“Hey Siri, play - Pocketful of sunshine by Natasha Bendingfield”
Hello Everyone and welcome to Spring!
I want to take a moment to recognise over the past month we have faced some challenges with rostering as the flu season has torn through both Rockhampton and Toowoomba.
This has been made even more challenging with Participants asking for different hours and admittedly at times the office not responding to changes as efficiently as we would like.
So a BIG THANK YOU to everyone for coming together, being flexible and adapting to changes. We have a few things in place to minimise disruptions moving forward (and also crossing our fingers the flu season stops quickly)
Toowoomba
EMILY M- THANK YOU FOR CONSTANTLY STEPPING UP AND TAKING ON SHIFT AND OVERCOMING DIFFERENT HURDLES ALSO ALWAYS RECEIVING GREAT FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPANTS AND FAMILIES.
CHISATO C - FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK IN THE DAY SERVICE AS WELL AS BEING PUT WITH NEW PARTICIPANTS
Each month the office staff from Toowoomba and Rockhampton pick two standout employees from each location for their incredible contributions to the team and stand-out behaviours and dedication.
Rockhampton
JATALIA G - FOR ALWAYS WILLING TO STEP UP AND TAKE ON LAST MINUTE WORK & WILLING TO WORK LONG DAYS AND TAKE ON NEW PEOPLE
LOGAN B - FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK IF IT WASN'T FOR YOUR FLEXIBILITY AND WILLINGNESS TO DO ANYTHING WE WOULD HAVE REALLY STRUGGLED LATELY ESPECIALLY THE LAST 3 WEEKS
ROCKHAMPTON
TRAINING
During the month of August, I have had the opportunity to meet with every member of the Rockhampton staff for staff training. This has given us the opportunity to introduce and refine our policies and procedures, as well as the opportunity for myself to touch base and get feedback from all staff involved. It has been great to hear everyone’s ideas and to find out what’s going on in all areas of BigDog. I would like to thank all staff for attending and being so engaged.
HOUSING
August saw the completion of renovations on our Archer units. Archer now boasts a 4bedroom house with new amenities, ready to be someone's forever home. If you or someone you know is looking for a Supported Independent Living House, please reach out to Abbey r_services@bigdog.au or alternatively contact our office on 07 4573 4611.
TOOWOOMBA
This month is filled with free and low cost activities for you all to be involved with as Toowoomba comes alive with the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers.
If you want to view the official Program please go to https://tcof.com.au/program/
Please, stay hydrated and sun safe and enjoy!!
ENTERTAINMENT
Numerous days of free music entertainment held Monday to Thursday between 930 am and 1 pm, while Friday to Sunday 930 am to 530 pm in Queens Park Botanical Gardens
The Botanical Garden will be home to a giant Ferris Wheel $10 per rider, and a number of delicious food vans Fireworks Friday 20th to Sunday 22nd 830 pm and Sunday 730 pm Cinema under the stars Saturday 28th 630 pm Free
BE INVOLVED
If you want to walk the Grand Central Floral Parade instead of just watching from the side line please reach out to the office to arrange your engagement with this years FLOWER POWER!
Spring is nearly here, the native bees at home are starting to work and the trees are starting to get their leaves, the word from the weather man is the really cold weather has gone, A big welcome to our new BigDog staff, it's great to have you onboard the BigDog team. BigDog is more than just a Support Company, we are a big family and value each and every staff member, this is an exciting opportunity for us to welcome you all on board, there is a wealth of talent and knowledge within BigDog and "we" are all more than happy to help each other out. Grab this opportunity with both hands, it's not just a job it's an opportunity to be involved in a career that can be life-changing.
And a big thank you to all for being available to help out to cover shifts, yes the flu got hold of us and rocked the boat although together we got through it. The BigDog team shines again.
please contact us at t_services@bigdog.au or visit our website www.bigdogsupport.com.au
Rockhampton Day Service
August has been another exciting month for everyone at Rocky Day Service! We have stayed true to our regular routine, ensuring stability and consistency for our participants, while also fitting in some fresh and thrilling activities that made the month pretty exciting.
One of the highlights was our day trip to Gladstone, where we spent the day at the wharf.
We were fortunate enough to see some huge ships out on the ocean, which was the highlight of the day for some.
The month saw us engaging in some fascinating science experiments, which sparked curiosity and creativity among our clients. We kept up with our favourite activities too, playing 10-pin bowling, enjoying our weekly pub lunches, and making a visit to the Rockhampton Zoo, where everyone had a great time exploring and learning about the animals.
A memorable adventure was our excursion to the Koorana Crocodile Farm. Our participants loved the experience of learning cool crocodile facts, watching the crocodiles being fed, and having the chance to hold a baby crocodile!
To wrap up this busy and exciting month, we enjoyed a fun outing to the Rockhampton cinemas.
We also got crafty with some special Father’s Day projects, channelling our creativity to make something special for all our dads out there.
Next month is full of more exciting activities. We will be visiting the Capricorn caves on the 6 th of September, Beach day out on the 13 th of September and our BigDog colour run on the 27 th of September.
Day Service
TOOWOOMBA
The Toowoomba Day Service has been buzzing with thrilling adventures! We kicked off the month with a fantastic lunch outing at the Highfield Tavern, where everyone enjoyed delicious food and great company.
Our Big Morning Tea was also a smashing success, featuring a delightful array of healthy options that had everyone coming back for more.
We wrapped up the month with a high-energy trip to the trampoline park, giving everyone a fun and effective workout.
As we bounced around, we felt all those different muscles working, making it both exciting and beneficial. We’ve also started playing dodgeball, which has been a fun challenge for our hand-eye coordination. But don’t worry we’re figuring out ways for everyone to join in on the fun! And let’s not forget laser tag our Friday group has been absolutely thrilled to try it as a new fitness activity, even if it’s not everyone’s cup of tea.
Our daily routine is getting a fresh boost, too. We’ve introduced more activities each week to keep our minds sharp, including our very own BigDog crossword, which has been a big hit!
As spring arrives, we’re stepping into September with a burst of energy. We’ve begun prepping our gardens for our very own flower display, learning how to care for our plants with love and attention. Plus, we’re gearing up for carnival-themed days, with plans to explore the beautiful new gardens around Toowoomba and attend some exciting special events.
The highlight? Our big day at Sideshow Alley, where we’ll enjoy free rides and cotton candy— what a treat!
