Staff Matters
March 25, 2016 - Issue 47 Week 39
Afford In Harmony
In this Issue Page 1 •Afford In Harmony
Page 2 • Staff Profile • Craig Stars In Special Olmpics • Condell Park Ready To PerGOla
Page 3 • Afford’s Beach Putty •NDIS Mailbox Reminder
Page 4 Recently clients from across all Afford services headed to Bligh Park Community Hall to attend Harmony Day. Harmony Day allows our clients the opportunity to interact with one another and staff while celebrating multiculturalism. The event started in 2010 in the back yard at Windsor Day Program with less than 50 clients and has since proved to be a big hit increasing every year, seeing over 200 people in attendance this year. Clients from each site dressed up in traditional outfits from the country of their choice and enjoyed dancing and a variety of different foods from each culture before presenting their countries flag accompanied with the National anthem. A big congratulations goes to Helen Berridge and the staff at Windsor Day Program for organizing such a wonderful day, we look forward to see the success next year brings!
T 02 8805 3700 E info@afford.com.au 12 Marieanne Place, Minchinbury 2770 afford.com.au
• Now Seeking Expressions Of Interest For Link Coordinator • Afford Selfies • Have A Laugh
Fun Fact The average person spends 2 weeks of their lifetime waiting for the traffic light to change from red to green.
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March 25, 2016 - Issue 47
Staff Profile
Craig Stars In Special Olympics
Lyn Wallace
Transition To Work Manager Favourite Song: Just like a women- Bob Dylan Favourite Movie: Dirty Dancing
Supported Employee and avid cricket fan, Craig Renton, from our Prestons ADE recently received a medal for participating in the Special Olympics held in Newcastle.
Favourite Hobbies: Poker machines, gambling
Craig, who has been playing since he was a boy at school, enjoyed the chance to get back on the field and loves to take any opportunity to play whenever he can.
Favourite Foods: Anything pasta, spaghetti, gnocchi, etc.
We would like to congratulate Craig on receiving his medal and look forward to hearing about your experiences at the Special Olympics.
If you could be an animal what would you be: An elephant, because they never forget which is important in old age!
Condell Park Ready To PerGOla
What is your dream holiday destination: Las Vegas If you had the power what would you change about the world: Peoples view on disability What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you: Recently neighbours knocked on my door and gave me flowers for being a good neighbour
Our Condell Park Day Program were recently gifted a new pergola for their site thanks to a generous donation of $20,000 from client Geeta’s parents Sanjay and Swati Lee and also the Westpac Group’s Matching gifts program.
If you had to teach something what would you teach: Tolerance
The pergola provides our clients extra program space undercover as well as keeping our clients dry when entering and leaving buses on those wet and rainy days.
Something no one knows about me: I worked in the prison system.
The Westpac program provides its staff members with an opportunity to match any amount of money which their employee’s donate to a charity.
Afford would like to give a big thankyou to the Lee family and Westpac for their generous donation, improving the quality of service we can deliver to all our clients at Condell Park.
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March 25, 2016 - Issue 47
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Afford’s Beach Putty
On Monday the 22nd of February 13 eager campers set sail for a 3 day camp at Putty Beach camp ground. Along the way our clients stopped to have morning tea at Hawkesbury River, and had a stroll along the river’s edge looking at the native wildlife and sea life. After a short stop our campers got back on the bus and travelled to the camp ground. Was time then to set the tents up and camp area for a fun filled 3 days. After setting up camp 13 happy campers got changed into their swimmers and went for an afternoon swim at the beach. After cooling off it was time to have some fun at the campsite. As night started to fall the campers all pitched in to cook dinner. A great time was had by all as they sat around interacting with each other playing games and telling scary stories. The following day all woke to the sound of the waves crashing against the shore and the native wildlife. After cooking a very delicious breakfast to kick start the day they were very eager to get changed and go swimming at the beach. The day was filled with beach games, bush walks and swimming. Some of the campers went fishing but unfortunately only came back with stories of the one that got away. The campers had a BBQ dinner and afternoon activities to finish off a great day. The next day the campers went for a mid-morning swim before heading back to camp to pack up and get ready to head back home.
NDIS Mailbox Reminder For any questions or queries regarding the NDIS please email NDISQuestions@afford.com.au and we will endeavour to answer them the same day.
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March 25, 2016 - Issue 47
Now Seeking Expressions Of Interest For Link Coordinator Looking for a change from your current role? Are you passionate about client services and are able to work flexible hours? If yes, we are currently seeking expressions of interest from staff for a Link Coordinator role within the Western Sydney region. As Link Coordinator, it will be your responsibility to: • To interview all potential clients/employees of Afford • Complete all necessary agreed assessments. • Coordinate the all Afford programs. • To market services of Afford to local networks including schools, community organisations, Centrelink offices and other local disability service providers. • To attend appropriate Expos, forums, open days, network and interagency meetings in the various ESA’s that Afford operates in. • To organise site visits of services as required for teacher, parents/carers and potential clients as required. • Provide advice to potential clients, carers, parents etc on a range of issues relating to disability services and access requirements. If you’re interested in taking the step into client services, please contact Nikita Gupta on 02 8805 3742 or via nikita.gupta@afford.com.au or Angela Wilkinson on 0417 250 430 or via angela.wilkinson@afford.com.au, by COB Friday 1 April.
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In this Selfie Above: Staff members Kerry Hutchison and Maureen Learmonth at the Minchinbury ADE Easter BBQ.
Please send in your selfies
Have a laugh