Affinity Newsletter Magazine January 2014 Issue

NEW PROVIDERS!!!

Access to this

month’s hottest

offers Featured in the

“ASSOCIATION SPOTLIGHT" this month: THE AUSTRALIAN HAND THERAPY ASSOCIATION Fundraiser Program

and Charity Events.

AA helping Schools

AFFINITY NEWSLETTER

January 2014

MAGAZINE

WELCOME TO 2014!!! The year of AFFINITY!!!

AFFINITY NEWSLETTER MAGAZINE

2

Congratulations everyone… you made it through

yet another silly season and came out a little worse

for wear but overall unscathed or at least I hope so.

Well we are full on into the year already and it is

time to increase the intensity and focus on

supporting our organisations, improving our

customer service and getting involved in our

community.

This year Affinity will not only be focusing on

assisting organisations and businesses increase their

membership base and offering more for bang for

their buck. But we will also be assisting charities and

schools in their fundraising efforts and offer the

Affinity program as an incentive to raise even more

valuable funds for schools and charities.

Our aim is to spread the word and get the Affinity name out there. To

begin with, our Social Media campaigns will be ramped up so expect to

see a lot more of us in cyberspace.

As you may have noticed, our precious newsletter has been transformed

into an EMAG with the aim to become bigger and better with more

articles, news and updates from your favourite providers.

We have also added in many more popular providers with some great

benefits to offer AND our Membership Directory will be transformed into an

ONLINE DIRECTORY with a search function to make it even more user-

friendly and assist you in finding what you need faster. Therefore saving you

money quicker!

Fiona McTaggart

…Our Dining Directory is still a work in progress due to the number of

restaurants wanting to take part in the program and we are hoping to

have this done and dusted by mid-February for you to start taking

advantage. The directory will be inclusive of the online directory and you

will be able to search within your local area for your fine dining experience.

February sees our team heading to Melbourne for the AIME Conference,

which is always so informative and of course a HOOT!

Our monthly webinars will kick off again in March and the webinar

schedule will be listed in the February Issue of Affinity Mag for you to pick

and choose what takes your fancy. Remember if you miss out on

registering for any of the webinars, simply send us a quick email and we will

send you the recording or alternatively, visit our site and flick through our

back catalogue. We also welcome any suggestions on topics for our

webinars and will do our best to source the best speakers.

So as you will see, our calendar is already quite full but we will always have

room for new ideas, suggestions, feedback etc. so feel free to drop us a

line at 1300 793 044 or email the friendly team at

[email protected]

So with an action packed year ahead, I must stop flapping my gums and

get to work. We are really looking forward to seeking out new organisations

that need our help and sourcing only the best benefits we can to make

your membership matter.

If you would like to submit an article or advertisement to our brand new

baby magazine, contact Karen in the office on

[email protected] for further details or call for a chat on 1300

793 044. We can’t wait to make this the best publication it can be and we

can only do that with your help and valuable comments.

2014 is the year of Affinity, so let’s get to work! Enjoy your January and see

you next month.

AFFINITY MAGAZINE 3

Fiona McTaggart, Editor-in-Chief

For this month’s

ASSOCIATION SPOLIGHT…

The Australian Hand Therapy Association (AHTA)

is Australia's only professional association

representing hand therapists.

Hand Therapists are registered Physiotherapists

and Occupational Therapists who, through further

education, clinical experience and independent

study have become proficient in the treatment of

upper limb conditions resulting from injury, disease

or deformity.

AFFINITY MAGAZINE 4

COMMON INJURIES THAT THEY TREAT INCLUDE:

Fractures of the Hand & Wrist

Carpal Tunnel & Other Nerve Compressions

Tennis and Golfers Elbow

Tendonitis

Rheumatoid & Osteoarthritis

Sprains & Strains

Amputations & Replantations

Tendon and Nerve Injuries and Repair

Compression & Crush Injuries

Wounds & Complex Surgical Repairs

Burns & Soft Tissue Injuries

Tumours, Ganglions and Cysts

Swelling

Pins and Needles / Numbness

Pain with Unknown Cause &

Complex Regional Pain Syndrome

Hand Therapy involves the evaluation and specialised testing to assess the injured limb,

from which a specific treatment program can be implemented.

AHTA also acts as a central referral point for doctors and members of the public seeking

the services of Hand Therapists in specific geographic locations. AHTA provides support

for its members through continuing education, professional development, networking

and advocacy at state and national levels.

Members of the AHTA specialise in diagnosis of hand, wrist and arm conditions and

injuries, and the rehabilitation that follows.

Getting the Upper Hand with Arthritis: Hand Care

Tips

AFFINITY MAGAZINE 5

Arthritis is the major cause of disability and chronic pain in Australia, with 3.85million

Australians affected at a cost to our economy of more than $23.9 billion each year in medical

care and indirect costs such as loss of earnings and lost production.

As the population ages, the number of people with arthritis is growing. According to leading

researcher Access Economics, current trends suggest that, by 2050, 7 million Australians will

suffer from some form of arthritis.

There is a widely held belief that arthritis is simply a consequence of age, the pain of growing

old. But it is not a natural part of ageing. In fact 2.4 million of all people suffering from the

disease are of working age. Research suggests that early intervention can delay the onset of

the disease and may reduce the number of cases of osteoarthritis by about 500,000 within 15

years.

The majority of Australians with arthritis aren’t aware of options that are now available to help

alleviate their symptoms. The most common forms of arthritis are osteoarthritis and rheumatoid

arthritis. Osteoarthritis is a degenerative joint condition in which the joint cartilage deteriorates

resulting in pain and loss of movement when bone begins rubbing against bone. Rheumatoid

arthritis, on the other hand, is an autoimmune disease in which the joint lining becomes

inflamed as part of the body’s immune system response. Rheumatoid arthritis is one of the

most serious and disabling types and affects mostly women. Arthritis can affect all joints,

including the small joints of the hand.

Your hands are constantly on the go. Everyday activities such as preparing a meal,

woodworking, carrying grocery bags or using your computer, can damage your joints over

time. Joint protection techniques can help reduce pain, stress and inflammation of your joints.

These techniques can also help prevent further deformities and increase your independence

in daily activities. There are many easy and inexpensive ways to protect your hands.

Here are a few tips to keep your hands healthy:

Give your Hands a Break

If you have pain during an activity, stop the activity. Pain is one of the best ways your

body has of letting you know that you are causing tissue damage, so listen to and respect

your pain. Protect the small joints of your hands and avoid carrying several plastic grocery bags at

once to save time. Use paper bags, carry them one at a time and hold them at the

bottom instead of using the handles. If writing is painful, try using a thick, rubber grip pen with a gel tip or roller ball to

decrease the amount of pressure used. Remember to stretch and take breaks every 15 minutes during repetitive or prolonged

activities such as needlework, painting, sewing, knitting and crocheting, hammering and

filing. Figure out which activities aggravate your symptoms and avoid or modify them. Don’t

be afraid to ask others for help.

AFFINITY MAGAZINE 6

Use pump shampoos, conditioners and toothpaste. Use the palm of your hand to pump

instead of squeezing the container. Use enlarged grips on every day equipment or tools to reduce strain on your joints, e.g

potato peelers, gardening tools, tooth brushes, hair brushes or build up the handle with

foam. Keep scissors and knives sharp to minimize your own effort. Always use two hands when lifting heavy objects. A gallon of milk weighs about 8

pounds, and lifting it with only your fingertips places excessive stress on your joints.

Don’t Use your Hand as a Tool

Don’t tear your mail open – use a letter opener to open mail. Use utility scissors in the kitchen – do not rip open bags. Always use the right tool for the job – use pliers for tight pinch and a small hammer for

pounding. Use a staple remover instead of your fingers and thumb. Get rid of your manual can opener – go electric! Manual can openers place excessive

strain on your fingers and thumb. Instead of holding open books or magazines with one hand, use a book stand or holder

to bring the book to eye level and a book clip or “chip” clip to avoid prolonged gripping.

Use Adaptive Equipment to Decrease Stress on your Joints

Use devices to hold objects so that you don't have to, e.g. a vice, cutting board with

picks to hold food, etc. Use foam to enlarge small diameter objects such as paring knives, cutlery, toothbrushes,

paint brushes, pens and pencils Purchase lightweight kitchen, gardening and workshop tools with built-up handles. Opening jars places undue stress on your joints – use a non-slip jar opener. If you have pain when using keys to open doors, consider adding a key extender to your

keys. If you have difficulty opening door knobs or faucets, purchase door knob or water

faucet handle extenders. Consider a card holder if you play cards for extended periods of time. Perform a search on the Internet for “adaptive equipment” to see what products are

available.

When Symptoms Become Severe

If you have already tried these techniques but you are still experiencing symptoms, it might be

time to consider other treatment options, such as hand therapy. Members of the Australian

Hand Therapy Association are either occupational or physical therapists with specialized

training in the treatment of hand and upper extremity conditions. Hand therapy can play an

important role in the management of arthritis; long term benefits include reducing pain,

increasing motion and strength and improving overall function.

No matter what you’re doing, take a moment to think about your hands; you'll be rewarded

with happier and healthier hands. Your hands work hard for you, so treat them with love.

AFFINITY MAGAZINE 7

AFFINITY ALLIANCE VALUED PARTNERS:

FINANCE & INSURANCE: AMEX

AUTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND (ANZ)

BILL OWENS INSURANCE BROKERS

CAIRNS PENNY

CITIBANK

COVERMORE TRAVEL INSURANCE JOE VELLA INSURANCE BROKERS

KIB INSURANCE BROKERS

NATIONAL AUTRALIA BANK

OPTIMUS 1 INSURANCE BROKERS

OZFOREX

SD LOANS & LEASING

YELLOW BRICK ROAD

YOUR RISK ADVISER INSURANCE

LEGAL & HR / IR SERVICES: ADVANCED PERSONNEL MGT

CBC STAFF SELECTION

HR DYNAMICS

JOHN HARTIGAN & ASSOCIATES

LEAPFROG RECRUITMENT

MACDONNELLS LAW

MILLER HARRIS LAWYERS

OMEGA LAWYERS

OUTSOURCE MANAGEMENT PTY LTD

SAFTEY IN THE WORKPLACE

SKILL 360 AUSTRALIA

WORKLIFE HOME

COMMUNICATION & TECHNOLOGY:

MG PRACTICAL SOLUTIONS

NEXT TELECOM

PRONTO SOFTWARE

TELEQUIP

TELSTRA

THINK OFFICE TECHNOLOGY

TJ MICROSYSTEMS

TRUE NORTH TECHNOLOGY

TRAINING & EDUCATION: CAIRNS COLLEGE OF ENGLISH

CAIRNS LANGUAGE CENTRE

COLLEGE OF AUSTRALIAN TRAINING

IGNITE PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS

MCLEOD TRAINING ORGANISATION

QUEENSLAND TRAINING SERVICES

SEJUMI INSTITUTE OF FURTHER EDUCATION

TROPICAL NQ INSTITUTE OF TAFE

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS:

A UNIFORM CHOICE

ACTIVE MINERALS AUTRALIA

AFFINITY CONFERENCE &

EVENT MANAGEMENT

ARCHERS

BLOCKEY CONSULTING

BUSINESS INTERVIEW CHANNEL

BUSINESS MAPPING SOLUTIONS

CAIRNS CONVENTION CENTRE

CAIRNSLIFE MAGAZINE

CAROL SHIPWAY MIGRATION SERVICES CI IMAGES

DIRECT EMPLOYMENT SERVICES

EUTILITY

EVOLUTION BITES

FAR NORTH TRAINING & CONSULTANCY

FLEXIBLE TRAINING

FUJI XEROX BUSINESS CENTRE

G.K. CONSULTING

HASTINGS DEERING

INDIPENDENT CAPITAL ADVISERS

JCURVE SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS

JIM’S BOOKKEEPING

JULIE’S HOME SERVICES

KONEKT

MEMBERSHIP GROWTH

MOORE STEPHENS QLD

NEATO EMPLOYMENT

NICHE DESIGNS

NO WORRIES AUSTRALIA

NQ EXHIBITIONS

OMEGA GREENPOWER

PATHWAYS TO THE FUTURE

Q.I.T.E

RAATSICC

SAM HARROP BUSINESS COACH

SELECT CARBON BIOCHAR PTY LTD

SIGNATURE STAFF

SOUTHERN CROSS SAFETY & WORKWEAR

STAFFING SOLUTIONS NQ

THE ENTERTAINERS

THE HOTEL NETWORK

TheSPACE CAIRNS

TOTALLY WORKWEAR

TRANSFORMATIONAL PATHWAYS

TRINITY ACCOUNTANTS

WORKLINK

MARKETING & ADVERTISING:

99.5 SEA FM & 103.5 HOT FM

GRANT BROADCASTERS

DESTINATION CAIRNS MARKETING

EBEYONDS

INFUSION MARKETING

INSPIRED BY MARKETING

LIKED BY DESIGN

REALVIEW DIGITAL

RPS INTERNATIONAL

CONSULTANCY

SEVEN NETWORK SIGN-UP.TO

SIMPSON MARKETING

SOUTHERN CROSS TEN

SUZANNE ASHMOORE GRAPHIC

DESIGN

TRADE SHOW ORGANISERS

PRINTING & PROMOTIONAL:

ALL SIGNS PRINT & DESIGN

LOTSA PRINTING

INFLIGHT PUBLISHING

NEWART OFFICE CHOICE

AUTO:

AUDI CENTRE CAIRNS

AUTO ONE CAIRNS

AVBS – VEHICLE BUYING SERVICE

BATTERY WORLD

BMW AUDI ALFA ROMEO JEEP

PEUGOT RENAULT

CAIRNS ACCIDENT REPAIR

CENTRE

CAIRNS BATTERY FACTORY

CAIRNS LUXURY COACHES

KAT VEHICLE SHELVING

KMART TYRE & AUTO

MARK DODGE AUTO REPAIRS

NQ CRASH & 4WD SPARES

PACIFIC TOYOTA

PORTS NORTH

PRIVATE FLEET–VEHICLE BUYING

SERVICE

SCENIC MOTORS BEAUDESERT

SEA SWIFT PTY LTD

WESTCO MOTORS

AFFINITY MAGAZINE

8

HOUSE & GARDEN: ALPHACOOL

ANTENNAS CAIRNS

CUMMINGS LOCKSMITH

DJARRAGUN ENTERPRISES

FINLAY HOMES

JACKSON & JACKSON

LASPINA HOMES

PETER & PAULS CARPET

CLEANING & PEST CONTROL

DESIGN, ENGINEERING &

CONSTRUCTION:

ALLARO HOMES

BLUESCOPE DISTRIBUTION

CA ARCHITECTS

CAIRNS REGIONAL COUNCIL

CAIRNS STEEL FABRICATORS

CAPE ALUMINA

CFP HYDRAULICS

DIXON HOMES

DRAKE INTERNATIONAL

ENGINEERING TESTING SERVICES

FGF DEVELOPMENTS

FNQ COASTAL CONCRETE

GENESIS ENGINEERING

GLOBAL WELDING SUPPLIES

GO COMMERCIAL

HANSON CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

JOHN MAC ISAAC & ASSOCIATES

MMP ARCHITECTS

NEATER CONSTRUCTIONS

NORWELD ENGINEERING

PEDAL THORPE ARCHITECTS

PROFORM TOPS & LAMINATE NORTH

PROPERTY4YOU

QUAID REAL ESTATE & QUAID

AUCTIONEERS

REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUSTRALIA

ROCLA PIPELINE PRODUCTS

SAIL STRUCTURES

STUBER CONSTRUCTIONS

TAURUS FABRIC BUILD

THIRKELL CONSULTING, ENGINEERS,

BUILDING

THOMSON ADSETT ARCHITECTS

TUTT BRYANT HIRE CONFERENCE VENUES:

CAIRNS CIVIC THEATRE

JUTE THEATRE COMPANY

SEVILLE MERCY CONFERENCE CENTRE

STAGING CONNECTIONS

STRICTLY BUSINESS EVENTS

AFFINITY SHOPPER: ADVANTAGE SPORTS

AMANTE JEWELLERY

AUSSIE FARMERS DIRECT

BEACON IMPORTS

BIOGUARD AUSTRALIA

BJ BRADY FUNERALS

BLUSH PHOTOGRAPHY

CAIRNS HARDWARE CO.

CAIRNS ONE PHOTOGRAPHY

CAIRNS WHOLESALE PAINT

DIRECT FACTORY OUTLET

ENJO

EREADERS R US

ESSENTIAL BRANDS GROUP QLD

FUEL FOR LESS

HARVEY NORMAN

HIRE FOR BABY

HOPPENS CARPETS

ISUBSCRIBE

JENKINS RUBBER SHOP

JUST JEWELLERY

LAKE BARRINE NURSERY

LOST GOLF BALLS

LOVEGREEN PHOTOGRAPHY

MOTORPASS

PETALS FLORAL NETWORK

PHARMACY ONLINE

POWERBUY IT

REGENCY JEWELLERS

RONALDS JEWELLERS

ROYALTAG

SIGNED SEALED DELIVERED

SIMPLY HAMPERS

SPENDLESS SHOPPING

SWIMART POOLS

THE AUSTRALIAN BUSHSTORE

THE RACK’ N STACK WAREHOUSE

WHITE LADY FUNERALS

WOOLWORTHS WISH GIFT CARDS ZANUI HOME WARES

HEALTH & WELLBEING:

ANGSANA RESORT & SPA

ASPEN MEDICAL

BALANCE! HEALTHCARE

BAY AUDIO HEARING SPECIALIST CAIRNS FERTILITY CENTRE

CAIRNS ORTHODONTICS

CALANNA PHARMACY

CARE CHIROPRACTIC

CHIROPRACTIC WORKS

ENDOTA DAY SPAS

GOODPRICE PHARMACY

HEALTH MANAGEMENT CAIRNS

HOLY SPIRIT CARE SERVICES

JADE COSMETIC & WELLNESS CLINIC

JOHN GRIFFITHS DENTAL

REHAB MANAGEMENT AUSTRALIA

STEP INTO LIFE

VISION DIRECT

WAY TO WELLNESS

TRAVEL–ACCOM-ENTERTAINMENT: ACCOR PACIFIC

AVIS CAR & TRUCK RENTAL

BIG CAT GREEN ISLAND REEF CRUISES

BOUTIQUE COLLECTION APARTMENTS

BUDGET CAR & TRUCK RENTAL

CAIRNS SHERIDAN HOTEL

ENTERTAINMENT BOOK

FLIGHT CENTRE CORPORATE TRAVEL

HALFMOON BAY GOLF CLUB

HILTON CAIRNS

HOTELS.COM

KEWARRA BEACH RESORT

MANTRA GROUP

MAREEBA LODGE

MERCURE HOTEL CAIRNS

MOVIE TICKETS

NOVOTEL OASIS CAIRNS

OCEANS HOTELS & TOURISM

PULLMAN REEF HOTEL CASINO

QANTAS CLUB

QANTASLINK

QUICKBEDS

RAIL EUROPE

RED BALLOON

SHANGRI-LA HOTEL

SHOWBIZ ATTRACTIONS

TICKETMATES-EXPERIENCE

OZ-GIFT IT NOW

VIRGIN LOUNGE

DINING & WINING:

AFFINITY DINING

BALLANDEAN ESTATE WINES

CAFÉ CHINA

CORAL COAST CATERING

DUNDEES ON THE WATERFRONT

KANIS WATERFRONT

ROLF BINDER WINES – BAROSSA

VALLEY

STRATFORD DELI & CATERING

UNION JACK HOTEL

AFFINITY MAGAZINE 9

AFFINITY ALLIANCE IS CONSTANTLY UPDATING AND ADDING NEW PROVIDERS SO MEMBERS CAN ENJOY THE NEWEST AND HOTTEST OFFERS EVERY MONTH.

Be Part Of Our Team! Join our ever growing list of new providers.

AFFINITY MAGAZINE 10

The Organisational Cost of Conflict

When there are so many challenges in the day-to-day management of businesses,

the cost of conflict can be alarming. In the context of human resources alone, the

statistics around the cost of conflict demonstrate why it is critical to have an effective

and responsive dispute resolution plan:

65 per cent of performance problems result from strained relationships

between employees, rather than deficits in skill or motivation

42 per cent of practicing managers' time is spent reaching agreement with

others when conflicts occur

As much as 30 per cent of a typical manager's time is spent dealing with

conflict

Chronic, unresolved conflict is a decisive factor in at least 50 per cent of all

voluntary departures from organisations

The cost of losing an employee is 70 to 200 per cent of his/her annual salary

There is a direct correlation between the prevalence of employee conflict and

the amount of damage and theft of inventory and equipment

There is a proven correlation between absenteeism and job stress associated

with anger towards co-workers

80 per cent of turnover is related to unsatisfactory relationships with the boss

Source: Australian Mediation Association

When management or organisational responses to conflict have not resolved the

issues, various studies suggest that the on-going cost is also significant. One study

revealed that the median time between the time a legal proceeding is

commenced, until it is actually determined at a hearing, can be as great as 2.5 years

(Busch, R II "The Conundrum: Conflict- The Solution: Designing Effective Conflict

Management Systems," 16 Preventative L. Rep. Note 4 at 13)

Once a dispute is litigated, evidence shows that the time spent by senior executives

or company directors, can also be significant (and this is in addition to the time spent

by managers prior to the dispute escalating). In the late 1990’s, senior executives in

Fortune 500 Companies were spending as much as 20% of their time involved in

litigation activities.

On this month’s

AFFINITY LEGAL NETWORK

Organisational responses to workplace conflict

A survey conducted by Price Waterhouse and Cornell's PERC Institute on

Conflict Resolution of over 530 corporations in the Fortune 1000 category

revealed the following trends:

90% of respondents view Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) as a

critical cost-control technique.

54% of respondents indicate that cost pressures directly affected

their decision to use ADR.

88% of respondents reported using mediation in the last three years. From: Lipsky, D and Seeber, R "The use of ADR in U.S. Corporations: Executive Summary", 1997

Corporations that have embraced alternative dispute resolution

(including mediation) as part of an overall conflict management

process, have reported significant litigation cost savings (such as Brown

and Root – an 80% reduction in outside litigation costs and Motorola – a

75% reduction over a period of six years). From: Slaikeu, K. and Hasson, R (1998)

"Controlling the Costs of Conflict: How to design a system for your Organization," Jossey Bass,

at p14 and 15.


The sheer size of these numbers demands that business give greater

consideration to resolving conflict at an early stage. As we have shown in

previous articles, mediation is one such effective way of resolving a large

range of conflict – organisational and personal.

In the past 12 months alone, we have assisted many businesses,

associations and individuals, successfully resolve disputes that in many

cases, were threatening to cause significant disruption to the

organisation. In one case, the small but important association was facing

closure over a single dispute between the Board and its CEO. That matter

resolved successfully and the organisation is going from strength to

strength.

Affinity Alliance has secured our services for the benefit of its members and as always,

at a special members-only rate.


YBR CAR is car buying and financing without the hassle and the

haggle of dealing with a dealership.

We have created a virtual dealership environment and our point of

difference is to deliver corporate discounts to consumers and small

business owners.

YBR CAR will source locally and interstate to get the best deal for any

customer. For example a dealership in Melbourne may have stock that

needs to move. The Melbourne based dealership could pay for

transportation to Townsville and still deliver a lower price to a Townsville

based consumer. This is what YBR CAR is all about – delivering consumers

and small business owners corporate discounts on expensive car

purchases that the consumer would otherwise not be able to access.

With one phone call to Yellow Brick Road, Ian on 0731333257 or

0402174995, YBR CAR is able to:

o BUY IT - Save 5-20% off the regular list price with our

national buying power

o TRADE IT – Buy the car that you are replacing Take the

hassle out of privately selling your old car

o LEASE IT - Private and business use funding options

available

o NOVATE IT – For salary earners we are able to save you tax

with our “Salary Saver” lease

o INSURE IT - Guarantee your vehicle pay out and protect

your monthly payments

Substantial savings are being achieved for over 30 different

manufacturer brands sourced from over 300 dealerships Australia wide.


Some examples of satisfied customers are:

o Carlos is a self-employed plumber based in suburban

Eagleby, QLD and was looking to replace his 4 year old ute.

Carlos was very interested in the Isuzu D-Max range that was

awarded ute of the year by 4WD Action Magazine in 2013.

YBR CAR was able to negotiate an $8,000 discount on a list

price of $37,545 i.e. a huge 21% discount plus insurance and a

chattel mortgage loan to finance the purchase.

o Kerry and Chris have never owned or operated a business

before and decided to start a home cleaning business in their

local Melbourne suburb of Rowville, VIC. Their start up business

required a small, practical vehicle and YBR CAR was able to

source a new Hyundai GD i30 at a discount of $3,765 on list

price of $21,100 i.e. 18% discount plus arranged finance to a

start-up business over a 5 year term.

o Geoff owns a growing waterproofing business in

Greenacre, Sydney and a true blue Holden man. He has

bought Holdens from the same local dealership for many

years and as a loyal customer was able to negotiate great

deals on two V8 Holdens, including a HSV GTS worth almost

$100,000. Geoff had never borrowed to pay for cars before

and YBR CAR was able to source first time finance for the 2

vehicles with a minimum of fuss and on terms more

competitive than what the dealership could offer. YBR CAR is

able to provide car buying or financing on a stand-alone

basis – we don’t impose an all or nothing offering as we

recognise many clients require flexibility in special

circumstances like Geoff.


Advertising For a Media Kit and further information on our advertising rates and specs

in our E-News and website banners, please contact head office on

1300 793 044 or visit our website.

AFFINITY MAGAZINE

15

Employment Tool Kits: 7 Reasons why you should have Policies and

Procedures

Every business in Australia, no matter what industry they are in or how many employees they have,

should have well-documented and comprehensive workplace policies and procedures.

There are many reasons for having well-developed policies and procedures in place. Policies

are critical documents to rely on when a dispute arises between an employer and an employee.

For an employer to refer to a policy in a legal matter, which is being disputed, puts the employer in

a much better position to defend themselves in a court or tribunal.

Here are the top 7 reasons why you should have workplace policies in place:

1. To outline your company’s Code of Conduct to ensure employees understand what is expected

of them regarding standards of behaviour and performance.

2. To meet employment related laws, which require a policy eg. Workplace, Health and Safety and

Rehabilitation.

3. To demonstrate good faith that employees will be treated fairly and equally.

4. To communicate an accepted method for dealing with complaints and misunderstandings to

help avoid favouritism.

5. To protect the company from breaches of employment legislation, such as equal opportunity

and workplace bullying laws.

6. To cover off on Employee Entitlements including annual leave, long service leave,

compassionate leave, parental leave, personal/carer’s leave, jury service, special leave, overtime,

shiftwork etc.

7. To ensure employees and managers are aware of

the consequences of failure to comply with company

policy and what actions will be taken.

Don’t get caught out by not managing your legal risks

which can arise from common workplace issues,

including unfair dismissal, general protections,

workplace health and safety, discrimination and equal

opportunity, privacy, internet and email usage and

performance management and discipline.

Employment Toolkits has done all the work for you and

for just $97 you can instantly download a Policy Toolkit

today. Go to www.employmenttoolkits.com.au or call

1300 123 678

Go to the website to download your FREE e-book on

the ‘7 Costly HR Mistakes’ businesses make.

16

BUSINESS COACHING with Pam Stellema

Top 10 Tips for A Better Year Ahead

Well next year is looming bright on the horizon and if you are like most

small business owners, you are still getting over all the trials and

tribulations that came your way this year. I will also go as far as to say

that most small business owners that I have worked with, generally fail

pretty spectacularly to plan for their successes in the coming

year. “plan for success!”, I can hear the groans now “who has time for

that?”.

Well, if you are planning to have a spectacular year next year, it is

absolutely vital to plan for the twelve months ahead. I am sure you

have heard the business saying ” Failure to plan means planning to fail!”

So true and yet so often ignored with tragic consequences.

If this is starting to sound a lot like you, I have a nice surprise in store. I have prepared a simple

checklist that will help you do a fast review of your business so that you can decide what direction

you are going to take in the coming year that will help to bring you more profit with less stress

attached.

Here goes:

1. Set realistic goals. Too many times we set unachievable goals for ourselves both personally and

professionally, and then what usually happens is we get disillusioned and give up our goals

entirely. Instead, try looking for small improvements across a range of areas in your business and

decide on how you are going to not only implement them but most importantly, measure them!

You can leverage incredible improvements buy simply making small but positive changes across the

various parts of your business. Just think what a meager five percent increase in customers +pricing +

repeat business could end up generating in real profits for you.

2. Stop hogging all the responsibility! Yes – learn the art of delegation and get good at it. Why is it

that small business owners think that they are the only ones who can tackle every job and do it

successfully?

Look for the strengths in your team and delegate work to those people who are capable of doing

the job well. Remember, don’t just throw anyone into the role because that is surely a recipe for

disaster. Choose carefully, train well and communicate clearly what you want the to outcome to

be. By doing this, you will not only free up your valuable time, but you will be giving your team the

opportunity to grow professionally and personally.

3. Let potential customers know who you are and what you do. All business needs to be

marketed. Customers won’t just magically appear on your doorstep, so now is the time to think

about how you are going to market your business to gain new clients. This doesn’t need to be

outrageously expensive either. Why not try an in house referral program or a cross promotion with

another business who has the kind of clients you would like to attract to your business? Put your

thinking caps on and come up with innovative ways to get new people in your door. Oh, and don’t

forget to make sure you keep the ones you already have!

AFFINITY MAGAZINE

4. Spend more time working on your business and less time working in your business. This is often

the biggest mistake I see small business owners making in their business. If you want to correct your

business direction, you need to do it before you get too far off course. If you have a great team, get

them involved in a weekly brainstorming session and ask them to bring along their ideas to improve

the business. Also, keep tracking your financials. It’s too late at the end of the year to find out your

expenses outstripped your turnover and you have made a loss instead of a profit.

5. Add something new and innovative to your business. Find out what your clients really want from

you and what your competitors are offering and you’re not. Customers want to do business with

people they believe are up to date with knowledge and technology. The coming year is the time to

upgrade both your business and the professional development of your staff.

6. Try networking. Get out and meet new people. There are plenty of opportunities to network

either at professional gatherings or socially. Don’t be afraid to sing the praises of your business to

others and always, always, always carry a good supply of business cards to hand out when you meet

someone new.

7. Plan your next holiday. Yes that’s right, I want you to plan a holiday and even better, to plan

the one after that as well. So often I see major burnout because small business owners fail to look

after themselves, fearing the total collapse of their businesses if they were to take a few days off. If

your business really can’t manage without you for more than a few days at a time, then open your

diary and plan four small breaks with your family over the next 12 months. Try and get away for at

least four or five days at a time. You will be amazed at how much clearer you can think when you

have had a rest and time away from the business. If you don’t think this is possible, refer back to

point 2!

8. Stop making do. If it’s broken or inferior, get rid of it. How can you expect yourself or your team

to deliver first class service or products if you are working with run down equipment, crappy product

or out of date procedures. Now is the time to do a total review of your equipment, products and

procedures and decide what needs to be repaired or replaced.

9. Stop doing what isn’t working. Now is the time to review what products or services you are

offering to your customers. If they are duds, get rid of them (this might also include some under-

performing staff members). Everyone is entitled to make a mistake, but only fools keep repeating the

same things and expect different outcomes. Streamline what you are offering and get rid of the

things that don’t make you money, or worse still, don’t make you look professional.

and last but not least……

10. Invest in professional help. If you have a great accountant, go to see them more than once a

year to find our how things are going. Of course, you always have the option to bring in a great

business coach who will work beside you to help you achieve the goals that you have set for

yourself. Believe me, the small investment that you make in getting outside help will be returned

many times over by the end of the year.

Pam Stellema is a Specialist Coach for small business and franchisees. Her area of expertise

lies in coaching and motivating small business owners, managers and their key staff towards

maximising productivity and profits, excellence in customer service and client retention, and

recruiting and retaining key staff.

Pam can be contacted on 0431 975515, 0755 296 426 or to send her a message click here.

17 AFFINITY MAGAZINE

AFFINITY ALLIANCE Be a part of the team and join our long list of providers. Call our

dedicated team on

1300 793 044 or email us www.affinityalliance.net.au

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18

Affinity Alliance Dinning Directory

coming soon…

“Our custom built loyalty solution helps you

build meaningful relationships with your

customers…”

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20

We have recently commenced a relationship with OzForex, a global foreign exchange

specialist. They offer extremely competitive rates of exchange and lower fees than you

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Register now to claim your FEE FREE transfers over $2,000AUD as an Affinity Alliance member!

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AFFINITY ALLIANCE Member Announcement-2014

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21

Advertising

For a Media Kit and further

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22

Flower problems on

Valentine’s Day?


23


Do you know how your computer system works?

If you own a business, you probably engage a professional service agent of some kind to manage your

IT infrastructure. Whether they are a small local operation, a large multinational or an in-house

employee, they represent a trusted link in the chain of your business. They are an integral part of

operations, decision making and financial control. They shoulder the responsibility of day to day

operations for all of the employees production, and daily interaction with your clients. IT security is now

arguably more important than locking the front door of a night before you leave the office to go home.

But how these professionals go about this is often a “black box.”

An unfortunate barrier exists between management and IT staff made up in equal parts education and

culture. Management often feels pandered to, or patronised by the computer people. There are a lot of

buzz words discussed within a closed group, and as soon as they require an explanation, the manager

making the inquiry has lost credibility. Alternately, the IT profession as a whole considers management to

be short sighted with respect to what new hardware, software or skills can deliver. Funding is often

considered to be substandard, or the first thing on the chopping block for cutbacks.

What is often required, but put off by a reluctance to sometimes face hard choices, is an audit. An audit

in the IT world is more like a health check than anything else.

Every year, sometimes more than once, any business with stock will perform a stock take. It is a simple

accounting procedure whereby items are designated as being present or missing. This is then compared

to a register for accuracy.

A business would consider the department that requires 24/7 uptime to schedule regular audits. But a

self auditing section is open to developing inaccuracies and complacency.

Tech Auditors solves this problem by being the bridge that fills that gap. In a non-adversarial and

respectful way, Tech Auditors can engage with management and IT staff in a way that may not have

been previously possible.

Our staff have many years of experience in almost every facet of the IT hardware and software industry,

dealing with vendors, distributors, suppliers and service personnel. Tech Auditors staff are trained in the

best practice use of these products, and even contribute to the betterment of some of these products

as active testers and engineers. They have over the course of their careers been involved in

management of IT departments, running IT companies large and small, and involvement in the legal

ramifications of IT use and misuse. Tech Auditors staff have access to the broadest range of knowledge

both in house, and via the array of professional subcontractors available to us.

Tech Auditors will arrange a meeting to discuss the individual nature of your company's specific

circumstances, and then arrange our auditing procedure to suit your needs. For further information, call

Julian Fields from Techauditors on 0402 907 500.

TECH AUDITORS -Julian Field


Phone: 1300 793 044

Email: [email protected]

www.affinityalliance.net.au

Affinity Newsletter Magazine January 2014 Issue

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Transcript of Affinity Newsletter Magazine January 2014 Issue