Staff Matters August 16, 2019 Issue 218 Week 7
CARING ABOUT OUR STAFF
In This Issue FREE TERTIARY TRAINING FOR ALL!
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F CHOIC As an Employer of Choice, Afford is dedicated to providing our staff with opportunities for career development, growth of their professional skillset and knowledge in our industry. It is important for our staff to be the best trained in the sector, so that we continue to provide exceptional quality support for our clients.
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We have some very exciting news to share, with a huge change coming to Afford’s support of tertiary study courses! Afford will now be paying for tertiary study costs UP FRONT, rather than reimbursing fees.
Free Tertiary Training For ALL! Joke of The Week Afford Trivia
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Customer Service Awards Staff Award Winner – Team Leader of the Year – Gifty Aidoo Reminder Handy Helper
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This is such a game changer and can mean the difference between people being able to pursue further study that they may not have otherwise imagined possible.
Melbourne Careers Expo Welcome New Appointments Upcoming Events Afford Trivia Answer Selfies of the Week
Have you been saving up to enrol in a new course that’s related to your role or the disability industry? Well, now is the time to enrol! Here is the process for accessing Afford’s tertiary study support: 1. We will pay upfront the fees associated with tertiary study as follows: • Cert IV – full cost upfront! • Diploma and Advanced Diplomas - full cost upfront! • Undergraduate and Post Graduate University studies – up to $3,500 per qualification! 2. To access tertiary support, staff need to provide a quote for the course costs to hr@afford.com.au for approval 3. Once approved, please email the invoice to accountspayable@afford.com.au and CC hr@afford.com.au and payment will be arranged. It’s that easy! So jump on board and access tertiary study support with Afford!
AFFORD TRIVIA
In what year did Afford’s first supported employees also receive supported independent living?
www.afford.com.au
Staff Matters
STAFF PROFILE NAME: Andrew Absalam POSITION: Lifestyle Assistant LOCATION: Southport, QLD
August 16, 2019 Issue 218
CUSTOMER SERVICE AWARDS
Big Congratulations to our Sydney Accommodation, Sydney Central East, Afford Employment and Shared Services 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 and deliver exceptional customer service each and every day. Accommodation:
1st Place - Lila Chamlagai – Lifestyle Assistant, Far West Accommodation
FAVOURITE MUSIC/SONG? One - Metallica
2nd Place - Krystal Heckenberg – Lifestyle Assistant, Far West Accommodation
FAVOURITE MOVIE? The Interview
3rd Place - Tania Brady – Lifestyle Assistant, Nowra
FAVOURITE HOBBIES? Gym FAVOURITE FOODS? Rice pudding & sushi IF YOU COULD BE AN ANIMAL WHAT WOULD YOU BE? Any bird - so I can fly WHAT IS YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Japan IF YOU HAD THE POWER WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD? Cleanup the environment IF YOU HAD TO TEACH SOMETHING WHAT WOULD YOU TEACH? Deadlift & PT training SOMETHING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT ME? U80 - 2015 Strongman Finalist
Central East: 1st Place – Michael Dinh – Lifestyle Assistant, Belmore 2nd Place – Shibbu Mani – Lifestyle Assistant, Canley Vale 3rd Place – Yvonne Droulias – Team Leader, Belmore
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Afford Employment (DES): 1st Place – Ximena Ruiz – DES Consultant, Fairfield 2nd Place – Yang Zhang – DES Team Leader, Blacktown 3rd Place – Donna Keillor – DES Consultant, Liverpool Shared Services: 1st Place – Maureen Brown – National Training and Engagement Manager 2nd Place – Carla McKinnon – Allied Health Therapy Assistant 3rd Place – Cristina Alvarez – Call Centre and Events Manager It is so important to nominate and recognise those around you that go above and beyond! As a reminder there are REAL prizes up for grabs for our annual winners: First prize - $5,000! Second prize - $3,000! Third prize - $1,500! Think you know someone who deserves a nomination? Please email the following people with your nominations: Central East District – emma.hunter@afford.com.au Far West District – wayne.adamson@afford.com.au NSW South – kathy.bullock@afford.com.au Accommodation & Respite Services – kym.mafi@afford.om.au All other departments (including interstate) – maureen.brown@afford.com.au
www.afford.com.au
August 16, 2019 Issue 218
Staff Matters
STAFF AWARD WINNER – TEAM LEADER OF THE YEAR – GIFTY AIDOO There is nothing Afford loves more than to celebrate the achievements and accomplishments of our staff. We are so proud of the hard working staff we have and want to shine a spotlight on those who put in the extra hard work. But it’s not just about putting in hard work, you have to have the right attitude towards your work as well. Culture is key to Afford; everyone is judged on their performance only, not whether they are a good person or the colour of their hair. When you work hard and take pride in what you do, it makes a real difference. That is exactly what the amazing Gifty Aidoo from Kings Park does every day and she does it well! Gifty’s dedication shines through and she was recently awarded Team Leader of the Year at the Afford Staff Awards. Gifty has worked at Afford for 5 years, starting as a Lifestyle Assistant at Kings Park and Blacktown Day Programs. It wasn’t long before Gifty realised her passion for this industry and decided to enrol for a place in our Step-Up Program. Before long she had stepped into a new role as a Senior Lifestyle Assistant, putting her hand up for Team Leader, a role which she has now been in for the last 2 years. Gifty loves coming to work and getting the chance to lead. One of her favourite things about her job is knowing that she is supporting her staff to make a difference in the life of their clients. Winning Team Leader of the Year was a huge surprise to Gifty and when asked how she felt when it was announced she responded, “It was a surprise to me, I didn’t expect that at all! I was expecting an award for Kings Park but I didn’t know it was for me! It was something that was like an ‘Oh my God’ moment!” – Gifty Aidoo Team Leader of the Year Kings Park.
Reminder!
Handy helper
Staff are to follow procedures and policies in case of ANY car or vehicle incident, including that these must be called in as red alerts.
You may have noticed Tahier Matthews around your sites. He attends our sites upon request and will be attending the following sites this week:
• Call Red Alert - 1300 282 612
- 19th August: Billabong, Dolphin, True Blue Accommodation
• Staff are to exchange licence and registration details with the other party if there is an accident and must also get the third party’s details.
- 20th August: Campbelltown Day Program, Eschol Park Respite and Ingleburn Accommodation
• An Incident Report must also be completed it within 24 hours.
- 21st August: Woodbine Accommodation, Minto ADE, Ingleburn ADE - 22nd August: Mount Annan, Narellan Vale and Narellan Accommodation
www.afford.com.au
August 16, 2019 Issue 218
Staff Matters MELBOURNE CAREERS EXPO
Our very talented recruitment team recently attended the Melbourne Careers Expo at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. Nicole Luland, Recruitment Manager and Rawvell Miraflor, Recruitment Consultant spent a huge 3 days showing anyone and everyone in attendance what makes Afford an Employer of Choice and what a career with disabilities can look like! 2019 marks the 18th consecutive year of the Melbourne Career Expo and the second year in attendance for Afford. A huge 16,000+ people attended the careers expo, presenting our team with awesome opportunities to connect directly with people in the community who are in search of a careers in the disability sector. The expo was mainly focused on students and varying education pathways rather than employment. Day one there was over 6,000 students (mostly years 10 and 11) who attended the expo. Saturday and Sunday was more of a general population and students with their families. Most of our enquiry at the career expo came from people who had a family member with a disability, and so have a lived experience of the importance of the support Afford provides.
In the next 15 years, 1 in 5 roles in Australia will be within the care industry so we were able to talk about the longevity and career opportunities available now as well as into the future within our industry. “We had the chance to meet some really interested students, teachers and family members and tell them all about Afford, what makes us different and what we can offer our clients and employees.” – Nicole Luland, Recruitment Manager. Well done to our Recruitment Team, connecting positively with our Melbourne communities and making a name for our brand on the Melbourne employment market.
We would like to congratulate the following Affordians on their new appointments: • Kimberly Claydon - Occupational Therapist, QLD South • David Hall - Client Engagement Officer, NSW • Alison Gold - Team Leader, Guildford • Edward Boghikian - District Manager, VIC
SELFIES OF THE WEEK
eck out our Selfie Above: Ch ble Park, No new signage at VIC!
Pawsome Thompson,Selfie Above: Emily with fur ch LSA QLD Southport ick, Butter (Chicken)!
UPCOMING EVENTS DATE:
EVENT:
1-31 August
MS Readathon - One month challenge
17-23 August
Book Week
19 August
Cupcake Day
19-25 August
Keep Australia Beautiful Week
Afford Trivia Answer: It was 1981 in Penrith
www.afford.com.au