MO-VEMBER NEWSLETTER 2023
COURTNEY & LEANNE
Company Updates
Over the last few months we have seen a lot of changes and I’m a very proud Operations Manager. The staff and participants have been so receptive to the change and we have had amazing feedback about how our services have improved in Rockhampton and in Toowoomba. Special mention to the Administration team in Rockhampton, the restructure in the office has proven to be a crucial part in the change and everyone has embraced the new workplace. Making these changes allows us to ensure we deliver a very high standard of service to our participants which is one of our main priorities here at BigDog. We are currently rolling out our 3 monthly checks with all participants receiving supports from BigDog. This process has collected a lot of valuable data for reviews, rostering and feedback about our support staff. Big thank you to all participants who take the time to give feedback.
Staff Shout Out
The following staff are being recognised for outstanding performance over the last month:
Jodie H - Awesome work you are doing with your participants and encouraging them to get out of their comfort zones. Charlotte L - Always being reliable and punctual as well as your thorough reporting Brandon C - assisting when asked to do extra shifts and engaging with all your clients. Sam P - hard work over the last 2 weeks covering all areas of the admin team while staff were on leave. 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
Halloween has always been a time for dressing up, carving pumpkins, and indulging in sweet treats. Rocky BigDog always goes above and beyond to make sure that individuals with disabilities have every opportunity to participate in the fun. Inclusivity is at the forefront of these Halloween events, with BigDog emphasising the importance of ensuring that everyone can participate regardless of their abilities. Halloween is an excellent opportunity for the NDIS community to come together, showcase their creativity, and promote inclusivity. As these events demonstrate, it's possible to celebrate this spooky holiday in a way that ensures everyone feels welcome and valued. In a world that is becoming increasingly aware of the importance of inclusivity, Halloween events serve as a shining example of how the spirit of Halloween can unite people of all abilities, creating cherished memories that last a lifetime.
www.bigdogsupport.com.au
TOOWOOMBA COMMUNITY Billy & Sam
Last month, BigDog Support Services marked another successful appearance at the Toowoomba Careers and Jobs Expo. The event proved to be a significant platform, providing opportunities for skill development and networking with various external providers. The high turnout at the venue underscored the Expo's value in connecting organizations and job seekers. BigDog Support Services was pleased to conduct over 20 interviews during the event, resulting in several promising employment opportunities for candidates who demonstrated exceptional potential. In addition to our Expo participation, I've been actively engaging with our community-based support participants for our routine three-month check-ins. This initiative has proven highly successful in facilitating open communication channels. It serves as a crucial point for participants to share their concerns, compliments, and suggestions regarding their support, schedules, and other particulars. These check-ins play a vital role in strengthening the connection between our office and the participants we serve. To all our dedicated support staff, I encourage you to reach out and schedule a meeting with me to discuss any participant-related matters, concerns, or recommendations as they start to come across communication platforms in the group chats, shift notes, alerts or anything else. Your input is important and together I hope we can ensure the best support possible. Billy
I wanted to take a moment to express my appreciation for the diligence all staff have demonstrated in accurately recording their timesheets over the past month. Their attention to the matter has significantly streamlined our timesheet verification process. Their efforts have not gone unnoticed, and they are genuinely valued. I kindly request that we continue to uphold this high standard of accuracy. If we all work together, we can ensure this positive trend continues. Sam www.bigdogsupport.com.au
TOOWOOMBA DAY SERVICE Jess As we dive into the vibrant season of spring and prepare for the warmth of summer, our group has been buzzing with exciting activities. From refreshing swims every Tuesday to engaging in creative cultural crafts, it's been an eventful month indeed.
Jess W
Celebrating Excellence
Spooktacular Extravaganza! We hope you didn't miss our last disco of the year - the BIGDOG Spooktacular! It was a thrilling night of fun and frights that we all enjoyed.
We were thrilled to be a part of the Disability Awards Night, a wonderful event where we joined in celebrating the achievements of all the deserving winners. It was an evening filled with heartfelt congratulations and inspired spirits.
November Adventures Await Looking ahead, November promises to be just as fantastic, with a wide array of new adventures on the horizon. Keep an eye out for our upcoming calendar to stay informed about all the exciting activities we have planned.
Check out our website to download our monthly calendar.
www.bigdogsupport.com.au
ROCKHAMPTON DAY SERVICE Taylah Rockhampton Day Service The Rockhampton Day service crew did some awesome activities in the month of October. We started the month off with an interesting ‘Melting Crayon’ science activity that demonstrated the process of a solid object becoming a liquid. All our participants got involved and were very happy with their finished product. We also organised a ‘Paint & Sip’ session where our crew were able to utilise the juice bar and make their own juices that they then enjoyed whilst painting some amazing pictures which are now on display in our Day service area. the guys are still loving our ‘Fishing on the Fitzroy’ sessions every second Tuesday. The fish have been biting lately and many of our guys have been lucky enough to reel in a fish!
Every Friday of each month, the Rocky day service crew head out and spend the day in the community. This month, we visited Cool Waters holiday park where we spent the day swimming and sliding down the waterslides, we also headed to the event cinemas to watch ‘Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken’, everyone enjoyed this one! We’ve visited the Rockhampton swimming pool to keep cool and beat the Rocky heat and next Friday 27th of October we will be celebrating Halloween. We will be playing some fun ‘Minute to win it games’ at our centre and will be getting into the spooky spirit with some scary costumes.
www.bigdogsupport.com.au
WELCOME TO BIGDOG New Staff
Logan
Caitlen
Pam
Nicholas
Robert
Castley
Jordan
BigDog Would like to wish the following staff a happy birthday for November. You have a small gift coming in the mail.
Matthew I
Monique, Trinity T Vaughan, Hannah N Dion, Christopher Natasha C, Elijah Sam , Anna Robert, Alyssa
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
THE MO IS CALLING Movember is our time to unite. To take on mental health, suicide, prostate cancer and testicular cancer and you coming along for the ride only makes us stronger. We will be holding a fundraisers in Rockhampton and Toowoomba for more information please see our Facebook and website
Legends of League In what will be a double celebration the Legends of League game will be the last event at Browne Park before it is knocked down and refurbished. The CQ Allstars will feature none other than the “Coal Train” himself Dave Taylor along with other local celebrities including Graham White and the Rothery brothers, Wade and Alan. We encourage all of participants to make contact with the Rockhampton office as we have 50 free tickets to give away for this event. Please call the office on 45734611
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