Staff Matters May 31, 2019 Issue 207 Week 48
CARING ABOUT OUR STAFF
EVERYONE’S A WINNER AT AFFORD’S FUNATHON
As a leader in the disability sector, Afford goes above and beyond to host magical and industry standout events. Unique to Afford is our annual Funathon event, which is a celebration of ability, healthy recreational activities and enjoying new experiences with friends As a leader in the disability sector, Afford goes above and beyond to host magical and industry standout events. Unique to Afford is our annual Funathon event, which is a celebration of ability, healthy recreational activities and enjoying new experiences with friends. It was an explosion of colour, excitement and competition at this year’s much loved and highly anticipated Afford Funathon! Held at Blacktown Sports Park, over 800 clients and 200 staff attended the event to enjoy a funfilled day of activities, while also getting to meet some special sporting guests. The day was brimming with sunshine as clients donned their site colours in their Afford Funathon t-shirts and took to the field. There were more activities than ever before for clients to enjoy including a climbing wall, jumping castle, big game bowling, NSW Football and the Wests Tigers ball throw and the coveted Flug Tug race.
In This Issue 1
Everyone’s a Winner at Afford’s Funathon
2
Afford Respite Providing Relief
Joke of The Week
Welcome New Appointments
3
4
Customer Services Triumphs Reminder
Afford’s Got Your Back – Free Flu Shots for All Staff Upcoming Events Selfies of The Week
Many clients were able to meet and take a photo with their sporting idols with appearances from West Tigers players, and many took the opportunity to get a happy snap with the Penrith Panthers Cheerleaders too. The famous annual Flug Tug race generated fierce competition this year, with some innovative creations. Competition was tough, but the Minchinbury SLES team triumphed in the ADE competition, while Lurnea Day Program team was victorious in the Day Program race. In the usual Afford spirit, everyone finished with smiles, congratulated the winners and acknowledged the efforts of all who took part. Thank you to all who helped on the day, events of this size would not be possible without the help of our amazing Afford staff.
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
May 31, 2019 Issue 207
AFFORD RESPITE PROVIDING RELIEF At Afford we value not only our clients but also the amazing carers and family members who support them. We have provide more services and supports than most of our competitors and by far the best in the industry. All Staff should be aware of the range of services and supports we offer and be passing on that information to our clients and carers on a regular basis.
NAME: David McKenzie
Overnight respite is an important service we offer across NSW, QLD and VIC that provides our carers a break, which is so important for their health. Respite allows carers the opportunity to recharge or to focus on other commitments they may be juggling such as everyday chores, family needs, their well-being or to even enjoy a getaway.
POSITION: Lifestyle Assistant LOCATION: Rouse Hill, NSW
FAVOURITE SONG? He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother FAVOURITE MOVIE? Rocky FAVOURITE HOBBIES? Music & reading FAVOURITE FOODS? Fish & roast lamb IF YOU COULD BE AN ANIMAL WHAT WOULD YOU BE? A lion WHAT IS YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Scotland IF YOU HAD THE POWER WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD? Poverty IF YOU HAD TO TEACH SOMETHING WHAT WOULD YOU TEACH? Music SOMETHING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT ME? I hate wearing woollen clothing
Our dedicated Respite staff have created retreats for our clients where they are given the chance to meet new people and try new activities in a safe and comfortable ‘home away from home’ environment. Importantly, our Respite presence along the Eastern Seaboard allows families to holiday together. This means that while they take a trip to relax on the warm beaches of the Gold Coast, enjoy the Harbour and sites of Sydney or experience the shopping and food bonanza that is Melbourne, they can travel with the peace of mind of knowing that their loved one is close and enjoying the same high quality support they are used to having at home. Carers can still enjoy a getaway as a family, while also taking some to relax and recoup. Our flexible interstate respite options mean that families can enjoy family outings during the day and then take some down-time in the evenings, or vice versa! Carers can feel secure knowing that your loved one is supported in every way while they take a much-needed break.
We would like to congratulate the following Affordian on their new appointment: • Angela Parsons - Team Leader, Redlands Respite • Pinki Kundu - Lifestyle Assistant, Penrith GH • Kenny Sarfo - Lifestyle Assistant, Belmore DP • Nicole Perry - Temp to Perm, Southport DP • Maia Smith - Temp to Perm, Southport DP
• Sharyn Moe - Temp to Perm, Southport DP • Hanatia Manuofetoa - Temp to Perm, Southport DP • Elayna Browett- Temp to Perm, Southport DP • Stephanie Perenara - Temp to Perm, Southport DP • Peta Gaffney - Temp to Perm, Southport DP
www.afford.com.au
May 31, 2019 Issue 207
Staff Matters CUSTOMER SERVICES TRIUMPHS
A big congratulations Sydney South West and Accommodation/Respite Customer Service Award winners. We are so proud to have such amazing talent within the Afford community, who inspire us all to push the boundaries to deliver exceptional customer service. South West May Winners 1st Place: Judy Blanch, Team Leader – Condell Park
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2nd Place: Sabrina Gold, Lifestyle Assistant – Oran Park 3rd Place: Brittany Faranda , Lifestyle Assistant – Oran Park Accommodation & Respite May Winners 1st Place: Mitch Liddicoat – Nowra Group Home “Mitch has been supporting a client in the community who has had a brain tumour. During his support of the client he has built a confidence within the family which has seen him use his history as a semi-professional NRL player to assist the client train with his 10 year old son in the skills of Rugby League. Mitch has shown a respect for the father who we primarily support, but has also attempted to include our client in the process so that when that 10 year old looks back on his childhood, his father, regardless of how sick he was, will be remembered as being present and involved in the memory. Well done Mitch for thinking outside the box.” 2nd Place: Jennifer Edgell with two nominations – Eschol Park Respite “A new casual Staff Member, Sandra Okeke felt that staff at Eschol Park Respite had been very welcoming, kind, and supportive to her. In particular, Sandra said that when she had worked with Jennifer, she had been “in awe” by how Jennifer worked with the clients: encouraging them, talking to them, constantly engaging in a positive way. I thought that was great feedback. That’s exactly the kind of standard that we want to set for new casuals coming through.” “Jennifer goes above and beyond for not on the residents but the staff as well. Her support with the residents and her ways of communicating with them and getting them to open up and pick up if they have any troubles, problems concerns is amazing. Her thoroughness in her notes and paperwork is an asset.” 3rd Place: Karen Fisher – Woodbine Group Home “There has been a lot of hard work and dedication put into this new group home, especially regarding the transitioning of particular clients. Karen had gone above and beyond not only to make clients feel welcome but also resigning a client that wasn’t wanting to be there. She worked closely with management, the client’s family and particularly the client to make the transition successful.” Congratulations to all our winners! Exceptional Customer Service is what sets Afford apart and positions us as a leader within our sector. We are proud to be able to be able to recognise and celebrate those staff who consistently go above and beyond to delight our clients.
Reminder! Reminder of pay date - Monday 10th June is a NSW Public Holiday: • This means for the pay period 27/05/2019-09/06/2019 all pays from Afford and Access Pay will be received 1 day later. • This means you will get your pay on Friday 14th June. Please ensure you note this down.
www.afford.com.au
May 31, 2019 Issue 207
Staff Matters AFFORD’S GOT YOUR BACK – FREE FLU SHOTS FOR ALL STAFF
As an Employer of Choice, Afford offers all employees, permanent and casual, the opportunity to receive the Influenza (Flu) vaccination with a full reimbursement from Afford. Flu season is upon us and we are urging you to take advantage our flu vaccination program. To access Afford’s flu vaccination program simply go to your local doctor or pharmacy to receive your flu shot and remember to ask for a receipt, provide a copy of it to your manager with an Expenditure Request and Afford will reimburse the cost of the cost of the vaccination into your bank account within 24 hours. We hope that this structure will allow more staff to access the flu vaccination program, given the mobile nature of our services where not all staff tend to be on site at the same time or may not have shifts rostered during business hours. Let’s keep our health and wellbeing a priority and individually get our flu vaccinations to protect us ourselves and our clients for what’s predicted to be a bad flu season.
FLU FACT: Flu experts predict 4,000 Australians will die from influenza this year. Australia is headed for a bad flu season after a surge in cases in Summer and Autumn. There have already been 40,000 laboratory-confirmed cases of influenza in 2019, almost three times the number recorded at the same time in recent years.
SELFIES OF THE WEEK
UPCOMING EVENTS DATE:
EVENT:
5th June
World Environment Day
Afford's Got Talent - Central East & South West Afford's Got Talent - Accomm, 7th June Far West, SLES & ADE International Men's Helath 10th - 16th June Week 6th June
9 Afford Selfie Above:201 Services ity bil sa Di IV rt Ce ing success! at lbr ce s, Graduate
Pawsome Se lfie Above: Howle from Belinda Harley and with her fur babies, Byron.
10th June
International Buddy Day
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