InForm - July 2018

July 2018
INFORM
New Beginnings
How Caringbah Craft Centre is changing lives
Home Sweet Home
Peace of mind with Sylvanvale supported accommodation
Connecting
with Nature
Kids Club classes at Inclusive Classroom


CEO
Message
Sylvanvale is dedicated to providing high quality support to people with disability and their families.
As part of this commitment, we have been working to create an exciting new range of services. This includes taking over the reins of the one-of-a-kind Caringbah Craft Centre, and launching a brand new therapeutic horticulture program which our Kids Club kids are enjoying – thanks to a $40,000 grant from nib foundation.
We’ve also been focusing on our staff, because we know that the people we support are more likely to achieve their goals when our staff are motivated and engaged.
One of the many areas where our staff play
an important role is in relation to Supported Independent Living. An independent survey by Sylvanvale has shown that, understandably, guilt is one of the biggest reasons why families don’t place their loved-ones into supported accommodation.
Our staff are key to the people we support living in a happy and safe environment, as well as giving families peace of mind.
The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) continues to pose a challenge for many of the people we support – with a recent report showing that it leaves people with intellectual disabilities, as well as older carers with health issues, at a disadvantage. One way to overcome this is through Support Coordination, which is an NDIS funded support designed to help participants make the most of their NDIS funds.
In this often challenging environment there have also been many positive and uplifting moments – including seeing the people we support achieve their goals and connecting with the community through special events.
Thank you for your continuing support.
Leanne Fretten
Chief Executive Officer
Got News?
We want to hear it!
No matter how big or small,
please contact the Marketing Team at [email protected] or on
(02) 8536 0112 with your latest news, events or ideas.
2 Mikarie Place Kirrawee NSW 2232 PO Box 29 Sutherland NSW 1499 Sydney Australia
T 1300 244 577
F +61 (02) 9521 3610
E [email protected] www.sylvanvale.com.au
2 SYLVANVALE INFORM


IN THIS ISSUE
08
Kids Club
Therapeutic horticulture at Sylvanvale Kids Club.
04
Community Hubs
The one-of-a-kind Caringbah Craft Centre.
14
NDIS Update
Overcoming NDIS challenges through Support Coordination.
15
In Memorium
Acknowledging the people we have recently lost.
10
Around the Grounds
A snapshot of recent initiatives.
06
Supported Accommodation
Beating the guilt of letting go.
12
Our Staff
How we’ve been building a winning team.
www.sylvanvale.com.au 3


COMMUNITY HUBS
Changing Lives Through
Caringbah Craft Centre
4 SYLVANVALE INFORM


“COMMUNITY HUBS
The skills the centre offers for people with disability are very unique.
As you step into Sylvanvale’s his NDIS plan to participate. new craft centre you hear He attends one day a week the sounds of laughter, drills and loves working hard and and upbeat music blaring keeping busy.
Site Manager Shaun Ferguson is very proud of
the centre and the team’s achievements, “The skills
the centre offers for people with disability are very unique
– there is nothing like it anywhere in Sydney.”
on the radio. The scent of fresh wood and paint fills the workshop as you’re greeted by enthusiastic volunteers working hard to create beautiful and unique toys for the community.
The Caringbah Craft Centre is 40 years old and was on the brink of shutting down until Sylvanvale took it over from Caringbah Uniting Church at the start of the year.
The centre now has a new lease on life as a Sylvanvale Community Hub, offering
a Centre based program
for people with intellectual disability. Here, they work alongside volunteers to create everything from rocking chairs to 3D puzzles and even sensory boxes and learning tools for children.
Grant Durbin has been a part of the centre for seven years now, originally as a volunteer and now using
“We really enjoy coming and always look forward to it,” says Grant.
The participants rotate through different stations where they can try all different types of woodwork, increasing their fine motor skills and strength.
Greg Wilson joined the centre in February after spending a large majority
of his life in the same day program. Greg has been learning all sorts of skills from sanding to drilling, as well
as cutting wood to create toys for the centre and
has increased his skills and coordination exceptionally.
Greg’s improvement
in this time has been phenomenal and he no longer needs instructions to follow out his tasks and can work independently with enthusiasm.
“For our popular wooden robots the guys use their
skills to produce 75% of them.
Then we just go over them with finishing touches. It’s really awesome.”
The centre has changed
the lives of the participants that attend and gives them an overwhelming sense of purpose and pride. The overall atmosphere is very positive with encouragement and joking all around. As for what is created there, it is nothing but quality – unique and beautiful gifts and keepsakes for the community.
To view the gorgeous products we have for sale, visit caringbahcraftcentre.com.au
Keen to be part of the Caringbah Craft Centre as a participant or volunteer?
Contact our Customer Service Team on 1300 244 577 or email [email protected]
www.sylvanvale.com.au 5


SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATION
The Guilt of
Letting Go
It’s natural for parents to feel a range of emotions at the thought of their child moving out of home. But for families with a child with disability these feelings are more pronounced.
An independent study recently conducted by Sylvanvale has shown that, understandably, guilt is one
of the biggest reasons why families don’t place their loved-ones into supported accommodation.
The study – which was a
mix of focus groups and individual in-depth interviews amongst people with disability and their families
– found that people are confronted by a range of
emotions, including guilt, fear and anxiety.
A Sylvanvale family member who has felt this mix of emotions is Simonn Stratton, whose sister Nicolle now lives at a Sylvanvale home in Sydney’s South West.
“Because of Nicolle’s needs, because she needs 24/7 support, it was deemed
VACANCIES NOW!
Supported Accommodation is available
for people with disability in your area. 6 SYLVANVALE INFORM


“SUPPORTED ACCOMMODATION
Communication is very important. We talk to the families, we let them know what their loved one has been doing and how they are.
that she needed to go into According to Sylvanvale’s CEO “Communication is very supported accommodation. Leanne Fretten, “It’s natural important. We talk to the
But thankfully we found Sylvanvale.”
Emotion is leading to missed opportunities for many families who are
now entitled to supported accommodation under the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).
Prior to the NDIS it was much harder to get loved ones into supported accommodation. Under the NDIS, eligible people are entitled to funding for Supported Independent Living. A good time to ask
for this is when formulating an NDIS Plan or going through a Plan Review. If they haven’t lived in Supported Independent Living before, they need to have this in their Plan as a goal.
So how can families overcome their guilt and place their loved-one in supported accommodation?
for a parent to feel guilty. But as difficult as it may be, it’s a natural progression for a child with or without disability to reach the milestone of moving out of home.”
“To help make this transition easier for the family it’s important to find an accommodation provider that you trust and feel comfortable with,” said Leanne.
families, we let them know what their loved one has been doing and how they are. We become their family, and they become our family too.”
Simonn said, “Because of the staff’s consistent approach
in creating a safe and secure environment for her, Nicolle now calls Sylvanvale’s house her home.”
Supported Independent
Living at Sylvanvale
Sylvanvale offers a range of Supported Independent Living options (supported accommodation) across the greater Sydney region. Our beautiful, purpose-built homes are staffed 24 hours a day,
7 days a week. We have several different offerings including shared houses,
self-contained units and two and three bedroom villas.
We offer support to adults with an intellectual disability who have Supported Independent Living in their NDIS
Plan and are eligible
for Specialist Disability Accomodation Funding.
www.sylvanvale.com.au 7


of Nature
KIDS CLUB
The Many Benefits
We all need a bit of
nature in our lives and it’s especially true for children.
There are many benefits
to connecting with nature, including social, emotional and physical wellbeing.
Sylvanvale’s Inclusive Classroom makes the most of those benefits by offering a place where school-aged children of all abilities can learn about permaculture and nutrition, and develop social connections.
Thanks to a $40,000 grant from nib foundation, the Inclusive Classroom
now offers a therapeutic horticulture program. As part of the program, children receive hands-on lessons from a qualified horticulture therapist. The range of classes on offer – which
are 1.5 hours long – include
composting, worm farming, insect hotels, growing citrus fruits, succulents, seed raising and saving, and bush tucker.
The program is available to children aged between 5 and
17, and is run on Saturday mornings and during school holidays. So far, over 200 children have attended the classes, with resounding positive feedback.
Children from Sylvanvale’s Holiday Club were the first to try out the new therapeutic horticulture lessons in January this year, to great success. Now, the Inclusive Classroom is a regular part of Sylvanvale’s Kids Club program.
Keen to find out more about the Inclusive Classroom?
Call 1300 244 577 or visit www.sylvanvale.com.au/ inclusiveclassroom
“Children from Sylvanvale’s Holiday Club were the first to try out the new therapeutic horticulture lessons.
8 SYLVANVALE INFORM


A Safe and Happy
Place for
Sylvanvale Kids Club ensures that school aged children
with disability are cared for, nurtured and supported after school, during school holidays and on the weekends in a fun and safe environment.
Sylvanvale Kids Club exists
to give parents of children with disability the opportunity and peace of mind to go to
KIDS CLUB
Our Kids Club is best suited to children who:
· Enjoy gross motor activities and outdoor play
· Enjoy arts and craft
· Enjoy gardening
· Enjoy music and dancing
· Require assistance with personal care
· Enjoy the company of others
· Require support at 1:3 or 1:2 ratio
work and get through the multitude of things they need to do every day, just like any other family.
Our centre-based programs offer your child social, recreational and life skills activities that are fun, educational and age appropriate.
9
Kids Club
Services
AFTER SCHOOL CLUB
Where Sutherland Community Hub, Rawson Pde
When 3:00pm–6:00pm weekdays, during NSW school term
(excluding public holidays)
For more information call 1300 244 577
or visit www.sylvanvale.com.au/children-family/
What · we offer
Purpose built playground
SATURDAY CLUB
Sutherland Community Hub, Rawson Pde
9:00am–3:00pm, Saturdays (excluding public holidays)
· The Inclusive Classroom
· Themed events
· Cooking
· Fine Motor Skills
· Support and personal care
· Arts and Craft · Media
HOLIDAY CLUB
Mikarie Place, Kirrawee
8.30am–6:00pm weekdays, during school holidays (excluding public holidays)
· The Inclusive Classroom · Excursions to local
attractions and parks
· Incursions including personal trainers and experienced dance schools
· An exciting program of events
· Painting and craft
· Fun with musical
instruments
· Dancing
· Computer skills
· Help with homework
· Sports
www.sylvanvale.com.au


WORKING TOGETHER
Around the Grounds
Keegan makes his
first-ever hamburger
In December, Keegan – a supported employee from Birdcage Café – achieved his goal of making a hamburger all by himself! Just a couple of weeks later, he made two meals all by himself. Go Keegan!
Sylvanvale artists shine
at special concert
To celebrate International Day of People with Disability, Sylvanvale artists showcased their talents at a special concert called ‘Charlie’s Collectors Emporium’ in December. The concert was presented by ArtsLife Access, supported by Georges River Life Centre and Georges River Council which provided two grants to help fund
the initiative.
In the days after the show, Sylvanvale received many calls and feedback from concert-goers to say how much they enjoyed it!
Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)
Corporate Volunteer Days
Sylvanvale is thrilled to be partnering with CBA as they carry out their wonderful corporate volunteer days with us, including painting the Loftus Short Term Accommodation site and transforming a garden at one of our Supported Independent Living sites.
Thank You CBA! All your help is very much appreciated by the people we support and our staff.
New Community Hub
at Kogarah
We were excited to open our new community hub at Kogarah in September. Everyone is now well settled in, and enjoying the fun array of activities on offer – such as art therapy, music therapy, a sensory room and outings.
10 SYLVANVALE INFORM


Sylvanvale Pre WWII Car Show
bigger and better than ever!
Thanks to enormous community support, Sylvanvale’s Pre WWII Vintage Car & Bike Show at Cronulla on Sunday 15 April 2018 was a great success. In spite
of it being a challenging time for the people of the Sutherland Shire – particularly those living in areas affected by the bushfires – the community really got behind the event and came in their thousands.
The show was bigger and better than ever, with its largest-ever array of spectacular vintage vehicles and even more kids’ activities, drawing a crowd of more than 15,000 people.
Another successful
Retail Therapy VIP Night
Our Retail Therapy Vintage & Café opportunity shop held another highly successful VIP night on Thursday 10 May 2018. Guests were treated to champagne and live music as they browsed the racks of high- quality, competitively priced preloved clothes and bric a brac.
VIP membership is free – sign up in store at 29-33 President Avenue, Caringbah NSW 2229, or through our Retail Therapy Vintage & Café Facebook page or at sylvanvale.com.au/retail-therapy-vintage-and-cafe/
School holiday fun
for all kids
Sylvanvale’s Birdcage Café in Engadine has been offering fun school holiday activities to amuse the kids. This includes cupcake decorating, make your own fruit salad and superhero day! We also have toys for the children to play with and an old fashioned lolly trolley. Keep up to date with what’s happening via the Birdcage Café Facebook page.
Mikarie Child Care Centre
Ready Set Go!
Mikarie Child Care Centre prides itself on its School Readiness Program, which is called Ready Set Go! This year the program is bigger and better than ever due to the arrival of some new specialised learning aids and a new Smartboard – all of which was purchased through grants won by the centre.
www.sylvanvale.com.au 11


OUR STAFF
Investing in our
best asset – Our Staff
Our staff are our most important asset – they are change makers helping people with disability
to reach their goals and achieve their potential.
Because of this, the Sylvanvale Board of Directors and Executive have made
a commitment to invest in our staff – more so than ever before. It is important that everyone feels supported, motivated and a part of a dynamic team.
As part of this commitment we have energised our Learning and Development program for all staff.
Earlier this year, we also held a highly successful inaugural staff conference. The event was called ‘Thrive 2018’ because of our commitment to encouraging our staff to grow, develop and succeed in 2018 and beyond. The conference was so well received that we’ll be making it an annual event.
We are committed to recognising our employees and valuing their contribution. We’ve been recognising
our team’s loyalty and achievements through
the introduction of Long Service Awards, and by
celebrating people who have achieved their Diplomas and Certificates in Disability.
Sylvanvale is also
committed to improving
our communication with
our customers and staff. For our staff we have created new ways of communicating with them, including the introduction of a new Communications App and
a bi-monthly newsletter called ‘From the CEO’s Desk’ for staff.
When our staff succeed, the people we support succeed too.
12 SYLVANVALE INFORM


SUPPORTED EMPLOYMENT
Helping People to
Find and Keep a Job
Sylvanvale provides supported employment for people with intellectual disability who require ongoing help to find and maintain employment.
Sylvanvale Catering and Birdcage Café located in Engadine is an Australian Disability Enterprise (ADE) site. Here, experienced hospitality staff and support workers work side by side with people with intellectual disability, known as enterprise participants, to provide ongoing job support.
Our
Team
We currently have vacancies for supported employees at both Birdcage Café and Sylvanvale Catering. We are looking for team members who:
· Are interested in cooking and working in a hospitality environment
· Have NDIS funding in Finding and Keeping a Job
– Assistance in specialised supported employment (DMI level 1, 2, 3 or 4)
· Are able to work independently, with coaching and a shared support worker
· Have verbal skills
· Are aged between 17 and
65 years
· Are willing to work a minimum of 2 days per week, up to a maximum of 5 days per week, 5.5 hours per day.
Our
Program
The key elements of
the Sylvanvale Catering and Birdcage Café ADE program are:
· Preparing high quality food while ensuring exceptional food safety
· Assisting with catering deliveries in the community
· On site hospitality including customer service and
table service
· Providing opportunities to move into mainstream employment.
If you are interested in learning more about our opportunities at Sylvanvale Catering or Birdcage Café please call
1300 244 577 or email [email protected]
www.sylvanvale.com.au 13


NDIS UPDATE
Overcoming NDIS Challenges
throughSupport Coordination
A recently released report
on the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
by Flinders University shows that people with intellectual disabilities are disadvantaged by the scheme.
The report found that while the majority of participants feel better off than before the NDIS, a third feel about the same and 10%–20% feel worse off. Like other recent reports, the paper found
a system that is built on sound design principles but is struggling to apply those principles in practical ways that work for all participants.
The report also found that the NDIS works best for participants and families
who could "strongly advocate for themselves" – and left people with intellectual and
psychosocial disabilities, as well as older carers with health issues, at a disadvantage.
So how can people who
are disadvantaged by the scheme attempt to overcome these challenges?
One way is through Support Coordination, which is
an NDIS funded support designed to support participants to make the most of their NDIS funds. Once
a Plan has been approved, participants work with Support Coordinators to determine how their funds will be spent and to connect with providers. Support Coordinators can also assist you with your
Plan Review if the NDIS isn’t meeting your needs.
Not every participant
is funded for Support Coordination but everyone
can ask for it. If you want Support Coordination in your NDIS Plan, be sure to mention it in your planning meeting
or in your Plan Review. Alternatively, you can apply for an Unscheduled Review to ask for Support Coordination. Your Local Area Coordinator should be able to assist you to do this.
Jean Mitzimberg experienced first-hand the benefits of Support Coordination, when she engaged Sylvanvale Support Coordinator Kimberley Glavas for the
Plan Review of her daughter Alexandra. “Thanks to Kimberley’s knowledge
and advocacy, Alexandra’s funding increased to help her get the supports she needs.
I honestly don’t know how people manage without a Support Coordinator.”
14 SYLVANVALE INFORM


SYLVANVALE FAMILY
In Memorium
We would like to acknowledge the people we support, family and staff that we have lost in recent months. They were a very important part of the Sylvanvale family and will all be sorely missed.
MARJORIE SMITH
who lived at Rainbow Lodge
ALEX RAICHMAN
from Sylvanvale Kids Club
BRIAN CRADOCK
formerly of Baranbali
BRIAN FUZ
who most recently lived at Hinkler
JULIA LANG
who most recently lived at Lett Street
VALDA LANG
Sylvanvale Life Member
MILA RICHARDSON
staff member from Tupelo
POKS (UPOKOINA OKINGA)
staff member from Baranbali
AN EXPERIENCED
TEAM OF THERAPISTS
FOR PEOPLE WITH LEARNING DIFFICULTY OR INTELLECTUAL AND PHYSICAL DISABILITIES
We offer individual or group therapy services including Speech Pathology, Occupational Therapy and Behaviour Support, as well as Psychology and Counselling
TO ENQUIRE
ABOUT OUR SUPPORTS CALL 1300 244 577
OUR AWARD WINNING CHILD CARE CENTRE HAS SPACES AVAILABLE FOR CHILDREN OF
ALL AGES AND ABILITIES
Mikarie Child Care Centre, located in a beautiful bush setting in Kirrawee, is open 7am–6pm Weekdays
TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST
IN ENROLLING
PLEASE CALL OUR CUSTOMER SERVICE TEAM ON
1300 244 577
www.sylvanvale.com.au 15


Over 70 Years of Experience
Supporting people of all ages with disability to work, live and participate in their community as
they choose.
SUPPORTED
INDEPENDENT LIVING
COMMUNITY HUBS AND
CENTRE BASED PROGRAMS
THERAPY
FINDING AND
KEEPING A JOB
SUPPORT
COORDINATION
FLEXIBLE SUPPORT
WHEN AND WHERE YOU NEED IT
CHILDREN
AND FAMILY
To find out more about our support options contact our Customer Service Team on
1300 244 577 or [email protected]
People Passion Potential
sylvanvale.com.au