Staff Matters MAY 14, ISSUE 309 | WEEK 46
WELCOME INTERIM CEO - ROBIN COWDERY Good Morning Colleagues,
I am writing to advise you that after a competitive recruitment process the Board have appointed Ms. Robin Cowdery as our Interim Chief Executive Officer. Robin is a results oriented CEO, with over 17 years of experience in leading businesses, most recently in the Not-for Profit (NFP) sector. Robin has a very strong background in social service delivery, financial management, corporate operations, and board secretariat functions. Robin has most recently undertaken a successful assignment as Interim CEO with Sisters of St Joseph. Earlier she worked with RSL Lifecare, a not-forprofit organisation caring for over 7,500 residents in 25 retirement villages, 26 aged care homes and in-home services across NSW and the ACT. She has also been CEO at Community Options Australia, a NFP organisation delivering NSW and Commonwealth Funded government contracts across the aged care and community service sector. As Interim CFO for Northcott Disability Services, one of Australia’s largest NFP disability service organisations, she lead the organisation’s financial operations during a period of high complexity and change as it transitioned to the NDIS environment. Robin has a proven ability to contribute to and influence strategic decision making, deliver financial stewardship, and identify and implement operational innovation and improvement. She has a style and presence founded on professionalism and integrity that has led to successful partnerships with boards, collegiate relationships with executives and high performing, engaged teams. Robin will be with us for approximately the next 4 months while the board undertakes a recruitment search for a longterm CEO. Please join me in welcoming Robin to Afford. I also want to place on the record the Board’s sincere thanks and appreciation to Joy Kumar for the work she has done as Acting CEO. It has been a pleasure to work with Joy during this time and we look forward to her returning to Afford after she has a well deserved break. Kind regards,
Ross Fowler Afford Chairperson
Afford Teams and Tribes
Matters Staff Matters Staff Staff Matters ISSUE 08 | WEEK 10
ISSUE 309 | WEEK 46
In This Issue
A JOYFUL THANKYOU! To Joy, the Acting CEO of Afford.
Welcome Interim CEO - Robin Cowdery
My name is Michael Power, my friend Andrew Hickey and I have been employed at Minchinbury ADE for approximately six years.
A Joyful Thankyou!
Both of us feel a special bond with our colleagues and call them family.
Virtual Resumes Are The Future!
ADE Forklift Facelift! Wots On!
Puzzle Of The Week Get To Know
Reminder Handyman Schedule
Selfies of the Week
August 7, 2020 Issue 269
Afford staff member, Megan Chase, also shares our caring views and has created a respectful, safe and family friendly atmosphere. We will at all costs, try to protect those who need to be protected and have done so by writing to State Government and Blacktown City Council for over a year now in regards to trucks driving and parking on the street of Minchinbury office. We have achieved a lot regarding the safety of our workers who travel to and from our Minchinbury office. At this current stage myself and Andrew are in a Team Leader training course, where we are doing our best to help our workers achieve skills that they never thought possible. In our course and committee, I have spoken about how I feel. It is important that top management bonds with the workers on the factory floor, for them all to feel united. It also makes us all feel equal and respected. This past 16 months has been a struggle due to the pandemic and the new rules in place in our society, has left a lot of our workers feeling lost and frustrated. We had hoped that management would make a connection to them and lead them on a positive path. I would like to thank you on behalf of all the supported employees, for having the executive team take part in the factory activity. What I witnessed on the 27th of April at 1.00pm was so satisfying. The members of the Afford Management Team sat down with the workers and took part in learning the many aspects of what we all do on the factory floor. These special people were so happy and felt hugely appreciated to be able to work alongside people from higher positions than them. They loved every minute of it. To me this is the best part of humanity I have witnessed. You and your team led the way and made it happen.
Words of Wisdom Puzzle Answer
Andrew, Megan and I cannot thank you enough and the workers will treasure this moment. Thank you for your time.
Afford Teams and Tribes
Staff Matters Staff ISSUE 08 | WEEK 10
Matters
ISSUE 309 | WEEK 46
VIRTUAL RESUMES ARE THE FUTURE! Afford have the best SLES program in the industry, leading the way with their innovative ideas and initiatives. Technology is currently used in almost every step of job hunting and now our SLES trainers are going one step further by helping trainees create virtual resumes. For our SLES and DES staff, who support trainees and job seekers looking for employment, technology is a powerful tool. These resumes can be emailed and posted online, further digitising the process of entering into the working world. The virtual resumes include graphics and voice recordings with engaging transitions to demonstrate each trainees skills, strengths and enthusiasm. “One of the benefits of sending potential employers a virtual resume is that it allows trainees personalities to shine, even before they have sat for an interview. Employers get to know trainees on a personal level, their ambition and skills. It shows the effort that trainees are willing to put in to secure employment,” said Symone Marjanovic, National Employment Supports Manager. “Trainees create their virtual resumes, then we can copy the link and send it through to potential employers to access, or we can load them onto an iPad to take during industry visits,” Symone continued. The resumes are narrated by the trainees and they cover topics such as their readiness to work, skills, work experience and references from their SLES trainers. Trainees virtual resumes finish with phone and email contact details, for employers to contact them for interview opportunities. By creating virtual resumes, trainees expand their ability to communicate with various people, and trainers can witness their dreams become a reality.
Afford Teams and Tribes
Matters Staff Matters Staff Staff Matters ISSUE 08 | WEEK 10
ISSUE 309 | WEEK 46
ADE FORKLIFT FACELIFT!
WOTS ON!
Our ADEs have recently received a colourful new addition to the team, a bright blue forklift.
MAY 2021
The Afford branded forklift features a magnetic panel to display the name of the ADEs ‘Employee Of The Month.’ A supported employee who has gone above and beyond in their role.
MAY 15: INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FAMILIES The International Day of Families is an opporunity to raise awareness of issues relating to families in the international community. MAY 17-23: NATIONAL VOLUNTEER WEEK (NVW) National Volunteer Week (NVW) is Australia’s largest annual celebration of volunteers. MAY 23: AUSTRALIA’S BIGGEST MORNING TEA May is Australia’s biggest Morning Tea month. Thursday 23rd May is the official day but you can host an event anytime throughout May or June. It’s simple, fun and best of all for a great cause! All you need to do is set a date, brainstorm some morning tea ideas, to help support the fight against cancer.
“At Afford, we always bring a little bit of magic to everything we do and we know that everyone enjoys seeing their name up in lights, so it brings a bit of fun to everyday,” said National Executive Manager for Commercial Services, Gordon Griff. The idea to brand the forklifts was inspired by the positive reactions to Afford branded cars and buses that make us easily recognisable and embody our pride for our unique brand. The forklifts are also another way to show recognition for the work our supported employees do. This feature on the forklift is an added bonus to receiving the title of ‘Employee Of The Month’, along with a $100 gift card from Afford. Afford also recognises an ‘Achiever Of The Month’ and an ‘Eagle Eye Of The Month’ in every ADE. Both are awarded a $50 gift card to show our appreciation for their contributions. “We are so proud to introduce these forklifts as another way to reward everyone in the factory and continue on this pathway of recognition for our ADE workers,” continued Gordon. These forklifts are an extension of the current improvements in all factories. From new trucks, fans and speed doors to even solar installation, there is always something new happening at Afford’s ADEs. In all of our ADEs you are supported to achieve your goals, learn new skills and build lasting community relationships that will have you looking forward to coming to work.
Afford Teams and Tribes
Staff Matters Staff ISSUE 08 | WEEK 10
Matters
ISSUE 309 | WEEK 46
PUZZLE OF THE WEEK
get to know LEXY AKILLAS POSITION: CONTENT WRITER AND MARKETING ASSISTANT FAVOURITE SONG? Fearless - Taylor Swift FAVOURITE MOVIE? A Star Is Born FAVOURITE HOBBIES? Reading and walking my dogs FAVOURITE FOODS? Cheesy fries FAVOURITE ANIMAL? Wild dolphin WHAT IS YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Hawaii
IF YOU HAD THE POWER WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD? I would improve the way we treat our environment WHAT IS THE NICEST THING SOMEONE HAS EVER DONE FOR YOU? A stranger gave me flowers with the intention of just doing something nice for someone IF YOU HAD TO TEACH SOMETHING WHAT WOULD YOU TEACH? I would teach people how to love and respect themselves and others WHAT WAS YOUR LAST JOB OR BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT? Finishing journalism degree
Afford Teams and Tribes
Staff Matters Staff ISSUE 08 | WEEK 10
Matters
ISSUE 309 | WEEK 46
REMINDER Fitness Passport For All States! Great news: Afford’s Employer of Choice Initiative, Fitness Passport, is officially available in ALL states! Please note, there is a different link for each state. Please ensure you are clicking on the correct link when you are looking up any information or wishing to sign up. New South Wales – www.fitnesspassport.com.au/AFS Queensland – www.fitnesspassport.com.au/AFQ Victoria – www.fitnesspasport.com.au/AFV South Australia – www.fitnesspassport.com.au/AFA Western Australia – www.fitnesspassport.com.au/AFW Please contact Rawvell Miraflor if you have any questions: Rawvell.miraflor@afford.com.au.
HANDYMAN SCHEDULE MEET OUR HANDYMAN TAHIER Site Visits: - Monday 17th May:
Lakemba & Bexley
- Tuesday 18th May:
Canley Vale, Eschol Park & Eaglevale
- Wednesday 19th May:
Mount Druitt GH, Minchinbury & Glenmore Park
- Thursday 20th May:
Rouse Hill, Kings Park & Blacktown
- Friday 21st May:
Baulkham Hills & Catch ups
Afford Teams and Tribes
Matters Staff Matters Staff Staff Matters ISSUE 08 | WEEK 10
August 7, 2020 Issue 269
ISSUE 309 | WEEK 46
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Matters Staff Matters Staff Staff Matters ISSUE 08 | WEEK 10
ISSUE 309 | WEEK 46
Words of wisDom
PUZZLE ANSWER THE WORD HERE
Afford Teams and Tribes
August 7, 2020 Issue 269