Volume 26, Issue 5 May 2017 After Hours On Call Mobile phone number 0432 80 Wynter St, Taree NSW 2430 PO Box 783 Taree NSW 2430 P:02 6552 7374 F:02 6550 0742 Email: [email protected]www.aboutinclusion.com.au The crisp mornings are starting! I love the change of seasons to add to the variety of life. This month’s newsletter brings variety too. I am very pleased to say again this month Mim Haigh has contributed to the newsletter by offering her journalism skills to interview some key people that About Inclusion relies on and connects with. As May is the month of Mother’s Day, Mim chose to interview local mum of nine, Christine Bennett. You can read her story a few pages over. Also , John Richards shares his brave story - overcoming challenges and making his dreams come true on his racing venture. For the Staff Profile. Mim places Brax Wallace in the spotlight so we get to know what makes him tick. Creating Opportunities. Strengthening Communities. May … At a Glance: Relay for Life 6 th Mother’s Day Biggest Morning T Welcome May
Transcript
Volume 26, Issue 5 May 2017 After Hours On Call Mobile phone number 0432 686 269
The crisp mornings are starting! I love the change of seasons to add to the variety of life.
This month’s newsletter brings variety too. I am very pleased to say again this month Mim Haigh has contributed to the newsletter by offering her journalism skills to interview some key people that About Inclusion relies on and connects with.
As May is the month of Mother’s Day, Mim chose to interview local mum of nine, Christine Bennett. You can read her story a few pages over.
Also , John Richards shares his brave story - overcoming challenges and making his dreams come true on his racing venture.
For the Staff Profile. Mim places Brax Wallace in the spotlight so we get to know
what makes him tick.
Behind the Scenes Features our latest announcement of the opportunities we receive with our Ability Options integration
…because we had so much fun last time, About Inclusion has registered a team for Manning Valley Relay for Life 2017 ! Come
along and join us – just phone Karen or Lyn on 6552 7374 to register or to help out in the planning.
For the Out and About section Mim caught up with Sophie Paff and chatted about the exciting and exhausting teen trip to Lake Keepit.
In closing, I especially recognise the devoted care and support Sarah Jane Mariah provided to local families.
With heartfelt thanks we said farewell to Sarah Jane last month. We wish her all the very best for her new adventures.
About Inclusion and Ability Options as part of the Mid North Coast Disability Services Consortium Successful in NSW Disability Supported Accommodation Services Transfer
Over the past nine months we have been tendering on a number of opportunities to manage NSW Government Disability Accommodation Services. In conjunction with other likeminded organisations in the same region we formed a consortium called Mid North Coast (MNC) Disability Services Limited. The MNC Disability Services consortium includes Nambucca Valley disAbility Services, Kempsey Regional Support, About Inclusion, Booroongen Djugun Limited and Ability Options. We have also forged an agreement with Evolve Housing, who will be our accommodation partner and manage the tenancy of residents in the existing homes.
It gives me great pleasure to advise that the consortium has been announced by FACS (the NSW Department of Family and Community Services) as the successful provider for the transfer of 10 accommodation and supported living services across the Mid North Coast Region of NSW.
Each consortium member brings a wealth of experience, established workforces and strong networks within their respective communities. Ability Options will also provide in-depth knowledge of the new NDIS framework, which will ensure participants transition as quickly as possible from the 1st July, 2017 when the NDIS rolls out on the MNC.
The success of the consortium win will assist the growth of our integrated community member organisations and provide more Accommodation and Supports Living facilities in the region. The transfer of these FAC services will also mean that current employees will transfer to work for the consortium members.
The transition of services is due to be complete by December 2017. As an immediate priority the consortium members will be focused on ensuring the next stage of the transition process for residents, their families and support staff is as seamless as possible. To do this we are forming a specialist transition team, which will be led by Michelle Hodge, General Manager Accommodation and Supported Living. Michelle’s role will be backfilled by Anthony Inu, Operations Manager Accommodation in the interim. Each member of the transition team will be experts in their field, and will work towards the successful transfer and ongoing management of the homes from FACS to our organisation.
We are delighted to be awarded this opportunity and look forward to welcoming participants, families and staff, and ensuring people with disabilities live inclusively in their communities, assisted by support services delivered with integrity, respect, compassion, innovation, diversity and understanding.
I look forward to sharing more news on the transition process over the coming months and I’d like to sincerely thank all the people involved in tendering process for their dedication, persistence and commitment in achieving a remarkable result for the members of the consortium.
IMAGE: Left to right (back) - Heather Scheibenstock (Ability Options Board Member) and Dudley Johnson (AO Business Development Manager and HVDS Director), Left to right (front) - Maureen Rahman (NVdS CEO and MNC Director), Minister for Disability Services, the Hon. Ray Williams MP, Patricia Biszewski (Ability Options Board Member)
Out and About
Teambuilding for Teen group at Lake Keepit
Soaring 6 feet above the ground and anchored by their mates, the group from About Inclusion learned the value of teamwork on Lake Keepit’s giant swing.
One of the Team Leaders Sophie Paff says “it was so much fun, everyone wanted a go, but the rule was that you had to do your time at the bottom, anchoring everyone else first!"
The giant swing was just one activity, there was a monkey climb, archery, damper-making, swimming, Uno and a chess game that went all night; apparently Zade met his match in Jesse and their stalemate was the talk of the trip.
For more than 15 years groups from About Inclusion have made the annual pilgrimage to Lake Keepit, located between Tamworth and Gunnedah. This year 12 teenagers, 6 staff and 1 fantastic volunteer made the 8 hour journey.
“It's a long way, but it’s so worthwhile, our group was awesome, all together we had; Maddie, Maddie, Chloe, Dom, Lydia, Jack, Tyson, Sean, Lachlan, Connor, Jacob, Jesse, Bear, Zade, Geoff, Karen, Brendon, Pam and myself”, said Sophie.
Staying at the Sport and Recreation facility, the Taree group was joined by teenagers from Coffs Harbour, Inverell and Kempsey. Breakfast, lunch and dinner were in the cafeteria-style dining hall with everybody pitching in to serve and stack the giant dishwashers.
"Every day different leaders from each region took the activities for the whole group. It gave our guys a chance to follow instructions from different people and better still, if one of the group had become really good at an activity they jumped up and the team leader took a step back” said Sophie about the group dynamic.
Four days and three nights of fun, camp fires and freezing cold swimming sessions (according to Sophie) saw the group return happy and exhausted having made lots of new friends.
Brax Wallace talks to Mim Haigh “My bed has been so good to me these last few days, how could I leave it now?” Brax Wallace said arriving right on time for a six-thirty am shift.
But jokes aside, even the early starts don't deter Brax from the industry. "I love making people's lives better" he explains. “Taking people out to dinner, supporting them to socialise or do the things they don't have the ability to do, is worth getting out of bed early for”.
Inspired by his Mum who has a “gift” for this kind of work, Brax began his working life supporting people with disability, then a passion for food led him into cheffing.
“I love the food, I love the atmosphere and I’m still great friends with lots of the people that I met, but you can’t work every evening and every weekend and have a family”.
In fact, its family that made Brax the person he is today.
"My brother has autism and I love him. Like all other siblings there are days when we drive each other crazy, we grew up wrestling, hanging out, watching superheros and living life together. Above all else he’s my brother.
It's exactly this kind of acceptance and commitment that makes Brax a brilliant support worker. On any given day you’ll find him up to his elbows in washing up, helping someone have a shower or chocolate coating strawberries in the kitchen.
Brax’s favourite quote is from Batman "it's not who I am underneath (the mask), but what I do that defines me”.
Last month we farewelled Sarah Jane as she heads to new adventures.
Sarah Jane joined About Inclusion five years ago and provided caring and dedicated support to many about Inclusion families, in particular the teenagers that attend Teen Time Vacation Care and After School Care. We wish her all the very best and are grateful for the time and thoughtful support she gave to families, her wonderful teamwork as a colleague and the strong connections she made in the community
Thank you Sarah Jane!
Christine Bennett talks to Mim Haigh this Mother’s Day
Mum is a word that’s never far from anyone's lips, “Mum, what’s for dinner?”, “Mum, where’s my bag?”, “Mum, where’s that thing I haven’t even looked for yet?” Mum. . . Mum . . . and nobody’s heard this more than Mother of nine, Christine Bennett, but she swears there’s secrets to it all.
Christine says she's not perfect, she's made mistakes but she’s learned from them and she’s learned by watching other parents, observing what worked with her own children and trying things.
She says rules and routines work for their family. Her children have grown up now and range from 37 to 17, but from when they were young she and husband Ross relied on rules, routines and rosters. Plus, they stuck fast to each other.
Her rules were simple; “treat others the way you want to be treated, never steal and always be respectful of the adults in the house”.
Christine says that she's always been really involved with her children. "We’ve always eaten dinner at the table, everyone sits together and it's the perfect time to talk about what happened in the day. Everybody gets a chance to speak and finish, without interruption".
"As my children have grown older, they have very different personalities and different opinions, it's important that they respect each other and use common sense"
"I think puberty was the hardest time, six girls and three boys, all those hormones!"
On parenting children with disabilities Christine says “I make things simpler and I speak simply".
She said what works for her family is simple too; “always discipline with love and discipline equally. Never punish a child physically, remove something personal instead. Listen to each child, every child has something of value to say”.
Christine insists that her greatest support is her husband Ross, her friend, lover and father to all of her children. She and Ross have known each other for 40 years, been together 35 and married for 30.
When the children who need it are at respite, Christine and Ross take off one weekend a month to their favourite spots and take time to be husband-and-wife.
“My favourite part of being a mum is being loved and respected", says Christine.
It is really important to check the RSVP date of an activity and book in before
this date. Also let us know if you require transport.
We need this information so that we can plan and staff a successful activity!
John’s Story
Just a dream before NDIS. Written by Amanda Kavanagh of Manning River Times
John Richard’s of Taree with the support of a dedicated About Inclusion support worker recently achieved something that could have only been a dream for John before the NDIS was rolled out.
John who once was a keen and talented horse rider, due to health reasons has been unable to do the things he once
could. Anxiety had taken control of situations with John also suffering from Epilepsy.
Determined to still include his fondness for Horses his mother Coral has been taking John to local race meetings held in Taree.
With the support of Taree & Wingham Race Club taking John under their wing his love for horses has continued with many days spent volunteering around the track.
Over the past 15 years John has faced some challenges and in particular one occasion where anxiety and epilepsy seen John hospitalised on an overnight stay outside of Taree.
Recently John was ecstatic when a local race horse won a Taree race immediately qualifying it for the Country Championship at Royal Randwick in Sydney. John wanted to go. He was so excited to cheer the horse on and wanted to follow the horse to Randwick, something that would take John outside of his comfort zone.
With the help of his NDIS provider, the options available within the NDIS and careful consideration and assistance from his support worker and coordinator, a plan was put into place to get John to Sydney.
John travelled on public transport to Sydney, was able to spend the day cheering on our local horse at Randwick, they stayed in a motel overnight and enjoyed the sights of Sydney Harbour the day after. John was happy, excited, comfortable and able to step outside his comfort zone - a result that before NDIS was not achievable.
John is even considering a visit to Parkes to see the Elvis festival.
