Connecting creativity, human dignity, leadership

SWARA Sunshine Welfare & Remedial Association

101 Park Road Woolloongabba QLD 4102

Website: www.swara.com.au Email: admin@swara.com.au

Phone: 07 3391 4119 Fax:3391 0922

January - March 2018 LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!!!

https://www.facebook.com/swara.brisbane/

FROM THE SENIOR EXECUTIVE

The SWARA Board welcomes all of our wonderful supporters and family into 2018 as we embrace the National Disability Insurance Scheme, providing you with great choice and opportunity.

Our Board is currently developing SWARA’s Strategic Plan to take us forward into 2021, informed by your needs, achievements and successes. Every individual now has a plan of goals anchored in your own values and learning preferences. SWARA has been preparing all of you to be ready since 2013 so we feel confident that you will have your needs met. Please let us know how we can assist you at any time. Our staff are happy to support you by attending your NDIA meeting, if you choose that.

The Board invites you to our AGM for Thursday April 26th at 6.30pm and all are encouraged to attend. There they will launch their Strategic Plan, setting our sails to catch the winds, as we move into the real life NDIS experience that has already begun.

The SWARA Board sets our directions and prepares us providing the blueprint for the staff to follow through on, with our traditional ‘Loving Service’ or ‘Pink Love’.

The Pink Twins story is being told in our ‘Wizards of Aus’ play in November with a 15 minute trailer on Moyia’s Memorial Day Thursday May 10th.

Board members, staff representatives and volunteer representatives at a strategic planning meeting

UPCOMING EVENTS

SWARA Cleaning Day

Saturday 10th March

9:30am – 12:30pm

Annual General Meeting

Thursday 26th April at 6.30pm

All welcome and invited to attend with

refreshments from 6pm

Moyia O’Brien Memorial Day

Thursday May 10th 10am- 2pm all welcome

and encouraged to attend

Art Show

Tuesday, 20th March at 11:30am Displaying creative art work of our first

eight weeks by our participants

Community Inclusion March 2018

02/03/18 Art Gallery – GOMA

05/03/18 Movies $10

07/03/18 Mt Coo-tha Botanical

Gardens

09/03/18 Shopping - $10 - $20

12/03/18 Bowling $15-$20

14/03/18 Newmarket cinemas $10-$15

19/03/18 Lunch at Redbrick Hotel $20

21/03/18 QLD Museum $5

23/03/18 State Library

26/03/18 Southbank swim

28/03/18 Roald Dahl – The Witches $20

*Bookings essential

SWARA upcoming holidays:

30th March - 2nd April Easter

25th April Anzac Day

7th May Labour Day

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The Moyia O’Brien memorial day Thursday May 10th will celebrate our ‘Stories of Gratitude’ for the rare LOVE that we have all experienced and that is the rich vein of strength that will always inspire our people to live a life as Moyia and Dorothy O’Brien did. Come along and share your stories so we can record them as we are doing with our participants. These photos are some of our fondest memories captured by the omni-present camera of our Board President

Geoff Abel an authentic gentleman, much loved long-term volunteer and dear friend of Moyia

Board President Ranji with Cousin and Board member TP Board Secretary Mollie O’Brien Moyia loving her garden O’Brien served and loved over many with her adored cousin Moyia together years together at SWARA

Board Treasurer Kushal Sami Bronwyn with Dr Georgina Brunton Board consultant psychiatrist

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Moyia’s birthday 2017 celebrated by much loved niece Katina (back row), Doris, Board President Ranji Goundar, Karen,

Kate, Jeff, Claire and front row Senior Executive Bronwyn, Professor Sue Rider, Moyia’s cousins Darcy and Mollie O’Brien

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FROM THE MANAGER

Welcome back to SWARA for 2018. There has been a

few changes to service provision towards the end of

last year and the beginning of this year. We welcome

Bronwyn Gowing back as Senior Executive. Bronwyn’s

role is to work directly with the board to assist them

to guide SWARA in strategic plans and ongoing

direction of SWARA to ensure that the twins legacy

lives on through the NDIS. Bronwyn is also working on

the participants’ values, learning preferences and

goals. These will be sent home to further assist you in

your planning meeting with the National Disability

Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Over the break the staff worked hard to create clear

working spaces for activities in SWARA. A new arts

space has been created with a separate area for wet

creations. This new area will assist Tony to get a more

focused group in a quiet space. The main area is now

used for educational activities, learning through

games and puzzles as well as a good space for

participants’ meetings and a planning area. Karaoke is

now downstairs in the music room so it does not

disturb the art classes and the activities going on in

the main room.

We have developed activity folders – these folders are

designed to outline what skills are required in each

individual Life Skill Support areas of Sunshine Cafe;

Sunshine Bakery; Community Inclusion; Recycling

Enterprise; Horticulture; Communication Skills;

Creative and Performing Arts; Learning and Applying

Knowledge for Independence. These skills will be

assessed after the participant has attended the

program 5 times. At the end of 8 weeks these

assessments will be taken into account when looking

at the choices for the next 8 weeks. The participants

have completed their choice forms for the first 8

weeks at SWARA. We encourage them to stay in

these choices for at least 2 weeks before they decide

to change.

SWARA has also engaged the services of Katie Martin

– Katie is using her talents in the arts guided by our

very talented Tony to put on a play in November, this

play is called the ‘Wizards of Aus’ and maps the

parallel path of Moyia and Dorothy’s work to the

NDIS. Monday and Thursdays are the days the

workshops are held for those who have chosen to be

in the play.

Thi-Thi has returned every week on Tuesday morning

for our Yoga classes for our participants.

Linda is coming every second Wednesday afternoon

for Zumba classes. All participants can attend for free.

If anyone else would like to join in on the Zuma

classes please have a chat to Linda on 0428 419157 to

book a spot. These classes are very gentle but a lot of

fun.

We have an active group of volunteers working on the

gardens at SWARA. This was something very close to

the twins hearts so we would love to have a group of

people come and join us to create a loving and

peaceful space for all the SWARA community.

Of course there is an open invitation to anyone who

want to visit SWARA and see what is happening. We

are always happy to accept any assistance families can

give us to ensure SWARA transitions successfully

through the changes occurring to the sector with the

implementation of the NDIS.

NDIS NEWS

Many people have already received their first letter

which is one to confirm all their details are correct

and some have had follow up phone calls to explain

about the planning meetings. At this stage the roll out

in this area is still July 1st 2018.

You can also start early registration for NDIS by calling

1800 800 110 or use this number to discuss your

access to the NDIS.

NDIS pre planning meetings are still happening, so

please call the office on 3391 4119 and make an

appointment if you have not already done this.

I am looking forward to working with all the SWARA

community this year and sharing your NDIS journey.

Staff Training

Staff training days were held during December and

January when all staff worked together to ensure that

new initiatives are working and that all areas of

SWARA are working to the same goals.

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Back row - Deb, Tony, Hilary, Enoka, Richard, Devi Front row - Buddhi, Cindy, Baz, Kim, Leo

KEY LEARNING AREAS

SUNSHINE CAFÉ

SUNSHINE BAKERY

This year Sunshine Bakery has started refreshing new

skills on gaining basic knowledge on the art of baking

such as reading recipes, choosing ingredients,

measuring ingredients and cleaning. There has been

an extraordinary enthusiasm especially new

participants joining the Monday sessions wanting to

learn new skills.

COMMUNITY INCLUSION

Welcome everyone back for a great 2018 in

community inclusion. All the staff and participants are

looking forward to all the new places we will be

attending. We have already had some fantastic trips

this year to places such as Movies, Bowling, Art

Gallery and Cricket at the GABBA. If any carers,

advocates or parents would like to suggest any places

they would

to see SWRA

attend feel

more then

welcome to

make us

aware.

Please note that these outings are extremely popular,

and we advise you to get registered as soon as you

receive the notice. Our visits are part of achieving

clients goals.

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Community Inclusion

March 2018

**Bookings essential

Date Location Bus Money

02/03/18 Art Gallery - GOMA No No

05/03/18 Movies $10 No Yes

07/03/18 Mt Coo-tha Botanical

Gardens

No No

09/03/18 Shopping - $10 - $20 Yes Yes

12/03/18 Bowling $15-$20 No Yes

14/03/18 Newmarket cinemas

$10-$15

No Yes

19/03/18 Lunch at redbrick Hotel

$20

No Yes

21/03/18 QLD Museum $5 No Yes

23/03/18 State Library No No

26/03/18 Southbank swim No No

28/03/18 Roald Dahl – The

Witches $20

No Yes

Please note that outings may be cancelled due to

weather, lack of participants or unavailability of

staff. We will do our best to provide you with as

much notice as possible if an outing is going to be

changed or altered.

Thanks for your understanding.

CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS

News from Tony’s Art Room

Yes, we have our very own art space in which we will

create quality art works to be regularly exhibited at

the end of each eight week period. We have the

honour of hosting our first show from Tuesday 20th

March at SWARA, to be opened by our fantastic local

councillor Mr. Jonathon Shri (at11.30am).

RECYCLING ENTERPRISE

Welcome back to another year at SWARA. We are

increasing the number of participants who have

chosen to attend this program activity over the next

two months. They will learn a variety of new skills

through our experienced staff and participants who

have worked in this program for years. Cliff and John

have been long time members of SWARAS recycle

team, mentoring new participants as they join our

team, modelling leadership, work ethic and WHS safe

work practices.

LEARNING SKILLS FOR INDEPENDENCE

Welcome back to a new year in Learning Skills! Both

Participants and Volunteers are very happy to be

back. This year we will be writing new stories, which

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we will share throughout the year during story time,

which will be held during one morning tea each week,

when we begin to have stories published. We have

also introduced a group learning skills lesson on

Fridays, where participants will be able to extend their

skills in regard to Money Handling, Budgeting and

Costing, as well as assisting with the fortnightly food

ordering for SWARA. I am looking forward to

accompanying participants on community access

every 2nd Friday where we will put our Literacy and

Numeracy skills into practice in the real world.

Volunteers News

HOW TO BECOME A VOLUNTEER

1. Phone SWARA on 3391 4119 to make an

appointment.

2. Visit SWARA, see what’s happening around and

talk to our beautiful community

3. Fill out paperwork

4. Start volunteering

We are looking for new volunteers for the following

activity areas;

• Keyboard player for the choir

• Community inclusion

• Gardner

• Literacy & numeracy

• Café

• Bakery

• Cleaning

• Art & craft

• General volunteers

Farewell Spirit

By Geoff Abel

After my cat Spirit had been unwell for several days, I

made an appointment to take him to the local

veterinary clinic at Sherwood. Spirit had been there a

number of times before in his almost twenty – three

years of life.

When it was time to go to the vet, I put him in his wire

carry cage. As usual he relaxed and laid down, after

checking to make sure there was no way to escape.

How could he have known that this was not a routine

visit.

At the clinic an examination by the Vet revealed that

Spirit was too sick to treat. With my agreement, the

Vet got him ready for the medical procedure. I was

really glad that I had decided to stay with Spirit.

Although the overwhelming emotional shock, as the

procedure took effect was not something I was

prepared for or expected, I wouldn’t have missed

being there with him. It was not a happy experience

but nothing will ever replace that amazing feeling of

emotion.

Anyhow don’t be sad. This story has a happy ending.

Spirit is at rest in his favourite place – the garden.

Geoff Abel

It has been an enriching experience for me

because of the natural and unconditional

friendship of the participants. It has been

wonderful to discover the unique characters of

each person, their interests and capabilities.

Also, I must mention the necessary support and

expertise of the friendly staff!

Tom Sudull

Volunteer since 2014