Community Connection

Last week new rules about casual employment came into effect through Fair Work Australia.
For more information on the new ‘Closing Loopholes’ laws, see our Closing Loopholes page.

Hello Spring:
Wherever you go, no matter the weather, always bring your own sunshine!

Wellness Focus "What can I do today to practice some self-care?

Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. This can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact.

Here are some self-care tips:

Get regular exercise. Just 30 minutes of walking every day can boost your mood and improve your health. Small amounts of exercise add up, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t do 30 minutes at one time.
Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated. A balanced diet and plenty of water can improve your energy and focus throughout the day. Pay attention to your intake of caffeine and alcohol and how they affect your mood and well-being—for some, decreasing caffeine and alcohol consumption can be helpful.
Make sleep a priority. Stick to a schedule, and make sure you’re getting enough sleep. Blue light from devices and screens can make it harder to fall asleep, so reduce blue light exposure from your phone or computer before bedtime.
Try a relaxing activity. Explore relaxation or wellness programs or apps, which may incorporate meditation, muscle relaxation, or breathing exercises. Schedule regular times for these and other healthy activities you enjoy, such as listening to music, reading, spending time in nature, and engaging in low-stress hobbies.
Set goals and priorities. Decide what must get done now and what can wait. Learn to say “no” to new tasks if you start to feel like you’re taking on too much. Try to appreciate what you have accomplished at the end of the day.
Practice gratitude. Remind yourself daily of things you are grateful for. Be specific. Write them down or replay them in your mind.
Focus on positivity. Identify and challenge your negative and unhelpful thoughts.
Stay connected. Reach out to friends or family members who can provide emotional support and practical help.

NATIONAL SKILLS WEEK: The 19th to the 25th of August 2024

Now moving into its fourteenth year, National Skills Week will again set out to bring to life the positive messages, highlighting the talents, the skills, the career pathways and the value of apprentices and trainees across Australia to the wider public and employers. The week is dedicated to raising the status of skills and vocational learning.

Community Connection welcomes current employees that wish to up-skill / complete a course in learning that is relevant to the work you do. There are many course providers that will allow you to RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) from the work you do as a Lifestyle Assistant. If you wish to pursue this path or ascertain further information, please contact Peggy by email: [email protected]

Last Friday Community Connection attended the Enablement Awards. The awards celebrate and reward excellence, innovation and exemplary achievements in the disability support sector. Community Connection received the award for 'The Most Outstanding Provider of One-on-One Lifestyle Support'.

Happy International Left-Handers Day

From scissors to knives, from can openers to cork screws, Left Handers have historically been the brunt of jokes and even treated as outcasts in the 1600's when left-handed people were accused of witchcraft. Until the mid-20th century, educations systems around the world forced many left-handed children to switch to their right hand for tasks like writing.

But this is the day to ignore all of that and bring awareness to all of those right handed folks around the globe in celebration of Left Handers Day. After all, as the old saying goes– right handed people operate on the left side of the brain, which means that left handed people are functioning on the right side. Therefore, only left handed people are in their right mind!

So today we are celebrating all the left-handers out there, please comment with an 'L' below, if that is you =D

Have you seen this Movie?

CODA is a 2021 coming-of-age comedy-drama film written and directed by Sian Heder. An English-language remake of the 2014 French-Belgian film La Famille Bélier, it stars Emilia Jones as Ruby Rossi, the daughter of parents who are both deaf. Ruby is the only hearing member of her family, who attempts to help her family's struggling fishing business while pursuing her aspirations to become a singer.

The movie uses actors with a hearing impairment to play Ruby's family, who, along with Jones, communicate using American Sign Language. If you are looking for a movie that pulls at the heart-strings and with meaning; go to AppleTV to stream this award winning movie.

End of Week Inspiration 😊

10 Minutes to a Clearer Mind

To continue with August being Wellness Month, there is an interesting question to be asked that is: "When was the last time you gave your mind permission to be still for ten minutes?"
In this TED Talk, mindfulness meditation expert Andy Puddicombe explores what happens when we sit in silence, close our eyes, and observe our mind’s patterns, learning to watch our thoughts pass by instead of engaging with each one. To watch the TED Talk click here -

All it takes is 10 mindful minutes When is the last time you did absolutely nothing for 10 whole minutes? Not texting, talking or even thinking? Mindfulness expert Andy Puddicombe describes the transformative power of doing just that: Refreshing your mind for 10 minutes a day, simply by being mindful and experiencing the present mome...

National Wellness Month

August is National Wellness Month and as such we recognise how important Mental Health is for overall well-being.

A simple tool that can assist with calming the mind and easing anxiety is the 3-3-3 rule. It’s simple: name three things you can see, listen for three sounds, and move three parts of your body. It might sound unusual, but research shows that engaging your senses can help balance GABA and glutamate, reduce stress, and promote mindfulness by effectively redirecting your attention away from anxious thoughts and grounding you in the present moment.

Here's an Idea from James Clear - Author of 'Atomic Habits'.

What conversation will you be proud of yourself for having even if it doesn't end with the outcome you want?
Go have that conversation.

Community Connection would like to pay tribute to the amazing Lu Dulvarie who was a much-loved member of the Community Connection team from 2012 to 2019.

Earlier this month, Lu was diagnosed with cancer which turned out to be far more serious and aggressive than was initially understood. Sadly, the diagnosis came far too late for any viable treatment options and on Saturday Lu passed away peacefully, surrounded by her loving family and friends.

Lu lived an epic life and didn’t let anything stop her from what she wanted to do. She had an extraordinary ability to connect with almost anyone she met and made a lasting impression on them. Her smile and laugh could light up a room, not to mention a voice that could stir something deep in the souls of a crowd.

Lunch times at Community Connection were always overflowing with laughter and when Lu was around the laughter multiplied with an element of inappropriate banter. When there was a birthday, chances are we were eating one of Lu’s delicious creations. This amazing woman had the most profound effect on all our senses; Lu’s warm hugs, Lu’s rich euphonic voice, Lu’s kindness, Lu’s sincere and contagious smile - she had it all.

In Lu’s honour so her spirit lives on: cook amazing food from scratch and share it with people, say that borderline inappropriate joke that’s in your head, stay up late with friends laughing a lot, give some time to help someone you’ve just met, practice that Random-Act-Of-Kindness, and play Lu’s album ‘Sista’ by SugaLu loud and on repeat.

Thank you, LuLu, for touching so many of our lives, you blessed us all with your friendship and we are all better for having had the privilege to call you our friend

It's Photo Friday!
Feel free to share a photo you've taken of something that has made you smile or caught your eye.
Whether you're at home, or while you were out with the person that you support [for privacy reasons please no photos of the Individual you work with].
My photo below was taken today on my early morning walk - my favourite mob =D

Are you looking for a position in the Disability Sector or know of someone who is? If so, please pop into the Community Connection Office and ask for an application form or call Brooke on 47796500.

HAVE YOU HAD YOUR DAILY DOSE OF FUN?
It's not just enjoyable, it's also essential for your health and happiness, says science journalist Catherine Price. She proposes a new definition of fun -- what she calls "true fun" -- and shares easy, evidence-backed ways to weave playfulness, flow and connection into your everyday life. Bringing 'Fun' into Support Work, can be a huge benefit to the life of the Lifestyle Assistant and the Individual being supported. Reduce any distractions [eg. looking at your mobile phone], increase face-to-face interaction with the person you are with and find opportunities to introduce playfulness.
Fun is like Sunshine - it's a distillation of life's energy 😊

https://youtu.be/iMBJrvEwv8s?si=1EM7Bw4SGQF7v4Su

Actions Can Speak Louder Than Words: Behaviour as Communication.

Individuals living with a disability may demonstrate challenging behaviours.
Challenging behaviours can manifest out of frustration at either not understanding a situation or being unable to verbally express their wants, needs and feelings.
In the video below, Mike Mayer discusses what ‘Behaviour is Communication’ means.

Mike Mayer: What does "behavior is communication" mean and what are some examples? Mike Mayer is a senior partner of Community Resource Alliance. He is also the clinical director of the ACT Process in the state of Illinois.The video intervi...

Townsville NAIDOC Week provides an opportunity for Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians to join together and recognise the valuable and continuing contribution that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians have made to this country.

NAIDOC Week is a celebration of significant reconciliation and closing the gap process between Indigenous and Non Indigenous people by promoting understanding, acceptance and harmony - regardless of cultural background. This also continues to strengthen new and existing partnerships. It is through these partnerships that we can lead and raise broader community awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures.

This year’s theme chosen by the National NAIDOC Committee, is Keep the Fire Burning! Blak, Loud & Proud. For a list of NAIDOC Events in Townsville, please visit the following link: https://www.townsvillenaidoc.com.au/events-zoo

What Is the Eisenhower Matrix?

It’s human nature when a fire sparks up, we drop everything to fight it. But in our ADHD lives, there are little fires everywhere. And we get so busy extinguishing flames sometimes that we can spend a whole day — maybe a week — spinning around and around in a mess of fire retardant. We’re exhausted but have nothing to show for our time or energy.

The Eisenhower Matrix is a simple, effective decision-making tool for determining which tasks deserve our immediate action, our long-term attention, our delegation skills, and our circular bins. This strategy can be a benefit in our work and in our personal lives.

Employment Opportunity with Community Connection
https://www.seek.com.au/job/76811639?ref=cm-ui

NDIS Reforms:
Crucial recommendations about how to better regulate the massive NDIS workforce — and cut out fraud — are currently being debated. To view more, please clink on the link below presented by chief political correspondent Laura Tingle.

Debate continues on regulating the NDIS workforce Sarah Ferguson presents Australia's premier daily current affairs program, delivering agenda-setting public affairs journalism and interviews that hold the powerful to account. Plus political analysis from Laura Tingle.

Community Connection is recruiting!
For further information on how to join our team, please click on the following link:
https://www.seek.com.au/job/76214796?ref=direct-share-cm-ui

HAPPY WINTER SOLSTICE

This year's winter solstice in Australia is today meaning that it is the shortest day and longest night for 2024. The tilt of the earth's axis will mean the southern hemisphere was angled furthest away from the sun at: 6:50 am this morning.

Stay Warm Everyone and Have a Beautiful Weekend :-)

IT IS LEARNING DISABILITY WEEK

Learning Disability Week got its start in the UK several years ago with the purpose of giving a voice to those whose voices may have been less recognized because of their learning disabilities. The event is dedicated to working with and helping those with learning disabilities along with their families and caregivers.

In addition to increasing public awareness and educating people about the unique ways that people with learning disabilities function in the world, Learning Disability Week seeks to provide opportunities for advocacy, fight for equal rights and challenge prejudices.

The Good Life
Michael Kendrick is an international consultant in human services and community work, widely recognised for his work in service quality and the creation of safeguards for vulnerable persons.
In the following video, Michael Kendrick discusses how low expectations can limit people from having the good life.

Michael Kendrick - How low Expectations limit the Good Life CRU exists to create and promote positive change so that people with disabilities can belong to and participate in community life.CRU engages with people on ...

SAFE USE OF A FIRE BLANKET
Many of the homes where employees work will have either a Fire Blanket or Fire Extinguisher. To use any Fire Safety Equipment, the right method of use must be followed. Please see below a link for the safe use of a Fire Blanket.

How to use a Fire Blanket - Fire Training Australia How to use a Fire Blanket - Australian Fire Training Integral Fire Protection is a West Australian Privately owned company. Through a series of FREE traini...

IT'S NATIONAL SMILE MONTH :-)
Most of us associate smiling with being happy. But a smile is not just an expression of happiness; experts have shown that the very act of smiling can itself make us happier.
When we smile, it doesn't end with the movement of our facial muscles into the familiar expression we all know. In fact, experts say that's just the start of it. A smile is a physiologically-based action that has a direct effect on certain brain activities associated with happiness – in other words, when we smile, it switches on certain chemical processes in our brain that improve our mood and sense of well-being.
A dazzling smile can brighten the darkest day, and now there’s a whole month dedicated to it! National Smile Month is not only a celebration about smiling. Rather, it is a vital campaign that shines a spotlight on the power of a smile.

Annual Wage Review 2024 and the Fair Work Information Statement

Following the Annual Wage Review 2024, the Fair Work Commission has announced that the National Minimum Wage and minimum award wages will increase by 3.75%.

The increase applies from the first full pay period starting on or after 1 July 2024.

A new Fair Work Information Statement will also be published next month. To familiarize yourself with the new statement, please click on the link below to find the new FWIS from the 1st of July 2024. https://www.fairwork.gov.au/employment-conditions/information-statements/fair-work-information-statement

Creating Ambience

There are many ways a Lifestyle Assistant can create a relaxing atmosphere in an Individual's home, especially if one of their roles in assisting with meal preparation. Walking into a home where one can smell a soup cooking on the stove or biscuits baking in the oven, creates a very relaxing mood. And what better way to do this than with the following recipe (provided the person you support likes this soup and there are no dietary requirements impact you making this).

This Pea and Ham Soup recipe is a fabulous “throw it all in the slow cooker” soup. There’s no need to cook the onion separately – it “sautés” itself in the fat from the ham hock that rises to the surface. Thick, hearty soup broth infused with incredible flavour from the ham bone!

With winter upon us, now is the right time to make this. For the recipe, please visit the following link: https://www.recipetineats.com/pea-and-ham-soup/ -recipe-container-42378