Staff Matters 112

Staff matters July 21, 2017 - Issue 112 Week 2

TTW Run an Amazing Race!

In This Issue 1 TTW Run an Amazing Race!

2 Staff Profile A Welcome Surprise For Colin New Cherrywood Residents Rule the Roost!

3 Afford Employment’s Above and Beyond Success

4 True Blue ‘Leaves’

Maintenance to Their New Blower

Last Friday, Minchinbury TTW trainees visited Granville Community Center for an open community event, ‘The Amazing Race’. Trainees began the day getting to know some youths from the Community Center, building rapport through some table tennis and X-Box. The group were given a tour of the park and community center where clues for the amazing race had been hidden.

Trainees worked in pairs, some teaming up with a new friend from the Community Center, to decode riddles and find clues. Trainees used their problem-solving skills and team work to solve the clues and reach new destinations. Our trainees, Kevin Galea and Jarrod Nicholas, were lucky enough to come in tied first place! Trainees had a great day and really enjoyed building their social skills with other people their age.

Trainees also participated in some challenging tasks in Minute to Win it competitions, such as cup towers and balloon bin ball. At the end of the day, trainees joined the other Granville Center youths in a sausage sizzle lunch. The Granville Community Center made us feel very welcomed and really enjoyed having our trainees along for the day!

Giving you the freedom to soar www.afford.com.au

Selfie Of the Week Have a Laugh

Reminder Don’t forget to send your/clients’ achievements, good news stories and photos to CELEBRATE@afford.com.au

Staff matters

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July 21, 2017 - Issue 112

Staff Profile

Susan Guest

Warehouse Coordinator Ingleburn ADE Favourite Song: New York City (Norah Jones).

Favourite Movie: A Knight’s Tale (love Heath Ledger).

Favourite Hobbies: Travelling; photography; and I play Mahjong Favourite Foods: Crispy skin salmon or any Thai food.

If you could be an animal what would you be: Anything under the sea.

What is your dream holiday destination: Iceland (for the Northern lights).

If you had the power what would you change about the world: Getting rid of poverty.

What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you: Mum & Dad working hard to pay for my education.

If you had to teach something what would you teach: Common sense.

Something no one knows about me: I listen to loud country music when driving alone.

Staff matters July 21, 2017 - Issue 112

A Welcome Surprise For Colin

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Afford Employment’s Above and Beyond Success

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Earlier this year, Teresa P and her Mum, Mary, visited Liverpool DES looking for voluntary work experience, in the hope of progressing to paid employment opportunities. Teresa has an intellectual disability, with limited social skills, making it hard for her to engage in conversation. Staff advised them that they had come to the right place and that this was exactly the type of support Afford Employment are experts in.

Colin Betts, one of our residents at Rainbow Group Home had a surprise visit from his family (sister, Helen and brother-in-law, Kerry) from Mudgie after almost 10 years since last seeing each other. Weeks later, Colin is still talking and glowing about it.

Teresa worked with Employment Consultant, Donna, to create a resume and worked on interview techniques. Teresa would always come in with her Mum for support and to speak on her behalf most of the time – any questions asked were always answered by Teresa’s Mum. Over a period of time, Donna built a very strong rapport with Teresa and her Mum. She has worked on and built her confidence and now calls staff herself or attends to our appointments without her Mum.

Colin was very excited to show his family around his new home and all his beautiful new furniture and decorations. While they were down they had a visit to all the group houses and were pleased and excited to see how spacious and incredibly homely they are.

They commented that Colin is so much happier in his new home and his Sister Kerry even mentioned that if Afford are ever planning to build nursing homes, they are moving in.

It’s great to see that our residents’ families feel that Afford have created beautiful homes for our clients, where they can learn to be independent and house proud. This is the Afford Lifestyle, where we create a family atmosphere and provide a safe and comfortable home for our residents to blossom from.

Working with Donna and DES’ Business Development Manager, Boris, Afford Employment managed to secure employment for Teresa at a Children’s Day Care Centre in Bankstown. This was exactly the type of employment opportunity Teresa was hoping to for, however, had found difficult due to her lack of confidence and communication.

After assisting Teresa with on the job training for a couple of weeks and again supporting her with social engagement, and interaction, Teresa remains employed. Afford Employment have now managed to take another step forward and commenced travel training to the Children’s Day Care Centre. This involved waiting at the bus stop with Teresa ensuring she catches the correct bus, and following behind the bus and making sure she got off at the right stop.

Today Teresa is a new young woman, she is much more confident within herself and enjoys her job. She has even enrolled into a Certificate III since to further her career path.

Well done to the Afford Employment Team on another great success!

New Cherrywood Residents Rule the Roost!

Meet the newest residents at the Cherrywood Super Site! The first additions to our animal family arrived at Cherrywood Supersite this week and settled in their cosy new chicken run.

This is a welcome new addition to the site, with clients learning how to collect eggs and feed the chooks, which are still yet to be named.

There will be a competition coming up to name our feathery friends, with a few suggestions already floating around. Some of the names that have been suggested are: Cluck Norris; Princess Layer; Albert Eggstein; Mother Clucker; Tyrannosaurus pecks; Chickira; Ozzy Eggsborn; Henerfier Lopez; Cluck Kent and Lois Layin.

If you would like to vote on your favourite name or suggest one of your own please send them through to: CELEBRATE@afford.com.au

Giving you the freedom to soar

www.afford.com.au

Giving you the freedom to soar

www.afford.com.au

Staff matters

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July 21, 2017 - Issue 112

True Blue ‘Leaves’ Maintenance to Their New Blower Penrith accommodation residents at Afford’s True Blue Group Home are loving outdoor and gardening activities, especially on the sunny winter days.

The accommodation residents are extremely house proud and love to maintain their homes. Residents have recently been battling the falling leaves, and have been constantly sweeping leaves from the driveway to keep it looking tidy.

One of our Lifestyle Assistants come up with a great idea, and suggested we get a blower! The residents were excited at the idea, so off they went to Bunnings and Graeme and Lawrence purchased a blower with the support of Ayo (LSA).

This was not only a learning experience for residents, but using the blower was so much fun they said that can’t wait for more leaves to drop now!

They guys were proudly calling it a “boy toy” but resident Jean was quick to assure all that that isn’t the case and she is looking forward to having another turn next time!

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Sef the o

In the Selfie Above: Awesome day out on the train for Candy girl (Candace McHenerey) and Staff Member Niki Gonkanue.

Please send in your selfies

Giving you the freedom to soar www.afford.com.au

Have a laugh