Staff matters March 23, 2018 - Issue 145 Week 35
New Additions to the Afford Community
In This Issue 1 New Additions to the Afford Community
2 Staff Profile Setting the Standard at Afford Sharing the Healthy Spirit
3 New Additions to the
Afford Community Cont. Grant Provides Interactive Fun
At Afford, we value every individual and believe that everyone should receive the best support. Whether they are already part of the Afford community, or with another organisation, Afford is committed to providing support to those in our community who need it. WALCA (Wellness and Leisure Centre for Adults) is a not-for profit organisation that runs day programs at Bexley for people with disability aged between 18 and 64 years. WALCA has been operating for around 24 years and has a rich history in supporting clients who have severe to profound intellectual, physical and sensory challenges. WALCA’s six sites are located along Forrest Road in Bexley, verging towards the South East of Sydney. Many of WALCA’s 50 or so clients have been with the organisation since it began and love their programs, so Afford has stepped in to help. We are proud to announce that Afford will merge with WALCA so that clients receive continuity of support and can remain in their local community, doing the activities and programs they love and sharing experiences with the friends they have made at WALCA. Continued Page 3
4 SLES Industry Visit—Event Cinemas
Selfie Of the Week Have a Laugh
Reminder Don’t forget to send your/clients’ achievements, good news stories and photos to CELEBRATE@afford.com.au
Let your abilities soar www.afford.com.au
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March 23, 2018 - Issue 145
Staff Profile
Setting the Standard at Afford Have you ever asked yourself: ‘What makes Afford people great?’ It is our high expectations for integrity and our honesty in dealing with our clients - and with our colleagues that sets us apart.
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We don’t take shortcuts - we make sure that every lead is followed through and processes are followed to the letter.
Natalie Miller Team Leader
Campbelltown LC Favourite Song: Anything Ed Sheeran Favourite Movie: King Arthur Favourite Hobbies: Cake decorating. Favourite Foods: Homemade pizza. If you could be an animal what would you be: A Lion What is your dream holiday destination: Anywhere tropical. If you had the power what would you change about the world: Eradicate child abuse. What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you:? Threw me a surprise birthday party. If you had to teach something what would you teach: Swimming Something no one knows about me: I’m an open book.
Within our teams and tribes we must lead by example. We work as a team to showcase integrity in everything that we do and are honest in voicing suggestions to enhance our service. Authenticity is the key and in the new, highly competitive market of the NDIS, we all have to take responsibility for perfecting our service offerings to continue to be a leader in the disability sector.
Sharing the Healthy Spirit Afford takes a whole-of-life approach to disability support, meaning that we work to support clients achieve happiness in work, at home and through life.
Afford’s healthy lifestyles programs present clients with opportunities to learn more about eating healthy meals and snacks, looking after their body through exercise and setting personal fitness goals for a healthier lifestyle. With a healthy mindset, we hope to support clients to be energised to let their abilities soar and inspire others. Paul White is a resident of Afford’s Group Home, as well as a passionate fitness enthusiast. Recently, Paul was happy to share his love of all things fun and active with his peers, by sharing his home gym equipment with the other residents. They all enjoyed a healthy workout together and had a great time working towards their fitness goals and having fun at the same time. We are so pleased to hear about residents and clients taking the initiative to share all that they know and love about staying healthy with their peers. Well done Paul - you’re a great inspiration!
let your abilities soar
www.afford.com.au
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March 23, 2018 - Issue 145
New Additions to the Afford Community Cont. Over the past few years, Afford has experienced significant growth and has robust financial and organisational foundations. This merge with WALCA aligns strongly with Afford’s expansion plans, and most importantly our mission to provide exceptional quality support to people with disability. The future of the WALCA sites under Afford sees them become an additional ‘service hub’, similar to Afford’s successful Canley Vale hub, where clients from around Sydney can visit to enhance their skills, have new life experiences and receive specialised therapies and support. In a similar story, Catholic Care’s Norma Parker Respite Centre was forced to close its doors in October 2017 due to financial challenges under the new NDIS. The Norma Parker Respite Centre was located in Lakemba and offered short term, overnight accommodation for clients. With the closing of their doors late last year, clients of the respite centre had nowhere to go and were left without support. On assessing the situation and due to our operational efficiencies, Afford has again been able to assist these clients and will reopen the doors of Norma Parker Respite this Friday, 23 March 2018. The additional Respite Centre is a fantastic new offering for both current and potential Afford clients, and sits nicely between our Central West and Central East districts. Afford has also reached out to previous Catholic Care clients to return to the Respite Centre so they can continue to enjoy support at Norma Parker. Afford is accepting all bookings from internal and external referrals, so please advise your clients and families of this new offering in Lakemba! We welcome the clients and staff transitioning from WALCA and the Norma Parker Respite Centre into the Afford community and look forward to supporting more clients to let their abilities soar.
Grant Provides Interactive Fun At Afford, we realise that providing a variety of engaging and contemporary methods to help clients learn will create fun and interesting environments. Thanks to Wests Ashfield Club Grants Funding, Afford Guildford Lifestyle Centre has been able to purchase a Wii console and interactive games and activities. The use of technology engages clients, with the activities are geared towards movement and fun activities to encourage healthy living. The games purchased include activities that help with fitness through dancing and various others. Clients are already enjoying the new interactive games and getting up, active, and having fun!
let your abilities soar
www.afford.com.au
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March 23, 2018 - Issue 145
SLES Industry Visit—Event Cinemas Trainees from all SLES sites recently participated in an industry visit to Event Cinemas at Parramatta to give them a greater understanding about working at a movie cinema. As they arrived at the cinemas, all trainees were greeted with a bag of free popcorn to enjoy while they were provided with a behind-the-scenes tour of the cinema facilities. Trainees were able to see the candy bar, the different cinema theatre rooms, the staff room and offices, and the projection rooms. They especially enjoyed the projection room where they saw all the equipment used to display the movies onto the screen. Trainees had a bird’s eye view of what was going on in the cinemas below, and had the chance to listen to some of the movies through the equipment. The tour was very engaging and trainees were able to learn about different types of work roles at the movies, such as working on the floor (Cleaning Cinemas), front-line staff (selling food and tickets) and managing jobs. Trainees were able to ask questions and discover some of the history of the cinema, including when the cinema changed from using old film rolls to the modern new projection technology and equipment. Trainees had the chance to see old movie memorabilia, as well as the advertisements for new movies coming out. Everyone had a lot of fun and after the industry visit tour, many trainees are now considering a career in the Movie Biz!
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In the Selfie Above: Accommodation Staff and Residents say “Bon Voyage” as they board their cruise!
let your abilities soar www.afford.com.au
Please send in your selfies or laughs