Staff Matters
June 19, 2015 - Issue 9 Week 51
Announcement from the CEO
Any CEO coming into a new organisation will assess the company’s strengths, weaknesses, financial performance and priorities and look for opportunities. I came to AFFORD because of its rich history and reputation for providing high quality support and services for people with disability through its award winning, innovative programs. As you know, AFFORD supports hundreds of people with disabilities every day. We now operate from 32 sites across Greater Western Sydney. Our front line staff are dedicated to their clients providing first class service with integrity, empathy, cooperation and respect. AFFORD has great success stories and I am here to ensure that the success stories continue as we enter into the brave new world of the NDIS. I acknowledge that the organisation has had various senior acting arrangements in place over a number of years and I thank you for your resilience. After careful review of AFFORD’s operations and its future direction, it is now time to start making modifications to our operations. We need to think and act differently and smarter to prepare ourselves for an NDIS future. This means it’s time for change. No longer can we plod along conducting business as usual waiting for NDIS to hit us. We need to be more efficient and do more with our assets and working capital to maximise returns so we can reinvest back into providing more services for our clients.
In this Issue Page 1 • Announcement from CEO
Page 2 • Staff Profile • Masterchefs at Green Valley • Pay Cycle Change
Page 3 • Stay Healthy in Flu Season
We need to start making this happen and turn AFFORD into a commercial thinking organisation that is well placed for future challenges and opportunities. In this space, I am announcing a new structure and making the hard decision to reduce staff numbers at the middle and senior management levels. The decision to make a number of roles redundant was difficult, but one that had to be done in order to improve efficiency and reduce duplication in order to reshape the organisation to meet the future demands. We need a structure that will help shift AFFORD from a provider of welfare to an organisation that empowers its front line business to make decisions, together with clients, on the services they need to allow them to shape their own lives. We need a structure that takes AFFORD onto the next chapter of its evolution. A commercial evolution. It will be a difficult time in our organisation over the next month as people transition out of the organisation. I acknowledge their contribution and AFFORD will provide them with support to assist them during this process. As an organisation, I’m sure you will support your fellow colleagues as much as you can. We have set up a support line – 1800 818 728 if staff need someone to talk to other than their immediate manager. You can also contact me on steven.herald@afford.com.au and I will answer any questions you may have. The Board and I are dedicated to the successful operations of AFFORD and proud of the wonderful work our staff and partners do every day in helping people with disability in Greater Western Sydney. We will continue striving for excellence in service delivery while we build a stronger organisation to address the challenges ahead. Yours Faithfully, Steven Herald
T 02 8805 3700 E info@afford.com.au 12 Marieanne Place, Minchinbury 2770 afford.com.au
Page 4 • Mandy Best at Bowls • AFFORD Selfies • Have A Laugh
AFFORD Fact In 1966 AFFORD were the recipients of the largest grant ever given by the NSW Department of Social Services to a disability organisation, when they granted $149,031 to assist in the construction of Cherrywood Village.