Staff Matters 39

Staff Matters

January 29, 2016 - Issue 39 Week 31

Green Valley Host Successful Presentation In this Issue Page 1 •Green Valley Host Successful Presentation

Page 2 • Staff Profile • Ingleburn Lifted By New Arrival • Cherrywood Residents Enjoy Shopping Spree

Page 3 • Ellen Strives For Success

Page 4 • Afford Sizzle At Masters BBQ • AFFORD Selfies • Have A Laugh

Following on our recent success at NDIS presentations, our Green Valley Day Program held a Carers Function to inform carers and parents about the NDIS and how our services can assist them.

Deb Roberts gave the brief talk on the NDIS, all parents who attended were very impressed with the information given and are looking forward to working with Afford to provide the best services to suit their child’s needs.

After a question and answer session everyone enjoyed a very yummy dinner banquet prepared by our resident cook Adela Cordova.

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

AFFORD Fact In 2011, Services provided to over 1,500 clients daily. New Day Program site opened at Guildford.

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January 29, 2016 - Issue 39

Staff Profile

Ingleburn Lifted By New Arrival

Recently our Ingleburn ADE received a new forklift for their factory thanks to generous funding provided by Fahcsia.

Helen Berridge

District Manager Mt Druitt and Windsor Day Programs

Favourite Song: Everybody Hurts- REM Favourite Movie: Sound of Music Favourite Hobbies: Golf Favourite Foods: Chinese If you could be an animal what would you be: A dog What is your dream holiday destination: Thailand If you had the power what would you change about the world: Discrepancies between rich and poor What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you: My family organising my wedding anniversary If you had to teach something what would you teach: Piano Something no one knows about me: I was an A grade golfer with a handicap of 17

Faschia provide continual support and training for our clients giving them the opportunity to develop skills and learn how to safely use a forklift.

All clients at the factory love watching the brand new forklift in action, In particular Supported Employee Mitch, who drives the forklift would like to thank Afford for getting him a Jeep!

Cherrywood Residents Enjoy Shopping Spree

Recently our Cherrywood residents greatly enjoyed a day out, picking furniture together to put in their new group homes.

Each resident had fun testing all the furniture before purchasing, sitting on all the chairs, asking the staff at the store if they could replace dining sets with their favourite chairs of choice and were able to put together the dining set of their dreams.

Staff who attended were privileged to be part of this process as it was a beautiful experience to see the engagement from all our residents. We all look forward to seeing the beautiful home displays once they are finished!

Staff Matters

January 29, 2016 - Issue 39

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Ellen Strives For Success Ellen Gooch, 21, registered with Lilly from AFFORD Employment Liverpool in January 2013. Not being able to travel unaccompanied, she attended with her father, who was Ellen’s spokesperson and advocate. Ellen really struggled interacting or maintaining eye contact with new people. Her father expressed his frustration on behalf of his daughter saying, Ellen was tired of continually being enrolled in various courses which seemed to do very little for her intellectually as she struggled due to learning difficulties, this further impacted on her self-esteem and confidence.

After engaging for several hours with her employment consultant Lilly Devi, it was clear Ellen wanted to be independent and was very eager to work her benchmark hours. AFFORD referred her to “Dress for Success” who provided her with professional interview clothes.

Travel training was also provided by South West Community. With counseling, self-development and motivation sessions by AFFORD, Ellen was ready for external interviews and meetings with employers.

Ellen wanted to try her hand at commercial cleaning which she believed would provide her with the employment result she was hoping to achieve. Her employment consultant Lilly approached our employer, Eddies Group of Companies, who agreed to provide her with a day’s work trial.

With consistent ongoing support Ellen has been with Eddies for a few months now. During this time, different strategies have been devised and implemented to assist Ellen in her role, the latest being a pictorial list of duties as Ellen previously had difficultly moving from task to task.

To address work related barriers Lilly Referred Ellen to Luke, counsellor at Afford for ongoing counseling services. Ellen continues to see Luke on a fortnightly basis addressing her work related fears and anxieties.

She is now undergoing training as a receptionist within the Eddies Group. Ellen’s employer is currently training her how to take incoming calls professionally. Afford has been providing her with ongoing support onsite and offsite and also providing development and training at their Liverpool branch in telephone handling skills and professionalism.

Recently Ellen requested Lilly that she wanted to learn how to drive a vehicle, as her parents didn’t have time to support her through this. Lilly walked her through the process and identified assistance within a supported environment where she is currently undergoing “Learner Driver” a 5 week course through Kingswood college of Tafe in Penrith. This has boosted her morale and given her further confidence to obtain a driver’s license that would mean independence for Ellen in a huge way.

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January 29, 2016 - Issue 39

Afford Sizzle At Masters BBQ Afford Jamisontown hosted a BBQ at Masters, Marsden Park on Saturday 19th December, taking advantage of the opportunity to show off our new logo and getting the Afford name and brand out into the local community.

Whilst it was a 40 degree day the weather didn’t prevent fun times, with clients and staff taking advantage of the hot weather selling an enormous amount of ice cold drinks! $454 worth of drinks and sausages were sold on the day. Not bad for a hot day in the sun, a big thanks goes to all clients from Jamisontown for your efforts and to staff members Tammy Mills, Donald Seattle and Leonie who worked tirelessly in the hot weather.

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In this Selfie Above: Staff members Paul Mitchell and Tristan Owen on a Thursday motorbike ride to work.

Please send in your selfies

Have a laugh