ROYAL REHAB • DISABILITY SERVICES NEWSLETTER • ISSUE 2 • JULY 2021
Abilities Matter
Message from the CEO
Contents
To our valued clients, family and friends, Welcome to the next issue of our Abilities Matter newsletter, designed to keep you updated on the latest from Disability Services. As the COVID situation continues to evolve, please be assured that Royal Rehab continues to monitor developments, take precautionary measures, and strictly follow the guidelines of NSW Health in order to keep you and our staff safe, happy and healthy. Please be sure to reach out to your Accommodation Manager if you have any questions. We were delighted to welcome Jessica Scanlan into the role of General Manager Disability Services earlier this year. Jessica has transferred from her role of General Manager Royal Rehab Inpatient Services and brings with her over 15 years’ experience at Royal Rehab where she has held a variety of positions including Clinical Nurse in the Brain and Spinal Injury Units, Clinical Operations Manager of the Brain Injury Unit, After-Hours Nurse Manager, and Director of Nursing. In the Director of Nursing role, Jessica was responsible for managing Royal Rehab’s on-site supported accommodation, Weemala Building One. Jessica is passionate about leading our great team and together supporting our customers to live life as independently as possible. Read on to learn about our plans for a community centre, meet some of our amazing residents, and hear from our managers. Take care.
New Community Centre
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Your Say: At Home with Andrew
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Your Say: Shan shines with Royal Rehab support
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Join our Consumer Consultative Committee
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Royal Commission update
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Our Experts Say: Meet our Accommodation Managers
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Our Experts Say: Horsing Around to be Great Leaders
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Sexuality Service and NDIS support coordination 08
Matt Mackay, Chief Executive Officer
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Disability Services
@royalrehab
@royalrehabhospital
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Latest News
New Community Centre coming soon! The Disability Services team spend their working days finding the perfect homes for our clients, and now we’re excited to announce, we’re on the move! After many years being located at Ryde, the team will soon be moving to a beautiful new purpose-fitted space, with an exciting new community centre set to open for clients.
We aim to create a welcoming space where our residents, clients and staff can come together, relax and socialise. This will also be a place for clients to participate in various activities, including social coffee mornings and life skill workshops with topics such as simple and healthy cooking, assistive technology demos, social skills and much more!
“We are so excited to have a custom-built space that will allow our team to build a greater connection to not only one another as colleagues, but also the residents and clients we support. It will give our clients the opportunity to meet us, ask questions, and socialise together as one family in a friendly and comfortable setting,” said Jessica Scanlan, General Manager, Disability Services.
The new space will also feature a training area for staff to use for the purpose of onboarding and professional development.
Disability Services
Stay tuned and we will bring you the latest updates as we go!
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Your Say At Home with Andrew “Royal Rehab has been a constant in my life. The staff care, understand and provide continuous support. I’ve been part of the Royal Rehab family for over 30 years because I feel like I belong. I am supported to enjoy doing things I love, including singing, socialising and helping others. Royal Rehab makes this all possible for me.’’
Andrew, long-term resident
We were so lucky to spend time with one of our long-term residents, Andrew and learn more about his witty ways and quiz-loving quirks. Born with spina bifida, Andrew moved into a Royal Rehab assisted living home at the age of 18. With a natural love of people and learning, Andrew joined the home’s management committee and signed up to be a Royal Rehab volunteer. Today, Andrew is proud to boast that he is one of our longest serving volunteers. He spends his time helping out with everything, from parties and movie nights, to providing practical assistance to other residents and being an active member of the Royal Rehab choir. Now in his 50s, Andrew has called his Royal Rehab supported group accommodation in Abbotsford his home for over a decade. Here he receives support and assistance from Royal Rehab’s friendly support workers including daily living activities, power wheelchair transfers, meal preparations and personal care. Andrew’s home is full of character and love as family and friends are able to drop in any time, with food and fun being the main themes of his get-togethers. Andrew stays up to date with all the latest hits and flicks, and was quick
to boast about his love for sci-fi and everything Star Trek. He considers himself “eclectic” and is also a fan of musical theatre with Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables amongst his favourites. “My support workers know and understand my needs as well as my interests. They support me when I need them, yet empower me to be as independent as possible. They make sure I get out and about, that I get to enjoy life, and that I go to trivia whenever I can,” said Andrew. For inspiration, Andrew picks up Joni Eareckson Tada’s autobiography to read from time-to-time. When asked what outlook on life he gained from that, he confidently declared, “What’s a wheelchair? It’s just a way of getting around.” For more information on our disability support and accommodation offerings, please call us on 02 9808 9600.
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Your Say Shan shines with Royal Rehab support “Here at her fully-supported home on Charles Street, Ryde, staff go above and beyond their job requirements — it feels like family.’’
Richard, Shan’s husband
We had the pleasure of spending time with Shan, a proud Royal Rehab resident, and her husband, Richard. From acute hospital, to aged care, to a purpose-built supported home - it has been a long journey for the young family who have found ‘a home away from home’ for their beloved wife and mother following a life-changing event in 2018. According to Richard, “My daughter and I have received overwhelming support from everyone at Royal Rehab. From the cleaners to the CEO, everyone genuinely cares.“
An incredibly challenging time for the family, Richard recalls, ‘’We were given a life expectancy of just three years.’’ Shan was then moved into a high-care aged facility. However, due to her determination and resilience, Shan’s doctor later referred her to Royal Rehab.
An accomplished academic, Shan moved to Australia from China when she was just 20 years of age on a full scholarship for a PhD in Statistics from the University of New South Wales. Over the years, the talented statistician rose to become a world expert in big data and predictive modelling.
Shan spent one year at the Royal Rehab Brain Injury Unit as an inpatient. Here, she received a tailored rehabilitation program by the multidisciplinary team of allied health professionals including physiotherapists, speech therapists, dietitians and recreational therapists. Or, as Richard tells us, “It was practically every allied health profession you could poke a stick at supporting Shan!”
After returning to the office following a work lunch one day however, she suddenly experienced a severe headache. She collapsed and was rushed to hospital. Shan was diagnosed with a haemorrhagic stroke which greatly impacted her movement, speech and breathing functions. She underwent a tracheostomy, a surgical procedure to assist with breathing, and was unable to speak.
Then, in 2020, a vacancy became available at our Charles Street disability support home and the family were delighted. At this modern, purpose-built facility. Shan receives 24/7 support with her everyday needs and benefits from ongoing speech therapy and physiotherapy. She has improved speech and physical strength, and has her sights set firmly on her next goal: “I want to walk again.”
Disability Services
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Your Say Shan also benefits from Royal Rehab’s recreational therapy program, regularly enjoying outings to the local library and nearby parklands. Shan continues to defy the odds. Richard is beyond thrilled with the care and support Shan continues to receive and describes our team as, “large, supportive and highly professional. Everyone is working together, so that Shan continues to improve.” For more information on our disability support and accommodation offerings, please call us on 02 9808 9600.
Join our Consumer Consultative Committee Disability Services is starting a Consumer Consultative Committee and we’d like to hear from you! This committee will help to shape our service now and in the future to best serve the needs of our customers. We warmly welcome expressions of interest to join our committee, which will meet three times per year at our Rydalmere premises. Contact us at info@royalrehab.com.au to get involved.
Royal Commission Update At Royal Rehab, we strongly believe in protecting the people we serve and their right to feel safe and valued. We are committed to providing quality care for people with disability. Royal Rehab is fully supportive of the ongoing Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability and its important work. For more information on the Royal Commission visit www.disability.royalcommission.gov.au. Royal Rehab has established a support team to answer any questions you, your next of kin or your support person may have about the Royal Commission. You can contact Royal Rehab via: Email: rcsupportteam@royalrehab.com.au
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Phone: Please call the Support Team on 0417 666 537. Available between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.
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Our Experts Say Meet our Accommodation Managers Our Accommodation Managers are at the heart of our service and we are so proud of the passion they bring to their roles each and every day!
Angela Shaw
Andrew Ologbo
Cielle Mills
David Sarnacki
“I feel privileged to work in the disability space, supporting our amazing team to provide the highest quality service possible and helping our clients to live their best lives.
“My passion for the disability sector is inspired by my prior humanitarian and volunteering experience.”
“I’m passionate about helping people live their best life and supporting them in any way I can.”
“I love discovering strong qualities in our clients and helping them to be the best they can be.”
Debbie Hutchison
Fatima Choukor
Julie Irwin
Kathy Kim
“I’m committed to making a difference for people and I like to learn something from everyone I meet.”
“I have been working in the disability space for four years now and have loved it since day one. Making a difference in someone’s life is so rewarding.”
“Working in disability services means every day brings new and diverse opportunities to make a difference in someone’s life.”
“I’m passionate about disability services and supporting and empowering people to live their best lives.”
Kevin Padilla
Robyn Hendricks
Tanja Ivkovic
“I find it very fulfilling to be in a position where I am able to support and empower another human being.”
“I enjoy getting to know and understand the people we support and advocating on their behalf.”
“I’m passionate about working for people with disabilities and I am privileged to witness the achievements made on their journey. This makes me very proud.”
Disability Services
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Our Experts Say Horsing Around to be Great Leaders
Can horses really teach us to be great leaders? Whilst they certainly are majestic and beautiful, these amazing creatures can actually offer a unique approach to learning by teaching us interpersonal, life and leadership skills. As part of our staff learning and development program, the Disability Services team spent an afternoon at an equineassisted learning centre, Four Legged Sages, gaining skills which can be transferred into all areas of their work. Through a series of hands-on exercises and games, they explored the concepts of respect, perception, knowing your place in a team, and being aware of your thoughts and actions.
The team was split into groups and spent time observing and listening, then leading the horses through a variety of obstacles. During this activity, they really got to explore their senses. Some team members were blindfolded so they could not see, some wore headphones so they could not hear, while others were told they could not speak, only feel or touch. Upon reflection, Pravin Chand, Operations Manager, Disability Services said, “The team really embraced the day. Individually, they learnt the power of their own body language, to be perceptive of others, and how to communicate effectively with each other.” As the saying goes, a picture is worth a thousand words, and don’t these pictures say it all!
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Sexuality Service Pleasure and relationships for every body
Did you know we offer Sexuality Services at Royal Rehab? It is common for your sex life and relationships to change after an injury, illness or disability. Sometimes your worries and concerns can be so personal that you’re not sure where to turn. Our qualified psychosexual therapists are here to help. We offer personalised support including one-on-one and couple counselling, and educational courses to empower you to create a meaningful, pleasurable and rewarding sex life. This service is available to anyone over 16 years of age who has experienced illness, injury or disability. The service can
be accessed at the Royal Rehab Ryde campus, virtually via telehealth or in the convenience of your home (some travel restrictions may apply). The cost of our Sexuality Service may be funded through the NDIS, icare, other compensable insurance schemes, or you can self-fund. Contact our friendly team for a fee estimate. Everybody can have pleasure and meaningful relationships — take the first steps to discover yours today!
Call 02 9808 9205
sexuality@royalrehab.com.au royalrehab.com.au/sexuality-service
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Get the most out of your NDIS plan Friendly and expert coordinators ready to assist Trusted provider with 120 years’ experience
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