Staff matters July 6, 2018 - Issue 160 Week 1
Cherrywood Rocks Weekend Today!
In This Issue 1 Cherrywood Rocks Weekend Today!
2 Staff Profile Afford Embraces Change With Positivity Wedding Bells A Ringing
3 Cherrywood Rocks
Weekend Today Cont.!
The stage was set and boy oh boy, did we rock it! Afford’s Cherrywood Friendship Farm starred on Channel 9’s Weekend Today on 30 June and the segment was a huge success. Congratulations to the Afford team, in particular those involved with the Bushbred Horse Assisted Learning program who have helped us gain so much recognition nationally! Big heads up to the Afford marketing team for making sure that the Afford brand was prominently visible via the horse covers, Afford tent, as a background banner and through Afford branded clothing. To achieve such brand exposure, many businesses pay thousands of dollars to be featured in such a high rating breakfast program. Through media pitching, Afford was able to secure filming and broadcast of this segment for free and achieved massive exposure. On the day of filming, Cherrywood friendship was buzzing with our fury friends and clients from our Mount Druitt, Windsor and Lurnea and Llandilo who all came to share in the fun of the animal therapy program. Afford’s Customer Care Representative, Aaron was on site to shed some light on the program. Channel 9 presenter, Sarah Mason was absolutely amazed to see this unique program that was bringing so much joy to our clients. Some of the fury friends in the spotlight were our horses and let’s not forget our star attraction, ‘Rocky’, the star camel, who wanted to say hello to the camera and posed at every opportunity. What a bunch of friendly animals we have that enhance the lives of many of our clients.
Let your abilities soar www.afford.com.au
Final Farewell Celebrations At Cherrywood
4 Raffle Winners Announced
Upcoming Events Selfie Of the Week Have a Laugh
Reminder Don’t forget to send your/clients’ achievements, good news stories and photos to Marketing@afford.com.au
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July 6, 2018 - Issue 160
Staff Profile
afford embraces change with positivity Over the past few months, many may have noticed that there are some disability service organisations out there that are struggling to cope with remaining viable under the NDIS. In contrast, Afford has embraced change and is proving to be a better and stronger competitor in the disability sector, now more than ever.
Elise Kafataris
Life Style Assistant Bexley Day Program Favourite Song: Lightning Crashes by Live Favourite Movie: Grease Favourite Hobbies: Reading, cooking, circuit training, yoga and movie watching! Favourite Foods: Sushi and spaghetti! If you could be an animal what would you be: A dolphin What is your dream holiday destination: Christmas in New York. If you had the power what would you change about the world: Stop bullying. What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you? I told my husband if I had my time over, I would learn to play the drums. A few weeks later on our anniversary he gave me an electric drum kit with personalized drumsticks, headphones, a t-shirt and mug! If you had to teach something what would you teach: How to love yourself. Something no one knows about me: I was 12 when I got my first puppy and she wasn’t eating, I was so worried that I took a bite of her biscuit thinking she would copy me.
let your abilities soar
The recent merger with WALCA in Bexley has allowed Afford to expand its services into new Sydney communities. Afford’s expansion into Queensland and move in Victoria also shows our organisation as one that has the capability, knowledge and networks to grow services to help more people within NSW and across state borders. What is Afford’s secret? A whole-of-life to disability services and an Employer of Choice approach which attracts the best staff in the sector. Focussing on the client, going above and beyond to ensure every client’s individual needs are met and genuinely making the client the top priority is what sets us apart from the rest. Our Afford community has a lot to be proud of and we want to keep up the momentum. Continue to strive for your best and excellence in client services will help our organisation soar!
Wedding Bells a Ringing Sometimes love pops up in the most unexpected places. Congratulations to two of Afford’s ADE employees, Robert and Rebecca, who recently announced their engagement. Recently, Robert took Rebecca completely by surprise when he asked Rebecca to shut her eyes, bent down on one knee, and asked “Will you marry me?” Rebecca’s tears were those of happiness as she responded “yes!”. After meeting each other around five years ago, Robert and Rebecca hit it off immediately. Rebecca always noticed Robert’s wonderful personality, his caring nature and his humour. “Robert is very loyal. I am utterly surprised but super happy,” Rebecca said. Rebecca’s mother was in tears when she heard the wonderful news of their engagement and said “it was about time for you to get married and I am pleased to hear that… Robert is a good boy.” Robert’s parents and siblings were also extremely pleased to hear the news. Now, Robert and Rebecca are busy planning their wedding. Congratulations to you both and we wish you all the best.
www.afford.com.au
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July 6, 2018 - Issue 160
Cherrywood Rocks Weekend Today cont. Afford’s animal therapy program at Cherrywood Friendship farm is one of a kind for disability services. Afford has partnered with Bushbred’s Horse Assisted Learning Programs to tailor activities for a range of participant abilities. Our Cherrywood Friendship Farm at Llandilo is a place where participants can get up close with horses, guinea pigs, goats and other animals. Throughout the segment, it was clear that the animal therapy participants had overcome their fears and become much more comfortable with the animals through regular activities. Some participants come to animal therapy with limited communication, but once they take part in animal therapy and get to touch and feel the different furs and coats of the animals, they find ways of expressing themselves through facial expression, gestures and vocal sounds. The program covers topics such as grooming, and feeding horses and learning about the day-today care and raising of livestock. Many of the animals involved in the program at Cherrywood Friendship Farm have been rescued, so as well as impacting the lives of our clients, the animal therapy program helps to rebuild the lives of these amazing creatures. Afford takes a whole-of-life approach to disability services and animal therapy is another way that we think outside of the box to support people with disability achieve work, home and life happiness. We look forward to sharing more good news stories of Afford being featured in the media again soon!
Final Farewell Celebrations At Cherrywood After many years, around 50 former residents, Afford staff and carers gathered together to offer a fond farewell to Cherrywood Village. Cherrywood Villages was home to a group of residents who would get involved in many activities that develops life and social skills. Many tears were shed as attendees talked about the friends they met and the staff that supported them. One resident in particular said that she had lived at Cherrywood Village for 36 years and had moved in when she was 18. Everyone said that Cherrywood Village was such a great time in their lives, yet they also were looking forward to creating new memories in their new homes. The gathering together of former residents, Afford staff and carers was a lovely celebration of good times had by all at Cherrywood Village. The event was themed ‘An End of An Era’, as chosen by residents, with many dressing up to mark the occasion. Old and new friends enjoyed taking photos in the photo booth area and reminiscing with each other about the good times at Cherrywood Village. There was also a photo wall where staff had displayed photos from the past and present. Everyone said that the highlight of the night having everyone reminiscing on old times. Today, the site has been transformed into Cherrywood Hub - place for people with disability from across Sydney to visit to enjoy a range of programs and activities including animal therapy, sensory gardens, art and craft, cooking and more. We bid Cherrywood Village a fond farewell and look forward to sharing new client memories of their adventures at Cherrywood Hub.
let your abilities soar
www.afford.com.au
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July 6, 2018 - Issue 160
Raffle Winners Announced
The Cherrywood Raffles team plays a vital role in fundraising to allow Afford to continue offering amazing services and person-centred programs for clients. The Winter Raffle was drawn on Thursday, 28 June, with the first prize winner walking away with $20,000 cash! The SLES programs came out to celebrate and helped draw the winners on the day. The call centre staff reached their target of $250,000 for the Winter Raffle in 45 days and went on to exceed this target by $7,365. The winter raffle has always proved to be the hardest raffle of the year, but the team at the call centre, Megan Campbell, Danielle Semaan, Toni Hooper, Sandra Sultana, Karen Cassel and Aniqua O’Brien – Vella, proved that they are unstoppable. The team also achieved the highest credit card rate ever in the history of the Cherrywood Raffle at 90.3% Congratulations to the prize winners and sellers: 1st No 23852 - Mr Jimmy Lu of Tamworth Choice of – $20,000 Coles/Myer voucher or Open world Travel valued at $20,000 or $20,000 cash 2nd No 22277 - Mr Ben Evangelidis of Glenhaven $2,500 Westfield Voucher 3rd No 25521 - Mrs Terrie Walsh of Berry $1,500 Myer Voucher Bonus Draw Mr Bill Parry of Riverstone $1,000 JB Hi Fi Voucher
UPCOMING EVENTS Date: 1-31 July 1-31 July 8-14 July 13 July 24 July 27 July 27 July 3 August
Event: Fragile X Awareness Month JulyEYE Month National Diabetes Week Afford Funathon Stress Down Day Crazy Hair Day White Ribbon Day Gold Coast Disability Expo
fieweek l e
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In the Selfie Above: Sarah and Kay from Kings Park Day Program
Please send in your selfies or laughs
let your abilities soar www.afford.com.au