Staff Matters
March 4, 2016 - Issue 44 Week 36
Time To Claim, FBT Has Come Around Again In this Issue Page 1 •Time To Claim, FBT Has Come Around Again
Page 2 The Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) year is ending on 31 March 2016 which means it’s time to get all your claims in. For any staff who still need to lodge manual claims through Maxxia for Meals & Entertainment, please be advised to claim those before 8th March to make sure you’re making the most of your workplace benefits. All those who have meal card spending funds left make sure to use before 29th March. If any staff wish to claim Portable Electronic Devices please claim before 8th March through the Afford Payroll. Salary Packaging of Portable Electronic Devices is available to all employees of Afford, enabling you to purchase devices with pre-tax income, therefore not paying tax on that portion of your income. In addition, you are also not required to pay GST on the device, saving an extra 10%. What is a portable Electronic Device? – Generally it is a mobile phone, iPad or laptop computer. How does it work? – You go out and buy the device, and as long as it complies with the policy requirements, you can then complete the claim form, have it authorised and then be reimbursed from pre-tax income. Why are we doing this? – As an employer of choice, we want to provide tax benefits to our employees to the extent possible under tax legislation. Note you will no longer be able to claim Portable Electronic Devices via Maxxia. Where to start - Procedure and Form are available on the Intranet at http:// intranet/documents/Human%20Resources/Forms/AllItems.aspx
T 02 8805 3700 E info@afford.com.au 12 Marieanne Place, Minchinbury 2770 afford.com.au
• Staff Profile • NDIS Your Questions Answered • Friday Night Disco Delight
Page 3 • Congratulations To Our New Permanent Staff Members •Meet Our New Staff Members
Page 4 • Come And Boogie At Our Easter Egg-Travaganza Disco! • Afford Selfies • Have A Laugh
Fun Fact
Fingers prune underwater not because of them absorbing the water or washing away the oil, but because of an evolutionary trait caused by the brain to enhance the grip of your fingers underwater.
Staff Matters
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March 4, 2016 - Issue 44
Staff Profile
Mariam Abdillahi
Lifestyle Assistant Guildford Day Program
Favourite Song: Nasheed
NDIS- Your Questions Answered
Due to a growing number of questions regarding the NDIS, a questions mailbox has been created to assist all staff in answering families and carers inqueries. Your queries will go directly to Steve Herald, Christina Emmanouel and Angela Wilkinson, who will endeavour to answer your question/s the same day.
Favourite Movie: Rush Hour
We hope this will assist you to continue improved support for families/ carers during the transition to the NDIS.
Favourite Hobbies: Swimming
Please email all questions to: NDISQuestions@afford.com.au.
Favourite Foods: Thai Food If you could be an animal what would you be: A bird
Friday Night Disco Delight
What is your dream holiday destination: Dubai, Abu Abbi If you had the power what would you change about the world: Helping people most in need, world peace What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you: Losing my valuables in a shopping centre but having them retured to me by the cleaner If you had to teach something what would you teach: Cooking, good manner Something no one knows about me:Nothing
Kings Park and Blacktown day programs held their third monthly disco on Friday 26th February and in the short space of time the discos have been running the day programs have tripled their numbers of “party goers”. The disco saw a total of 37 clients and 24 staff attend our “Simply Red” disco and everyone had an absolutely brilliant time. It was absolutely awesome to see new friendships being made and the smiles on everyone’s faces as they danced the night away. Feedback from those who attended were along the lines of “this is awesome” and “can’t wait for the next one”. The disco featured clients from Sunshine, Lifestyle Solutions, FACS, Catholic Care, Anglicare, Sylvanvale and AFFORD. It is fantastic to see so many other organisations take up the opportunity for their clients to have some fun. The next disco will be on Friday the 18th March and our day programs are super excited so please help get the word out!
Staff Matters March 4, 2016 - Issue 44
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Congratulations To Our New Permanent Staff Members
We would like to congratulate the following casual staff who have accepted permanent positions within the Afford team: Kerry Hutchison- Warehouse Coordinator Soha Hares- Part Time Lifestyle Assistant – Belmore Day Program Nhat Doan- Part Time Lifestyle Assistant – Green Valley Day Program Monique Kounelis- Part Time Lifestyle Assistant – Jamisontown Day Program Kim Stephenson- Part Time Lifestyle Assistant – Campbelltown Day Program Well done guys and keep up the great work!
Meet Our New Staff Members We would like to give a warm welcome to the following new staff members joining our Afford team: Kathy Bruce- Casual Lifestyle Assistant Hieu Nguyen- Casual Lifestyle Assistant Karen Butler- Casual Lifestyle Assistant Toni Grieco- Casual Lifestyle Assistant Kwame Boadu- Casual Lifestyle Assistant, Accommodation Services Asghar Ali- Casual Lifestyle Assistant Jennifer Butler- Casual Lifestyle Assistant, Accommodation Services Deanna Elsalili- Casual Lifestyle Assistant We are very pleased to be welcoming them to Afford and look forward to working with you all!
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March 4, 2016 - Issue 44
Come And Boogie At Our Easter Egg-Travaganza Disco! When: Friday 18th March 2016 Where: Marayong Community Hall (Opposite Marayong Station and Shops) Time: 6.00pm-9.00pm Cover Charge: $10.00 per head (Carer’s free of charge) Cover charge includes entry, sausage sizzle, drink (carer’s inclusive) Prizes will be awarded for the most creative Easter hat or outfit worn on the night. Extra Refreshments and snacks will be available for a reasonable cost on the evening. Glow Sticks will be available at a small cost. The music will be provided by a DJ and the evening will be hosted by Kings Park and Blacktown staff. Guests should be supported by family or carers as there will be minimal supervision available on the evening. Bookings are essential and entry charge is to be paid when booking. To make a booking and for payment details please contact Kym Mafi or Victoria Kemp on 9626 3726 Mon- Fri 8.00am-4.00pm. We would love for you to join us in having heaps of fun, socialising, making new friends and dancing the night away. PLEASE COME DRESSED IN YOUR BEST EASTER THEMED OUTFIT!
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In this Selfie Above: Staff member Joseph Munoz with client Joseph Galea having a ball at Nado Friendship Day.
Please send in your selfies
Have a laugh