Staff Matters 184

Staff Matters December 21, 2018 Issue 184 Week 25

CHRISTMAS EDITION

CHRISTMAS CHEER FROM STEVEN HERALD As 2019 draws to an end I would like to pass on my sincerest gratitude to the whole Afford family for what has been quite possibly the greatest year in the history of our organisation.

I sincerely believe that our team, our Afford family, is the best team in the disability sector in Australia. We have together overcome numerous challenges as we completely changed our business to transition our services to the NDIS. The NDIS has provided us with countless challenges and much frustration as a business. But more importantly it has seen our clients receiving much greater and varied supports. Their well being and the lifestyle that they can enjoy is what our vision and mission is all about.

So, with our NSW business now fully transitioned, our attention has moved to our expansion in Queensland and Victoria. Our Gold Coast business has been a runaway success and the team deserve enormous praise for building a business from scratch to now being a business serving over 100 clients. Now our Queensland North business based in Caboolture will begin operating in earnest in January 2019 and we are extremely excited and confident about its future. Our Melbourne business has struggled to get traction in a unique market, but we are very confident that with time it will also be very successful.

In This Issue 1

2

Christmas Cheer From Steven Herald Joke of The Week Christmas Time Buzz Getting Sustainable With Solar Panels

3

Events Spread The Cheer Throughout The Year

4

QLD Team Attend Autism Conference Upcoming Events Selfies of The Week

There are so many success stories it is not possible to list them in this short note, but I would like to mention the Allied Health team who over the past 18 months have grown from 0 to $50,000 per week of much needed services to our clients across three states. Outside of the NDIS I would also like to mention DES whose business had to adapt to a completely transformed marketplace. Also, TTW (now SLES) are starting to make a reassuring comeback after the initial 2 years of NDIS plans which for the most part overlooked vocational outcomes.

After all the change we have experienced we have certainly landed on our feet. This is because of the incredible family that we have and the positive attitude we have a shown in addressing all the changes. As we welcome 2019, we are in a very comfortable position meaning we can be confident and feel secure in our jobs where many of our competitors find themselves in great difficulty.

I will continue to make sure that you all enjoy the best rewards and pay available in this sector. It is my hope that you love your job and that you look forward to coming to work as a nice break from the crazy family lives most of us have. Thank you again for your incredible efforts over the past year and let’s make 2019 even better!

REMINDER

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

Steven Herald

www.afford.com.au

Staff Matters

STAFF PROFILE NAME: Annie Lewis POSITION: Customer Care Manager LOCATION: QLD North FAVOURITE SONG? SOS - ABBA FAVOURITE MOVIE? Mrs Doubtfire FAVOURITE HOBBIES? Dancing, reading and trying new restaurants FAVOURITE FOODS? Mint ice-cream and Italian IF YOU COULD BE AN ANIMAL WHAT WOULD YOU BE? My dog Coco because she is so spoilt!

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Greek Islands IF YOU HAD THE POWER WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD? More resources in the developing world IF YOU HAD TO TEACH SOMETHING WHAT WOULD YOU TEACH? I am a primary school teacher! (I love to teach kids to read) SOMETHING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT ME? I am a two time national aerobics champion

December 21, 2018 Issue 184

CHRISTMAS TIME BUZZ

Afford Buzz Nights are always great get togethers for our teams and tribes to let their hair down and get to know each other a little better, as well as celebrate achievements and milestones.

As the year draws to a close, our hard working teams at Head Office came together for a Christmas Buzz as one last hurray before the end of 2018.

Staff from Marketing, Finance, Sales and District Managers all enjoyed lunch out at The Fiddler. They laughed, reminisced and even planned for the year ahead! Our Head Office teams are the administrative hub of the organisation that make the cogs of the Afford wheel turn smoothly and effortlessly each and every day.

P EM

OF

LOYER

CHOICE

Our Accommodation teams from Penrith and Bligh Park also took the opportunity to get together at the Major Oak Theatre Restaurant in St Mary’s. There was great food, many laughs and great team bonding.

It’s awesome to see that our teams and tribes ethos continues to be strong throughout our organisation.

A big pat on the back to all teams for their efforts this year!

GETTING SUSTAINABLE WITH SOLAR PANELS

At Afford, we’re committed to making a positive impact on our environment and that’s why we will be installing solar panels across our 38 Group Homes.

Work has already commenced this month, with solar panels being installed at Rouse Hill Day Program and our Stewart Street Group Home in South Windsor. Further sites across Sydney will be fitted with the solar panels

by Olympus Electrical in the new year. Installation will take approximately one to two days to complete at each site.

The solar panels will provide greater energy efficiency within our sites and should take as little as 12 months to see return on investment. All sites will be contacted regarding their installation dates in the coming year.

We are committed to incorporating sustainable practices across our businesses and the installation of solar panels across our sites is another way in which will can care for the environment now, for the enjoyment of those in the future.

www.afford.com.au

Staff Matters

December 21, 2018 Issue 184

EVENTS SPREAD THE CHEER THROUGHOUT THE YEAR

The Events team has certainly kept busy this year and more so in the lead up to Christmas which culminated in eight client Christmas parties across three states!

The team have done an outstanding job in coordinating client Christmas parties across NSW, QLD and VIC and making the celebrations memorable and fun for all attendees.

The Christmas parties for NSW Day Program clients and ADE Supported Employees and SLES trainees were held at the CUBE at Campbelltown’s Catholic Club for over 800 attendees. Events featured festive decorations, balloon makers, face painters, music from the DJ, an Elvis impersonator and sing-a-longs with Santa and Mrs Claus.

Queenslander clients enjoyed their very first Christmas party at the Diggers Service Club in Logan with a sing-along with Santa, a DJ for awesome music, and along with a balloon maker and face painter, clients could also take a photo with friends in the photo booth.

Our Victorian clients enjoyed a Kids' Christmas party at Melbourne’s Werribee Zoo and the other adult party at the Sophia Frankston Waterfront Restaurant. Safari participants observed animals on a safari ride and then came together for lunch, organised by Afford. Restaurant attendees were entertained by a balloon maker, treated to plenty of food and a spectacular view of Port Phillip Bay. Our Events team have really outdone themselves this year, organising an array of fabulous events including the Golf Day (May), Funathon (July), Afford Got Talent (August), Trivia Night (August), Cherrywood Fete (October) and three celebrations around International Day of People with Disability (December).

The most successful event of the year would have to be Afford’s Annual Gala Ball in October. The Events team were able to secure the most sponsorship ever recorded and certainly made it the biggest - (and BEST!) - event of the year.

NSW Christmas Cheer

QLD Christmas Cheer

www.afford.com.au

Staff Matters

December 21, 2018 Issue 184

QLD TEAM ATTEND AUTISM CONFERENCE At Afford, we encourage our teams to get out to industry conferences and events to not only represent Afford, but also use the opportunity to network and make new connections with others in the industry.

On 6 and 7 December 2018, the annual conference for the Australasian Society for Autism Research was held on the Gold Coast and one of our psychologists attended to find out the latest updates in the industry.

Some of the speakers were from the Autism and Autistic community, including well regarded advocate Jacky Den Houting, Professor Helen Tager-Flusberg, Dr Jessica Paynter and international speakers, and Dr Jacqueline Rodgers and Professor Chris Oliver. Even the renowned psychologist and author, Professor Tony Attwood, attended the conference.

The conference prided itself on inclusion and incorporated a chill out room, silent applause (applauding in sign language), having visual indicators regarding who was willing to chat and advocating for consultation with people on the Autism Spectrum when completing research.

Subjects that were covered were many and varied including advocacy, communication, motor control, repetitive behaviour, sleep, vocational independence, lived experience stories, sexual health, early detection, health education, inclusive practices within the health system, anxiety and the helpfulness of mentoring programs to name a few.

Afford was given the opportunity to have a display outside the lecture theatre with information about our services and Afford merchandise, which was very well received by attendees.

SELFIES OF THE WEEK

ove: CEO, Steven In the Selfie Ab ere the ideas wh Herald, this is e coconut tree! happen under th

Pawsome Se lfie Above: K Billingsly w ith furbaby, ylie Thunder!

UPCOMING EVENTS DATE:

EVENT:

25 Dec

Christmas Day

26 Dec

Boxing Day

1 Jan

New Years Day

12 Jan

International Earth Charkra Day

19-28 Jan Tamworth Country Music Festival

www.afford.com.au