Staff Matters 245

Staff Matters February 21, 2020 Issue 245 Week 34

CARING ABOUT OUR STAFF MIAMI DAY PROGRAM OPEN FOR BUSINESS!

We are excited to announce the official opening of Afford’s Miami Day Program! Last Saturday the site launched our newest Queensland site with an open day, where the team received strong interest in activities and programs for clients.

Visitors from around Miami and the Gold Coast attended the event, enjoying a free sausage sizzle, as well as gaining valuable NDIS information about supports and services from our expert staff. There were activities and entertainment throughout the day with our very own Lifestyle Assistant, Maia Smith drumming out tunes live for attendees & LSA, Hayley Lindsay offering face painting. The golf hitting bag organised specially for the open day by Pro Golfer and Afford Supporter, Lee Harrington, was another popular activity.

The new day program located on the Gold Coast in Queensland, will open up new opportunities for services and supports south of our Head Office in Southport, where Afford has already established a strong presence to support people living with disability in the local community.

In This Issue 1

Miami Day Program Open for Business!

Joke Of The Week Afford Trivia

2

Getaways Takes Off For 2020

3

Get Set2Learn New Skills!

4

Defensive Driver Training

Staff Profile

REMINDER - Sibling Camp Coming Soon!

Handyman Timetable Selfies of the Week Upcoming Events Afford Trivia Answer

One of the newest attractions for the Miami Hub is the state-of-the-art sensory wall. It offers a complete sensory experience. Images projected on the wall react to your touch and movement. You can touch underwater sea creatures, floating across the wall, and see them move, pop and swim away at your touch. The Miami Hub sensory wall is the first to be installed in an Afford Day Program. These new technologies, coupled with traditional disability supports as well as Allied Health services, make the Miami Hub a base for a multitude of services under one roof.

New clients and their families are eager to learn more about the services offered by Afford and we look forward to growing this part of the Afford community and hearing some of the wonderful stories of client success to come!

It’s all happening in Miami and it’s a great time of year to welcome yet another Afford Day Program and new clients into the Afford Community!

AFFORD TRIVIA

What are the 5 Afford Values?

www.afford.com.au

Staff Matters

STAFF PROFILE NAME: Clayton Smales POSITION: Lifestyle Assistant LOCATION: Ashfield Day Program, NSW FAVOURITE MUSIC/SONG? With Or Without You – U2 FAVOURITE MOVIE? Crash FAVOURITE HOBBIES? Running and listening to music

February 21, 2020 Issue 245

GETAWAYS TAKES OFF FOR 2020

Afford Getaways offer supported travel options for our clients to explore Australia and some of the world’s top destinations. Jet-setter Linda Alliband, from Ashfield Day Program was the first client to go on an Afford Getaways in 2020!

Linda is an avid Afford Getaways traveller who has been waiting for the opportunity to travel and experience some of Australia’s greatest scenic destinations. Even though she lives in Sydney, she has not had the opportunity to explore our iconic scenic Blue Mountains, until Afford Getaways made her dream a reality.

IF YOU COULD BE AN ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? Cheetah

Linda has been attending Ashfield Day Program for the past 7 years and absolutely loves meeting new people and seeing new places. Supported by Ashfield Lifestyle Assistant, Jennifer Thuy Dieu Tran, Linda recently attended a customised mini 3-day getaway to the Blue Mountains.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Greenland

During the trip, Linda stayed in the small mountain town of Leura, enjoyed the scenic Echo Point lookout and rode the Scenic Cable cart at Scenic World.

FAVOURITE FOODS? Chicken pesto pasta

IF YOU HAD THE POWER, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD? Make everyone practice basic manners IF YOU HAD TO TEACH SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD YOU TEACH? Tolerance SOMETHING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT ME? I have run three marathons

“Linda was very excited about her trip to the Blue Mountains, she had a great time, and is looking forward to the next trip. I’ve spoken to her lots since and she loves having the opportunity to get out and explore Australia” said Jessica Scicluna, Event Coordinator, Club Afford and Afford Getaways.

The trip was so much fun that Linda is already planning her next Afford Getaway in February.

“I’m currently working with Linda on her Afford Getaway to Melbourne or Phillip Island hopefully at the end of February!” – said Jessica.

Linda was so excited by her recent Getaway, which supported her to not only explore a new adventure but also provided opportunities to meet new people.

Afford are committed to providing unforgettable memories on our Afford Getaways. Our staff and travellers have had some of the most amazing experiences on Afford Getaways, and it is truly a unique option available to you as an Afford employee. Imagine getting to do what you love while visiting some of the top destinations in the world!

Are you interested in supporting our clients on a trip of a lifetime?

Then this is what you need to know! Contact your Team Leader or getaways@afford.com.au to register your interest.

www.afford.com.au

February 21, 2020 Issue 245

Staff Matters GET SET2LEARN NEW SKILLS! Hey Affordians, enrolments are now open for our next intake for Certificate IV in Disabilities for NSW and QLD, run by the training provider Set2Learn.

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As an Employer of Choice, Afford is dedicated to providing our staff with opportunities for career development, growth of their professional skillset and up-todate knowledge of our industry.

It is important for our staff to be the best in the sector and continue to provide our award-winning service and supports. This is why we support our staff with the opportunity to upgrade their Certificate IV in Disabilities free of charge.

NSW STAFF - To enrol in this course: NSW Training: Starts on March 4, 2020 at Set2Learn Quakers Hill. This is a fully accredited, nationally recognised course and classes will run for 30 weeks on Wednesdays 5:30pm - 9:00pm.

• Please use this link https://set2learn.com.au/chc43115-certificate-iv-disability/ and select the DIS March 2020 Intake - Weekly Delivery (NSW Only).

QLD STAFF - To enrol in this course: QLD Training: Starts on March 9, 2020 - This is a fully accredited, nationally recognised course and will run for 40 weeks.

Training will be delivered once a month as a workshop on a Friday held in the Gold Coast, along with weekly webinars on Monday evenings 6:30pm - 8:30pm. Please make sure you can commit to attending these face-to-face workshops.

Learners who do not attend will not meet the requirements for this course.

• Please use this link https://set2learn.com.au/chc43115-certificate-iv-disability/ and select the DIS March 2020 Intake - Block Delivery (QLD Only).

Afford will be paying for your course upfront when you enrol so that you will have no out-of-pocket expenses. Please contact Afford HR to check if you qualify.

If you have any questions, please contact Maureen Brown - National Training and Engagement Manager on: Maureen.brown@afford.com.au.

REMINDER - SIBLING CAMP COMING SOON! ATTENTION Affordians have you heard that a camp for Afford Siblings is coming soon?

Afford is working on an exciting new event concept for the siblings of our valued clients. As you know, the siblings and families of our clients are extremely important and we want to recognise the role siblings play in creating a strong and caring support network. Often siblings assist in the care of a child with disability, and being appreciated can add to a sibling’s sense of self-worth.

Afford’s concept is to create an exclusive siblings event where the brothers and sisters of our clients come together to: • Share experiences with other siblings • Recognise the important role they play within their family • Learn they are not alone • Encourage them to create an Afford social network to whom they can turn for support ** If you would like to register your interest for your site, please email jessica.scicluna@afford.com.au with the following details: site name, client name, number of siblings to participate and ages of siblings. **

www.afford.com.au

February 21, 2020 Issue 245

Staff Matters DEFENSIVE DRIVER TRAINING

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Recently our teams in Melbourne, Victoria took part in a one-day driver training course to brush up on their skills on the road! Afford is passionate about our staff being skilled and confident drivers. When you step into the driver’s seat of an Afford vehicle – you represent Afford.

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We transport hundreds of clients each and every day in our vehicles and because of this, it is extremely important our staff can confidently navigate the roads and get to the destination safely. Staff who feel as though they need help with their driving skills – speak up! Afford is here to help.

As part of our ongoing training opportunities, Afford offers driver training sessions for staff to brush up on their skills in a relaxed team environment. To book a driver training session, ask your Team Leader who can then contact our National Training and Engagement Manager, Maureen Brown, to book it in, it’s that easy!

“It isn’t part of the compulsory baseline training, but if staff feel they need training driving the vans, they can do this driver training”– said Maureen.

The training sessions are once-off, but if staff have completed this previously and feel they need a refresher, it can be booked again.

We will be running driver training in QLD in February 2020 and again in NSW & VIC when needed.

To book driver training sessions for your site contact Maureen.brown@afford.com.au.

Handyman Timetable Our Handy Man, Tahier, will be at the following sites this week:

Meet Our Handyman Tahier

- 24th February: Marrickville & Ashfield - 25th February: Belmore & Bexley - 26th February: Condell Park & Chipping Norton - 27th February: Narellan Vale, Narellan & Leumeah - 28th February: Paperwork/Weekly catchup and attend to

urgent requests

SELFIES OF THE WEEK

an Park Selfie Above: Or and Client, l te Pa u LSA, Bind illing at our ch , Arkan Habeeb rsite. pe Su od wo ry Cher

Pawsome Se lfie Above: Minchinbur Megan Cha y se, Labrador Lu ADE Supervisor and her cy.

UPCOMING EVENTS DATE:

EVENT:

28 February

QLD Client Gala Ball

29 February

Leap Day

1 March

International Wheelchair Day

8 March

International Women’s Day

Afford Trivia Answer: Integrity, Respect, Cooperation, Excellence & Empathy!

www.afford.com.au