BigDog Newsletter December 2023

December 2023

ME R R Y C HR I S T MA S and Happy New Year

COURTNEY & LEANNE

Company Updates

With the end of year coming, i would just like to reflect on the amazing year we have had at BigDog! So many new faces have joined us and some farewells from long standing employees. We are truly grateful for all of our staff and all that they do for the Participants. We would like to invite Toowoomba staff to our Christmas Party at the Day Service on the 16/12/2023 from 4pm to 9pm to enjoy light refreshments and share stories from the past year.. Please RSVP 9/12/2023 so we can organise catering. Please note its BYO drinks.

Rockhampton Details will be issued on CareMaster once confirmed This past few weeks have been hard for the BigDog Crew in Toowoomba as we have lost one of our long term Participants Manny, I would just like to acknowledge all staff that were involved and how proud we are of you for the way you handled everything. Manny was a bright and bubbly chap always wanting to share his thoughts even when you were terribly busy! Hope you are enjoying the party up there Manny, Its not goodbye its see ya later Pal!

Staff Shout Out

The following staff are being recognised for outstanding performance over the last month:

Logan M - For the great work you are doing with your Participants,. Your willingness to take on extra shifts when asked as well as great shift notes & incident reporting.

Hannah N - for helping out with difficult shifts and stepping outside of your comfort zone. Your efforts are very much appreciated by rostering.

Deb H - or all the hard work you put in with your high needs clients and always helping out with shifts

Huge shout out to the staff that participated in the Hike for the Homeless last weekend! The event raised over 50K! www.bigdogsupport.com.au

ROCKHAMPTON COMMUNITY Courtney & Abby

November has come and gone in a flash, a month full of meeting and talking with participants new and old. November saw a chance for me to touch base with our participants who receive our in-home services such as household cleaning and yard maintenance. While we may not see these participants as often, they form an integral part of BigDog, and their feedback helps us to continue our efforts in providing a high standard of care. Talking with everyone and hearing their feedback on what BigDog is doing well is a great opportunity to learn where we succeed, and where we can grow. This has also been a great opportunity for me to get out and about in the community and meet some of our friendly faces as the new Services Coordinator. - Abby In our ongoing journey to create a haven of safety and support for our incredible team of Support Workers and SIL participants, BigDog Support Services recently welcomed William Carroll as our WHSO. At the heart of our commitment is the belief that each person deserves not just a place to stay but a home that champions their safety, well-being, and individual journey.

Beyond the formalities of compliance, our monthly SIL audits are a journey of growth and enhancement. They are about understanding the unique strengths of each individual and identifying areas where we can better tailor our services. This commitment to continuous improvement isn’t just a checkbox; it’s our way of adapting to the evolving needs of our SIL participants, ensuring that the care and support they receive are as unique as they are.

At BigDog Support Services, we believe in transparency, accountability, and, above all, the personal well-being of our SIL participants. Our proactive approach to auditing isn't about meeting standards; it's about creating a personalized, safe, and continuously improving environment for individuals with disabilities. As the NDIS landscape evolves, we stand ready to uphold the values of person-centered care, ensuring that each person on their journey towards independence feels heard, valued, and empowered. - Courtney S

www.bigdogsupport.com.au

TOOWOOMBA COMMUNITY Billy & Sam A message to my Pal In the Tapestry of Time, a pal can be so dear, Through HAPPINESS and STRIFE, always near.

A PRINCESS to comfort you in the rain, A cherished bond, unbreakable chain.

Through life’s dance, in my mind, you now must stay, With Cora in your company, may your shadows fade away.

Through jumbled stories and idyllic dreams, You were a consistency in life’s flowing stream.

So here’s to you, one final time, Saying Goodbye so soon feels like a crime.

A Pal so true, through thick and thin, Forever grateful for the light you’ve been.

Manny, through the good and the bad you always remained positive and the light in a dark room. I hope that you bounce back quickly from the scolding Cora is going to give you, and once done, make the skies a little brighter and fuller with stars.

From all of your BigDog family, thank you for all the cherished memories, hold me a seat in the party bus and we will bop along again when the time comes.

Billy

The year is coming to a close & everyone is looking forward to a Christmas Break. Wishing everyone a safe and merry Holiday! Thank you all for the amazing year we have had and looking forward to the next.

www.bigdogsupport.com.au

TOOWOOMBA DAY SERVICE Jess You ask and we changed, Swimming has been added every second Thursday to our centre program in the warmer weather. Music therapy has been a wonderful welcome to the group the music and dancing gets everyone singing and dancing. Walking club is going well we have been increasing the time frame each week. Movember was a wonderful morning tea great food and chats will all that came along.

How exciting this month, our yoga and Pilates we have been working in positive ways to keep healthy. Hold onto your horses and get ready for an action-packed month of December just around the corner. Keep an eye on our website for our December Calendar.

Jess W

In remembrance to our long-term day service participant Manny Smith, rest in heaven with your wife Cora, may you watch over us with smiles. Best pal ever got ya back Jack. You will be missed.

Check out our website to download our monthly calendar.

www.bigdogsupport.com.au

ROCKHAMPTON DAY SERVICE Taylah Rockhampton Day Service Here in Rockhampton, the temperature has risen, and the sun has been providing some crazy hot weather!

The Rockhampton Day Service crew have been trying to beat the heat this month by participating in activities that include swimming and air conditioning.

By including swimming into our program up to 3 times a week, it gives our guys an opportunity to stay cool whilst also improving overall health. Our Day Service Crew have had a huge win this month. We managed to get our beautiful participant Katheen into the water for the first time this year and she loved it!

On the 7th of November, we held a Melbourne Cup luncheon. We incorporated our cooking class into this so that our guys could prepare the food for our mini event. We prepared some delicious food including fruit kebabs, ham and cheese sandwiches, mini quiches and other nibbly foods. Some of our guys even made a fancy hat to wear for the occasion.

On the 10th of November, the Rocky day service crew spent the morning in the air conditioning listening to music and making red poppies to construct a wreath to pay our respects for Remembrance Day. Using red crepe paper, they guys scrunched up small pieces and used black paint to mark a spot in the middle of the poppies. We then head out for a drive to one of the many war memorials in Rockhampton and placed our wreath down.

Overall, we have had a great month and look forward to the month of December as it will bring so many fun filled Christmas activities! We will continue to incorporate swimming into our program whilst participating in some Christmassy activities that will help us beat the heat also.

www.bigdogsupport.com.au

FRONT OF HOUSE

Tyla & Tahnee

What's up Everybody, it's Tahnee and Tyla!

We're all about keeping our car-sharing crew smooth and stress-free. We just want to remind everyone to keep the cars clean and let us know ASAP if there are any damages or upcoming services. It just makes things running with ease.

And, if you get a message about documents expiring, like CPR or your driver's license, hit us back quick. It's not just about rules; it's about keeping things safe and making sure that everyone is up to date with what we need, so you can make that bread.

We're a team in this, and by keeping it simple and looking out for one another, we can keep our car-sharing community and BigDog team awesome for everyone.

Keep it fresh, keep it funky, Tahnee and Tyla (TNT)

BigDog Would like to wish the following staff a happy birthday for December. You have a small gift coming in the mail.

Matthew I

Ann P, Craig M, Greg W, Taryn S & Charlotte E

Khiah W “A wish for you on your birthday, whatever you ask may you receive, whatever you seek may you find, whatever you wish may it be fulfilled on your birthday and always. Happy birthday!”

Whats Happening At BigDog

We would like to invite Toowoomba staff to our Christmas Party at the Day Service on the 16/12/2023 from 4pm to 9pm to enjoy light refreshments and share stories from the past year.. Please RSVP 9/12/2023 so we can organise catering. Please note its BYO drinks.

Rockhampton Details will be issued on CareMaster once confirmed

Legends of League Rockhampton certainly turned on a good day for the Legends of League, even our own Macka played as part of the team!

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