Staff Matters APRIL 16, ISSUE 305 | WEEK 42
MELBOURNE’S NEW SHORT-TERM ACCOMMODATION We are excited to announce Melbourne’s first short term accommodation site is officially open! The new site has been named ‘Gaia’, which means life and will provide respite opportunities for our clients in Victoria or around Australia who would like to enjoy a weekend’s respite in Melbourne. Afford’s short term accommodation is a great option for Afford clients and families to take advantage of interstate respite when travelling. Short term accommodation services can strengthen a family’s ability to care for a loved one with disability and stay together as a family. We offer a respite program that provides quality, short term accommodation in a comfortable and relaxed environment where your loved one will be well looked after. Since opening, we have had several clients access the new respite.“It was our first short term accommodation in VIC, but Livorno short term accommodation will be open in the next few weeks,” said District Manager Victoria, Edward Boghikian. Gaia respite has also been instrumental in providing a safe and comfortable environment for residents transitioning to Afford’s Supported Accommodation. One of our residents, Ian Pearson, shared his recent experience regarding his short stopover at the new respite while he waited for his new Afford home at La Caruna, Point Cook. “In the very beginning, when I rang and saw the Point Cook home on the Housing Hub website, Kirstin answered the phone. Kirstin told me about the other residents she felt I’d be a good fit for at La Coruna. Chatting away, I let slip that I was looking for a new Support Coordinator too. Kirsten set up an appointment to see the house with Josh, the Team Leader. I met Josh and Ellen at the home in Point Cook and then everything rolled into action. It was like a breath of fresh air. I had caught the wave that brought me back into shore.” said Ian Pearson, Afford resident. “Ellen, my new Support Coordinator, helped me get my new (NDIS) plan happening to move into the Point Cook home. Everything then unfolded and Afford took over, arranged everything for me, and made sure everything went into my new (NDIS) plan. I had to move out from my current accommodation provider in mid-January and Afford organised for me to move into their respite home in Cranbourne West (Gaia) until my new home was ready. I’m looking forward to the next phase of my life once I settle into my new home. Thank you, Afford,” added Ian Pearson. We currently have three other transition clients living at Gaia waiting to move into their forever home and enjoy the Afford Lifestyle. We are excited to see our accommodation and respite services grow in Melbourne.
Afford Teams and Tribes