Please send all correspondence regarding InterComm to Rachel at rtoune@spinal.com.au

December 2014

InterCommWISHING ALL STAFF A SAFE & HAPPY CHRISTMAS

Spinal Injuries Australia’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) was held on Thursday, 27 November, followed by the final Board meeting for the year. The afternoon was definitely an interesting one, due to the hailstorm that hit Brisbane as the AGM was wrapping up. Although many staff unfortunately returned to find damage to their cars and homes, thankfully no one was seriously injured.

As I mentioned in last month’s InterComm, David Riley had decided to retire from the position of Chairman at the AGM, and stay on as a Board Director. As a result, the Board elected a new Chairman and Deputy Chairman following the AGM. Alan Ashford, who has been a valued member of the Board since 2007, has accepted the role of Chairman while Richard Boys, who has also been on the Board since 2007, will be the Deputy Chairman. I would like to welcome Alan and Richard in their new leadership roles and look forward to working with them as the Board and Management Team continues to guide the organisation into the future.

The AGM was also a chance to congratulate two of our longest serving staff members (pictured with David Riley), John Mayo (General Manager – Community Development) and Irene Campbell (Executive Assistant). John has been with Spinal Injuries Australia for an incredible 20 years and Irene an impressive 25 years. Thank you to John and Irene for their dedication to our organisation, and congratulations on reaching these milestones.

As the year draws to a close, I would like to wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Thank you for your hard work during the past year, and I look forward to an exciting year ahead in 2015.

BRUCE MILLIGANCHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND SPINAL CORD SOCIETY (ANZSCOS) CONFERENCE

Team members from the Spinal Allied Health Service, Employment Options and Peer Support services attended the 2014 Australian New Zealand Spinal Cord Society (ANZCoS) conference in Auckland last month (19-21 November).

The theme was ‘Innovation beyond the wheel.’ The conference recognised the advances in spinal cord injury research and how that applies in clinical practice.

There were many stand out papers, and Susan J Harkema from the USA was for me the most inspirational. Her research focusses on neural plasticity and recovery of function. She assists clients to walk with intensive locomotor training with incomplete spinal cord injury. She is using spinal epidural stimulation to assist with invoking voluntary movement in paralysed muscles, in clients with both compete and incomplete injuries. For more photos, check out page 8.

BELINDA KROPPMANAGER - SPINAL ALLIED HEALTH SERVICE

Issue 53events calendar:

3 DecemberInternational Day of People with Disability

25 DecemberChristmas Day Public Holiday

26 December Boxing Day Public Holiday

1 JanuaryNew Year’s Day Public Holiday

26 JanuaryAustralia Day Public Holiday

14 FebruaryValentine’s Day

27 March10th Anniversary Classic Wallabies Lunch

December 2014 • Page 2 InterComm

EVENTS UPDATECRUISE FOR A CAUSE Cruise for a Cause is one of SIA’s longest running events and on Sunday, 9 November over 100 immaculate new and restored vehicles took to the streets of Townsville to mark the start of Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week.

The event raised vital funds for SIA and also raised much needed awareness of road safety and the lifelong consequences associated with road trauma. Queensland Fire and Emergency Services were on site and simulated a crash scene at Strand Park to demonstrate to spectators the reality of what happens when emergency services are called to a traumatic road accident.

A huge thank you to Graeme, Stacey and Fiona from the Townsville office for volunteering their time to help out on the day. The event was proudly supported by major sponsors Slater & Gordon Lawyers as well as Graduate School of Motoring, RACQ and Aitkenvale Auto & Dyno.

VOLUNTEERS Over the year SIA holds many large events that require volunteers to lend their time to make it a success. These events would not be possible without the support of staff members, their families, friends and our wonderful members who give up their precious time after hours and on weekends to raise awareness and funds for SIA.

On behalf of the Marketing and Fundraising team, we would like to thank everyone who has donated their time to the many fantastic events held by the organisation in 2014 and we look forward to your ongoing support in 2015.

PAYROLL & FINANCE FOR DECEMBER 2014During December Natalie Allison in payroll will be on leave. Covering her while she is away will be Manouri DeSilva for office pays and Karen Collins for PSW pays. Please make sure you have any paperwork (Timesheets, Travel Allowance, Leave etc) into the team early. Close off for Christmas week will be Monday 22/12/14 at 8am. This will help ensure everyone’s pays are processed before the public holiday period. If you have any queries, please contact Finance or email payrollenq@spinal.com.au. There will be someone in Finance available right across the holiday period to assist with any query you have.

Happy Holidays,From Jo, Manouri, Rosemarie, Robyn, Karen and Natalie.

TRAVEL ALLOWANCES To ensure that your Travel Allowance Claim is paid on time you need to email your claim form to payroll@spinal.com.au (PDF format) or Fax to (07) 3009 9960.If you send your Claim Form/s to any other email address, including to your CSO, the payment of your claim may be delayed.Tip – if faxing your claim form, write your name on the back of the form. This way, if your form is sent upside down we will know who to contact.

PAYROLL & FINANCE

December 2014 • Page 3 InterComm

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT UPDATEJOHN MAYO, GENERAL MANAGER

SPINAL INJURIES AUSTRALIA’S FIFTH ANNUAL STATEWIDE INCLUSIVE COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS AWARDS 2014

The Awards recognise venues, services and individuals that seek to ensure every person can participate and can be a customer in their community. By their actions, the nominees improve the social and economic performance of their region, state and nation.

Overview:From 103 nominations statewide, 76 finalists were selected and awarded at nine regional presentations in partnership with the Local Government, with media coverage in most areas. The total regional finalists were distilled to six from which the judges selected three State Finalists and one State Champion. The winners were announced and honoured by the Governor of Queensland on 13 November during a reception at Government House as part of Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Week (9-15 November).

Our first State Finalist was: Cbus Super Stadium, located at Robina, for leadership in stadium design that meets and exceeds compliance through intelligent management planning and an understanding of the relationship between compliance and function. The Stadium is exemplary, allowing everybody, whether they have a mobility impairment or not, to travel and walk, sit and support their team together.

Our next State Finalist was: Brisbane Airport Corporation for the Assistance Animals Facility; affectionately known as ‘puppy powder rooms’ (pictured below). These facilities are remarkable for their originality and innovation and serve as an exemplar for transit facilities. They allow travellers with assistance animals to remain inside the international or domestic terminals when their animals need to go to the toilet and avoid the inconvenience of going through customs, immigration and security again.

Our next State Finalist was:Brisbane City Council for the ‘Toward an Accessible and Inclusive Brisbane’ video, which features residents sharing their accessibility experiences moving around and living in Brisbane. This best practice video features captions, audio description for people with vision impairment and an Auslan interpreter of the dialogue for people who are hearing impaired.

And finally, our State Champion for 2014 was:The Supreme Court of Queensland for the ‘Equal Treatment Benchbook’, which provides information and background knowledge about different sections of the community so that judges and staff are alert to circumstances, which, if overlooked, could result in an injustice. The first Benchbook of its kind in Australia, and has proven to be a valuable resource for the courts of Queensland.

TRANSVERSE MYELITIS (TM) BREAKTHROUGHSpecialist TM medical advice has been so difficult to achieve locally that some Australians with TM have ventured to America for help. However, Dr Ik Lin Tan, having completed a Fellowship at John Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, USA, is now based at Macquarie Neurology (Sydney) and has established herself in private practice this month. Dr Tan is now the first such TM specialist in Australia – and is capable of conducting video consultations.

Member Networks Coordinator Jeanette Kretschmann has her contact details and further information – contact jkretschmann@spinal.com.au or (07) 3391 2044.

POST POLIO RESEARCHThe last phase of Dr Pat Dorsett’s research examining issues for Queenslanders with Post Polio Syndrome was held with the Rockhampton Post Polio Network last month.

A group forum and individual interviews were conducted as part of the research project. Dr Dorsett congratulated the Facilitators and members who participated.

December 2014 • Page 4 InterComm

PAULINE DAVIS, GENERAL MANAGER, PERSONAL SUPPORT & HOME CARE SERVICESPSW UPDATE

Hello to all our staff and especially to our Personal Support Workers. I hope everyone is well and not too distressed by the heat we have been experiencing.

I imagine most of you are gearing up for the coming school holidays. Christmas is just around the corner so this is also an especially busy time of year for many of you. We appreciate the added stress on everyone at this time of year and send a big thanks to all PSWs for the great service throughout the year.

The end of year PSW get togethers are being organised and if you have not already received information, you will hear something soon from your CSO.

QUARTERLY GM/PSW REFERENCE GROUP The quarterly GM/PSW Reference Group was held on 18 November at 11am. We had six PSWs attend in person and two PSWs phoned in. Thanks to all those who participated. We had some great discussion at the meeting and some very good ideas about service improvement were offered by the participants. If anyone is interested in joining this group, please let your CSO know, as it would be great if we had more people participating. If you live too far away to travel to Brisbane, you can link in by phone. Please consider joining this group as it offers our PSWs a great opportunity to have a say in what is happening in PS&HCS and to provide direct feedback to me about how things are going for you out there in the homes of our clients. The minutes of this meeting will be coming out to you soon.

NATIONAL DISABILITY INSURANCE SCHEME Planning is continuing around NDIS readiness for PS&HCS. A small team headed up by Marg Murray (Projects and Service Development Team) is responsible for developing our project plan that will identify all tasks, projects and work that must be done to position ourselves to move into the NDIS environment by July 2016. The bilateral agreement between the Commonwealth Government and the Queensland Government should be signed early next year and then we may have more information about some of the details.

REVISED POLICIESWe are also working on a revised Individual Support Plan and on our policy around PSWs travelling with clients to overseas destinations. Draft versions of these two documents were handed to PSWs at the Reference Group to read and provide feedback to us.

HOLIDAY PERIODFor those of you who have organised to take some leave over the December/January period, I hope you have good break. If you have not already requested leave, it is not going to be possible for us to organise backfill for you now. Shift Fill are currently working on 1,900 vacant shifts over this period and we simply won’t have the capacity to fill any more leave requests. Over any of the public holidays, there will only be one person rostered on to the Urgent After-Hours Response Service at any given time, so please only call if you absolutely have to and please think twice and even three times before requesting time off.

STORM SEASONPlease remember that during the storm season the following advice is offered to clients and PSWs:If clients require additional support from a PSW (in their home or where they have been evacuated to) prior to or following a natural disaster, they should contact the relevant SIA office to make the request. PSWs will attend where possible but only where it is safe to do so. Staff are responsible to ensure that their own safety and the safety of their family is a priority.Staff are only required to attend a client’s home to provide support (or location to which the client may have been evacuated) if the PSW is safe to travel there and back, prior to, or following, a natural disaster.

For those of you who celebrate the Christmas season, I wish you a very happy Christmas and hope you have some lovely times with your family. As always thanks to everyone for the great work that you do on behalf of the organisation. I know many of you will go the extra mile to make the Christmas celebrations for your client special. Keep up the good work. You are welcome to provide good news/feedback as well as issues of concern to me at any time.

Cheers,

Pauline

A MESSAGE FROM SHIFT FILLThe office will be closed from 2.30pm Wednesday 24/12/14 and will reopen Monday 29/12/14 at 8.30am. During this period you can speak to the fabulous Urgent After- Hours Response Service ladies, Jo, Claire or Natalia on 0418 884 981. As you can imagine, the ladies will be very busy and this service is not designed for general enquiries, Ezi Pay issues or matters which can be addressed with your CSO during office hours.

Let’s keep that number absolutely free for short notice shift cover and client emergencies and not for anything else. We have had a high volume of requests for leave over the Christmas/New Year period. Shift Fill is currently working on 1,900 vacancies through December and January. Consequently, we have no capacity to backfill any further Christmas leave requests.

Also, the Urgent After-Hours Response Service seeks your co-operation in the filling of shifts by always responding to any contact initiated by them in a timely manner, even if you are unable to cover the shift/s requested. Your cooperation is imperative in these matters.

Thank you for all your efforts throughout the year, in assisting to provide clients with a high quality service and we wish you and your families a happy and safe Christmas and New Year.

PSW UPDATE

HAPPY CHRISTMAS TO ALLThe PS&HCS team would like to extend a huge HAPPY CHRISTMAS to all PSWs and say a big thank you for all of your hard work during 2014. We hope you have a fantastic festive season. Here’s to a healthy, happy and prosperous 2015.

SHIFT FILL CHAMPIONS• Thank you to Jackie Garner in Gladstone, for all that

you do for us. Your willingness to assist with Shift Fill (often at short notice!) is much appreciated – NQ Shift Fill Team

• The Shift Fill team would like to acknowledge Helen Downey. Helen has again assisted in covering a High Support shift at very short notice.

STAFF MEMBER OF THE MONTHSalonika Mersky began her career with SIA in 2002, first in Brisbane before moving to Townsville in 2012. Salonika is an absolute asset to our team, and constantly goes above and beyond for her clients.

Unfortunately for us, Salonika has decided to move back to Brisbane at the end of the year. On behalf of the NQ team, we would like to thank Salonika for her hard work and commitment.

We wish her all the very best in the future.

HOLIDAY IDEAS With the summer holidays upon us, ‘tis the season to become a tourist in your own town or take an adventure to one of our many magnificent sights around Queensland.

See below for some great ideas around your region, which are all wheelchair accessible.

CAIRNS Tjapukai Aboriginal Cultural Park: Enjoy a tour that includes traditional hunting, didgeridoo playing, bush tucker and dance. $40 per adult. www.tjapukai.com.au

TOWNSVILLE Reef HQ Aquarium: The world’s largest living coral reef aquarium, with a 2.5 million litre coral reef exhibition. $22 concession. www.reefhq.com.au

ROCKHAMPTON Cave tour: Capricorn Caves offers ‘The Cathedral Cave Tour’ with wheelchair accessible ramps. The one-hour guided tour is $28 per adult.www.capricorncaves.com.au

BUNDABERG RM Williams Australian Bush Learning Centre: Several hours from Bundaberg at Eidsvold is the Centre which promotes the unique bush culture and history of the local area. $6 per adult. www.rmwilliamscentre.com.au

SUNSHINE COAST Maleny Dairies: Experience a working farm with a tour guide. Then, sample some of Maleny Dairies’ tasty products. $11 per person. www.malenydairies.com

TOOWOOMBA Picnic Point: Situated on a scenic peak of the Great Dividing Range, Picnic Point has stunning views and access to playgrounds, barbecues and picnic facilities, as well as a café and restaurant area. www.toowoombarc.qld.gov.au/facilities-and-recreation/parksgardens/public-parks/1967-picnic-point-park-toowoomba

GOLD COASTTamborine Rainforest Skywalk: Set on 30 acres of privately owned rainforest behind Cedar Creek on Mt Tamborine, explore stunning rainforest canopies on the skywalk. $19.50 per adult. www.rainforestskywalk.com.au

BRISBANEBrisbane City Hall: Offers a free, 45 minute, accessible tour through certain parts of the building. Bookings are essential. Phone the Museum of Brisbane on (07) 3339 0845.

December 2014 • Page 5 InterComm

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December 2014 • Page 6 InterComm

FUNDRAISING

Christmas is a time that we, both, love and loathe. This year, why not do things a little bit differently – accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative, as the saying goes!

It’s never too early to start shopping. Avoid crowded shopping centres and parking nightmares and shop for gifts online, in the comfort of your own home and at a time that suits you.

As you’re most likely aware by now, Shopnate is an exciting new online platform that will help you get your shopping done this Christmas, minus the chaos.

With hundreds of leading stores to choose from, Shopnate is sure to service all of your varied festive season needs, from

your Christmas Day champagne or a quick holiday escape to presents for the kiddies and a book for your great aunty.The added bonus – Shopnate allows you to make a donation to Spinal Injuries Australia just by doing your usual online shopping and at no extra cost.

It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

Sign up for free at www.shopnate.com.au/charity/spinal-injuries-australia and get shopping.

Share the link with family and friends through email and social media and you’ll help raise even more to support the work of Spinal Injuries Australia.

FOOD & BEVERAGEDAN MURPHY’SMARKS & SPENCERMOO-LOLLY-BARESPRESSO POINTHELLO FRESH

ELECTRONICSSONYOHKIDIRT CHEAP CAMERAELECTRONICS NOWLE DOMAINE

CHILDRENBRIGHT BOTSHELLO CHARLIEMOTHERSLOVE

FASHIONCOLETTECROSSROADSGLASSONSCONNORHARD YAKKA

HEALTH & BEAUTYESTEE LAUDERKIEHL’SPRICELINE PHARMACYVITAMIN KINGSTRAWBERRYNET.COM

HOME & GARDENADAIRSISUBSCRIBE!KITCHEN SUPERSTORE

BOOKSBOOKTOPIABOOKWORLDCENGAGE BRAIN

SEAT INSPIRES GRADUATING TEENS TO STAY SAFE Thanks to the incredible support of Allianz Global Assistance, our Spinal Education Awareness Team (SEAT) presenters spoke to more than 4,000 graduating Year 12s across Queensland in their final week.

AGA generously sponsored the program for the week ahead of Schoolies Week festivities as the company has seen firsthand some of the dangers that can occur at Schoolies and wanted students to be informed and as safe as possible while celebrating this special milestone.

The whole month of November was an extra busy time for SEAT as schools were particularly keen for students to hear important safety messages ahead of the long summer holiday break.

Allianz Global Assistance has chosen Spinal Injuries Australia as a charity partner, by committing to help raise vital funds to support our work, raise awareness, promote injury prevention and create more inclusive and accessible communities.

Pictured is our terrific SEAT presenter Wayne Horkings with (from left) St John’s Anglican College students Nataleigh Illing and Ellouise Smith; (third from left) Claire Coventry from Allianz Global Assistance; and (second from right) Tate Arrowsmith and Jarrod Gerathy.

December 2014 • Page 7 InterComm

L & D UPDATE

ARE YOU DUE FOR A SKILLS DAY REFRESHER? If you are a Personal Support Worker and it’s been 18 months since your last Skills update, please contact your Client Service Officer today to book in for an upcoming session.

This Skills Day workshop focuses on refreshing knowledge and industry best practice on all clinical aspects of your role; this includes manual handling of people. It also provides updated knowledge of organisational specific policies and practices where applicable.

Our qualified clinical educators are here to support you to use safe techniques and practices that will make your job easier. Please note that we have two sessions remaining for 2014.

TRAINING DAY 2015The 2015 Training calendar is in the process of being finalised which will be available on Share Point in December on the Learning & Development department section. A confirmation will be sent out once the calendar has been uploaded.

CONGRATULATIONS!A big congratulations to the below employees who have recently been obtained a CHC40312 Certificate IV Disability through TAFE Queensland. Obtaining these qualifications is a significant and rewarding step in their professional development.

The organisation is delighted to have been able to support them through this achievement:

Adriana Gray, Antoinette Turnbull, Denise Mallory, Donna Pannowitz, James Bunker, Janelle Beran, Jennifer Leske, Joanne Whittaker, Joy Ikiara, Joyce Yeung, Kerry Wheatley, Lucy Aggrey, Narelle Rapp, Silvia Gawthorpe, Susan Perry and Tania Sanchez.

INDUCTION PHOTOS

Brisbane 11 & 12 December 2014

First row L-R: Wai Kit Wong, Kayla Moore & Varfin KromahSecond row L-R: Vanessa Foord, Druscilla Murray, Jemma Sheather & Tori-ann CullenThird row L-R: Victoria Heslip, Phoebe Miller, Rowena Leadbetter, Elizabeth Hall, Zoey Parker & Shiralee McDonald

MARIA PALEOUDIS, LEARNING AND DEVELOPMENT ADVISOR

BRISBANE

First Aid

12 December

Skills Day

5 December

19 December

SUNSHINE COAST

Skills Day

1 December

TOWNSVILLE

Skills Day

19 December

Training Dates:

Thanks to the North Queensland team members who volunteered their time at the ‘Let Us Open The Door’ music festival which was held in Townsville on Saturday, 29 November as part of International Day of People with Disability celebrations.

The inaugural local music event raised $935 for SIA and celebrated the region’s rich talent, as well as highlighted why the community needs a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

The Lions Club will also be donating a percentage of their sausage sizzle earnings to SIA. Thanks to everyone who supported this great event!

December 2014 • Page 8 InterComm

SPINAL ALLIED HEALTH SERVICE BELINDA KROPP, MANAGER - SPINAL ALLIED HEALTH SERVICE

Month Area OT/PT/RN

January Gold Coast SAHS

February Kingaroy Rebecca

February Bundaberg & Hervey Bay

Alicia & Maxine & Liz

March Warwick & Stan-thorpe

Patricia

May Dalby / Toow-oomba

Alicia / Maxine

July Sunshine Coast SAHS

August Bundaberg & Hervey Bay

Lauren & Gail & Liz

September Assisting with Take My Seat

SAHS

October Audit Leanne

November ANZSCoS SAHS

Month Area OT/PT/RN

January Rockhampton Katie

April Mackay Leona

August Rockhampton Katie

September Mackay Leona

NORTH QUEENSLAND REGIONAL VISITS - 2015

SOUTH QUEENSLAND REGIONAL VISITS - 2015

REMINDER: OUR REGIONAL VISITS FOR 2015

Throughout the year, the Spinal Allied Health Service (SAHS) undertakes a number of regional trips across Queensland, to ensure more clients can access the team’s allied health expertise.

The team will be contacting clients in each region they will be visiting, to advise them that they will be in the area for appointments.

However, other departments who may be aware of clients who need support in these regions can also advise the SAHS team in advance.

In addition, the team will also be available to attend Member Networks meetings if timing permits.

MORE PICS FROM THE ANZCOS CONFERENCE

Leona and Jo ripping up the dance floor – Kath and Kim inspired

Occupational Therapist Joanne Ede presented a case study at the conference, featuring member Ruth. Within just months of arriving in Brisbane from Papua New Guinea on a study scholarship, Ruth achieved a level of independence beyond her expectations with the assistance of SIA. To read more about Ruth’s story, including photos and videos, visit www.spinal.com.au/ruths-story.

MUSIC FESTIVAL THANKS