Staff Matters
November 20, 2015 - Issue 31 Week 21
Staff Put Their Driving Skills To The Test In this Issue Page 1 • Staff Put Their Driving Skills To The Test
Page 2 • Staff Profile • Joseph Conquers The Unkown
Page 3 • High Demand For Belmore Lifestyle Centre • Rhiannon Welcomes New Baby Boy
Page 4 On the 11th of November Afford staff members participated in the Defensive Driver Training program with Ian Luff held at Eastern Creek raceway, to teach awareness and valuable lifesaving skills while on the road.
• Afford Raffles Farewell Feast • AFFORD Selfies • Have A Laugh
All staff who participated had a great time learning different driving tips and statistics, even getting the chance to put their own driving skills to the test. A few staff were surprised with their own abilities, learning that their reaction time maybe isn’t as good as they once thought. Afford CFO Wally Phillips stated “this was a great day, learnt a lot. Even if I found out that my response times are slower than most!”. Special thanks to Mark Andrews at Heartland Hyundai for offering our staff the opportunity to attend the program for free. If you wish to participate in the program or you would like to treat your loved ones with an unforgettable experience this Christmas, the pricing is as follows: 1.Red Balloon- $275 per person (discounted per person if going in a group) 2.Drive to Survive- $285 per course booking For more information and the full range of driver awareness programs provided at Eastern Creek Raceway visit http://www.drivetosurvive.com.
T 02 8805 3700 E info@afford.com.au 12 Marieanne Place, Minchinbury 2770 afford.com.au
AFFORD Fact In 2002, new Community Houses were opened at Cranebrook, Yagoona, Fairfield and Toongabbie with the support of funding from the Department of Ageing, Disability & Home Care. Another house in Cranebrook that had been funded by AFFORD since 1995 was also accepted for funding.
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November 20, 2015 - Issue 31
Staff Profile
Joseph Conquers The Unknown
Adela Cordova
Lifestyle Assistant Green Valley Day Program
Favourite Song: Everybody Hurts Favourite Movie: The Notebook Favourite Hobbies: Music Favourite Foods: Steak and rice If you could be an animal what would you be: A bird What is your dream holiday destination: Cuba If you had the power what would you change about the world: Discrimination What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you: Support me when I needed it the most If you had to teach something what would you teach: Cooking Something no one knows about me: I am obssessed with cleaning
Pictured above: On the left Joseph happy in the pool, On the right Joseph and Afford Lifestyle Assistant Matt.
Joseph Pace is a proud client of the Afford Campbelltown Day Program. At the young age of just 45, Joseph was asked if he would like to join the swimming program which promotes healthy living; although unsure he seemed interested. Staff discussed the swimming program with Joseph and his brother and carer Peter, deciding he would give it a go. With staff’s reassurance and support on the 28th October 2015 Joseph attended Mt Annan Leisure Centre with a group of his peers, supported by Lifestyle Assistants Matt Roberts & Anthony Fitzgerald. When Joseph returned to the Day Program in the afternoon he had a grin from ear to ear. He said, “I did it, I went to swimming”. He was so excited and proud of himself. When discussing how much he enjoyed the swimming program later that day with his brother Peter, Peter informed us that this was in fact the first time Joseph had ever been in a swimming pool in his life. It was fantastic to see that with the right encouragement and support, AFFORD Lifestyle Assistants Matt & Anthony were able to give Joseph the opportunity to do something that many others in the general population would take for granted. To be 45 years old and have never been in a swimming pool in your life time, it is difficult to imagine. Joseph loved swimming so much he has been asking every day, “Is it swimming program today?” Joseph has now asked to have a goal to become more confident in the swimming pool and to learn how to swim.
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November 20, 2015 - Issue 31
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High Demand For Belmore Lifestyle Centre
AFFORD’s new Lifestyle Centre at Belmore has gone off with a ‘bang’ and has proven to be a hit amongst school leavers in the area. Even though it has only been open for less than two weeks and despite the fact Belmore has been literally operating “out of boxes” for the past month during the relocation period, the day program are chuffed at the great response generated by clients who have expressed interest in the centre, proud in the fact that to date Belmore’s Lifestyle Centre has 7 new school leavers who will be joining our program in 2016. Many visitors to the site have commented on the excellent quality of service and interaction they observed between clients and Lifestyle Assistants. Visitors have also mentioned they were impressed with the variety of innovative activities and models of support that are offered. We look forward to expanding on a variety of resources and supports at Belmore Lifestyle Centre with future plans to install an Integrated Modified Gym, Integrated Modified Commercial Training Kitchen with a Café, and more. Belmore Lifestyle Centre will provide a great opportunity to showcase so many great initiatives to offer people in the community various pathways to achieving their individual goal. With the NDIS imminent we look forward to supporting families through the ongoing planning process and with the opening of the New Centre, AFFORD will be able to provide NDIS participants a wider variety of choice and continue to have the leading edge.
Rhiannon Welcomes New Baby Boy It is with great excitement that we can announce the arrival of William Terence James Goldsmith to the proud parents Rhiannon and Simon. William arrived on Friday evening, 13th of November, weighing in at 2.9kg and a height of 47cm. Both Rhiannon and William are doing very well and eager to go home with Simon to start their new life together. A big congratulations and best wishes go to the lovely new family and we all look forward to meeting him soon!
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November 20, 2015 - Issue 31
Afford Raffles Farewell Feast Recently Afford Raffles took a well-deserved break from the phones to prepare a lunch farewelling one of their wonderful employees, Melanie, as well as welcoming two new additions to the team, Amanda and Emily. Food for the lunch was provided by each member of the raffles team bringing in one of their own specialty dishes to share with their fellow colleagues and as you can see in the photo on the right there was a delicious range of food to enjoy. The team had a great time reminiscing on the wonderful memories they’ve made with Melanie and getting to know their new colleagues, all while enjoying the amazing spread of food. Best wishes go to Melanie in all her future endeavours and a big welcome to our new staff members Amanda and Emily, who are joining the lovely bunch of people in our Raffles team; we look forward to working with you!
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In this Selfie Above: Staff Members Kerrie Hopwood and Tristan Owen winners of the best dressed award at the Melbourne Cup Luncheon.
Please send in your selfies
Pictured Above: Afford Raffles staff members enjoying their lunch.
Have a laugh