FROM PASSION TO PRACTICE

Integrity 4 Life Update

WRITTEN BY IAN CAMPBELL, GENERAL MANAGER OF I4L

2024 is well underway, marking our fourth yea of operations at Integrity 4 Life, where steady growth continues to define our journey.

Throughout the first quarter, we have continued to grow at a steady pace within all aspects of the business We have continued to maintain and strong service delivery across everything we do to ensure our participants feel heard, included, and most importantly valued. Although the first three months of the year have passed quickly, we have witnessed remarkable success stories within our organisation. These include assisting a participant on their business endeavours, acting on the demand for services in our regional areas, and expanding our team with quality disability support workers.

Whilst we continue to support the Hunter region, our focus is on expanding into new service delivery areas. We're now active in regional locations like Dubbo, Orange, and Bathurst, while also eyeing the metropolitan landscape, particularly in Sydney's Western region up to Penrith Through targeted social media efforts, we aim to connect with individuals seeking genuine person-centred support Additionally, we're eager to forge partnerships with like-minded organisations that share our values and mission.

An integral aspect of what sets Integrity 4 Life apart and differentiates us from the other disability providers is that we genuinely care about participants. We remain small and intimate for this reason. Our focus is not just business, these are people lives’ and we are intimately entwined through the support we deliver on a daily basis. It’s a privileged position to be involved in. One of our passions is the development of authentic relationships with participants, built on trust and respect.

From the moment a participant enters the services, communication and transparency is key Management meet and greet participants at onboarding and remain in regular contact throughout the time they choose to be supported by Integrity 4 Life We make ourselves available to participants, sensitive, accepting and invested in their needs Participants come and go from our office spaces, know more staff than just their direct support staff and we want them to know that this is their organisation too! They are part of the team that is ‘I4L’.

In our ‘Community Corner’ section on our website we talk about the wins within our community Recently, we shared a heartfelt story discussing the positive impact our services have had on one of our participants and the genuine relationships we have developed along the way/.

MEET JESS

Local Novocastrian, Jess, has been one of our longest supported participants at Integrity 4 Life We want to take a moment to recognise her unwavering hard work, resilience, and commitment to personal growth, which she demonstrates daily Jess consistently strives to build strong relationships with her Disability Support Workers (DSWs) and the community at large While we provide support for her choices, Jess has taken the lead in making business, Rose Pet Services, and lifestyle decisions We are delighted to see her reaching her goals and we are excited to see what the future holds.

“Hi, I am Jess I have been supported by Integrity 4 Life for 2 years and I feel I have come so far on my journey with their support When I first came into this company I was depressed I had no self-esteem due to being overweight and unemployed I4L helped me overcome these hurdles They taught me about the importance of a healthy lifestyle and how that positively impacts my mental health,” she says.

If you would like to know more and have that peace of mind, no matter what kind, please contact email Jess at rosepetservices@outlook.com and follow her Instagram!

OUR VISION

I4L takes an individualised approach to working with participants to ensure that they are achieving their goals and living a meaningful life.

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to respond to the needs of the community by providing high quality, person centred supports that allow people with a disability to live the life that they choose.

The key elements to the service we deliver is having the right staff with the same ‘drivers’, passion and values that align with our Mission, Vision and Values. Being a newer, smaller provider in a saturated market can be a challenge, particularly when we are attempting to build a professional, committed and ethical workforce Our very reputation is driven by our front-line staff – they work with our participants and ‘word of mouth’ remains our most important marketing tool.

That said, recruitment has been strong, and we are more than ever ready to grow and support more participants both locally and in the newer regions We have attracted quality staff with experience ready to build capacity and achieve goals with participants As I4L continues to grow, we are constantly looking to expand our team with like minded individuals who share our vision.

I AM ALWAYS EXCITED FOR WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS FOR I4L. WE ARE WORKING HARD TO MAKE LIVES AND COMMUNITIES BETTER!

Understanding how to give back to our staff on the ground and how to support them to continue to develop and engage will be a significant focus in 2024 Integrity4 Life is acutely aware they are our most important resource In the early parts of the year we have set a new minimum hourly rate above the award to reward our staff. This however is not enough, and we understand that staff want growth and development opportunities.

Keep an eye out for our future Communities of Practice (CoP) in the new regions. We aim to mirror our successful quarterly sessions of the Newcastle CoP, which has been running for 2+ years This contribution to the community, is a free service we facilitate in the disability sector bringing together smaller services and expertise to assist in building professionalism and knowledge in the sector An event that is kindly contributed to by other services and professionals in the local regions with particular skill sets and expertise that can assist other providers in creating successful businesses delivering high quality service to participants.

General Manager, Ian Campbell, says “I am always excited for what the future holds for I4L We are working hard to make lives and communities better!”

Creating Brighter, Happier, Futures for all.