Inside this issue: From our Executive Officer. The glitz, glam and All That Jazz from our CHICAGO fundraiser. Mystery Staff Interview

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1 Inside this issue: From our Executive Officer The glitz, glam and All That Jazz from our CHICAGO fundraiser Mystery Staff Interview Results from the Regional Training Awards Youth Info Tax Help details Aged Care News Volunteering Vacancies and Upcoming Events

2 PAGE 2 Photos on the front page; Dianna with Cr Sharon Cadwallader at the Regional Training Awards; Pat Hagan and Lynn Kishere at CHICAGO ; Phillipa and Cheryl enjoying Hawaiian Day with Marie and Maria. From our Executive Officer BDCSA is growing from strength to strength with an increase in funding and acquiring preferred provider status, these include: Additional funding for 16 respite packages for people with a disability; Becoming one of the preferred providers for Life Choices program; Being successful in acquiring preferred provider with Family and Community Services (FaCs) to provide supervised access and travel in the Ballina and Lismore areas; Successfully obtaining partnership funding for supportive accommodation for four people with a disability. This partnership is with North Coast Community Housing who is working with KoHo designers to build a purpose built accommodation and the management of the property. BDCSA has been funded to provide the 24 hour care services; and Two short-term (18 month) projects to be officially announced in the next couple of weeks. With the increase in funding there will be additional opportunities for staff including additional paid work for Support Workers. Additional hours and more security was a major area the Support Workers felt was needed. BDCSA management team have been working hard to improved service delivery for clients and conditions for staff. Recently the Board of Director adopted the recommendation from management to pay above the modern award conditions for our casual Support Workers. The next stage is to redesign the Support Workers team from having workers work across all areas as generalist workers to specialised teams being: Disability services Aged and carers services Access supervision services Team which works across all three groups. The management team is also going through growth and change with Sue Ashton transferring across to managing the Direct Care Services, Operations Manager appointed for 18 months and the recruitment of the Manager Aged and Carers Services. This is an exciting time for BDCSA and I m sure you see this as a positive for the organisation. Thank you.

3 PAGE 3 CHICAGO The Friends of BDCSA organised a spectacular charity fundraising event for BDCSA in June. The Ballina Players Theatre Inc kindly donated one of their fantastic performances of their hit show CHICAGO. With almost all seats sold and our major raffle, we raised $3,072.10! Many thanks go to the staff members who attended the show and helped out on the night. We d also like to thank our sponsors for the evening; - The Ramada Ballina - The Point Restaurant Ballina - Harvey Norman Ballina - Dick Smith Ballina Photos from CHICAGO - Vast Interior Ballina - Ballina Fair Cinema - Gaia Retreat - Craig Parry Photography - Lennox Head Bowls Club - Thursday Plantation - Cherry St Butcher - Cherry St Bowls Club - BeachLife Surf Centre And of course The Ballina Players Inc. Without their generosity the night would not have been such a great success. Mystery Staff Interview Lindsay Ridgeway is one of our new staff members fresh out of the RAPT project and has started with us as a Trainee Client Coordinator in the Disability Unit. We asked Lindsay a few questions about his new role: 1. What is the most enjoyable part of the job? Being able to throw myself into all areas of the job and having that self esteem boost. Also knowing that what I do at work helps others. 2. What do you think are the benefits of working and studying at the same time? Well for me what I am studying happens to be exactly what is happening in the office at the same time. This is an awesome benefit as I am able to put what I learn into practice straight away. 3. What has been the highlight so far? The highlight for me so far is actually being appreciated for the things I do, where as I felt undervalued in my last job. Lindsay has been working closely with Damien Watson. Damo has been doing an excellent job in mentoring Lindsay and guiding him through his day to day work.

4 PAGE 4 BDCSA was nominated for Large Employer of the Year for the 2012 NSW Training Awards at both State and Regional levels. As a result, we were invited to the North Coast Awards night as one of the top three finalists for the region. We had everything crossed as it would have been wonderful to have all our hard work and development of a system for recruiting and retaining trainees recognised, but due to stiff competition we did not take out the top prize. This time. TRAINING AWARDS Despite the result the Awards Night was a fun event and reaching the top three for the region is a great achievement. Well done BDCSA. Below are photos from the awards night Lindsay, Sue and Dianna waiting nervously on stage Sue, Sharon, Dianna, Lindsay and Melissa enjoying the night YOUTH ARVO SESSIONS for any one high school aged. Safe place where you can have fun, learn new things, meet people and have access to youth workers and other services. Wardell: Wednesday during school term 3:30pm - 6:00pm Ballina: Thursday during school term 3:30pm - 6:00pm t3 Three-on-3 Basketball Comp - Ballina Register your teams interest now! Starts Thursday 19th July and happens every Thursday during term 3! Register your team of 3 (+ 1 sub if you want). Free entry to comp! Meet youth workers, hang out, have fun, eat some food. Send your team name & members to youth@bdcsa.org or post onto our wall BDCSA Youth Services 32 Swift Street Ballina For more information: Matthew Tanttari / TAX HELP Every year BDCSA runs a free tax help service for eligible people within the community. To be eligible your income for the financial year has to be $50,000 or less and you must not have had the following within the financial year: Run your own business Operate under a labour hire agreement Receive any royalties Receive income from a public unit trust or a public trading trust Own or share own a rental property Have any capital gain or loss from shares or other capital assets Receive foreign income other than a foreign pension or annuity Call to make your appointment Follow us!

5 AGED CARE SERVICES BDCSA would like to welcome Famee Torrens, Trainee Client Coordinator. Famee is currently working within the Aged Care Team and is a great asset. Here is feedback from Famee on her placement with the Aged Care Team. I am pleased to be working in this role as I have gained many skills in this area of work which has helped build up my confidence again. I ve had plenty of support within the organisation as everyone has been great in making me feel welcomed. Many thanks to Wendy for being a great mentor in teaching and training me as a Client Coordinator. Kind regards, Famee Torrens We would also like to welcome Jill Hunter. Jill is volunteering with the Aged Care team with Administration duties on Fridays. Pelican Room. The Pelican Group has relocated to the Kentwell Community Centre and is now operating an additional day each week. The new facility is more appropriate to clients needs as it is larger and allows us to provide additional services. The group adjusted immediately and are enjoying their new space. We are now able to hang our art works and display our craft. With the input from service users the space has been comfortably furnished and has a very peaceful atmosphere. The Monday group has been operating as a Dementia Art Therapy Group facilitated by Nicola Harris who has been completing student placement through the University of Queensland for her Masters in Mental Health Art Therapy. The program has been a successful learning experience for clients, carers, staff and Nicola. We thank Nicola for her creativity and time she has committed to providing a quality program to our clients. The group will continue to operate as an art group with the support of a volunteer who has an art background. We hosted a Biggest Morning Tea in May, which was attended by over 70 people and raised $ It is important for BDCSA to support such events, as cancer is becoming something we deal with on a daily basis with our clients and carers. Overall the Cancer Council have raised $4.9 million to date from these morning teas and as a client coordinator I am pleased we were able to contribute to this. PAGE 5 Frangipani Room The Frangipani Room were entertained by the rhythmic tappers, some of this group of entertainers are aged in their 80 s and the clients were amazed at the fitness level and abilities of the group. The clients at Frangipani Room are eagerly awaiting their return. Later this month there a many activities prepared for the 2012 Olympics. Overnight Respite Cottage The OCR has been closed for the month of June for renovations, these have included solar panels and hot water system, new fence and gates, new dishwasher, washing machine and in the garden we now have a birdbath, bird feeder and garden seat. Many thanks to our male clients with the support of volunteers in maintaining and fixing the old garden seat, however the time has come for a new one. We also have a volunteer gardener, David Paulson at the cottage. David will maintain the garden beds and will contribute to the spring garden. The cottage will reopen on 9 th July, A very big thank you to Lynn, Cheryl and Phillipa for all the planning, coordination of tradesman and working towards all the modifications and improvements. Regards, Wendy and Toni.

6 PAGE 6 VOLUNTEERING There are always volunteer vacancies with BDCSA. The following are the current vacancies. - Our program for young people with a disability would like volunteers to help during school holidays. This group is mainly active teenagers and there are different activities planned each day. - Disability Services are looking for someone to assist their high functioning young adult group, known as Access 127, on Wednesdays from 10am to 3pm. You would need to have good communication skills, be able to take direction and be willing to assist two of our female clients to complete art projects such as Scrapbooking. - Youth services would like another volunteer for programs that run in Wardell on Wednesdays and Ballina on Thursdays 3:30pm 6:00pm. You could volunteer weekly, fortnightly or monthly. These groups are aimed at year olds. - Our Pelican Art Group for early stage dementia has a vacancy for a transport assistant on Monday afternoons 1:30pm 3:00pm. This volunteer accompanies our bus driver when he takes people home and helps people on and off the bus. - There is always a need for more volunteers to visit a socially isolated member of our community. For some it is about having a chat or being supported to do their shopping or a little gardening. - BDCSA requires a new Board Member who is not a current volunteer. Meetings are bimonthly on a Tuesday 5:30pm 7:30pm, dinner provided. - There are also one-off requests for a volunteer to transport someone in the community to an appointment or other event. The next induction training for new volunteers is on Wednesday 1 st August. If you are new to volunteering or would like to take up one of these positions please contact me. Senior First Aid Training In conjunction with North Coast Institute of TAFE Outreach COURSE DETAILS This 3 day course will provide training to BDCSA Volunteers who wish to gain their Senior First Aid Certificate When: Tuesdays 7 th August, 14 th August & 21 st August am to 3.00 pm Where: Kentwell Community Centre, Cnr Moon Street & Bangalow Rd, BALLINA There are only 15 spaces available. Please RSVP by 20 th July 2012: Michele Collins Volunteer Workforce Development Officer Phone: Mobile: volunteers@bdcsa.org