Staff Matters 232

Staff Matters November 22, 2019 Issue 232 Week 21

CARING ABOUT OUR STAFF AFFORD GETAWAYS VISITS THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH! Our clients get to explore the world and travel to their dream destinations with Afford Getaways and recently, four of our clients had the experience of a lifetime at the happiest place in the world, Disneyland.

Group Home Residents and Day Program clients, John Zerafa, Catherine Trotter, Daryl Buckley and Lisa Borgstrom were keen to head overseas for the trip of a lifetime. For some, this was their first time ever overseas and for others, they regularly enjoy Afford Getaways. The group, accompanied by Afford Lifestyle Assistants, Rachel Coneth and Lucinda Primiano, were excited to provide our intrepid travellers with support on this exciting 5-night Getaway!

In This Issue 1

Afford Getaways Visits The Happiest Place On Earth!

Joke Afford Trivia

2

DES Day On The Harbour

3

Christmas Cheer In Queensland's Cloudland Handyman Timetable

All staff and residents had a wonderful time exploring the magic of Disneyland, riding the rollercoasters and meeting Disney characters along the way. The highlight of the trip was going to Universal Studios and going out to dinner in downtown Disneyland where everyone enjoyed some very delicious food while taking in the sights.

"This is my second time going to Disneyland and I can't wait to go away with Afford Getaways again!" – Catherine Trotter, Oran Park Day Program.

4

QLD Client Christmas Party Reminder Upcoming Events Afford Trivia Answer Selfies of the Week

Encouraging our clients and residents to explore the world and travel to their dream destination is something we are very passionate about at Afford. But it's not just an opportunity for our clients to explore the world, it's also a unique opportunity for our staff to see some fantastic places while supporting clients.

Our supported getaways travel to some of the world's top destinations including, Disneyland, Singapore, Vanuatu, Pacific Cruises and more!

Travelling overseas is a big thing for everyone who goes on the trip, so to ensure the safety of all involved the best staff are chosen to go on the getaways adventures. Giving staff members something to strive towards.

Our staff and travellers have had some of the most amazing experiences on Afford Getaways and it is truly a unique option available to you as an Afford employee. Imagine getting to do what you love while visiting some of the top destinations in the world!

Are you interested in supporting our clients on a trip of a lifetime?

Then this is what you need to know! Contact your Team Leader or getaways@afford.com.au to register your interest.

AFFORD TRIVIA

What year was our Prestons ADE opened?

Work hard and play hard, Afford Tribe!

www.afford.com.au

Staff Matters

STAFF PROFILE NAME: Charlie Seu POSITION: Team Leader LOCATION: Waterford and Ipswich, QLD FAVOURITE MUSIC/SONG? Brain Mcknight – Back At One FAVOURITE MOVIE? The Notebook & Titanic - cause I’m a romantic guy FAVOURITE HOBBIES? Reading books FAVOURITE FOODS? Salad & water IF YOU COULD BE AN ANIMAL, WHAT WOULD YOU BE? A cat, meowwww WHAT IS YOUR DREAM HOLIDAY DESTINATION? Bora Bora IF YOU HAD THE POWER, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT THE WORLD? Eliminate tax IF YOU HAD TO TEACH SOMETHING, WHAT WOULD YOU TEACH? Love, peace & kindness SOMETHING NO ONE KNOWS ABOUT ME? Played NRL for Melbourne Storm

November 22, 2019 Issue 232

DES DAY ON THE HARBOUR Recently, Afford’s DES sites received grant funding from the Community Grants Hub to deliver services under the Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship Program: Fostering Integration Grants in 20192020, to host an event for local refugees.

Afford are proud to have staff from a range of diverse cultural backgrounds and including many of our DES Employment Consultants who are from other countries. Many of our DES staff have relocated to Australia from their homeland and understand the challenges of moving to a foreign country. So this is why they felt this was an important event to host.

As part of the Community Grants Hub funding, 100 refugees and DES staff attended a Vagabond cruise on the beautiful Sydney Harbour, to provide a supportive networking event for the new Australians.

It was a beautiful sunny day on Sydney’s picturesque harbour, with the cruise departing from King Street Wharf. Once aboard, delicious seafood lunch and drinks were enjoyed, with harmonic Arabic music playing to set the mood.

Special volunteer guest, Mr Mohammad Azimi, a migration agent from Shada Migration & Education Services, spoke about Visas and answered general immigration questions to those who were interested in knowing more.

One of the attendees remarked to Layla Naji (Bankstown DES, Team Leader), “I have lived here for 7 years and have never got to experience something like today. The cruise, music, food and friendship is amazing and I think we will start living from today onwards.”

Our DES sites are passionate about helping those less fortunate, particularly refugees who may not have the same opportunities that we have in everyday life. Refugees involved in the program are all not necessarily Afford job seekers, but a part of a bigger picture in spreading the word about our focus on giving back to the community.

Layla also received a heart-warming letter of thanks from one of our refugees who has recently secured a job!

“Afford listened to what we wanted and what we needed and they tried to make it happen for all of us refugees living here. We requested information sessions about taxation, mental health, employment, immigration and they made it happen.

I would like to thank Afford for assisting me in knowing my rights and obligations here in Australia. They also fixed my resume, helping me apply for jobs, looking after me and my family and taking us places we dreamt about going.”

The cruise was such a successful day with everyone who attended thoroughly enjoying themselves. Afford is so appreciative of the support received through community funding. These valuable funds allow us to ensure exceptional experiences across our sites each and every day.

www.afford.com.au

November 22, 2019 Issue 232

Staff Matters CHRISTMAS CHEER IN QUEENSLAND'S CLOUDLAND The sunshine state and local Affordians embraced the Christmas spirit and let their hair down at the recent QLD Staff Christmas party, held at the popular Brisbane venue, Cloudland, in Fortitude Valley.

All Staff were able to connect in the magical Cloudland surroundings, with the night offering a chance for our teams from North and South QLD to get together and catch up. It also provided an opportunity for interstate Staff from Sydney to touch base with their counterparts who they’ve been working with remotely throughout the year.

Like all Afford events, there was a great tribe vibe with everyone in amazing spirits and dancing the night away. Aside from having a great time, everyone shared stories about all the achievements this year and, of course, what 2020 would bring for Afford in Queensland, in what has been a runaway success.

Keep the good times rolling Queenslanders!

Handyman Timetable Our Handy Man, Tahier, will be at the following sites this week: - 25th November: Eschol Park - 26th November: Sunshine, Panthers & Empire - 27th November: Canley Vale & Mount Annan

Meet Our Handyman Tahier

- 29th November: Narellan, Narellan Vale & Leumeah

www.afford.com.au

November 22, 2019 Issue 232

Staff Matters QLD CLIENT CHRISTMAS PARTY

Keeping the Christmas cheer momentum rolling last week, Afford QLD hosted their Client Christmas party for clients, their parents and carers at Logan Diggers!

Clients from all Queensland locations attended with over 115 attendees in total. Everyone enjoyed dancing, karaoke, face painting, and taking some happy snaps in the photo booth!

Clients and carers were served a delicious 3-course lunch while watching the presentations take place for the Client of the Year.

We are so proud of the following clients on their Client of the Year Awards: Scott Shewan – Redlands Day program Joel Polsoni – Southport/Miami Day Program Sean Maloney – Caboolture Day Program Jacob Bryne – Ipswich Day Program Mathew Lovell – Beenleigh Day Program Amy Morgan – Caboolture Group Home Jason Reid – Waterford Group Home Jackie Bayliss – Pimpama Group Home Angela Morrison – Logan Village Group Home Of course, no Christmas party would be complete without a visit from Mr and Mrs Claus, who merrily made an appearance and took photos with our wonderful clients spreading the Christmas cheer. It was a great day had by all who attended and with many new QLD clients and families commenting on how special they were made to feel because they'd never been treated to any experience like it - only the best at Afford!

Reminder!

A general reminder for ALL Staff: • All Client Services staff must have 4 days off in a pay period – preferably 2 x 2 days consecutive days off. If you would prefer not to have your days off consecutively, please email your Team Leader and CC hr@afford.com.au and we will approve.

SELFIES OF THE WEEK

UPCOMING EVENTS DATE:

EVENT:

1-30 November

Movember

3 December 5 & 6 December istina, Toni & Selfie Above: Cr g at the QLD tin ra Megan, celeb Xmas party.

Pawsome LSA, Hayle Selfie Above: Southp y Lindsay an ort Haynard at d Harmony H client, Sammy ooves

13 December

International Day of People with Disability (IDPwD) NSW Client Services & Accomm Christmas Parties ADE & SLES Christmas Party

Afford Trivia Answer: 2007

www.afford.com.au