autumn 2014 - St John of God Health Care
Transcription
autumn 2014 - St John of God Health Care
AUTUMN 2014 Hospitality | Compassion | Respect | Justice | Excellence iAccord ISSUE | AUTUMN 2014 Message from Tony Hollamby, CEO AUTUMN 2014 In this issue Message from Tony Hollamby, CEO The autumn weather can be a time to reflect on relationships with others and here at Accord we are committed to building relationships. Recently the Divisional Management Committee launched ‘Achieving Together’ in February of this year. So far we have visited a significant number of sites at Accord to communicate the importance of ‘Achieving Together’ and how we utilise four principles of Catholic Social Teaching. This was a time for us to inform employees and acknowledge how Accord develops and deepens its relationship with clients, families and other stakeholders. The principle of Human Dignity is at the core of “Achieving Together” and this process will create a continuity of approach across the organisation into how we relate. Information has been sent to families regarding our strategy. We will continue to communicate “Achieving Together” organisation wide and support our employees to utilise the four main principles. Bowling Fever Accord is finalising its Service Delivery Model for 2014/15. The development of a formalised Service Delivery model creates more certainty and accountability of employees in delivering a quality level of support. Also, St John of God Health Care agreed to fund the development of a concept brief to design a concept building for accommodation suitable for people with an intellectual disability taking into account the increasing complexity of people requiring support and the aging group of clients. Learning & Organisational Development Diploma of Management Program ACES Western Sensory Garden Profile Peter Newsome Construction at Greensborough Being Human ACES Eastern Gerard’s Story On front cover are Marcus Stone and Danielle McLean Editor Marie Scholem/Aisling McCabe Production Aisling McCabe Printer Print Media Group News from around Accord Please email your story to [email protected] with any news you have. Thank you. www.sjog.org.au/accord Reflection “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter” - Martin Luther King Jr. Page 2 iAccord ISSUE | AUTUMN 2014 Bowling Fever By Aileen Rush and Lynette McDonald, Direct Support Workers What does bowling mean to Accord? Well a lot, as it happens. For more than 20 years St John of God Accord clients have taken to the lanes in the east of Melbourne to catch up with old and new friends to demonstrate their bowling talents. L-R: Allen, Gary and Aileen Aileen Rush, Accord Direct Support Worker has organised the bowling group for over 18 years. Starting in Mooroolbark, Aileen has moved with the client group through a series of bowling venues - to Boronia when Mooroolbark closed and then to Chirnside. Reflecting on her time with the bowling group, Aileen said, “watching the clients talk about old times and share stories was a real privilege, and I have enjoyed reminding them of some funny experiences we shared”. Through Aileen’s support and encouragement clients who never played before or wanted to play, eventually put on their bowling shoes and played with winning confidence, displaying smiles of pride. Sooner rather than later a competitive streak came to the group and bowlers really demonstrated their bowling skills. For years Robert Cronin preferred to watch his other housemates play rather than participate. He cheered them on but enjoyed chatting more than playing. After years of encouragement, one day Robert decided to play. It turned out he is an absolute natural and won a trophy for the highest scores in four out of five years and he has never looked back. Robert is now the envy of a couple of other competitive bowlers and affectionately known as the ‘quiet achiever’! David Mulcahy always came to bowling with his other housemates. Aileen mentions that over the years David would bowl a ball and then sit out; he wasn’t as keen on playing as the rest of the group. While this continued for several years, Aileen always encouraged him and now he plays the full two games and wouldn’t miss it. Affectionately known as the ‘Dream Team’, there is one team that has remained the same. James, Ron and Gerard are all fiercely competitive and needed no assistance. Aileen talks about the sense of community when everyone comes together one Sunday a month to bowl. “It’s such a fun day and everyone is so co-operative. To ensure maximum pleasure we keep everything consistent - same lanes; same bowling teams. This also reduces the stress for everyone. Presentation Day held annually in November is a very special day in the bowling calendar. Despite the fact that shelves all over the east groan with so many trophies from past years, the enthusiasm from clients is very much alive; it’s everyone’s favourite time! January is down time for bowling and the group have a picnic or barbeque instead. All the clients bring along bats and balls and have a great outdoors day. Simon On her retirement, Aileen has now handed over the mantle to Lynette McDonald. Aileen reflects on what a joy and blessing it has been, being part of assisting and organising the bowling over these many years and how it was difficult for her to leave. Aileen’s journey began officially with St John of God (and later Accord) 25 years ago. Lynette McDonald is keen to acknowledge Aileen’s contribution to the bowling group and more importantly to each client. Just recently Lynette and the clients invited Aileen back to join them for one last time to say thank you and present her with a parting gift. Gary Barkley spoke on behalf of the other clients to acknowledge Aileen’s role in supporting each of them and for keeping the bowling excursions alive. “He was very active in picking and buying Aileen’s goodbye present, and giving his speech” says Lynette. For almost twenty years the group has exercised its independence through social and sporting activities. While there’s a bowling lane open in the eastern suburbs, the chances are you’ll either hear or see great camaraderie displayed by Lynette and her bowling teams. Page 3 iAccord ISSUE | AUTUMN 2014 Learning and Organisational Development By Marie Scholem, Director, Organisational Development and Workforce Learning is a key aspect of organisational development and forms a vital part of our ‘people and culture’ plan at Accord. As we begin the financial year, the training calendar for the next twelve months will be finalised and ready for publishing – an affirmation that the desire for learning at Accord has become the norm. This coming year’s program focuses on autism, mental health, cultural diversity, leadership development, performance coaching and customer relationships. Having a focus on learning and organisational development, means that effectively, Accord is giving our leaders more control over outcomes and giving our employees more control over how they do their jobs. Learning and development programs essentially put the minds of all employees to work and enhance the quality and timeliness of decision-making. Over the last few years we have up-skilled our disability workforce with an emphasis on attainment of certificate and advanced diploma levels within disability studies. We have established an e-learning platform and a succession planning model which will be further embedded over this coming year. Organisational development, in its broader application, is an instrument of cultural change – cultural change that empowers leaders and individual employees, and also supports thinking in regard to continuous improvement and alignment around shared goals. Our approach to organisational development supports the growth of personal and professional capability within our leaders, innovation within our services, a greater focus on outcomes, sound management of costs, as well as job and life satisfaction. St John of God HealthCare Diploma of Management Program Amanda Starkiss, HR Advisor As part of our Learning and Development program, a group of seven employees from St John of God Accord commenced their leadership learning journey in March 2013 when they began the SJGHC Diploma of Management program. Front Row L-R: Anita Fisher - Team Leader, Jodie Kirkpatrick - Team Leader, Sarah Matheou - Disability Support Worker, Jodie Hires - Team Leader Middle Row L-R: Silvana Gugliandolo - Director of Service Delivery, Amanda Starkiss - HR Advisor, Marie Scholem - Director of Organisational Development and Workforce, Denise Leuschner - Accommodation Manager, Margaret Bishop - Accommodation Manager The Diploma of Management is designed for new Managers and Team Leaders with the purpose of contributing to leadership continuity (succession planning). The structure of the program includes units such as: show leadership in the workplace; manage operational plans; ensure team effectiveness; manage people performance and manage risk. In addition to the units, participants were required to complete a workplace project that would benefit their team and enhance their own knowledge and skills. The program concluded in November 2013, and a graduation ceremony was held for all participants on 26 March 2014. Congratulations to our Diploma of Management graduates: Adi Liku Veaila; Amanda Starkiss; Anita Fisher; Jodie Hires; Jodie Kirkpatrick; Kathy Lowe and Sarah Matheou. Back Row L-R: Tony Hollamby - CEO, Jim Curtain - Director of Mission, Patricia Fonay - Learning and Development Coordinator, SJGHC Pathology Not Present: Adi Liku Veaila - Team Leader Page 4 iAccord ISSUE | AUTUMN 2014 Making Sense of a Sensory Garden by Aisling McCabe, Marketing and Communications Coordinator Peter Newsome, ACES Western Manager and his leadership team, Karen Bennett, Melissa Caprioli and Karrah Caton, invited me to spend the day with them to experience their sensory garden. I of course jumped at the chance and threw my gumboots in the car - I was in for a treat. Located on the Melton Highway not far from St Albans, our ACES Western centre based in Sydenham is an adult training and support service for young adults with disability. The garden is situated at the rear of the centre and is a retreat for our clients. It was decided last year that the garden space be utilised and turned into a sensory garden and that’s when Michelle Burke, a highly experienced gardener and disability support worker came on board. She instantly recognised the importance of a sensory garden and devised a program for the clients to pursue. Michelle and Chris I soon discovered that Michelle Burke, as coordinator of the sensory garden project and the team, saw a clear set of desired outcomes for clients as fundamental. The aim was for clients to feel more connected to the exterior areas of ACES Western and the community, as well as creating feelings of safety, comfort and lower sensory stimulation in times of stress for clients. Michelle said, “ it’s important to have a communicative area that promotes wellbeing, peace of mind, relaxation, and selfreflection. It’s also for clients to have freedom to access an area that provides open space supporting the five senses”. The objective Michelle said “is for clients with higher sensory needs to access a program specifically designed to support passive interaction of the garden environment. We want each client to have the opportunity to feel, touch, taste, smell and observe the garden environment.” With this in mind, Michelle set about establishing a client gardening team, whereby clients had ownership of the project – maximising outcomes being a key driver of this approach. After several conversations with the clients, she established the need for a learning program to enable skill development, such as planning, building and maintaining the garden. Plus, it was important that each client takes ownership and has a sense of achievement about their project. Eventually taking those new skills to the wider community. L-R: Avnish, Timothy, Lenny, Melissa, Simeon, Darren, Mustafa, Steven, Chris, Michelle, William When work started in the sensory garden, the clients got a real sense of appreciation about their garden and what it provides rather than merely constructing the garden. “Having the clients tend to the herbs and vegetable patch whilst also working in conjunction with our Master Chef program added another dimension and proved to be inspiring” said Michelle. As an adjunct to the sensory garden, the on-site Master Chef Program provides a ready list of produce needed for cooking. Knowing that the Sensory Garden will harvest and deliver that produce to the Master Chef program provides a great sense of achievement. Despite the cool autumn change in weather, I didn’t get a sense of dampened spirits. It was a cold wet day when I was there, but the enthusiasm was very uplifting. The rain didn’t put off Darren, an ACES Western client. He took me around the garden and showed me each plant, the significance of the space created by him and his fellow gardeners and names of each plant. We used our five senses as we saw, smelt, touched, and felt curry plants, lambs ears and pink dragon flowers, to name a few. The garden shed is a hive of activity and closely guarded. Michelle explained that Darren is not only responsible for the tools kept in the shed, but a consistent gardener. There were lots of trips to the local nurseries to identify plants, flowers and apply how best to use the garden space. “Each plant, flower, it’s colour and herb were chosen by the clients, and they all contributed to the initial planning and garden design” said Peter Newsome. The commitment to the project is strong and reviewed weekly by Michelle, the local leadership group and the clients as part of ongoing planning. While this project will continue for some time at the pace of the clients’ wishes, the enthusiasm they share radiates and bounces around the centre. Peter and the leadership team, along with Michelle, acknowledge this excellent work as ‘Achieving Together’. I left ACES Western with a slip of lamb’s ear in my pocket to remind me of the wonders of nature and humankind. Michelle and Peter acknowledge the contribution of Bunnings Water Garden, Reece Plumbing Campbellfield and Bowens Taylors Lakes for their support and excellent follow up service. Page 5 iAccord ISSUE | AUTUMN 2014 Peter Newsome ACES Western Program Manager By Aisling McCabe Marketing and Communications Coordinator Peter Newsome is a committed manager; he never ceases to stop learning, wondering and asking questions, especially in supporting people with intellectual disabilities. Peter has been with St John of God Accord since 2005. Starting in Community Services, he provided direct support to adolescents and young adults in day services and accommodation. Moving on to become a Facilitator and Coordinator, it was here his focus was on Person Centred Planning (PCP) and Personalised Support Arrangements (PSA). As he continued to concentrate on the planning and organisational learning he gained extensive experience in the reorientation of disability service delivery, including service evaluation and design. Peter was present during the time of legislative changes and whilst working at Accord was part of the organisation’s realignment towards Individualised Services plus new areas of support. Peter Newsome He was then appointed Regional Manager responsible for developing Individualised Support Services and supervising the team in providing tailored support. Later, the running of Day Programs for the aged clients was added to his managerial portfolio. As part of his role Peter is a member of the SJGA Operational Management Committee. Today, you’ll find Peter at ACES Western in a managing mode. Already he’s highly respected as the Program Manager for Accord Community Engagement Services (ACES), Western Region. This role involves leading and managing a large team who provide group services to school leavers 18 years and older. The positive vibes around the centre can be attributed to leadership, dedication and teamwork. He embraces every challenge as a new learning curve. The sensory garden is a huge project. Whilst it began prior to Peter’s commencement, he has maintained commitment and further development of the project with long-term positive outcomes for clients and employees. Asking Peter what’s important to him he answered, “I have a strong belief in values-based training, role modelling, business entrepreneurship and strategic planning, which have informed my approach to work”. While he talks about the future of ACES Western, he always acknowledges his local leadership team, Karen Bennett, Melissa Caprioli and Karrah Caton. Peter believes that encompassing leadership at a local level to strengthen operations and practice is the way forward. Through fostering leadership development and learning, effective decision-making that builds capacity will occur within his team and ensure a better service. “Having strong engagement with local schools is of the upmost importance”, say Peter. “We’re able to assist with the planning and transition of school leavers as they prepare to enter the service”. Spending time with family members is something Peter is very familiar with and his experience will ensure that each young adult will receive the best support options available with positive outcomes. After being approached to be a guest lecturer by RMIT for the Youth Studies course, which has been part of his formation, Peter quickly acknowledges that this allows for an opportunity to connect Accord with a tertiary provider. He does find time to volunteer his time to worthy causes and last year visited Peru. But for the moment his focus clearly is on ACES Western. Team Leaders (L-R): Karen Bennett, Peter Newsome - Manager, Melissa Caprioli Not Present: Karrah Caton (Maternity Leave) Page 6 iAccord ISSUE | AUTUMN 2014 More than Bricks and Mortar By Pieter Brook-Rerecich, Risk Manager As construction has started at the Greensborough site, it’s a reminder that the new facility is not all just bricks and mortar, but in fact a community of people that work together with common goals. The new building will only form part of the environment that the community of Accord will contribute to. It needs to be a safe retreat to participate and work in. To minimise risk to those belonging to the Accord community there needs to be systems and structures put in place. These are parameters that people feel safe to function within. It is these systems that are being reviewed at management level to ensure that when the move to Greensborough occurs, it will be an easy transition for everyone concerned. As Accord moves into the NDIS arena, we need to be adaptable and resilient. Having an integrated management system that supports the organisation will ensure productivity and a risk free environment. It’s through the involvement of workers and clients in the OHS, Wellbeing, O’Shea and Quality committees, that these supporting structures and systems are developed and implemented. To make a difference in the Accord community and to continually improve on what we already have in place you can participate in the different stakeholder committees by contacting Anthony Sellar (Wellbeing Coordinator and O’Shea Divisional Champion), Pieter Brook-Rerecich (OHS) or Natalie Koehler (Quality). It’s All Part of Being Human By Jim Curtin, Director of Mission What does it mean to be human? Being human means we can laugh at a joke and cry the same tears. Laughter draws us together helping us share life and joy with each other. Here at Accord we have plenty of opportunities for laughter and sharing, but we also know that we sometimes have to deal with difficult circumstances that people present - it’s all part of being human. All human beings have an innate dignity simply because they are human. Whatever your abilities, race, beliefs or status, we should all be treated with respect. Respect is at the centre of how we work, and how we affirm people’s dignity. Pope Francis recently said: “Every human being is the object of God’s infinite tenderness, and he himself is present in their lives. Appearances notwithstanding, every person is immensely holy and deserves our love”. Many of you may have heard about our ‘Achieving Together’ program, as we have distributed material relating to it, or even heard Tony Hollamby CEO and the senior team from Accord talking about it. The core principles of Achieving Together are four Catholic Social Teachings - Human Dignity, Common Good, Subsidiarity and Solidarity. I have observed as Director of Mission the positive manner in which Accord employees talk to and about our clients. Over the last few months I, along with other members of the senior leadership team have visited a number of our Shared Supported Accommodation houses and Accord’s Community Engagement Services (ACES) to talk to about ‘Achieving Together’. When we do so, we hear stories from employees about how they support clients, and one of the great features of those stories is the way employee’s refer to clients. Their language is always respectful, friendly, and compassionate. This tells us that, when we speak about ‘Human Dignity’ as part of Achieving Together, we are building on attitudes that are already there. Yes, the new building at Greensborough is an important part of our future but the Accord mission is to be more than new buildings. We continue to affirm human dignity by the way we work and interact with our clients. Construction at a Cracking Pace - Greensborough By Lisa McMahon, Commissioning Project and Planning Coordinator As we come to the end of another construction week at Greensborough, the contractors have defied the winter rain and set a cracking pace. The demolition work is almost finished and now we move into the next exciting phase of actual construction. What an amazing time to be able to witness this transformation unfold whilst life at ACES Northern and CHESS continues - conducting ‘business as usual’. It has been good to take a moment to reflect what this means for us all. Being in this project commissioning role, I’ve been fortunate enough to talk to lots of people such as our neighbours, families, clients, schools and community groups, and the general consensus is that this development is great not only for Accord but for the community as a whole. Lisa McMahon Page 7 iAccord ISSUE | AUTUMN 2014 ACES Eastern By Aisling McCabe Marketing and Communications Coordinator ACES Eastern - Individualised Support (IS) and Group Support (GS) ACES Individualised Support (IS) is designed around allowing individual clients to self-select their individual programs and be empowered by their journey. The support we offer is also based around the uniqueness of our client’s dreams and vision for themselves, combined with assistance from professional experienced employees. In the same way we approach ACES IS, our professional employees in Group Support (GS) allows for each client to benefit from active community engagement. Accessing the community through a range of both fun and meaningful activities ensures positive outcomes. The building of valued relationships with our clients, key stakeholders and their community provides the opportunity for our clients to be supported to thrive. Another key feature of ACES IS and GS service begins with the ability to be flexible with our clients across all life domains dependent on their needs. This client driven approach allows for quality of life and the wellbeing of our clients to increase, evident in the story shared about Gerard. Our Community Support Workers Group Staff: - David Harley (Team Leader) - Ann-Marie Freeman - Chris James - Karen Clutton - Kerrie Mackechnie - Owen Edmonds - Sam Courtney - Julie Elliot - Ilsa Botha - Casual Pool Managing ACES Eastern Individual and Group Support By Aisling McCabe Marketing and Communications Coordinator Nicholas Pouki – ACES Eastern Manager Nick joined St John of God Accord in 2010, and has worked in Individualised Support at ACES Eastern for over three years. He then became a Team Leader and now more recently the ACES Eastern Manager. Having completed a Bachelor of Exercise Science and Human Development and a Masters of Exercise Physiology and Rehabilitation, he brings a new focus to supporting clients. Nick says, “having a healthy lifestyle is just as important as accessing the community. Diet and exercise contribute to a better feeling of wellbeing.” Reflecting on some of the outcomes achieved for clients, Nick talks of the positive impact when working with twin clients, both 27 years old and living independently. Both men were overweight with chronic arthritis. Instead of conducting the traditional support model, Nick decided to take a new approach and work with them to modify their lifestyle. He introduced both clients to the importance of diet and successfully changed their thinking to fresh food and meal preparation. He incorporated exercise within their support plan and got his clients out walking daily, shooting hoops along with other activities, and ensured it became part of their routine. His methods paid off and both men experienced significant weight loss resulting in decreased arthritis symptoms. To this day both clients continue their healthy ritual. Nick ensures now as manager that his team are fully aware of the importance of diet and exercise. Given the level of expertise at Accord, Nick is working closely with Emily Rech our Occupational Therapist on implementing a fall prevention exercise program for aging clients across the Accord organisation. Nick says, “Being ACES Eastern Manager, I understand the importance of empowering clients and supporting their vision and goals. Acknowledging the strong ACES team around me and under the direction of Silvana Gugliandolo, Director of Service Delivery, we’re building a strong future at ACES Eastern, with each client having the utmost professional support”. Individualised Staff: - David Harley (Team Leader) - Kristy McConachy - William Thomas - Harsh Duggal - Julie Reynolds - Sarah Graham - Kris Stevens - Erin Pinder - Lana Tresidder - Carol Conway - Casual Pool Nicholas Pouki Page 8 iAccord ISSUE | AUTUMN 2014 Gerard’s Story as told by Julie Reynolds Born into a large caring family, as a child Gerard Cogan attended both mainstream and special development schools for both his primary and secondary education. Gerard is autistic and it was his mother Shelia’s wish that he have a happy and fulfilling life. When Gerard finished secondary school, he went to work in the private sector and gained full time employment in the manufacturing field. He was regarded as a diligent and loyal employee to his company. When his company moved their operation to Sydney in 2010, Gerard chose not to go and therefore his role became redundant. During this period of transition Gerard continued to be supported by the Individualised Support (IS) Program at St John of God Accord. Trying to find another full-time position proved too difficult for Gerard, so in 2013 he chose to retire. As a client of St John of God Accord for almost 20 years, he has lived in Shared Supported Accommodation for most of that time. In 2011 circumstances necessitated a move and Gerard and his housemates, Mark and Fred secured a rental property through the open rental market. Wayne, their landlord, told me that he hit the jackpot by having these three men as his tenants. Gerard, Mark and Fred are excellent and responsible tenants. They employ a gardener and a cleaner and Gerard is diligent in making sure that the rent is paid on time and always one week early, to allow time for the cheque to clear. Encouraged by myself, as well as the rest of the team, Gerard makes all his own decisions and choices and enjoys being out and about. Gerard is very competent in using public transport and visits different shopping centres throughout Melbourne. In particular he enjoys visiting bookstores where he often purchases non-fiction books. With an amazing memory, Gerard can memorize many books cover to cover, and in particular the Melbourne Melways. I never get lost driving when Gerard is with me! Gerard has a maturity and understanding that is unique. His wealth of knowledge, historical facts, figures and statistics, events in history, sporting events down to the minutest detail, is fascinating. As an autistic person, Gerard used to stand to one side and observe people, speak only when spoken to and would never put himself forward in communicating with other people. With my support, Gerard now belongs to a men’s group that meets once every four weeks for a day of social fun. Here he is respected within the group as a man of knowledge and as a friendly outgoing person. He asks lots of questions and introduces many interesting topics of conversation for discussion by the group. He now puts himself forward as well as really listening to what people say. Every week for over a year now, I had been inviting Gerard out for a coffee for social interaction. Then one day, Gerard asked me out for a coffee. A small thing, you might say. But it wasn’t. Gerard had come to understand that this is what people do. They talk to each other, they enjoy each other’s company, they share with each other, and they communicate. I must admit, I had tears running down my cheeks that day. A huge achievement for Gerard and the best coffee invitation I have ever received. Gerard is a joy to work with. He has a great sense of humour, he is talkative and friendly, and he astounds me with his knowledge. He can even read upside-down. Life is such a journey for all of us and it can be difficult. Some might say that Gerard, as an autistic person, has a disability. However, I say, that Gerard is a gift to all the earth. The following poem is written by Julie Reynolds for Gerard. Gerard, You are a gift to all Creation, You are precious beyond compare, You are joy, love, peace and happiness, A gift for all the world to share. You are beauty, you are compassion, On Eagle wings you choose to fly, You have amazing gifts to share, Before it’s your turn to die. You are power, you are strength, You are courage to your core, You are magic, you are laughter, You are blessings by the score. You are treasure, you are mystery, You are worth far more than gold, You are a man, placed on Earth, For all the world to behold. There is a little secret, That set your treasures free, You surrendered without fear, And knew all things are meant to be. There is a higher purpose, Known to your heart at birth, You are a treasure box of treasures, To share with all who walk this Earth. All the best Gerard, By Julie Reynolds and The St. John of God Accord IS Team. Gerard Cogan and Julie Reynolds Page 9 iAccord ISSUE | AUTUMN 2014 Gerard’s Story as told by his sister Mary Hutchinson By Mary Hutchinson Gerard is my older brother and a brother to seven other siblings. Gerard has always been around lots of people but has never really been a part of what we did, he always stayed to the background, watching and listening, but never joining in. My mum’s dream was that Gerard would be happy, safe and get to live a fulfilling life and become an accepted member of our society. She would be so proud of him today, if she could see him now. Thanks to years of support from his Individualised Support Team at St John of God Accord, Gerard is now doing things we never thought he would ever do. He takes control of his life and embraces it. When he was a child we ate roast potatoes six nights a week because he wouldn’t eat anything else, now Gerard will eat anything you put on his plate, but best of all, he actually cooks his own meals now. Last month he went to a lawyer by himself and had his Will made out. Two weeks before that he took himself off to a podiatrist because his foot was hurting - I didn’t even know he knew what a podiatrist was! He loves travelling on the trains and buses and often takes himself off on day trips - we don’t know where he goes until he returns. But he does return, and always with some interesting facts to share. Julie Reynolds embraces my brother as a man with untapped potential, focusing on his strengths and with a belief that Gerard is amazing. This helps my brother to fly and reach his full potential. Julie’s support is also amazing. I work in education as a principal of a school, and I talk to lots of families about the struggles of having an autistic child. I then share my brother’s journey and talk about a future full of possibilities. Have we worried about his ability to do these things by himself? Absolutely! Will he come back safely from his travels? If we don’t let go and let him try, we will never ever know what his full potential is. Gerard is definitely living life to its fullest. Thank you Julie, St John of God Accord, and the Individualised Support Team. Team Leader, ACES Eastern Individual and Group Support By Aisling McCabe, Marketing and Communications Coordinator Dave Harley is Team Leader for ACES Eastern Individual and Group Support. “Working in Individualised and Group Support is very rewarding” says Dave. “There’s lots of interaction between clients and employees on a daily basis. With community engagement being at the forefront of each Community Support Worker’s (CSW) mind, this ensures active and fulfilling days for each client.” As Team Leader, Dave recognises the benefits associated with active community engagement. As each Community Support Worker takes to the swimming pools with clients, bowling or engages in cooking and art classes, other CSW’s hold monthly birthday parties for clients to celebrate. ACES Eastern clients volunteer their time to Meals on Wheels and a number of animal shelters. These clients thoroughly enjoy contributing their time to the greater community and are aware of the difference their contribution makes. Every morning the St John of God Accord vans drive to the homes of our clients in the East, to collect and take them to fun and meaningful community activities. With the dedication and professionalism of all Accord’s Community Support Workers, our clients exposure to community activities ensures each day is fresh and worthwhile. Gerard Cogan Page 10 iAccord ISSUE | AUTUMN 2014 The CRUNCH-Spelling Bee Fun Night There’s no accounting for brilliance! By Aisling McCabe, Marketing and Communications Coordinator Robert Dobin Heather Mates and Andrew Drysdale St John of God Day in March What team do you play for? “I play for the Honey Badgers – it’s a mixed team of women and men. We play at Bulleen Basketball Stadium. I currently play three games per week twice with the mixed Honey Badgers team and once with the Jelly Babies, a women’s team. “ Jim Curtain Margaret Gibson and Tony Hollamby Elizabeth Harvey manages to balance the demands of her role as Accord’s Accountant with her participation in sporting teams. Having recently won a Grand Final with her basketball team, I caught up with her to congratulate and discuss the big win. Enjoying the music at the St John of God Day Wedding bells and love in the air at Accord The Honey Badgers have been together for three seasons – the first two reaching the preliminary and grand finals and finally winning the grand final this season with a score of 38 to 29. How long you’re playing for? “I have been playing basketball since I was 7 years old. I played with the Bulleen Boomers throughout Primary School and High School and then in the senior domestic teams ever since. “ What do you like best about the game? “The exercise, the people I play with, the competitiveness – it’s always a thrill to win close matches, or to beat a team that we have always struggled against. “ Emily Rech and Jamie Jones who recently got married in New York City “Also being able to continually improve my skills - such as consistency with my shooting! Some days I can hit every shot, and other days I will miss all my shots! “ What don’t you like about the game? Congratulations to Lisa Norman and Andrew Drysdale on their recent nuptials Page 11 “Nothing!!…oh except the 10pm games.” iAccord ISSUE | AUTUMN 2014 Corporate Services Shop 24, Ringwood Square Shopping Centre, 59-65 Maroondah Highway (Enter via Charter Street) PO Box 528, Ringwood Vic. 3134 T (Reception) +61 3 8804 4600 | F +61 3 8804 4690 © June 2014