Staff Matters 255

Staff Matters May 1, 2020 Issue 255 Week 44

CARING ABOUT OUR STAFF JOBKEEPER IS GO!

In This Issue

Afford is pleased to confirm that the JobKeeper payment is available to Afford employees. This is exciting news for our staff, however there are some steps you need to take to ensure you are eligible, so read on!

1

JobKeeper is Go! Afford Trivia Ask Our CEO

The first step is to register for the JobKeeper Allowance. Complete the form emailed to all staff, which you should have received on April 20th. All staff must complete the form. This means all permanent and casual staff members from all areas of the business.

2

Residents Pay Their Repects on Anzac Day Staff Profile

Once the form is completed, please send to JobKeeper@afford.com.au.

If you do not have the form, please contact our Executive Manager - Human Resources, Candace Burke on candace.burke@afford.com.au.

This form is for the JobKeeper Payment.

Please remember you can only nominate one employer. If you are nominating another and you do not wish to nominate Afford as your employer for the JobKeeper Payment, please tick No in section C on the form and email to JobKeeper@afford.com.au. You must include an explanation of why you have chosen No in the body of the email.

Please ensure you complete all sections B through to D even if you do not wish to nominate Afford as your Employer for the JobKeeper Payment.

3

TeleCare and Afford Care Take Off Reminder

4

Fight the Flu - Get Your Free Vaccination Hanyman Timetable

Eligibility Information

Selfies of the Week

The ATO has detailed eligibility requirements in section C of this form. Please take the time to read these requirements.

Upcoming Events Trivia Answer

We have simplified the requirements below: To be an eligible employee, you must meet these requirements: 1. You are currently employed; and a. You are a permanent [full time or part time] employee and were employed with Afford before March 1st, 2020 or b. You are a casual employee who has been employed with Afford before March 1st, 2019 and you are not permanently

employed by another company on a permanent basis.

2. Residency, Citizenship or Visa Holder: a. As of March 1st, 2020 you are an Australian Citizen or permanent resident or b. Are an Australian Resident for tax purposes and a Subclass 444 visa holder.

[If you are holding a different type of visa, you are not eligible for the JobKeeper payment. This includes student visas.]

3. If you are on Parental Leave, you must meet the above requirements and be receiving Unpaid Parental leave. [If you are receiving Parental Leave or Dad and Partner Pay from the government, you are not eligible for the JobKeeper payment.]

4. If you are receiving workers compensation payments, you must be fit for work and working.

If you have any questions, please contact steven.herald@afford.com.au.

ASK OUR CEO

How long will the JobKeeper payment last?

The JobKeeper Payment will be

available until 27 September 2020.

www.afford.com.au

Staff Matters

STAFF PROFILE NAME: Samuella Harris (Ella) POSITION: Lifestyle Assistant LOCATION: Eagle Vale Group Home, NSW FAVOURITE MUSIC/SONG? I love songs with a slow tempo FAVOURITE MOVIE? The Vow or anything romantic FAVOURITE HOBBIES? Singing and song writing FAVOURITE FOODS? Anything spicy IF YOU COULD BE AN ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? An eagle as its show’s beauty, bravery, courage, honor, pride, determination and grace WHAT IS YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Paris IF YOU HAD THE POWER, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD? For everyone’s voice to be heard IF YOU HAD TO TEACH SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD YOU TEACH? Psychology

May 1, 2020 Issue 255

RESIDENTS PAY THEIR REPECTS ON ANZAC DAY Anzac Day parades across the country were cancelled due to the current Coronavirus pandemic, but that didn’t stop Sunshine and Empire Group Home residents eager to show their support for past and present military heroes.

Group home residents adhered to the #StayAtHome rule and showed their support by standing at the end of their street and waving their Aussie flags as a sign of respect while keeping social distancing as a main priority.

In the lead up to the day residents Matthew, Bruce, Wesley, Jeremey, Robin and Joseph were excited to show off their artistic talents by preparing artwork of the Anzac Centenary Cross to display at their homes.

That afternoon residents spent time baking a traditional favourite, delicious Anzac cookies, which they enjoyed as an afternoon snack.

The Anzac cookies were so tasty that the residents from Sunshine and Empire didn’t want anyone to miss out and have shared their secret recipe for you to try at home with your family and loved ones.

SOMETHING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT ME? I was adopted at the age of 3years old

Method

Ingredients • 1 cup rolled oats • 1 cup plain flour • 3/4 cup coconut • 1/2 cup sugar • 1/2 cup butter • 1-2 tbs golden syrup • 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda • 1 tbs boiling water

Mix oats, flour, sugar and coconut together in a large bowl. Melt syrup and butter together. Mix bicarb with boiling water and add to melted butter and syrup.

Mix into dry ingredients. Roll into balls and place on a greased tray. Slightly flatten the balls on the tray. Bake in 150 degrees celsius oven for 20-30 minutes. Let cool for 10 minutes then enjoy your snack!

www.afford.com.au

May 1, 2020 Issue 255

Staff Matters TELECARE AND AFFORD CARE TAKE OFF

Two weeks ago, we launched two incredible new services, Afford Care and Afford TeleCare. Afford Care was created for our frontline staff members as a way to fill the gaps in shifts for them, by linking with external organisations. Afford TeleCare was created for our clients as a way to provide exceptional Allied Health care, contact free, using various forms of technology!

The launch of both services has been hugely successful for both our clients and staff.

TeleCare: Our Allied Health team confirmed, to date we have 90 TeleCare clients since it launched two weeks ago.

• 95% of these are existing clients that were cancelling face to face

appointments and we were able to continue service with them by offering Telecare – this is such a fantastic outcome!

• 5% are from our waiting list that would otherwise be waiting approximately another four months for physical appointments.

Physical appointment waitlists are approximately 4 - 6 months, compared to only a 2-3 week wait with TeleCare.

Speech Pathologist and Acting National Manager for Student Placement and Initiatives, Linda Redpath, has been running a social group through TeleCare over the past two weeks.

Through the use of our new innovative program we have successfully included interstate clients, made possible through our online delivery. The group, which consists of 3 young, high functioning men have been learning about assertive communication.

All participants have expressed that they enjoy the virtual group sessions, with one summing it up with, “I always learn and have fun in your social groups. It’s the highlight of my week.”

For more information, contact Afford TeleCare telecare@afford.com.au or call 1300 379 308.

Afford Care: To date, our Afford Care service has linked 44 staff with 1:1 clients, providing support and care of around 2,000 hours per week. Afford Care is available to anyone in the sector who needs the support and is not limited to certain organisations.

Staff won’t need to register interest for Afford Care. Afford will review the requests from other disability organisations and allocate the staff based on who meets the skill criteria and who hasn’t been given shifts within Afford sites. When staff decide to work these shifts, they will remain an Afford staff member.

Please encourage clients to take advantage of these 1:1 services.

If you have any questions about Afford Care email affordcare@afford.com.au.

Reminder!

Staff please remember the importance of social distancing while out with our clients in the community or in a van.

• In a HiAce van there should only be max of 2 staff and 3 clients.

• In an iMAX there should only be max of 1 staff and 3 clients.

• Standard car there should only be max 1 staff and 1 client.

Help stop the spread and keep safe Affordians!

www.afford.com.au

May 1, 2020 Issue 255

Staff Matters FIGHT THE FLU - GET YOUR FREE VACCINATION

As an Employer of Choice, we offer 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 of our flu vaccination program. To access our flu vaccination program, go to your local doctor or pharmacy to receive your flu shot and remember to ask for a receipt. Provide a copy of the receipt to your manager with an expenditure request form and you will be reimbursed the cost of the vaccination in your bank account within 24 hours. *Note: Please ensure your bank details are on the expenditure request form when claiming. This will make the process quicker.

We hope that this structure will allow more staff to access the flu vaccination program, given the current mobile nature of our services, not all staff may be on-site at the same time or may not have shifts rostered during business hours.

Keep our health and wellbeing a priority and individually get your flu vaccinations to protect ourselves and our clients.

Handyman Timetable Meet Our Handyman Tahier

Our Handy Man, Tahier, will be at the following sites this week: - Monday 4th May:

Campbelltown & Leumeah

- Tuesday 5th May:

Marrickville, Ashfield & Lurnea

- Wednesday 6th May: Minto, Ingleburn & Prestons ADE - Thursday 7th May:

Narellan Vale, Narellan & Glen Alpine

- Friday 8th May:

Weekly catch up & urgent requests

SELFIES OF THE WEEK

Pawsome Se anice and lfi Selfie Above: Sh As, working Primiano, O e Above: Lucinda LS wn sto mi Ja ran Park LS Rhiana, fu rr ! ck y fr Tru ie nd at Cherr A, with a the Jamo Food ywood.

UPCOMING EVENTS DATE:

EVENT:

4th May

International Star Wars Day

6th May

World Asthma Day

6th-12th May

Tourette Syndrome Awareness Week

10th May

Mother’s Day

A: 106 is the answer

www.afford.com.au