Vine Newsletter November 2015 for Web

THE FLEXI ‘VINE
ISSUE: 3/2015
MONTH: NOVEMBER
CANEFIELD ASHES 2015
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CONTENTS:
Page 2: Canefield Ashes Story 2015
Page 3: NDIS in QLD, New Faces to the Flexi Team
Page 4: Events and Activities including Awards Night Invitation
Page 5: Important Info re: Events and Activities, Sports Ability Games
Page 6: Update from CEO
Page 7: Flexi 4, Boys Fishing Trip
Page 8: Disability Action Week
Page 9: Farewell James, Circus Quirkus
Page 10: On the Ground
Flexi Queensland
ABN:
61 723 727 604
Phone:
(07) 4783 5866
After Hours:
0427 835 866
Fax:
(07) 4783 5872
Email: [email protected]
Address: 14 - 16 Ross Street
Ayr QLD 4807
1
CANEFIELD ASHES 2015 CONT...
The Flexi Service Users practiced over weeks
and weeks against the Lifestyle Facilitators for
the big game.
On the 18th of April 2015, Flexi Queensland
played an invitational game at the annual Cane
Field Ashes in Home Hill.
People came from everywhere to witness the
game. The guys had a great game and came
home with a WIN!
Andrew bowling a killer ball at the wickets.
Everyone from Flexi Queensland would like to
thank Troy Patti for all his help with training us
and helping us to attend the Cane Field Ashes
in 2015.
Pete, Troy Patti, Mark, Darian, Andrew and
Johnny excited about our new equipment.
The Burdekin Cricket Association also kindly
donated two new cricket bats and wickets to
Flexi Queensland, which are extremely
loved! :)
Connect with Flexi!
Phone: 4783 5866
A/H: 0427 835 866
Free Call: 1800 210 637
Facebook: Flexi Queensland
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.flexiqld.com
Instagram: Flexi_QLD
Twitter: FlexiQueensland
Joel, Pete, Johnny, Darian, Teneill, Wayne, Mark,
Sarah and Andrew striking a funny winning pose.
2
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) in QLD
The National Disability Insurance Scheme
(NDIS) will progressively roll out across
Queensland over a three year period from 1
July 2016.
Queensland early transition sites
On 25th September 2015, the Commonwealth
and Queensland Governments announced an
early transition to the NDIS in Townsville,
Charters Towers and Palm Island.
The Queensland early transition sites will
deliver much-needed supports and services to
children and young people under 18 years of
age in Townsville and Charters Towers and all
eligible people under the age of 65 on Palm
Island.
The early transition sites cover the Local
Government Areas of Townsville City,
Charters Towers Regional Council and Palm
Island Aboriginal Shire.
Around 1600 people are expected to be
eligible for the NDIS in the early transition
sites, with up to 600 of these
people expected to receive their
funded packages by 1st July 2016.
The remaining 1000 eligible people from the
early transition sites will receive their funded
packages from July 2016.
The early transition is available to those who
meet the NDIS access requirements, including
people who do not currently receive supports
from
the
Commonwealth
or
State
governments.
Initially in Townsville and Charters Towers the
NDIS will support children, young people, their
families and carers through community
engagement forums, building links with
mainstream and community supports and, for
some people, assistance with access and
planning.
Existing Commonwealth and state-based
services and supports will continue until
eligible people start their plan with the NDIS.
Source: http://www.ndis.gov.au/about-us/our-sites/qld
New Faces to the Flexi Team
There has been some changes to the team at
Flexi Queensland, we have welcomed many
new Lifestyle Facilitators, Kerrie, Leona,
Steph, Vasi, Geraldine, Ranae, Glenys, and
David and following Kristy Mitchell’s
resignation we were able to recruit Jodie
Ordorica who has quickly fitted into the fast
pace of the office environment—it feels like
she has been part of the team much longer
than three almost four months!
We have also been pleased to offer internal
promotions to Di Caspaney-Setter and
Alexandra Krause as Flexi 1 House
Leaders,
Janelle Neal and Leanne
Marriott as Flexi 4 House Leaders and Teneill
Ready
as Development and Support
Facilitator. These ladies have worked hard to
earn these well deserved promotions and
have settled very well into their new roles.
3
EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES
December
Wednesday 2nd December
Christmas Shopping in Townsville
Thursday 3rd December
International Day of People with
Disability
Wednesday 9th December
Wacky Wednesday Bowling Break
Up
Friday 11th December
Flexi Qld Awards Night and End
of Year Break Up
Tuesday 15th December
Junior Group Holiday Program Bowen Trip
Friday 18th December
Junior Group—Xmas craft &
Movie
Saturday 19th December
Townsville Crocodiles Vs Wildcats
ATTENTION
CHRISTMAS CLOSURE
The Flexi Office will be CLOSED from Monday 21/12/2015 and will
reopen on Monday 4/1/2016.
Community Access supports will cease from Sunday the 20/12/15 and
will recommence Monday 4/1/15.
If you require supports in this time please contact the office ASAP to discuss
this with your DSF.
4
IMPORTANT EVENT INFO
Please RSVP / Express your interest to the Service Delivery Office as soon as possible for each activity. A 50% deposit is required to
secure your spot. All activity pricing is based on 4 Service Users attending the event. Once all RSVP’s are received Flexi will advise if
the final event price differs from the original quote where less/ more than 4 Service Users have RSVP’d to attend.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have spoken to your DSF at the Service Delivery Office and have identified that you have
the hours available to attend any events.
You understand that the following conditions apply if you need to cancel your attendance to an event:



With Notice Cancellation: 2 office days’ notice prior to event 50% reimbursement of activity cost. In the event that we are
able to find someone to attend will get 100% reimbursement.
Short Notice Cancellation: Less than 2 office days’ notice prior to event 0% reimbursement of activity cost. In the event that
we are able to find someone to attend will get 100% reimbursement.
No Notice Cancellation: 0% reimbursement
Other important information:
Everyone must meet at the Hangout 15 minutes prior to the departure time.
Please ensure that you wear appropriate foot wear, bring a coat or jumper, have money to buy dinner and bring a water bottle, hat
and sunscreen (where applicable).
Travel Matrix
To help Service Users and families understand the costing of Flexi Activities and Events Flexi have developed the below travel matrix.
The Matrix displays the costs of one vehicle traveling to Townsville based on the award unit cost of 78c per kilometer. This cost is then
shared across the number of participants attending the event.
Ticket Costs
Also when costing an event Flexi need to
consider covering the cost of the LFs
ticket, this is also incorporated into event
pricing.
Rate per km = $0.78
Cost
1
2
$ 156.00
$ 78.00
Ayr - Townsville Return = 200 kms
# of Service User
3
4
5
6
$ 52.00
$ 39.00
$ 31.20
$ 26.00
SPORTS ABILITY GAMES
Each year Flexi Queensland join Ingham,
Townsville, Charters Towers and Bowen in a
showcase of ability at the North Queensland
Sports Ability Games.
On the 22nd of September the Flexi Queensland
crew travelled to Ingham, the games hosts for
2015. After a very enthusiastic bus ride, the
Service Users were keen and ready to give their
best to win!
Nicole, Mark, Belinda, Catherine, Darian, Johnny,
Sue, Emily, Gaylene and Andrew ready to head off.
Check out our
NEW SHIRTS!
THANKS SPORTF1RST!
First was bocce, then T-Ball, followed by relays
and ball games. The crew left nothing in the tank
all giving it their best shot. In the end Flexi came
home with second place, ONLY 4 points behind
the days victors, Bowen! Well Done Bowen!
GO BURDEKIN! Yells Andrew, Darian, Johnny, Mark,
Catherine, Belinda, Gaylene, Nicole and Emily.
The crew stayed for a quick groove on the dance
floor and then back on the bus for the trip home.
Flexi would like to thank all involved and are
gearing up for hosting the games in 2016.
5
UPDATE FROM CEO
Well it's been a while since the last newsletter - not
because we have nothing to share but rather so much has
been going on, finding time to put pen to paper has been
difficult.
Flexi 4 House
Flexi Queensland was delighted to work with the great
team at Funding and Contract Management, Disability
Services in the securing of funding for Flexi 4 supported
accommodation: Candy and Tanya worked tirelessly on
behalf of the Burdekin. This was an amazing opportunity
for the five ladies who were identified as recipients of the
funding - particularly at a time when new state
government funding was not readily available. The ladies
have all settled in well and enjoy living independently.
Re-Accreditation Audit
To ensure Flexi Queensland continues to provide quality
services to our Service Users and their families, IHCA
visited for three days to conduct an audit of our processes
across the six Human Services Quality Standards. Scott
and Dale were the auditors on this visit and they looked
through Flexi’s procedure manuals, staff files and
consenting Service User files as well as speaking with
Service Users and their families, Board of Directors and
staff members.
It was very rewarding to hear the positive feedback from
the many Service Users and families who took part in face
-to-face and telephone interviews. People stated they
were happy with the services they received from Flexi
Queensland. Furthermore it was very encouraging to
hear that families were happier with the management of
the service. Management of the service has been a key
focus of improvement this year and it was good to know
this hard work has made a difference to Service User’s
and their families.
At the end of the audit, Flexi Queensland were successful
in retaining our certification. As always there is room for
improvement and the auditors’ report has provided some
guidance on what we can do better and this had been
incorporated into an action plan for the next six months.
National Disability Insurance Scheme
I am sure most you will have heard on the news recently
that Queensland will have an early launch for NDIS from
January 2016 in the Local Government Areas of
Townsville, Charters Towers and Palm Island. With the
rest of the state including Burdekin to come on board
when full roll out starts 1 July 2016.
Two organisation’s Mamre and Carers Queensland are
delivering workshops in our area to inform Service Users
and families about NDIS. If you are able to, I encourage
you to attend these NDIS readiness workshops which are
being held in the Burdekin and Townsville. Their purpose
is to enable people to gain an understanding of what
NDIS will mean for them and what things you can think
about and do in preparation for its commencement on 1st
July 2016.
Service Provider workshops are also being held, and I
have attended them with members from the Centre Team.
Once Flexi has more information, it is our intention to
organise a Service User and family meeting to share
more information. This will be a follow on from the
session held at the PCYC at the Family Fun Day on 13th
October 2015 when Lynne Kendall from NDIA provided a
brief overview of how NDIS will operate. If you missed this
session don’t worry, the information is available on the
NDIS website and if you are not on the internet please call
the office and Chris and Jodie can provide printed copies
of this information.
The Year in Review
Over the last twelve months the Flexi Queensland Team
has worked tirelessly to improve and increase Flexi’s
ability to respond to the needs of people with disabilities
or mental health issues and those who are ageing. This
has seen Flexi Queensland secure new funding to provide
services to many new Service Users of all ages and
needs, as well as securing additional funding to increase
services for existing Service Users. In my twelve months
as CEO, and 10 months prior as Service Development
Manager, I have had the opportunity to meet with most
Service User’s and family members. If we have not had
the opportunity to meet I welcome you to make an
appointment to see me at the office, or I can come to your
home if that is easier.
The Board of Directors and I are very proud of what has
been achieved throughout 2015, Flexi Queensland has
laid solid foundations across the areas of service delivery,
finance and workforce which has the organisation well
placed to move into the new world of NDIS. This would
not have been possible without the hard work and
dedication by everyone in the Centre Team and all the
Lifestyle Facilitators. With 2016 just around the corner the
Flexi Team will be focused on preparing for the roll out of
NDIS which will no doubt bring new challenges as well as
new highlights.
I hope to see you at the Awards Night / End of Year Break
Up on Friday 11th December 2015 at the Tuscan Room,
Queens Hotel. Please contact the office if you have not
yet purchased your ticket.
Sue Collier
6
FLEXI 4 - by Flexi 4
This article is spoken by the housemates who have
moved in to Flexi 4:
When asked how it has made them feel
moving in to Flexi 4?
Belinda and Emily moved in to Flexi 4 on the 16th May
2015 and one week later Catherine and Nicole moved in.
Since moving in we have got a pet fish called Rainbow.
The staff at Flexi 4 are so wonderful and amazing. We
have got the best two house supervisors. We are all
enjoying making healthy choices, going on daily walks
and looking after our vegetable garden.
Emily said “it has made us feel so special
having the chance to live here and made
us happy in our hearts.”
We would like to thank Zandra for preparing our rooms
and to everyone that helped us move in. We would also
like to thank our families for the gifts they have donated,
Tony and Michelle for the veggie garden, the new clothes
line and plants. A big thank you to all the office staff for
everything you do.
We have become good friends since moving in to Flexi 4
and are enjoying becoming more independent.
Flexi 4 Housemates: Nicole, Belinda, Catherine and
Emily - since this article was written a new housemate
has moved in. The girls would like to warmly welcome
Nives to their home.
Belinda said “It makes us feel safe and it
feels like home, it’s a special house.”
Catherine said “Never in my life have I not lived at home
and it has given me the opportunity and from my heart I
would like to thank you all.”
Nicole said “happy” and when asked what is it like living
in Flexi 4 Nicole gave the thumbs up and said “good”.
Nives said I'm really happy to move in here with Belinda,
Emily, Catherine and Nicole. They are all my best friends,
I'm really proud I moved in and I like all the staff.
Jarrod and Mark at Groper Creek jetty wetting a
line.
Boys Fishing Trip - by Steve Setter
We were full of enthusiasm and keen to wet a line fallen into the water. A few minutes later Mark went
and hopefully catch some fish.
to wind up his rod and started to laugh. He turned
With all the fishing and BBQ gear packed we head- around and showed us his fishing reel with no haned off to Groper Creek. Darian, Mark and Jarrod dle. We burst out laughing. ‘Ah!’ Darian said,
arrived at the Creek and headed off down the jetty. ‘That’s what fell into the water!’
We baited our fishing rods and cast them out. We Hunger started to pull us towards the BBQ. Andrew
got a few bites but couldn’t hook them.
B turned up. We had a nice feed of snags and
Darian said to Mark that he saw something drop steak. We didn't catch a fish but it was a great day
into the water. Mark said that he had not dropped out.
anything, so Darian was left to ponder what had One day we will catch the big one and surprise Joy!
7
DISABILITY ACTION WEEK
On Sunday the 13th of September Flexi
Queensland and Burdekin PCYC hosted a Family
Fun Day in celebration of Disability Action Week
2015.
The day was a great success, with thanks to the
grant
received from the Department of
Communities, Child Safety and Disability Services
which allowed the event to be free to the
community.
Karen and Bob cutting the celebratory cake!
We had a great turn out of people to celebrate the
day and enjoy all the amusements and
entertainment.
Thank you to Lynne Kendall from NDIA for the
presentation on the NDIS and the Flexi Showcase
was brilliant.
The crowd at the Fun Day in Anzac Park
A big Thank You to everyone that helped out and
made the day so enjoyable. Thank You PCYC and
the wonderful Tarja for all
your hard work and team
effort!
EVENT ORGANISERS
The audience at the Showcase at PCYC
Teneill (Flexi) & Tarja (PCYC)
Wheelchairs for Kids
G PULL TALLY
CURRENT RIN
ust 2015
As of 13th Aug
000 ring pulls
YTD Total: 278,
kilos
Weighed In: 99
los
eighed In: 180 ki
W
ed
ct
le
ol
C
an
C
for
for Wheelchairs
Raised: $250.10
Kids.
We ha
ve rais
ed eno
ugh
funds
for our
f
irst
wheelc
hair!
ONLY
$100 to
go for
SECON
our
D WHE
ELCHA
IR!
To learn more about Wheelchairs for Kids visit
http://wheelchairsforkids.org
8
FAREWELL JAMES
Recently we have all had to say goodbye to our great
friend, James Rogers. We marked the occasion with a
farewell party and James loved his going away gift of a
Rabbitohs Jersey. We wish James, Fe and Garnet all the
best for the future and hope they return for a visit soon.
“We miss you James!”
CIRCUS QUIRKUS
In the July school holidays, some of the
Junior Group kids travelled to Townsville
to see the International Act “Circus
Quirkus,” an autistic and epilepsy friendly
acrobatic show.
The
children
thoroughly
enjoyed
themselves and to make the night even
more special, the tickets were kindly
donated by all different organisations
from Townsville.
Ethan, Molly, Holly, Matilda and Lily wanted to join
the circus after watching the performance.
9
ON THE GROUND
State of Origin
Ayr Show
Water Festival
Emily, Belinda and LF Leanne
enjoying the State of Origin at
Flexi 4.
Gaylene having a ball at the Ayr
Show in June, trying her hand at
the clowns.
Catherine, Johnny, Andrew, Mark,
James,
Belinda
and
Emily
performed playing the Drum on
Stage at the Water Festival.
Sports Ability Games
Mark, Belinda, Johnny, Emily,
Andrew, Darian and Teneill
taking a cheeky selfie before
starting our day at the Sports
Ability Games in Ingham.
Fishing
Art Classes
James, Lizzie and Michelle
attended art classes in April 2015.
Jarrod and Stephen enjoying
getting there lines wet at Groper
Creek.
Merry
Christmas
ear
Y
w
e
N
py
p
and Ha
!
The Flexi Team would like to wish all our Service Users and
Families, our Friends, and the Burdekin Community a very
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
10