Staff Matters 107

Staff matters June 16, 2017 - Issue 107 Week 49

The Afford Lifestyle: Supporting Stephen’s Recovery

In This Issue 1 The Afford Lifestyle:

Supporting Stephen’s Recovery

2 Staff Profile Cowboy Workout With Fitness Passport!

Welcome aboard, Van!

3 Club Afford Watch the NRL Tigers Get Tamed “It’s Exercise, But It’s Fun!”

4 Spotlight on Enabling Whole Life Solutions

All residents and staff from Cherrywood have been missing their housemate, Steven King, who has recently spent time in hospital. Afford staff supported residents to visit their mate when he needed it most– all have enjoyed the visits and are wishing him a speedy recovery.

As part of the Afford Lifestyle and spirit, we look after each other, and show support when someone is not well. Making a day of it, all residents made get well cards and took a trip in the Afford vans to present Stephen with his cards and lots of hugs.

Part of the lifestyle we provide involves making sure Steven is supported emotionally and that we get his friends there to see him – for both his benefit and for theirs.

Get well soon, Stevo!

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

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June 16, 2017 - Issue 107

Staff Profile

Cowboy Workout With Fitness Passport!

Mark is hitting the treadmill and burning calories thanks to his new fitness passport. As a supported employee at Minchinbury ADE, Mark was able to sign up for an Afford Fitness Passport and get discounted access to multiple health and fitness centres. Mark is now setting new fitness goals and incorporating regular gym sessions into his weekly routine– with Wednesdays now known as Gym-Days.

Joanna Pickett

Lifestyle Assistant Canley Vale Favourite Song: Happy by Pharrell Williams Favourite Movie: Any Robin Williams Movie but particularly love What Dreams May Come and Patch Adams.

Favourite Hobbies: Baking and dressing up like a 50’s time warp.

Favourite Foods: Gelato – coffeeand hazelnut are my favourite.

If you could be an animal what would you be: A White Tiger What is your dream holiday destination: Las Vegas in April for the Viva Las Vegas Rockabilly Weekend, then to tour the rest of U.S. If you had the power what would you change about the world: The stigma around mental illness.

What is the nicest thing someone has ever done for you: A random act of kindness.

If you had to teach something what would you teach: Mental health awareness.

Something no one knows about me: Before I was a Lifestyle Assistant I was a jeweller and a ballroom dance teacher.

Giving you the freedom to soar

This Afford initiative has acted as a great incentive toward adopting healthier life choices. Mark, like many of our clients has limited funds; it is only through the subsidized rate of the Fitness Passport that Mark is able to access the gym and reach his fitness goals.

Mark has been a long-term sufferer of diabetes obesity, and for him and many clients the initiative is truly life changing. This is one of Mark’s many steps in a complete lifestyle change to help get his diabetes under control and give him something to do that he enjoys (while always wearing his trusty cowboy hat!). last paragraph: It is meaningful activities like these that have been introduced across Afford, to make positive and healthy lifestyle choices easier to adopt.

Some of the other healthy lifestyle activities that our accommodation residents participate in include going to water aerobics, hydrotherapy, swim squad and active weeknight activities like walks around the neighbourhood.

It’s not all hard work though, with the weekends filled with social activities like football, concerts and movies. What a great whole life balance at Afford.

Welcome aboard, Van! Van has been looking tirelessly for a job over the last two years, with the support of Liverpool DES. Van has extensive IT qualifications, however, has struggled to find an employer who is understanding of the additional support and encouragement he needs to thrive in a role. As part of Afford’s commitment to employing people with disability across our organisation, Van is ecstatic to be starting in his new role as an IT Assistant at Minchinbury Head Office.

Van cannot wait to be earning money, to have a job he is proud of and be in a workplace that accepts him for who he is.

www.afford.com.au

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June 16, 2017 - Issue 107

Club Afford Watch the NRL Tigers Get Tamed

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Last Sunday, our Club Afford Members braved the rain to watch the Tigers versus the Roosters NRL game at Campbelltown Stadium. Club Afford Members were lucky enough to get free tickets to the game, which is a great benefit to those client whose budgets are a bit tight.

Darryl from accommodation was excited to watch his team, but unfortunately had to walk away disappointed over the Tigers’ loss. Nevertheless, his disappointment was short lived knowing that there are more free tickets lined up for future games and he hopes to see his team win next time around.

Free game tickets is just one of the many fantastic benefits that Club Afford offers their members. So, ‘Join the Club’ and find out about more of the Club Afford benefits and activities.

“It’s Exercise, But It’s Fun!” We’d like to introduce you to Lurnea’s new Gymnastic Squad – led by their instructor Marie from the Sydney Gymnastics and Aquatic Centre – and Lurnea’s new Gym Team who with their coach Ray from UFC at Wetherill Park are achieving greatness through fitness.

These two new programs are awesome and it is great to see Lurnea clients so excited about exercise with the support of Marie and Ray. Each week, the qualified trainers design a different fun program at an achievable level for everyone. These programs are giving clients not only weekly workouts, but are helping them to develop their teamwork and support skills. Best of all the programs just make everyone feel good, inside and out and all leave with a huge smile.

Well done Jamy from Lurnea Lifestyle Centre, we couldn’t have said it any better.

Giving you the freedom to soar

www.afford.com.au

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June 16, 2017 - Issue 107

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Spotlight on Enabling Whole Life Solutions

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Daniel McCallum works at Afford Accommodation and is an industry veteran – he has been part of the industry for 24 years, from completing work experience at school through to building a fulfilling career.

He has a passion for the disability sector and his clients that shines through. He believes in the positive changes that have come about since the introduction of the NDIS and that it has already made a big difference to people’s lives.

Daniel started work as a Team Leader with Afford 9 months ago and has been impressed by the innovative and life changing services that Afford offers. In particular Daniel loves the new group homes that have been built by Afford, and believes that by investing in these beautiful new homes for our residents we are breaking down barriers and the old belief that people with a disability don’t live in brand new homes. He loves that residents like Dean get to experience the feeling of having a new home and being house proud.

“Planning, arranging, rostering, spending and pushing the envelope,” is what makes a whole of life experience for our residents.

These changes and new ways of thinking have been 100% supported by Afford, encouraging Daniel to help our residents with their independent living and decision making. Daniel understands that in order for our clients to flourish they need whole of life supports, not just food and shelter. An important aspect of this involves residents learning about adversities and how to solve them.

With a positive attitude, great staff and the support of Afford services and initiatives, Daniel is a great example of the amazing team we have at Afford.

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In the Selfie Above: Young Afford squad advertsing the Afford brand at the MACE Expo.

Please send in your selfies

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

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