Staff Matters December 20, 2019 Issue 236 Week 25
CARING ABOUT OUR STAFF CEO CHRISTMAS WISHES!
In This Issue
As 2019 draws to an end and I would like to pass on my heartfelt thanks to the whole Afford family for what has been quite possibly the greatest year in the history of our organisation.
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CEO Christmas Wishes! Joke Afford Trivia
I sincerely believe that our team is the best team in the disability sector in Australia. We have together overcome numerous challenges as we completely changed our business to transition our services to the NDIS. The NDIS has provided us with countless challenges and much frustration as a business, but more importantly it has seen our clients receiving much greater and varied supports. Their well-being and the lifestyle that they can enjoy is what our vision and mission is all about.
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We are now well established in Queensland and Victoria with a comprehensive range of available services for our clients
Redlands Refresh Their Site! Reminder
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Employees, Trainees and Residents Celebrate!
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Thoughtful Gifts for Our Board Members Christmas Closures
There are so many success stories it is not possible to list them in this short note, but I would like to mention the Queensland South team who over the past 18 months have grown from $0 to $300,000 per week of much needed services to our clients. The largest part of this is Day Programs/1 to 1 but Group Homes are growing rapidly, Respite is achieving consistently good results, Allied Health performing strongly, and all ably supported by Support Coordination & Customer Care. Allan has led this success and now as Queensland State Manager we can get Queensland North and Brisbane to the same incredible level of success. New sites in Queensland will include Coolangatta, the final opening of Miami, Browns Plains, Nerang & Deception Bay and then throughout Brisbane. Group Homes will continue to open at a pace and we are looking at SLES and ADEs carefully to add to the range of options that we can offer our clients.
Selfies Of The Week Upcoming Events Afford Trivia Answer
I would also like to point out our great success in the Voice Survey Staff survey results. We try extremely hard to make Afford a great place to work and we have once again been awarded the Best Employer in Australia. Over 3,000 companies complete this Staff Survey including the majority of Disability Service Providers across Australia. A staggering 781 employees completed the survey and the results were way ahead of every bench mark. As we continue to grow faster organically than any other Disability Company in Australia I am pleased to say we just go from strength to strength. This is because of the incredible family that we have and the positive attitude we show everyday as we support our clients on their journeys. Our attitude and authenticity is what guides us and delivers a comfortable position where we can be confident and feel secure in our jobs where many of our competitors find themselves in great difficulty. I will continue to make sure that you all enjoy the best rewards and pay available in this sector. It is my hope that you love your job and that you look forward to coming to work everyday and doing the amazing job that you do. Thank you again for your incredible efforts over the past year and let’s make 2020 even better!
Steve
AFFORD TRIVIA
Who formed The Poliomyelitis Society in 1952?
www.afford.com.au
Staff Matters
STAFF PROFILE NAME: Patricia Glen Osborne POSITION: Lifestyle Assistant LOCATION: Redlands, QLD FAVOURITE MUSIC/SONG? Country music FAVOURITE MOVIE? I don't watch movies FAVOURITE HOBBIES? Geocaching FAVOURITE FOODS? Chicken, Chinese and pizza IF YOU COULD BE AN ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? A dog WHAT IS YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Australia IF YOU HAD THE POWER, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD? A cure for cancer IF YOU HAD TO TEACH SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD YOU TEACH? Not sure SOMETHING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT ME? I used to play with Dame Quentin Bryce when we were young
December 20, 2019 Issue 236
REDLANDS REFRESH THEIR SITE!+
Afford Redlands is looking super fresh with the new front and reception signage now in place and boldly positioned to welcome potential clients, carers and families to find out more about what Afford has to offer. The new signage includes a large, bright and easy to read welcome sign and a funky reception sign which is hung perfectly over the front doors. The signage has replaced old branding before the merger of Afford and Redland Respite Care earlier this year. As well as the external revamp, Redlands will be signing some large internal walls with our signature fun and funky graphic after the site receives a fresh coat of paint. The team at Redlands are always looking into new initiatives, events and more to make sure that the wider community are well aware of our services. Based in Wellington Point within the wider Brisbane area, Redland Day Program is continuing to grow. We are looking forward to expanding our local knowledge of Brisbane and surrounds to enhance our strategic growth in the region moving forward. Afford has attended many expos in Brisbane this year and gained many genuine enquiries for new services in this area.
Reminder! Reminder to save the following red alert contacts into your phones: • Amira Salama : 0406 889 551 • Kym Mafi:
0410 733 315
• Tracy Younie:
0466 862 428
• Kathy Bullock: 0435 718 177 • Allan Sio:
0400 779 113
www.afford.com.au
December 20, 2019 Issue 236
Staff Matters EMPLOYEES, TRAINEES AND RESIDENTS CELEBRATE!
Affordians love to party! This time it was the Christmas celebrations for our Australian Disability Enterprises (ADEs) employees, SLES (School Leaver Employment Support) trainees, and Group Home residents! It was such an amazing turn-out with more than 350 people coming together at The Catholic Club in Campbelltown for the final Client Christmas Party of the year. In true Afford style, there was lots of singing and dancing and so many wonderful memories created and shared. It was great to see employees, trainees, and residents together. Many of our Group Home residents also work in an Afford ADE. Some of our SLES trainees will take part in work experience within an ADE. With so many similar interests, it made sense for all these sites to come together. They had the chance to talk about the year gone by, as well as make new friends for the future. Everyone was wowed by the amazing inflatable Christmas decorations that greeted them as they walked into the room. But the Santa throne was one of the highlights with everyone wanting to be the head of Christmas cheer for the year! As the festivities continued, everyone had the chance to have their face painted with butterflies, superhero colours and, of course, Christmas themed colours and designs. Clients from our Accommodation, SLES and ADEs got into the Christmas spirit and boogied down with Santa and Mrs Claus at the final Client Christmas Party of the year. A huge thank you to all of our staff who worked at all of our client Christmas parties this year, and an even bigger thank you to the wonderful clients who attended our events. We sincerely hope everyone who came along to our Christmas events enjoyed themselves, and we wish you all a happy and safe Christmas. Merry Christmas all!
www.afford.com.au
December 20, 2019 Issue 236
Staff Matters THOUGHTFUL GIFTS FOR OUR BOARD MEMBERS
In a lovely gesture of giving, our talented and thoughtful Group Home residents presented Afford Board members with gifts that they made with their own two hands. The gifts were made as a 'thank you' for the time and effort that Board Members have put in throughout the year to support Afford and advocate for people with disabilities. As is it is the gift giving season, the residents wanted to personally deliver their gifts for the Board Members. So, they headed to the Lakeside Restaurant at the Sydney International Regatta Centre in Penrith to present their beautiful gifts to each of the Board Members and delivered some wonderful Christmas cheer. In the weeks leading up to Christmas, residents from the Billabong and Empire homes planned out their gift ideas and, along with support from Afford staff members, Keala, Zahra and Vicky, they purchased the equipment and materials to make their creations. All the residents had the chance to give their gift suggestion. At the end of all the discussion about what to make, everyone agreed to make candle jars and terrariums! The results of the candle and terrarium making are amazing! They are beautiful gifts for our Board Members who we sincerely thank for their support in 2019.
Christmas Closures Afford Day Programs will be closed over Christmas during the following dates: - NSW Day Programs: Thursday 19th December 2019 – Monday 13th January 2020 - QLD Day Programs: Friday 20th December 2019 – Monday 6th January 2020 - VIC Day Programs: Monday 23rd December 2019 – Thursday 2nd January 2020 - Head Office: Monday 23rd December 2019 – Friday 3rd December 2020
SELFIES OF THE WEEK
eve, Cristina, Selfie Above: St t lan with the Fligh Al Christina and ! HO eir at th Centre Captain
Pawsome Se lfie Above: Bekic, LSA Canley Val Jelena e, Pepper all dressed fo with r Christmas !
UPCOMING EVENTS DATE:
EVENT:
20 December
NSW Staff Christmas Party
25 December
Christmas Day
31 December
New Years Eve
1 January
New Years Day
Afford Trivia Answer: Dr Ross Williams
www.afford.com.au