achieve news autumn 2015

ACHIEVE NEWS

OUR QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER DESIGNED TO HELP YOU STAY IN TOUCH

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3 ACHIEVING MORE

2 MESSAGE FROM THE CEO

4 ABOUT OUR SERVICES: HOME

5 OUR SERVICES: LIFE / CAREER / ENTERPRISE

6 NDIS UPDATES

7 ANNUAL SATISFACTION SURVEY

8 NEWS AND EVENTS

ACHIEVE NEW NEWSLETTER_FINAL ART APRIL 22 10am V3_SINGLE PAGE.indd 1 22/04/15 12:11 PM

MESSAGE FROM THE CEO2

Welcome to the revamped ‘Achieve News’; Achieve’s quarterly communication focused on keeping everyone as up to date as possible with timely information about Achieve’s programs and services.

The new format is in response to our conversations with you through 2014 family meetings and surveys. What we heard is a need to be informed about our strategy, staff movements and events.

We also heard a lot of questions about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

In this edition you will find highlights of the recent roll out of the Person Centred Training Program aimed at enhancing person centred practices across the organisation.

This program will ultimately change the way we support you and will pave the way for our stafff to be NDIS-ready.

On that note, you will also find useful and essential information about the NDIS in this communication.

As one of the most significant developments of Achieve and the entire disability sector, the NDIS trial sites will continue to be rolled-out this year with the exciting announcement recently that Penrith will also experience the NDIS in 2015.

You will hear more about this in the coming months as we ensure that we are ready for the changes that NDIS will bring. We are dedicated to keeping you up-to-date and informed on how it will impact you.

This issue also details exciting announcements about our Eastwood and Crowle Developments and new programs at Araluen. Additionally, we have a few individual stories about our Achievers and the launch of the I SEE Value Staff Nominations Program during our recent Staff Conference where we also hailed our first batch of employee achievers. Be sure to check our events page in this issue as we talk about the Annual Fabric Sale of Fabric, Needlecraft & More happening this month and the 2015 Novus Foundation Gala Dinner set for the 30th of May.

Before I close, I would like to thank everyone who has participated in our recent satisfaction survey and I am happy to share our learnings with you in this issue.

Here’s wishing you all a very happy, safe and prosperous year ahead.

Anne Bryce

Chief Excutive Officer

www.achieveaustralia.org.au


ACHIEVING MORE3

In March 2015, Achieve Australia, in partnership with the University of Sydney - Centre for Disability Services (CDS), delivered the first of a two part series of the People Centred Training Program.

The program aims to introduce and enhance person centred practices across the organisation and pave the way for all staff to understand the changes in the way we do business and the impending rollout of the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). Ultimately, the training provides a way of thinking across the organisation by increasing awareness and understanding of person centred practices and embedding a philosophy of strengthening our relationships with people we support. The program is strategically aligned with Achieve’s efforts to prepare staff and management for industry and scheme changes planned in 2016-2017.

Dubbed, “Understanding and Growing in Person Centredness”, the first part is a one-day session conducted for 52 participants. The initial one-day course establishes a deeper understanding of person centredness to Achieve staff and how this philosophy will facilitate meaningful relationships with people we support.

Phase 2 of the training, a modified champions program is under way and will be rolled out by June 2015 with four

elements. This phase is aimed at helping Achieve employees to recognise their existing person centredness and equip them with a practical understanding of how to apply person centred principles into their approaches.

The third element is adapted to become a ‘train the trainer’ model and will include individual coaching support from CDS for identified staff and support groups facilitated by the champions themselves. The course hopes to provide participants with a deeper understanding of the principles behind person centredness and help them build the right tools and confidence they need in their workplace.

A Leadership Forum is held separately and designed for Achieve Australia management to get an overview of the trainings that staff have already undertaken. In addition, Management will understand and learn from the feedback from participants and facilitators regarding the training program’s implementation, provide a framework for new and exciting projects linked to Achieve’s key strategic initiatives and prepare for the next steps of the program.

The final element of the program provides an opportunity to bring champions and management together to share insights, collaborate and implement the learnings from the Program. To find out more about the Centre for Disability, click on the link http://www.cdds.med.usyd.edu.

PERSON CENTRED PROGRAM

PERSON CENTRED

FROM BELIEVING, TO BEING PERSON CENTRED


ABOUT OUR SERVICES4

Late in 2014, Achieve’s Community Living programs celebrated the opening of the Eastwood Homes and Crowle Developments. Not only were the new Eastwood homes built and owned by Achieve, they officially received their platinum-certification from Livable Housing Australia. Achieve is committed to leading the conversation to find innovative solutions to address the significant shortfall of affordable housing in NSW. For more information, have a look at our media release on the opening of Edgar Street http://achieveaustralia.org.au/media-releases/one-small-step-people-disability-one-giant-leap-accessible-housing-nsw/

For many of our readers, the Crowle Home closure will be well-known and we would like to share with you one of the many stories of broad, deep and lifelong change people we support are experiencing.

Patrick Gaffney had been living at Crowle Home for most of his life when the decision was made to move him from Crowle Home. Today, at 59 years of age, Patrick Gaffney lives in a duplex in Eastwood, built and owned by Achieve that is platinum-certified by Livable Housing Australia.

Since moving into the Eastwood Duplex, Patrick has embraced his new surroundings, and is diving into community life, regularly attending bowling, line dancing, merrymakers and bocce with local members from the local community and neighbourhood.

“In the last couple of months we have really seen a big change in Patrick. He is more outgoing and more relaxed, and he is happier” says Mary Roberts, Patrick’s sister.

Read more about Patrick’s story in the Annual Report http://achieveaustralia.org.au/annual-reports/

HOMEProgressive accommodation solutions matched to an individual’s needs



5LIFE: Thanks to Novus Foundation, Achieve raised $37,000 in 2014 for education programs at Araluen. With the funds, early in 2015, Achieve has equipped young people with disability with IPADs, smartphones, a smart interactive whiteboard and training programs that provide access to use technology for improved communication. “Today, in the fast changing digital world we live in, it is critical that everyone has the skills and access to technology to communicate effectively and programs like our technology and computer courses are absolutely vital for our young people at Araluen.” says CEO Anne Bryce.

Achieve is again looking forward to the 2015 Gala Dinner. As a beneficiary, Achieve will receive funds raised on the night to fund the development of Achieve’s Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS) Health and Wellness Toolkit that will support young adults with PWS to better manage the syndrome.

CAREER: Maggie Su’s story began twelve months ago when she started working at Woolworths Eastwood, while her journey with Achieve started in 2012. After the support and guidance of Achieve’s support staff at DES, Maggie has the professional competence of an independent worker. Woolworths Eastwood Assistant Manager, Gustavo Baillo describes Maggie’s adjustment into the workplace as ‘great’, saying that you wouldn’t know that she had been out of work when observing her work ethic. ‘Maggie is hardworking, punctual, and dedicated to customer service’. Maggie says that every day is different and engaging and that Achieve has created employment opportunities at a workplace she loves. If you are looking for employment and would like to find out more about our employment programs, head to http://achieveaustralia.org.au/achieve-support-services/work/looking-for-employment/

ENTERPRISE: Christopher Poole’s story is emblematic of the opportunities available at Achieve. Chris has been a valued member of the team at Achieve’s Commercial Packaging Solutions factory in Marrickville for almost 8 years. He has also taken on the unofficial role of team leader, helping his co-workers and keeping the work area organised and tidy.

His primary role is to package vegetables, cutlery and biscuits for the airlines. “Chris takes great pride in his role”, says Chris’ manager, Leanne. “He has a good eye for detail, and is always actively involved in Centre operations.” “I’ve made some really good friends here”, says Chris. “I like helping and doing my job well.”

For a quote on your packaging or assembly challenge or for insights into how we may tailor a solution to your needs, head to http://achieve australia.org.au/do-business-with-achieve/packaging-assembly-solutions/

Options for personal development and fulfilment

LIFE

Advice, work-ready training and employment opportunities

CAREER

Achieve’s Packaging and Assembly Solutions works with some of the icons of Australian industry, including domestic and international airlines

Business solutions for the benefit of commercial entities and people with disability

ENTERPRISE


NDIS UPDATES 6

Achieve is working towards being ready for roll-out in NSW and continues to strengthen its understanding of the many lessons coming out of the trial sites across Australia. Until the national scheme has been released in your area, existing disability services provided by the Commonwealth, State and Territories will continue.

For FAQs have a look at our website http://achieveaustralia.org.au/ndis/ndis-faqs/ and more information about key locations in the NDIS roll out, please visit http://achieveaustralia.org.au/ndis/ndis-roll/

PREPARING FOR THE NDIS

Not content with waiting for the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) to come to Sydney in July 2016, Achieve is very pleased to announce our recent registration as an NDIS Provider in the Hunter Valley Trial site.

This is a tremendous leap forward out of the Sydney basin for Achieve.

There are approximately 3,100 people with disability in the Hunter Trial site who currently don’t have a service and need assistance from NDIS.

Many of these people will be living with families and need support from organisations that understand the needs of people with disability and having ageing carers.

We are keen to offer our skills and experience to help address this area of unmet need. Importantly, we look forward to the many new relationships that will be built between our staff and people with disability who are living in the Hunter Valley region.

By the time the NDIS comes to Sydney in 2016, we will have developed significant first hand NDIS service delivery expertise and experience which we will use to assist existing people we support in Sydney to transition to NDIS.

NEXT STEPS WITH NDIS

Over the coming 12 months, Achieve will be working with people we support and families on a one to one basis to assist people to get a better understanding of the NDIS, and to identify the types of assistance that are offered under the scheme.

ACHIEVE IS VERY PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE OUR RECENT REGISTRATION AS AN NDIS PROVIDER IN THE HUNTER TRIAL SITE



In late 2014, Achieve engaged the services of an independent, highly regarded and well respected survey and research company, McCrindle Research to implement our Annual Satisfaction Survey. The survey aims to improve our services to people with disability; fulfil on compliance obligations with our funders (such as the NSW Department of Family and Community Services) and; kick-start our engagement process with families about the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS). SURVEY THEMESIn December, we invited you to participate in the first survey and are delighted to announce that we received a good response of more than 90 Families and Carers. We are very grateful for the time that families took to complete the survey. While many families naturally identified the types of services we are currently providing, families also pinpointed specific areas of need that should be met under the NDIS. Overall, the survey identified high levels of satisfaction with Achieve services. The survey also identified a number of key themes that we would like to explore through a series of focus groups. ■ Families mostly identify Achieve as being safe, supportive, person focused and caring.■ Families would like to us to improve consistency of staff who work with service participants.■ Knowing staff well is noted as being very important to families. ■ Families would like greater communication with Achieve.■ Families would like us to improve the consistency in how information is shared between staff.■ Families would like more involvement in the decision making process around care plans and the creation of the vision for their family members life. ■ Families felt increased opportunities for conversation with carers would help promote a more collaborative approach toward creating a vision.

■ Families want to see more opportunities for community and social engagement for their family member. TOP 60% AREAS OF NEED WERE ■ Assistance with daily living in a group living arrangement■ Participation in community and social activities■ Physical exercise and dietitian support i.e. group exercise, healthy diets■ Accommodation assistance i.e. finding a home, keeping a home■ Household task assistance i.e. meal preparation, cleaning and household maintenance services■ Assistance in coordinating life stages and transitions i.e. future planning, parent/carer resilience■ Assistance with travel or transport■ Therapy or counselling support such as developing communication skills, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, podiatry, music therapy■ Extra support to choose services that best meet the needs of a person with disability ■ Training of life skills and daily living skills i.e. for people with disability living at home with carers.FOCUS GROUPSWe will be running a series of focus groups in late April to get a better understanding of the themes that have emerged from the survey. A random sample of families has been invited to attend the focus groups and if your name was selected from the sample, you will be contacted by an Achieve representative and invited to attend.It may not be convenient for you to attend a focus group and if so, please let us know if you are called, and we will move on to select another family in the sample.BRIEFINGSAside to the focus groups, Achieve will be inviting families to attend a briefing on the survey findings once the full survey project, including focus groups, is complete. We anticipate running two sessions, one day session and one evening session in June. The sessions will be run at our offices and we will write to you to inform you of the dates and times in the near future.

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ANNUAL SATISFACTION SURVEY


8 NEWS & EVENTS

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Achieve’s Annual Staff Conference was a greatsuccess last year, attended by nearly 150 stafffrom all three regions, including head office andthose working on the front line.Held at the beautiful Waterview at BicentennialPark, the day was focused on reconnecting ourpeople to our roadmap to the future, ahead ofsuch disrupted change.Featured guest speakers included ProfessorPatricia O’Brien speaking on PersonCentredness and NSW Deputy Ombudsman Steven Kinmond speaking onthe new Disability Inclusion Act launch on December 3.

We are also proud to present our ISEE values and employee nominations during the conference.The awards program is in recognition of ouremployee’s achievements in the four values.As a peer nominated awards program, the ISEEvalue awards allow colleagues to show theirappreciation for one another.Since the ISEE Awards launch at the staffconference, the following recipients have wonthe awards: Nathalie Neveu for Inclusiveness Udara Jayasurija for Stewardship; Leanne Larche for Stewardship; Linda Archer for Ethical; Ruchika Mangla for Extra Ordinary; Rebecca Ellery for Extra Ordinary.

RECOGNISING EXTRA ORDINARY PEOPLE

NOVUS GALA DINNERFABRIC,

NEEDLECRAFT & MORE

Come down to the Fabric, Needlecraft & Moreat 112 Bowden St, Meadowbank this April 24 toMay 3 (trading days only) and get 50% off on allfabrics!Over the last month, the Shop had somegreat donations, so be sure to drop in anytimeor during the Annual Fabric Sale this April!Fabric, Needlecraft & More is open Mondays,Wednesdays and Fridays from 9am to 2 pmeach week and the 1st sunday of every monthfrom 9am to 2pm. You can contact the Shopduring business hours on (02) 9807 3770.

Host a great night out on 30 May, Saturdayat 7:00 or 7:30pm at the Miramare Gardens,289 Mona Vale Road, Terry Hills and helpthree young people with a debilitating geneticdisorder have a fitter, healthier life.To book your tickets, become a sponsor andRSVP, please call us on 1300ACHIEVE or [email protected] contribution will assist us to create theAchieve Australia PWS Health and FitnessToolkit, which will support three young peopleliving with Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). Thetoolkit will enable people living with PWS tobetter manage the syndrome and increase theirself-confidence and independence.

OUR PEOPLE

ACHIEVE AUSTRALIA ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE SUITE 1.01, LEVEL 1, 1 EPPING RD, NORTH RYDE 2113 TEL 1300 ACHIEVE REGIONAL OFFICES - HORNSBY SUITE 1A, 17-19 HUNTER ST TEL 9987 0245 RYDE LEVEL 3, SUITE 301, 5-9 DEVLIN ST TEL 9334 0900 BELLA VISTA LOT 39, LEVEL 3, 10 NORBRIK DRIVE TEL 9034 1676


EVERYONE IS GOING TO THE APRIL 50% OFF FABRIC SALE

Address: 112 Bowden Street Meadowbank NSW 2114 Tel: 1300ACHIEVE www.achieveaustralia.org.au We are open: Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9am to 2pm, the first Sunday of every month from 9am to 2pmSale commences April 24 and concludes May 3.

Hurry! Sale closes May 3


achieve news autumn 2015

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