Staff Matters November 30, 2018 Issue 181 Week 22
RENEWED & REFRESHED EDITION
AFFORD CENTRE STAGE IN MELBOURNE Our Melbourne team has been flying the Afford flag at many events this month, including the Melbourne Disability Expo (16 and 17 November) and the North East Disability Services Expo (20 November). Melbourne team members who attended the expos included Mark Keating, Karina Tran, Wade Fitton, Audrey Falvey, Olivia Fox, Kirstin Healey, Alex Filsell and Casey Hailes also attended to support the team on the day.
In This Issue 1
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Afford Centre Stage In Melbourne Joke of The Week North Queensland Changing Lives Bringing In The Talent
Both events presented our team with awesome opportunities to connect directly with people in the community who are in search of disability supports or advice. Around 300 people visited the brightly coloured Afford stand at the Melbourne Disability Expo held at the Melbourne Exhibition Centre, with most enquiries being about one-to-one and group based supports. Visitors were also interested in capacity building programs offered by Afford.
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Afford Getaways Takes Off To New Zealand
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Allied Health Building Better Programs Upcoming Events Selfies of The Week
The Customer Care team was booked out for the two weeks following the expo, which is a really encouraging result, because it shows that there is definite interest from the community to find out more about our services. Support Coordination was a particular service of interest and our teams are now working on the ground to strengthen connections with those that they met at the expo. The North East Melbourne Expo was also a valuable experience. Held on a Tuesday at the Plenty Ranges Arts & Convention Centre, this event attracted around 15 providers and many families. Across both expos, the teams received very positive feedback. In particular, visitors commented on how much they love the Afford branding and that the colours really stand out. Many also mentioned to our team members that they had seen the Afford television commercial and loved it! Visitors also liked being able to get a sense of the Afford community and services with visual TV displays at our stand. Some commented that it was refreshing to see a disability service organisation with different ideas. Well done Melbourne Team! Great to get this feedback and know that we’re connecting positively with our Melbourne communities.
REMINDER Don’t forget to send your clients’ achievements, good news stories and photos to Marketing@afford.com.au
www.afford.com.au
Staff Matters
STAFF PROFILE NAME: Leanne Spilstead POSITION: Lifestyle Assistant LOCATION: Kings Park FAVOURITE SONG? Amazed by Lonestar FAVOURITE MOVIE? 10 Things I Hate About You and My Sister’s Keeper FAVOURITE HOBBIES? Movies, shopping and family time FAVOURITE FOODS? Chinese, Italian, tacos and chocolate IF YOU COULD BE AN ANIMAL WHAT WOULD YOU BE? I would be a butterfly WHAT IS YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Bora Bora and Hawaii IF YOU HAD THE POWER WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD? I would put an end to domestic violence & child abuse IF YOU HAD TO TEACH SOMETHING WHAT WOULD YOU TEACH? I would teach that we are all worthy and we can all achieve our dreams SOMETHING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT ME? If I was to tell you, then you would all know about my life!
November 30, 2018 Issue 181
NORTH QLD CHANGING LIVES Even though the NDIS is still not rolled out across the North Queensland region, our team up north are really hitting the ground running and getting the word out about Afford services to everyone in the community. Our team are attending expos, organising information sessions, attending networking events and much more and after all their efforts, it was wonderful for our team to receive an unexpected phone call commending them on their work. The mother of Kelly, a young lady who is being supported with 1:1 community access and social participation by our team in Brisbane’s North, called our Queensland North District Manager, Lorraine Fry, to say how life changing it was having the wonderful supports in place for her daughter. “Kelly has never received supports in the past and with her NDIS plan has been able to receive some amazing supports from your team. I was a little apprehensive at first because I am now looking to trust someone else with the support and assistance of my daughter. Kelly has only received the supports in the past two weeks, however has become so excited about what she has achieved so far that she is looking forward to a very fulfilling life. As her mother, I am looking forward to seeing this young woman blossom into a more independent person. We had our first meal prepared and cooked by Kelly this week. The pride and excitement brought tears to my eyes. It is so wonderful to see the excitement your team have brought to Kelly and the enthusiasm they have towards supporting her both at home and in the community.” - Kelly’s mother. Well done North Queensland! We love hearing this feedback and look forward to more success stories in your region.
BRINGING IN THE TALENT
Afford has had and amazing influx of talent recently, with an astounding 115 placements made in October 2018 alone. Positions included mainly Lifestyle Assistants, but also included a range of Customer Care Manager roles, Allied Health practitioners and a Warehouse Supervisor. Thanks to our Employer of Choice Step Up Program, Taani Ofiu moved from a Lifestyle Assistant role into a Warehouse Supervisor position. With Afford’s dramatic expansion into other states, these placements were across all Afford businesses in NSW, VIC and QLD. So now that these positions are filled, training starts. New Lifestyle Assistants will receive Medication, Manual Handling and Epilepsy/ Midazalom training and there will be future opportunities for professional development as part of our many Employer of Choice initiatives.
www.afford.com.au
Staff Matters
November 30, 2018 Issue 181
AFFORD GETAWAYS TAKES OFF TO NEW ZEALAND The 2019/20 Afford Getaways brochure has launched! Afford is the only disability service organisation to be stepping up to innovate and enhance experiences for our community. We’re so excited to be promoting these specialised supported holidays for our clients and their families and carers. Everyone needs some time to relax and take a break and Afford Getaways are designed to give our clients the holiday they deserve with support and care from qualified staff. Afford Getaways provide holiday opportunities to sail on a cruise, explore Australia, or even travel overseas! They can be tailor made to suit the needs of clients and, most of all, they are designed to be fun and enjoyable. Family members are also able to join the trip. Daryl and his housemates decided they wanted to join an Afford Getaway cruise to New Zealand. With bags packed and the anticipation of going on the cruise set to an all time high, Daryl and his mates were thinking about nothing more than the great break that was ahead on their Afford Getaways cruise. “I’m looking forward to going to New Zealand. I want to see new places and relax! There will be no chores or work.” - Daryl He and his friends are currently exploring all the on-board activities, as well as taking time to hop off the ship during stopovers to discover more of New Zealand. They have already taken a ride on a cable car in Wellington, seen the sights from the Sky Tower in Auckland, visited the Auckland National Aquarium and Museum of New Zealand in Wellington - and the fun has only just begun! At Afford, we respect our clients’ choices, so we empower them to choose who they want to have as their support staff. All Afford staff who join Afford Getaways have a valid First Aid Certificate, Manual Handling Training and Medication Training. They are there to deliver the best holiday experience for our clients - and enjoy a break along the way. Please promote Afford Getaways to your clients and families. If you feel that you could be a support person for an Afford Getaway, speak with your direct report to see if there are upcoming opportunities. Browse the Afford Getaways 2019/2020 destinations brochure at: https://issuu.com/affordnsw/docs/afford_getaways_2019-20_web
www.afford.com.au
Staff Matters
November 30, 2018 Issue 181
ALLIED HEALTH BUILDING BETTER PROGRAMS Our Allied Health team are soaring to success and developing new and innovative supports for our clients and supported employees. Recently, Speech Pathologist, Linda Redpath, and Psychologist, Stephanie Ivos, kicked off a new social skills group at Prestons ADE. Each week, our clients gather together and learn valuable social skills, such as communicating effectively in social situations and controlling their behaviour. The group has been such a success that more participants want to join every week! At the end of these sessions, our clients’ social and communication skills are really put to the test. The group concludes each week with 30 minutes of Lego therapy, where group members take on the roles of “Engineer”, “Supplier” and “Builder” and work cooperatively towards producing a model at the end of the 10 week program. The great part of this project is that clients get to practice their social skills each week in a fun and engaging situation. Everyone enjoys the Lego Therapy time, with participants always eager to join in to work together to contribute to and complete the models. Some of the other ways in which our Allied Health teams are making positive waves within Afford services is the implementation of life sized games that can be used during down times throughout all Afford Day Programs. In addition, our Allied Health team has been instrumental in providing training for our sites to use therapy sensory kits. These kits include slimes, squishy balls, puzzles, putty, etc and are used for sensory integration. Go Allied Health team! You’re enhancing our services and positively impacting the lives of our clients. This is the exceptional client experience that we want to deliver for our clients each and every day. That’s what makes Afford stand out above the rest!
SELFIES OF THE WEEK
die ove: Resident, Jo In the Selfie Ab New e th ing joy en y & Staff, Nanc Zealand Cruise.
Pawsome Se lfi with her pup e Above: Kiralee py Archie!
UPCOMING EVENTS DATE:
EVENT:
3 Dec
International Day of People With Disability
7 Dec
NSW ADE Christmas Party
11 Dec
VIC Client Christmas Party
14 Dec
NSW Client Chritmas Party
18 Dec
Afford 66th Birthday
www.afford.com.au