As Assured Home Care continues to grow, employment opportunities are increasing for trained workers with the right values.

Limited time offer – Complete your Certificate IV in Disability or Mental Health online for only $50

Assured Home Care, in partnership with Education Training & Employment Australia (ETEA) and the SA Government, are excited to offer a one-time opportunity to prepare those looking for a career change or new employment to complete a Certificate IV in Disability or Certificate IV in Mental Health online, in readiness for possible entry into the community services sector.

• The $50 special (normally $4000-$5000) is only for those who mention Assured Home Care when enrolling at ETEA.

• SA Government eligibility requirements apply.

• Completion of the course is not a guarantee of future employment with Assured Home Care.

• Standard employment application and selection protocols apply for employment with Assured Home Care.

To find out more, download the cert-iv-disability-brochure or cert-iv-mental-health-brochure.

For further information or to enrol, please call or email Education Training & Employment Australia (ETEA) on (08) 8150 9500 or email sainfo@etea.edu.au.

You must be enrolled and have paid before the 15th May – there are no extensions.

Deb

Deb has been with Assured long enough to remember a time when there were only a handful of staff in the office.

Motivated to “give back to the community,” Deb started work in child care, before moving into aged care and now disability support. Deb works with a number of clients in the North-Eastern suburbs, including individuals housed within Assured’s supported accommodation units.

When it comes to her work, “Every day is different,” according to Deb.

In particular, Deb enjoys the opportunity to be outside a lot, whether it be taking clients for trips to the beach or playground, or other recreational activities.

“I like that I’m not indoors all the time,” she says.

“Two brothers with autism that I have been working with over the last 5 years love to get outside; Sunday drives to the beach, walking around in the sunshine…. it’s very therapeutic for them.”

“I love interacting with them; it’s nice to see them happy, with smiles on their faces.”

Deb loves the flexibility of her job and appreciates that Assured have always been accommodating with her work hours.

“I like that the company has strong family values; they understand that we have families too and are very flexible around this.”

Ros

Meeting different people, and seeing the smiles on clients’ faces, are the best parts of the job, according to Ros.

With previous experience in a nursing care setting, Ros started with Assured some 9 years ago and has been providing support for both disability and aged care clients, including working with several long-term clients.

Ros is conscious that her work often involves working around the specific needs of a household.

“At the moment, I support one mother with 4 sons, one of whom is profoundly disabled,” says Ros.

“I work around her schedule, which involves sporting commitments with her other sons, to help out,” she says.

Working with the son with a disability, and developing a relationship, has been rewarding and Ros has become attuned to his feelings and mood.

“While he can’t communicate, there is no doubt that he understands everything.”

While Ros has some hair-raising stories to tell about situations that she has been confronted with over the years, she is focused and looks forward to enjoying those “nice days” where people make it clear that she is well valued for her work.

“I had one lady in Henley Beach specifically ask for my assistance after she’d had another worker come in,” says Ros.

“It was really nice to hear.”

Pauline

Pauline lives in the beautiful Yankalilla district with most of her clients being longer term clients around the Aldinga, Sellicks Beach and Southern districts.

“I was always interested in aged care,’ says Pauline.

“I observed my grandmother struggling to meet the needs of my grandfather (who was much older) and thought that there must be a better level of support available to people,” she says.

“So, I went and got my Certificate and, from there, started my career as a Support Worker.”

From the outset, Pauline had a preference for providing home care services, rather than working in a residential care facility.

“I believe that it [home care] allows you to have a better one-to-one relationship with people and to deliver a greater level of personal care,” says Pauline.

“Most of my clients have been great; they have respect for me and the work that I do,” she says.

“I’ve only had a couple of bad experiences.”

Building trust is important, and being a good listener is key, says Pauline as, “Clients tell me everything!”

Pauline has enjoyed the flexibility offered by Assured in supporting her work and appreciates the family values that the company is built on.

“They have been particularly accommodating when it comes to personal responsibilities,” she says.

“It’s a fabulous place to work.”

“I even encouraged my sister to work here.”

Further Information
Are you looking to make a positive difference?
Head over to our Careers page to start (or continue) your journey in the care profession.

Maintaining a close relationship with our support workers, ensuring that they feel recognised, supported and connected with our office team and other support workers is, therefore, of high importance to us.

So, how do you keep your workforce engaged remotely?

Technology can certainly provide some answers, and we’ve been implementing several new technology initiatives to support our workers in the field.

For some time now, we’ve been using social media to connect our support team as a community, to communicate company developments and to encourage staff and client recognition with the contribution of regular ‘good news stories’.

We’ve implemented software to support our recruitment and on-boarding process, and to provide a better communication channel when it comes to sharing key organisational information, policies and procedures, and identifying training and development opportunities for staff.

We are also moving to providing online learning options to complement our face-to-face training, enabling our staff to undertake modules at their own convenience, without having to come into the office.

We are proud that a recent staff satisfaction survey showed that, in general, our community workers feel fulfilled in their job, have the materials and equipment needed to perform, are being recognised and rewarded for their work, and receive supportive training and development.

Of course, there’s always room for improvement, and we hope that our technology investment will assist in communicating with, and further supporting our team in the field – into the future.

That said, technology does not replace one-to-one interaction. Instead, it will sit alongside our continued development of ‘offline’ strategies and structures that are designed to promote team-building, mentoring, skills and career development.

We need to get the people and technology balance right.

Values are important to us. It’s our values that are the reason that we started this business, and it’s our values that drive us every day. We want to make a positive difference not only in the lives of our clients, but in those of our staff and others.

We want to make sure that we are providing all the tools to help people excel in their work, and to develop in their chosen career.

And, it’s people with the right values that we look to recruit, always.

Experience and qualifications are one thing, but for us, the most important thing are the values that individuals bring into our workplace. We encourage people at all stages of life, and from all backgrounds, to consider support work as a career.

We’ll support you to get there!

If you’d like to find out more, head over to our Careers page now.

The Tutti Choir was a highlight at our recent 10 Year Anniversary event at the Zoo, delighting the crowd with an inspiring performance of original songs and well-known hits designed to get everyone’s vocals humming.

This month, we had the good fortune to join the Wednesday Afternoon Music group (or WAM), one of many weekly Tutti group programs, which has a focus on music theory, song writing and performance skills.

We discovered a diverse group of musicians with reach, influence and acclaim.

Check out our video of Tutti in action!

Tutti means ‘everyone’, and Tutti Arts aim is “to break down barriers, challenge preconceptions and boldly place disabled artists centre stage.”

In short, “We’re aiming to take our artists and their work to the world!” says Choir Director and Music Program Coordinator, Carol Young.

From early origins as a once weekly recreational program, Tutti now operates six days a week and is recognised as a highly-awarded, multi-arts organisation delivering programs across four locations (Brighton, Port Adelaide, Barossa, Adelaide Hills) to over 200 participants with an intellectual or learning disability.

Tutti enables individuals to express creativity across different art forms, offering programs in Performing & Visual Arts, Film & New Media, Singing & Music, and providing opportunities for cross-collaboration.

Midweek rehearsal at Tutti

WAM members Sam, Jessica, Caitie, Trisha and Dougie were all part of the recent anniversary Zoo performance and loved the opportunity to perform in front of a big audience.

Dougie, in particular, was thrilled to perform one of his favourite John Farnham songs (‘The Voice’) and enthusiastically encouraged the crowd to sing along.

Whilst Tutti’s main musical performance groups include the Tutti Choir, Poco (or little) Tutti Choir and the highly acclaimed alt-pop group, The Sisters of Invention, all programs have a performance outcome.

As well as numerous private performances (including Assured’s own 10-year anniversary event), Tutti artists have performed in Adelaide at the Fringe, WOMADelaide, OzAsia Festival, Carols by Candlelight and nation music festivals in Victoria, Western Australia and the Northern Territory, as well as international performances (North America and Canada).

The Sisters of Invention even featured in ABC’s iView series Pop-Ability, an award-winning six-part series that looks at these young women’s journey launching an album and video, from rehearsals to filming and an intimate slice of the lives of individuals within the group. More recently, the group featured on ABC’s Get Krack!n program.

WAM member and star of The Sisters of Invention, Aimee, says that for her, performing is like therapy.

“If I do it, I feel better afterwards.”

Choir member Kathryn would agree.

“I feel really excited when I’m performing,” she says.

The group agrees that singing together, practice and preparation helps to overcome any stage nerves.

“We’ve become great friends over the years and we’ve had a lot of fun practicing and performing together.”

“Don’t dis-my-abilities”

Sitting down with WAM participants during rehearsal was an opportunity to discuss what music and Tutti Arts means to them.

Many WAM members emphasised the importance of avoiding labelling people with a disability. And, how important it is that people see different role models.

“It’s important to see the good in things, to get rid of negativity around disability, and put positivity in the light,” says Amy.

“We are actually people with diff-abilities,” says Caitie.

No, not people with a lisp, “but people of different-abilities.”

The group agrees that it’s important to be yourself; and Tutti Arts provides the support and encouragement to foster individual expression.

“No one is perfect,” says Jo, and as one choir member puts it even more bluntly,

“Don’t dis-my-abilities.”

Sometimes, having a disability can even bring good fortune as ‘wheelie’ Michelle discovered; she was one of the lucky few who had the opportunity to meet Katy Perry on tour at a shopping mall promotion.

Priority access means that sometimes, “being in a wheelchair has its benefits,” she admits.

All WAM members share a love of music and enjoy performing songs from Oz rock classics to Peter Coombe (a shared favourite) and everything in between.

The group enthusiastically nominate their musical heroes, citing popular artists including Katy Perry, Taylor Swift, Adele, Harry Styles, Ronan Keating and Zac Efron as being their influences.

Aimee, however, is more artistically drawn to musical theatre.

“At the moment, I’m waking up each morning to SpongeBob SquarePants, the musical, which I’m finding inspiring!”

Passionate musical leadership

Tutti’s multi-talented and energetic Choir Director & Music Program Coordinator, Carol Young, has been working with the group for around two years.

Carol has worked as a musical director for over 20 years, for the most part with the Adelaide College of the Arts (TAFESA), as well as several freelance appointments, including for the State Theatre Company SA. She has worked with many community choir groups, including her own group, ‘La La Land’, that has performed at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Fringe.

The passion Carol has for Tutti and what it is achieving is evident, not just in how she talks about the group but simply by watching her at work.

“I’m really comfortable with group singing where the group itself has a wide range of abilities, which is the reality for a lot of community choirs .”

“One of the things that I’ve learnt in working with Tutti artists is that participating is the most important thing.”

“The spontaneity of Tutti artists is a reminder of why we all love to do what we do, and why we love music so much.”

Tutti seems to attract people with passion and dedication; leading the rehearsal is Matt Morison, who has been working with Tutti for two years now and takes the Quirkestra instrumental group program.

Largely experimental and improvised, the group has lately been focusing on learning form and “sticking to a form,” according to Matt.

Tutti’s reach and influence

While talking with WAM members, it’s evident that Tutti’s focus is on supporting musical exploration, and both personal and professional development.

According to Carol, “Our aim is to support individuals to become artists in themselves, with the long term aim of achieving a professional practice.”

“Tutti’s vision is to take the work of disabled artists to the world!’

Many program participants are achieving recognition and influence in the broader Adelaide arts community, while some are now performing and exhibiting work overseas.

“We have many talented musicians in our crew, with artists playing guitars, violins and drums; percussion instruments including tambourine and maracas; keyboards and slide whistle, and even a didgeridoo player,” says Matt.

“With Quirkestra, we are hoping to gain some future commissions and do a soundtrack to theatre performances,” he says.

Many WAM members have found their own niche in music and performance.

As well as performing with the The Sisters of Invention (who have a new album out soon featuring their own song writing), Aimee is now teaching music herself to students.

Caitie, who identifies as having ‘up’-syndrome, has been learning AUSLAN for many years and often provides interpretative services for Tutti performances, and others.

And MC Dougie is the popular star of Dougie’s World, a regular segment on ABC891 Radio on Tuesday nights with presenter Peter Goers.
Fame aside, everyone is enjoying being in the moment at rehearsals, as the group moves from the gentle sounds of ‘In the Jungle’, to the higher energy vocals of ‘Buttercup (Don’t Break my Heart)’ spontaneously accompanied by Trisha on maracas, and with Aimee harmonising.

For now, the world can wait!

Further Information

Tutti Arts is a registered NDIS provider.
To find out more about Tutti programs, visit http://tutti.org.au/

More handles than you can poke a stick at:

Facebook
@TuttiInc
@TuttiVisualArtsStudio
@TheSistersOfInvention
@SitDownShutupAndWatch
@SocialCueTheatre (Company AT)

Instagram
@TuttiArts
@TuttiVisualArtsStudio

YouTube
Tutti Arts Inc
The Sisters of Invention
Sit Down Shutup and Watch

Twitter
@Tutti_Arts

As many of our support workers can attest, developing strong bonds with the people that they care for, and their families, can be the most satisfying part of the job.

“It’s all been a good experience,” says Support Worker Berneice, revealing the positive attitude that she brings to her work.

Over the last 8 years, Berneice has worked with several disability and aged clients across Adelaide, with some relationships spanning her time with Assured.

“I’ve always worked in caring,” says Berneice.

“I did do a stint in a nursing care facility but found that it didn’t allow the time to really develop a connection with people,” she says.

“I definitely prefer the rapport and one-to-one relationship that comes with working in home support.”

“Just the feeling that you are helping families, and the appreciation that clients have of the work that you do.”

It’s this close relationship, built over the years, that Berneice values the most.

“With some of my clients, I feel like I’m an extra Nanna,” says Berneice.

“Some clients have waited until I come back from holidays, rather than have another support worker in,” she says.

“That’s very rewarding to hear.”

Support Worker Anne would agree.

Making the career change to disability care some 7 years ago, Anne has enjoyed the strong bonds that she has developed, not just with her clients, but with their entire family.

“I’ve been able to observe the impact of an individual’s disability on the parents, and siblings,” she says.

“Having the ability to step in and help families, when I’ve seen the Mum’s (in particular) really struggle – is very rewarding,” she says.

“Caring for others has enhanced my life.”

A sentiment that Support Worker Myrna would wholly agree with.

Myrna used to work in manufacturing, but with a downturn in the industry, looked to domestic support as a career option.

“Becoming a part of people’s lives has been extremely rewarding,” says Myrna.

“Knowing that my clients look forward to me coming, and just to hear them smile or laugh is very motivating,” she says.

“I have some ‘golden girlfriends’, elderly clients who I spend some of my time with, even outside of work.”

“I learn a lot from them, such as crafts, recipes, gardening and games,” she says.

“I value my work and should have done it years ago,” she says.

Support Worker Fatma, who has been with Assured now for over 9 years, sums it up well.

She believes that caring for others has made her a happier person.

“I love the people”, she says.

“If they cry, I cry. If they laugh, I laugh.”

“My job makes me a better person,” she says.

“It helps me to understand people and gives me more knowledge of how to help people.”

We will be recognising Berneice, Anne, Myrna, Fatma and several other long-serving staff as part of our 10-year anniversary celebrations.