Staff Matters 29

Staff Matters

November 6, 2015 - Issue 29 Week 19

AFFORD’s New Logo Is Here!

In this Issue Page 1 • AFFORD’s New Logo Is Here!

Page 2 • Staff Profile • AFFORD Take Off To Visit RAAF • Important Update For Staff

Page 3 AFFORD has had a long history with our current logo and it has represented us well for over a decade. With exciting times of change and transition ahead in the disability sector, it is time for our logo to transform and evolve.

Firstly we are changing our name, from now on we are ‘Afford’ as a brand, not ‘The Australian Foundation For Disability’.

The new logo has been designed to give meaning supporting the values and goals our company portrays.

The bird is a symbol of freedom, they walk on the earth as humans do, but they also have the ability to soar into the sky. We want our customers to feel they too can soar. Afford actively supports the goals and aspirations of people with a disability, creating freedom, choice and opportunity.

The rich symbolism of the crane lends to the meaning of our logo, which includes wings in a V-formation inspired by the story of how birds work and fly together. We at Afford share a common direction and sense of community with our customers. Working together we lead the way so they can get where they’re going quickly and easily travelling on the thrust of our wings.

We have chosen the origami crane in our logo as it is a symbol of hope and healing during challenging times. It has also become an international symbol of peace and hope, today this practice of folding 1,000 cranes represents a form of healing, hope, peace and good luck, we have chosen to adopt a symbol which expresses our spirit of guidance, support, hope, direction, flight, freedom and team work.

We hope you all look forward to the exciting times ahead!

T 02 8805 3700 E info@afford.com.au 12 Marieanne Place, Minchinbury 2770 afford.com.au

• Harry Determined To Land His Dream Job • Spotters Fee Update

Page 4 • Guildford Receive Visitors • AFFORD Selfies • Have A Laugh

AFFORD Fact In 2000, A move to incorporate the new acronym into Business Services, the name FODI Industries was replaced with AFFORD, also thirty people working at AFFORD Penrith were transferred to new facilities at AFFORD Minchinbury.

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November 6, 2015 - Issue 29

Staff Profile

AFFORD Take Off To Visit RAAF

Pictured above: Clients enjoying the tour at the RAAF base.

Kim French

Coordinator Kings Park and Blacktown Day Program Favourite Song: Hotel California Favourite Movie: Romeo and Juliet Favourite Hobbies: Anything that involves creativity and imagination Favourite Foods: Being that I was a chef for so long I love anything simple. I love sausages, peas and mash and salads.

On the 21st of October clients from our Day Programs visited the RAAF base in Richmond as part of their program to get our clients actively engaged with the different public services and career options the RAAF personnel do.

Our clients enjoyed being given a tour around the base and looking at the different facilities the site provides such as vehicle repairs shop, Hercules Airplane, Guard Dogs and the fire fighters.

As you can see from the photo above everyone who attended loved exploring the aircraft and learning all about the hard work the RAAF staff provide for the community.

Important Update For Staff

If you could be an animal what would you be: A dolphin What is your dream holiday destination: Egypt If you had the power what would you change about the world: I would love to see people be much less judgmental What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you: Supported me through some pretty tough times If you had to teach something what would you teach: To treat others how they themselves would like to be treated Something no one knows about me: I had a twin brother when I was born. His name was Troy and unfortunately he did not survive for long.

We have discussed the different terms used for people we support here at AFFORD. Over time, we have used Client, Customer and Participant and across the organisation we are currently using a combination of all 3.

Moving forward we would like to ensure that everyone at AFFORD uses the same term. After reviewing the definitions of Client, Customer and Participant, we have decided the definition that best describes the professional service we provide is that of a Client “a person using the services of a professional person or company”.

We would also like to take this opportunity to confirm that people in our TTW program are referred to as ‘Trainees’ and people who work in supported employment in our factories are ‘Employees’. All other people we support are ‘Clients’.

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November 6, 2015 - Issue 29

Harry Determined To Land His Dream Job Harry registered with AFFORD Employment in Liverpool in May 2014, to assist with low self-esteem and self-worth, employment direction and motivation, interview skills and preparation, schizophrenia, depression and realistic expectations.

For the last 3 and a half months Harry has been employed working one day per week as a warehouse/ stock assistant. Previous to this Harry was studying nursing and age care, and is still pursuing his dream in this field.

Harry’s sense of worth and value has increased with the on-going support from consultant Luke Papallo, showing more and more initiative towards study, interview questions and in-between session tasks set.

Harry continues to impress Luke with his determination, persistence and further work on himself engaging more and more with hobbies and socialisation e.g. group gardening, art classes, movies, meditation and bible study.

Pictured above: Harry Tran with one of our Support Consultants.

Spotters Fee Afford Employment are giving staff members an opportunity to receive a $50 spotters fee if they are able to refer someone with a disability, who commences into AFFORD Employment as a new client.

The program is aimed at people with a permanent disability who are looking for work and require support in the workplace.

If you know of anyone who would fit the criteria of this initiative don’t miss out on the opportunity to refer them for your chance to receive $50!

For more information please contact Angela Dion on 8805 3762 or email Angela.dion@ afford.com.au

Harry still has continued access to counselling and advocacy once every three-four weeks, to assist with employment maintenance, realistic expectations on himself and progression towards his dream of working in a nursing home.

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November 6, 2015 - Issue 29

Guildford Receive Visitors Guilford Day Program recently were treated to a special visit from the Muslims With Special Needs (MWSN) organisation, who came bearing some gifts.

MWSN have been great friends with our Guildford program for some time and were excited to do something special for our clients, donating 5 brand new android tablets while enjoying Lebanese pizzas with a beautiful cake which everyone loved eating.

The tablets provide the opportunity for our clients to enjoy learning with educational activities such as math’s and animal sounds, and provide them the opportunity to take photos of their day while out on program.

Some of the staff at MWSN have also offered to occasionally visit and do some nail painting for our ladies at the program.

A big thankyou goes to the Muslims With Special Needs organisation for their donation and support to AFFORD and we hope we can continue to grow this great relationship into the future.

fl iweeek

Sef the o

In this Selfie Above: Day programs management at farewell luncheon for Kirsten O’Keefe.

Please send in your selfies

Pictured above: Guildford Clients enjoying a visit from MWSN

Have a laugh