Staff Matters September 21, 2018 Issue 171 Week 12
RENEWED & REFRESHED EDITION WELCOME TO OUR NEW LOOK!
In This Issue
Crikey! Afford’s in Queensland!
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Just like the state’s iconic Surfer’s Paradise, Afford is now set to become a household name in Queensland! We’re super excited to announce that the Afford Head Office in Queensland is officially open near the CBD in Southport, Queensland.
Crickey! Afford’s in Queensland! Joke of The Week
The Queensland team is kicking goals all round with Allan Sio in the region covering areas such as Logan, Southport, Beenleigh, Ipswich and Waterford and already signing up NDIS packages totalling hundreds of thousands of dollars! The head office itself is very welcoming for clients and staff alike and comes with ample meeting rooms and workspaces. Anyone who walks past the building will be immediately drawn to the vibrant signage at the front with our Afford colours and logo. There are 15 staff already working out of the new office and they cover a range of services including Lifestyle Assistants, Team Leaders, Support Coordination, Customer Care and Allied Health.
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Community Spirit Shines at Afford Staff Profile
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Afford Takes Centre Stage At The Nepean Disability Expo
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Hit the Ground Running With Free Training Gala ball Volunteers Needed Upcoming Events Selfie Of the Week
The Allied Health staff have been using the head office meeting room to hold Allied Health Therapy sessions with clients. In addition, 1:1 support for clients have also been conducted from the head office with lots of positive feedback coming from parents and carers about the level of care from Afford staff. Afford is soaring strong in Queensland with Allied Health quickly taking on many new clients and our Day Programs receiving consistent interest and demand for services. Our newest member of Team Queensland is the ever enthusiastic, Lorraine Fry, whose region covers the northern parts of the state in areas such as Caboolture, Bribie Island, Strathpine and Bracken Ridge. Under Lorraine’s stewardship, Afford will be hitting the ground running over the next few weeks with NDIS information sessions already coordinated and a range of marketing and promotional efforts being planned.
Watch this space! There is still more going on Queensland and the best is yet to come!
REMINDER
Don’t forget to send your/ clients’ achievements, good news storiesand photos to Marketing@afford.com.au
www.afford.com.au
September 21, 2018 Issue 171
STAFF PROFILE NAME: Sparkie Grefalde POSITION: Lifestyle Assistant LOCATION: Mt Druitt FAVOURITE SONG? Jonas Blue – We Could Go Back FAVOURITE MOVIE? Game of Thrones FAVOURITE HOBBIES? Listening to Music & Playing Computer Games FAVOURITE FOODS? All Filipino foods IF YOU COULD BE AN ANIMAL WHAT WOULD YOU BE? Dog cos it is your best friend
COMMUNITY SPIRIT SHINES AT AFFORD As a not-for-profit organisation, Afford is so appreciative of the many community partners and Afford Supporters out there that help us continue to deliver amazing services and facilities for our clients and supported employees. So when Westlink Services and Lendlease approached Afford to run a fully funded Community Day at our Minchinbury site, we were overwhelmed by their generosity. Lendlease has been conducting Community Days for 23 years to make a difference in the communities where they live and work. Lendlease partners with Westlink Services to provide materials and labour to complete onsite beautification projects, as well as treating all participants to a free BBQ in a true showcase of community spirit.
WHAT IS YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Europe
Last Thursday, 13 September, you may have seen a lot of volunteers come into the Afford Minchinbury head office to work on beautifying our front and back areas.
WHAT IS THE NICEST THING SOMEONE HAS EVER DONE FOR YOU? Being loved and respected
The Community Day at Afford involved the laying of pavers for pedestrian entrances, trimming of trees, maintenance of garden beds, returfing of grassed areas, establishing new signage, and new line markings for parking bays among many other maintenance activities. To top it all off, Westlink Services and Lendlease provided a free BBQ breakfast and lunch of bacon and eggs, sausages, rolls and drinks to keep energy levels high.
IF YOU HAD THE POWER WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD? Power to change people’s thoughts IF YOU HAD TO TEACH SOMETHING WHAT WOULD YOU TEACH? The word of GOD & to respect each other SOMETHING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT ME? Being GODLY
“This most generous offer from Westlink Services and Lendlease has come at a most opportune time. We have recently moved into our new Minchinbury premises and it requires a great deal of landscaping and outdoor work to be done around the office area and Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE),” said Steve Herald. Our supported employees will benefit from new line markings and maintenance of the pedestrian walkways around the ADE/factory. Huge thanks to Westlink Services and Lendlease for their support of Afford and showcasing an awesome community spirit!
September 21, 2018 Issue 171
Staff Matters
AFFORD TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT NEPEAN DISABILITY EXPO Afford made yet another colourful appearance at the Nepean Disability Expo from 14th to 15th September at Penrith Panthers. The focus for the event was to bring together everyone in the Sydney Disability sector, with the aim to enhance the lives of people with a disability. A huge thanks to the amazing Afford staff for manning the stalls and answering the many questions that came their way. We received a great deal of interest about Afford’s Allied Health services, as well as questions about support and services for children. As one of the main event sponsors, Afford achieved greater exposure through Nepean Disability Expo giveaway bags showcasing the bright and vibrant Afford logo. At the Afford stall, we were fortunate to have a truly knowledgeable team including Customer Care team representatives Nancy Elnajar, Sarah Chick, Sereana Holtzhausen and Symone Marjanovic, as well as Linda Redpath, Stephanie Ivos and Belinda Howle from Allied Health, Customer Care Coordinator Aaron Young and District Manager and Kiralee Jackson. Kiesha Spies from Marketing was also at the event, taking a look at the stall set up and making sure that our merchandise continues to be fun and upbeat! Great work team! “We had a positive response from the attendees. There are many families who are looking for more information and clarification on the NDIS, whether it be about accessing services or how they can increase their funding amount. It was a great opportunity to interact with families and answer their questions so that they can make an informed decision.” says Kiralee Jackson. Aaron Young gave an engaging presentation about Afford, introducing us to the audience, touching on our expansion into Queensland and Victoria and also promoting a plethora of our services including Club Afford. Afford’s animal therapy partner, Bushbred Horse Assisted Learning, had a stall at the expo which also showcased Afford merchandise promoting the partnership between the two organisations. Many visitors to the expo were curious about animal therapy and how it can improve health, wellbeing and social skills for people with disabilities. Almost 2,000 people attended the two day expo with groups coming from all different backgrounds and experiences. Providing all the relevant and up-to-date NDIS information, Afford’s knowledgeable Customer Care Managers assisted attendees with all their enquiries. The future continues to be bright for Afford and we’re excited to share our knowledge and experience with all the clients that join the Afford community.
www.afford.com.au
Staff Matters
September 21, 2018 Issue 171
HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WITH FREE TRAINING At Afford, we take training and development seriously and ensure that all new staff on the frontline have the necessary training in order to provide the highest quality care for clients. While many other providers are cutting their training budgets, Afford continues to invest in staff training, having spent over $1 million on training during the last financial year. As an Employer of Choice, Afford continues to offer professional development opportunities for staff that will arm them with the tools and knowledge required to succeed in their job.
P EM
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LOYER
CHOICE
For new frontline starters, Afford provides free training AND participants are paid to attend! This is a fantastic opportunity to upskill in areas such as Manual Handling, Epilepsy Training and Medication which staff can keep in their list of certifications. We encourage all new staff to attend their upcoming induction training prior to starting their shifts at Afford sites. It is of paramount importance that we are diligent and up-to-date with the latest standards and procedures to ensure the safety and wellbeing of clients. Please contact your team leaders and find out when your next compulsory training is scheduled.
Gala Ball Volunteers Needed! This is the only event of its kind in the disability sector that is staged purely for people with disability to celebrate in a formal setting with family, carers and friends and we need your help! We are looking for staff to be part of this exciting event to help out on the night. All staff will be paid for their time, however please speak to your Team Leader or Manager to get approval before committing to this event. With your help, we can make this year’s Gala Ball another resounding success!
SELFIE OF THE WEEK
UPCOMING EVENTS DATE:
EVENT:
1 - 30 Sep
Big Heart Appeal
1 - 30 Sep
Prostate Cancer Month
1 - 30 Sep
National Dementia Month
30 Sep - 31 Oct
Pink Ribbon Breakfast Campaign
1 Oct
Dyslexia Awareness Month
In the Selfie Above: Michelle Flynn & Christina celebrating 3 years with Afford. #culture
www.afford.com.au