Afford Living
Welcome Home
ISSUE 33 - 2022
The Disability Royal Commission The Disability Royal Commission was created in 2019. This is an official way of looking into the treatment of Australians with disability. The Disability Royal Commission is looking into how people with disability are treated and ways to improve. The Commission will discover people’s experiences through research, public hearings and submissions. These are called case studies. The case studies help the commissioners understand what has happened and what changes should be made for a better outcome. Afford will be appearing as Case Study 23 at the Disability Royal Commission. The case will be heard the week starting the 16 May. It will be held as a public hearing. This is a formal, public meeting. The Disability Royal Commission calls witnesses, sees evidence, and hears stories in a public hearing. Once the Disability Royal Commission has heard all of the cases, they recommend changes to the Australian Government. Recommendations are ideas about what could be done to make things better. This is to make sure people with disability in Australia are treated safely with respect and care. We will keep you updated with information on the Disability Royal Commission. This will change how often we send our Afford Living newsletter. Seeing or hearing news about the Royal Commission is hard for some people. We can offer free counselling support through Afford’s Assistance Program. You can reach them by phone 1800 818 728 or email: info@ accesseap.com.au.
For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au
Afford Living
Welcome Home
ISSUE 33 - 2022 ISSUE 27 - 2020
A day out on the water Cruising down the Yarra River and enjoying the sights and sounds of Melbourne was a perfect day out for Danny. It was an excellent opportunity to let his worries sail away and enjoy some relaxation before moving into his new Afford Supported Independent Living (SIL) home. His Lifestyle Assistant, Michelle Smith, enjoyed supporting him on this day and making the most of their final days together before Danny’s move. “We have spent our Fridays together for quite a few years now. Danny is fantastic, I’ll miss him and I think he might miss me too,” said Michelle. The day out was their last big adventure together, as their last few Fridays were spent getting Danny ready for the big move. They decided to head out on a river cruise because Danny had mentioned wanting to go. “Danny was booked on a big cruise but unfortunately, due to COVID-19, it was cancelled. We aren’t sure when cruising will return, so I thought this was a good alternative. I hope he eventually gets to go on his holiday,” continued Michelle. It was a perfect day to be outside with the sun shining down on the glistening water. After sitting inside, they headed out to the back of the boat and took in the full view. “Danny enjoyed going outside and looking out at the water. It was lovely and he had a great day,” said Michelle. The goals that Danny is working towards at Afford are exploring the community and exercising. This day combined both of them with a fun and memorable experience. “As we were heading off the boat, we asked the Captain if he could take some photos with us. He was more than happy to and that made Danny’s day. We then strolled around the city and had lunch before heading home,” shared Michelle. We look forward to hearing more about Danny’s adventures once he settles in at his new SIL home.
Have a laugh! Why do bees have sticky hair? They use honeycombs
your top
In the Selfies:
SELfiES
Left - B rys from Neptune SIL unpacking the groceries for a barbecue. Right - Fiona from Glenmore Park SIL made sausage rolls.
For more information please call 1300 233 673 or email info@afford.com.au