Staff Matters February 1, 2019 Issue 190 Week 31
CARING ABOUT OUR STAFF
NOMINATE YOUR DISTRICT SUPERSTAR
It’s time to show us what you’re made of and highlight all that makes your site great. Today we’re launching our new District Superstars initiative - could it be your site? Once a quarter, we will be showcasing District Superstars and recognising those teams that are going above and beyond for our clients by fostering a strong ‘teams and tribes’ ethos at their site.
district
In This Issue 1
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Nominate Your District Superstar Joke of The Week Sustainable Mobility Employer Of Choice Initiatives To Help You
At Afford, we are one community. By highlighting top teams in each district and the ways in which they are achieving success, we can all learn and grow to improve ourselves, our sites and our service delivery to clients.
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Stepping Up To A Brighter Future At Afford
You can nominate your site by contacting your District Manager and outlining why your team is the next District Superstar.
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Supporting Kristian To Say His First Word
Some of the criteria for becoming a District Superstar includes a quarteron-quarter improvement in: Group Homes Day Programs • Growth in client numbers
• Increased LAPS
• Growth in revenue generated
• Significant resident achievements (e.g. weight loss)
• Improved profitability • Improved PACES performance • Reduced absenteeism
Upcoming Events Selfies of The Week
• Improved PACES performance • Improved Profitability
Respite • Increased client numbers • Increased revenue • Improved profitability • Improved PACES performance We know that we have amazing talent within our Afford community. Now it’s time for you to shine. Review the criteria and contact your District Manager to put your site forward as the next District Superstar!
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: Daniel Meli POSITION: Lifestyle Assistant LOCATION: Lakemba Respite FAVOURITE SONG? R&B FAVOURITE MOVIE? Madagascar FAVOURITE HOBBIES? Travelling & swimming FAVOURITE FOODS? Beans IF YOU COULD BE AN ANIMAL WHAT WOULD YOU BE? A cat WHAT IS YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Ibiza, Spain IF YOU HAD THE POWER WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD? Time IF YOU HAD TO TEACH SOMETHING WHAT WOULD YOU TEACH? Listening skills SOMETHING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT ME? I’m always positive
February 1, 2019 Issue 190
SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY!
At Afford, we are committed to implementing practices that support sustainability and positively impact the environment. Cars are a major cause of air pollution, producing harmful substances such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons. Road traffic is responsible for about 13% of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions. In an effort to minimise our impact on the environment, we have now purchased our first hybrid vehicle - a Toyota Prius. Hybrid cars use a combination of battery technology (electric engine) and a petrol engine. The Toyota Prius is a power split or series parallel hybrid, where the electric engine can power the car on its own. The Afford branded vehicle will now take to the streets, promoting our green credentials and commitment to supporting our environment.
EMPLOYER OF CHOICE INITIATIVES TO HELP YOU As an Afford employee, you have access to a range of wonderful Employer of Choice initiatives to help you be at your best, while also achieving a healthy work/life balance. All employees have access to regular on-site massages which promote stress relief and relaxation. For example, on the fourth Tuesday of each month, employees of our Minchinbury Head Office have the opportunity to enjoy a massage in the office. Team Leaders can also book on-site sessions through our preferred supplier, Corporate Bodies - we encourage that bookings be made well in advance given how popular they are! According to those who have taken part in a massage session, they’re well worth the time out. This initiative has also been rolled out in Queensland and Victoria - so watch this space interstate friends - massage sessions are coming your way! As an Employer of Choice, Afford also supports staff to undertake study relevant to their role for professional and personal development. As added support, Afford will reimburse up to $750 per course upon completion. Other Employer of Choice initiatives include quarterly bonuses, e-learning, salary packaging, staff conferences, Fitness Passport, Afford Rewards discounts, NRMA Roadside Assistance discount and many, many more. Make the most of being part of a supportive Afford community and take advantage of all the Employer of Choice initiatives available to you.
www.afford.com.au
February 1, 2019 Issue 190
Staff Matters STEPPING UP TO A BRIGHTER FUTURE AT AFFORD
Melanie Lugg joined Afford in May last year and has catapulted into a new HR role that will help her develop her skills and take on greater responsibility. Melanie began at Afford as our reliable receptionist. She proved she was a superstar in looking after the orders of new vehicles, managing pool vehicles, coordinating the complaints and hazards registers and managing general business improvements. On top of all this, Melanie was the first point of call for all enquiries and visitors - which comes with great responsibility, as it is the first impression that people receive of Afford. Melanie excelled in every facet of her role, so it was no wonder that she was offered to step up into a new HR Officer ADE role. In her new role, Melanie will look after wage assessments, timesheets for all ADEs, service agreements, updating client’s progress in CIMS, face to face meetings, and supported employee exits. She has taken on her new role with ease and has undergone training across various departments to enhance her skills for her new responsibilities. “I’m most looking forward to engaging friendships with the supported employees and taking on all different types of tasks. I like that at Afford we are one big family and there is always someone to turn to for help.” - Melanie Lugg. It’s always great to hear about new appointments and staff progressing into new roles and responsibilities. Congratulations to the recent staff offers accepted: • Livenya Chamoun has accepted the position of SLES Vocational trainer- 3 days per week within the SLES division at our Ingleburn site. • Jessica Sassine will be stepping into the new role of Bexley District Manager as well as managing special projects. • Kathy Bullock has been appointed as the new State Manager for NSW. • Shannon Renshall has taken up the Team Leader opportunity within Accommodation Services – Bligh Park and Neptune Group Homes. • Wendy Stanley has taken up the Team Leader opportunity at Cherrywood Day Program. • Leonie Pearson has stepped up as Team Leader Jamisontown Day Program. • Ruben De Le Leeuw has transferred back to South West Accommodation from Bligh Park. • Tina Kahu has taken up the Team Leader opportunity in Queensland. • Leonie Pearson has taken up the Team Leader opportunity in Jamisontown.
If you’re interested in Stepping Up into a Team Leader role or taking on greater responsibility in a new position, contact our HR team at hr@afford.com.au. If you’re interested in Stepping Up into a Team Leader role or taking on greater responsibility in a new position, contact our HR team at hr@afford.com.au.
www.afford.com.au
Staff Matters
February 1, 2019 Issue 190
SUPPORTING KRISTIAN TO SAY HIS FIRST WORD Establishing a strong Allied Health team has enabled our organisation to provide a wider range of supports for our clients to help them reach their full potential There is nothing greater than hearing about how our teams have supported a client to achieve their goals, and Kristian’s story is evidence of just how our Allied Health team are positively impacting the lives of many individuals. Kristian is 26 years old and his family joined the Afford community shortly after he finished high school. He and his family turned to Afford for support to develop Kristian’s communication skills, as he did not use spoken words at all to communicate with others. With support from Afford, Kristian moved out of his family home and into an Afford group home towards the end of 2017. He has developed friendships with his housemates and enjoys a new found independence living the life he wants thanks to the Afford Lifestyle. Our Allied Health speech therapy team has been supporting Kristian for over a year and just recently, he said his first word “go, go, go” while waiting for his Group Home Lifestyle Assistant to take him for a walk. Kristian has now successfully started to achieve one of his long term NDIS goals of increasing his communication skills and learning the appropriate tools needed to express his wants and needs. “Couldn’t be any prouder of my son, Kristian! My profound appreciation to Mary St, Bligh Park house staff, the Allied Health team who provided exemplary strategies for Speech and now about to commence with his Sensory Diet. My utmost respect for the CEO for his unfailing support for both the clients and his staff.” - Jocelyn, Kristian’s mother. This is a truly inspirational story about the power of support and encouragement to achieve goals. We’re so proud of Kristian and honoured to have been part of this significant milestone.
SELFIES OF THE WEEK
UPCOMING EVENTS DATE:
EVENT:
1-28 Feb
Feel Good February Month
1 -28 Feb FebruDAREy Month
ead Bannon and Selfie Above: Sin uitt, love their Dr t M Shanae from matching outfits!
Pawsome Se lfie Above: Radhika Sewram w ith fur bab y, Happy!
5 Feb
Chinese New Year
6-8 Feb
Manager’s Conference
9 Feb
International Pet Adoption Day
14 Feb
Valentine’s Day
www.afford.com.au