Staff Matters 106

Staff matters June 9, 2017 - Issue 106 Week 48

Brothers Score A Headlining Try

In This Issue 1 - Brothers Score A Headlining Try

2 - Staff Profile - Ashfield’s Backyard Blitz - Afford MasterChefs

3 - The Afford Lifestyle – A

Passion For Enriching Lives - Club Afford Shining Bright at Vivid

4 - Afford Supporting

Men’s Health Week - Have a Laugh - Selfie of the Week

Many of Afford’s accommodation residents participate in the Try Time football program, and are ecstatic to have had their picture published in local Penrith Press newspaper. The Brother’s Try Time program, run by Barry Costa, is inspiring our residents to group together and become an accomplished rugby league team who kick personal goals every week. The game has done amazing things for our clients’ athletic development and they have even won a Local Sports Stars nomination in the Young Sporting Spirit category.

The team are dedicated, attend training each week and have shown amazing improvement to their on-field skills and teamwork. Afford are proud to see our clients kicking goals on and off the field every week.

Giving you the freedom to soar www.afford.com.au

Reminder Don’t forget to send your or clients' achievements, good news stories and photos to CELEBRATE@afford.com.au

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June 9, 2017 - Issue 106

Staff Profile

Ashfield’s Backyard Blitz!

For a long time, Ashfield’s claim to fame was its beautiful backyard with a lush green garden. The garden was a haven for clients who wanted a bit of quiet, a great spot for some aquatic fun on a hot day, and of course was the site of the weekly BBQ and Friday’s music blowout!

Pamela Koroma

Lifestyle Assistant Guildford Lifestyle Centre Favourite Song: Panya Favourite Movie: Jenifer’s Diary Favourite Hobbies: Watching movie and listening to music Favourite Foods: Cassava leaves If you could be an animal what would you be: An eagle What is your dream holiday destination: Fiji If you had the power what would you change about the world: Love each other What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you: Surprise 18th birthday party from my friends If you had to teach something what would you teach: Teach people to love Something no one knows about me: I can dance

Sadly, over time and due to some bad weather, the garden fell into the disrepair and the beauty of the backyard diminished – which is exactly why budget was allocated for a garden overhaul.

Last Monday, a crew of cheerful landscapers came down and got to work – and work they did! In a matter of hours old garden beds were torn out, and what seemed like an immovable weight of dead vegetation was gone. The crew continued to labour the whole week through, sawing, hammering, shoveling and planting.

Finally, Friday revealed Ashfield’s new backyard. New garden beds with beautiful, fresh flowers, a sensory herb garden, fresh grass and a spacious and accessible deck! The backyard was not only restored but improved, with more room for our clients to have fun in the sun, and to plant what will become the face of our gardening program.

Afford MasterChefs At Canley Vale Lifestyle Centre, all clients enjoy different programs but by far the most popular is the Cooking Program. Clients love the support provided to prepare a meal of their choice each time. The clients at Canley Vale express a sense of achievement through the program, as well as gratitude for the support provided by our friendly staff. Clients are encouraged to soar and succeed in all their chosen programs.

Baked dinner is always a favourite of the program – Bon Appétit Canley Vale!

Giving you the freedom to soar

www.afford.com.au

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June 9, 2017 - Issue 106

The Afford Lifestyle – A Passion For Enriching Lives

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Afford Group Homes are homes in every sense of the word – more than just room and board, we develop safe and comfortable environments where residents are able to build lifelong friendships and informal as well as formal support networks. For many clients, the relationships they form in our group homes embrace a ‘family’ feel, with their housemates and support staff there to celebrate every Christmas, birthday and all day-to-day achievements.

Bruce, one of our group home residents, has had some very positive results from a doctor’s visit this week. His core Blood Sugar Level is the lowest it has been in years, and he is losing weight. This is thanks to the healthy eating program that has been adopted at the Billabong and Rainbow Group Homes.

Team Leader, Daniel, is mindful to not have restrictive practices in the homes which impact on clients’ choices, so he has encouraged some eating tips that maintain a healthy balance.

Buying smaller portions of food, leaner meats and stocking the pantry allows clients to have access to their food at all times, but with healthy options and portion sizes available to clients who are reaping the positive benefits of a environment where healthy eating options are easy and abundant. The homes’ goals are to ‘make the household a healthy eating environment’.

Congratulations to the Billabong and Rainbow teams, especially Bruce’s key worker, Kuldeep Kumar, for this great result. The team have even received positive feedback from Gail, Bruce’s Sister-in-law, who keeps a very close eye on Bruce’s progress – her praise is an excellent achievement.

Club Afford Shining Bright At Vivid

Supported Employee, Vanessa Gowland, has been away for a little while recovering from a broken foot. Today she returned to work happy as always and even more so because she received her Club Afford pack! As you can tell by the look on her face that she is one happy camper.

Afford’s sector-leading Club Afford initiative continues to grow, and is excited to announce some attractive member benefits in the near future – including discounts and special offers from partners.

Last weekend our Club Afford members took a trip into the city to be wowed and delighted by the Vivid Sydney festival of light, music and ideas. Vivid Light transforms Sydney into a wonderland of ‘light art’ sculptures, innovative light installations and grand-scale projections for all to enjoy for free. It is a magical celebration of light-design excellence and the world’s largest outdoor ‘art-gallery’.

The group felt enlightened by the trip.

Giving you the freedom to soar

www.afford.com.au

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June 9, 2017 - Issue 106

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Afford Supporting Men’s Health Week

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Men’s Health Week (June 12-18) is a great opportunity for us to promote and show our support for men’s health and well-being.

Men are far less likely than women to seek help, both from friends and professionals. While there has been progress, we are yet to break the ongoing stigma around men asking for help.

As an Employer of Choice, Afford offer all employees support and services through AccessEAP. AccessEAP are working at breaking down the stigma and are suggesting ways in which we can better support men to manage their emotions in a more positive way.

They have offered some tips and suggestions for if there is a man in your life you have concerns about: • Normalise Emotion. Emotion is a natural part of the human condition and is neither good nor bad. Make sure you allow men in your life to experience and express emotions the same way others would.

• Don’t Enable Substance Abuse. If a man you are concerned about is drinking heavily or taking drugs, make sure he knows you are worried about him and don’t join him in these activities.

• Take Threats to Himself Seriously. If he is getting aggressive or threatening harm to himself or others, get professional help. It can be easy to think “he won’t do it” or “he’s just letting off steam”. Statistics tell us he might just act on it, and it’s better to be safe about the situation.

If you need advice or support services contact AccessEAP on: 1800 81 87 28 | (02) 8247 9191

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In the Selfie Above: Staff Member, Gifty Aidoo, and Client Kristian Diaz hanging out at the park.

Please send in your selfies!

Giving you the freedom to soar www.afford.com.au

Have a laugh