Volume 26, Issue 7 July 2017 After Hours On Call Mobile phone number 0432 686 269

80 Wynter St, Taree NSW 2430PO Box 783 Taree NSW 2430P:02 6552 7374 F:02 6550 0742Email: info@aboutinclusion.com.auwww.aboutinclusion.com.au

WOW! One year ago we were thinking about the NDIS rolling out for our community and what we could do to best support families make the change to the new system. That year has flown by and almost every one of the families we support now have an NDIS plan in their hands and are receiving support in a new way.

We are seeing families really exploring what opportunities they can now connect with. We are receiving calls from people that were once not even connected to services now receiving hands on responsive assistance tailored to their own needs.

The change has been massive and we are all still adjusting! We would love to hear your stories on what has changed for you. Or let us know what you’re thinking about including when your NDIS plan comes up for renewal. We love to hear your stories of progress and achievements and of course any concerns you may have. Our door is always open.

Kind regards,

Donna Ballard Manager

When you next call in to Wynter Street please congratulate Lyn Austin! Read why in our Behind the Scenes section this month

If you have not yet heard from the NDIS about a planning meeting, please contact our office, and we can assist you in making NDIS contact. Or

you may choose to go directly to the NDIS to find out why you haven’t been contacted. You can visit them in person at their office in Victoria St, or call them on 1800 800 110

NDIS for Community Transport Community Transport are a registered NDIS provider, this means you can ask

them for a service agreement for your transport needs and fund the transport from your NDIS plan.

Call Community Transport on 6554 5447 for more information.

In the Out and About section, Mim caught up with the Stephen Wood to chat about our Community Participation Day Program activities

Our Staff Profile this month shines a spotlight on Jenny Mitchison.

Creating Opportunities. Strengthening Communities.

July… At a Glance: 1-16 July: School Holidays (Teen Time!)2-9 July: NAIDOC week30 July: National Tree Day and International Friendship Day

It is a real achievement to stay in a busy work role full of expectation for 10 years! Lyn Austin has done just that. For 10 years she has been greeting visitors at About Inclusion’s door and taking phone calls, giving reassurance to families and providing a gentle ear for staff. We acknowledged her dedication and showed our appreciation by presenting Lyn with a classy glass trophy to mark the occasion. Thank you Lyn

STAFF PROFILE: Jenny Mitchison talks to Mim Haigh 

 Smiles are a universal language. Ability or disability, verbal or non-verbal, smiles mean the same thing. Jenny Mitchison says that they’re the most important part of her job. Smiles mean something is right. “Something or someone, hopefully even me, has done something to make the person I’m supporting smile”. After training and working as a nurse, disability support work was a very natural fit for Jenny, asked what she loves most about her job, she replied simply, "empowering people”. Empowering people is easy when you’ve built a solid platform to work off each day. Jenny says, "It’s important to build good relationships, healthy relationships, both with the people you support and the people you work with. Everything flows from there." In a job that brings good days and bad days, solid relationships are crucial to getting through the tough days and making the most of life. Jenny works in the Day Program, she also provides one-on-one support for people as they move through their day. Whether it’s sewing, cooking or helping people with their activities of daily living, Jenny says, "peace and contentment are central to everything I do”, and with spirituality at her core, Jenny credits her God-Centre with the balance in her life.

Creating Opportunities. Strengthening Communities.

10 years of

Out and About             

From cooking bolognese to venturing out and watching beef cattle sales, the About Inclusion Day Program house - Inclusion House, at 30 Commerce Street is a busy place. The program

operates Monday to Friday, 9am to 3pm and after hours depending on people's individual schedules.

Program Manager Stephen Wood says, "we can be doing anything from cooking to hydrotherapy, ten pin bowling, going to cattle sales or the Men's Shed, it just depends on people's individual goals and their interests.”

Operating since 2014, the Day Program caters for 25 people. Explaining the diversity of people they cater for, Steve says, "our people are as young as 18 and sneaking up to 50 years of age. They come from different ethnic backgrounds and have different intellectual, physical and mental health issues”.

With this diversity in mind, even though there are lots of group activities, Steve says, “it’s really important that we tailor the activities to each person’s individual level of understanding and experience, sometimes that might mean cooking separately or going somewhere different.’

“The NDIS is very goal oriented, we try to ensure that each person is doing exactly what they want and still meeting their individual goals at the same time."

The Day Program is all about community participation, skills development and education. Steve explained that life skills are important for everyone and the Day Program develops these skills in a purposeful and relevant way.

Communicating with families and careers is central to daily activities for the Day Program team, phone calls and communications books keep everyone involved.

Steve says, "We’re very involved with the day-to-day lives of our people and their families. For example, the other day one of our guys hadn't had time to get to the hairdresser at home, so we made sure there was time during the day for someone to take him.”

The Day Program is staffed by a team of 23 with help from some volunteers.

Photo: Stephen in action during a “Blue” State of Origin event

Creating Opportunities. Strengthening Communities.

Community Participation Activities

Participant Contributions: Remember to have your participant contribution

money ready on the day of your supported event to cover the costs for items involved in the

activity.

Under the NDIS, activity costs are not necessarily covered like they were in the past, so please take note of

the amount required for activities and have the funds ready to pass to the About Inclusion support worker who will record the cash you have provided. Please advise us if you need a receipt. You can also pay for

activities in advance at our reception

Our biggest morning tea was a big success! We raised much needed funds for cancer research. The day was made extra special by some homemade PINK scones from the Hinton’s, and many yummy cupcakes from Jayne. Special thanks to the Craft Group for their lovely creations sold on the day and the funds donated to the cause.

Creating Opportunities. Strengthening Communities.

From everyone at About Inclusion

DarcyDaineBrockJanaeSuzieJesse

CharlotteArnoldKylieShawn

RachaelJoshua