Neighbour News The Best of 2019

2019 has flown by at a blistering

pace. We’d like to take a moment

to recap and celebrate our

achievements and successes.

- The 5 Senses Garden opened in

February 2019 - an important

milestone for our physical and

cultural presence in the community.

- Established Workshops at the 5

Senses Garden, offering an

opportunity for people to share

skills, knowledge on wellbeing and

meet like-minded people.

- With the City of Canada Bay

Council’s support we organised an

information session on the Changes

to Aged Care Services attended by

over 80 people.

- In April our Alive & Kicking group

performed alongside Year 2

students at Strathfield South Public

School for our second Young and

Young at Heart Performance.

- Help at Home, our non-

government subsidised program,

started in April 2019 with a long term

view to support our Mission and

provide a separate income stream.

- Established a partnership with

Rivendell School, where students

with an interest in horticulture and

volunteering support our clients in

their gardens.

- Showcased our programs at a

Regional Forum on Wellness and

Reablement, funded and

facilitated by the Commonwealth

Home Support Programme

Development Officers across the

Sydney Metropolitan.

- Embarked on a new fundraising

initiative by listing as a local

community donation partner with

the Return and Earn Scheme, a

NSW State Government initiative to

reduce litter of drink containers.

- Achieved additional funding for

the Commonwealth Home Support

Programme and the Community

Visitors Program and also new

funding through My Community

Project for Dementia Wellness

Workshops in 2020.

Daily there are other successes to

celebrate: new friendships and the

rekindling of old friendships

amongst clients, volunteers making

friends and continuing to make a

difference in our programs, positive

feedback from family and friends

on how we have brought a smile to

their or their loved one’s faces, staff

who continue to enjoy their work

and stay motivated to deliver the

best services possible.

The great thing about getting older

is that we get to bank up all these

experiences and share the joy with

others. Wishing everyone a joyous

festive season and a healthy and

happy 2020.

Allison Yee-Brogan, General Manager

Inside:

1. Welcome

2. Celebrating 2019

3. Our Volunteers

4. Volunteering

5. From the Garden

6. From the Garden

7. 5 Senses Workshops

8. January Outings

9. February Outings

10. Out & About

11. Stand Tall

12. Health & Well Being

13. Client Corner

14. Photos of 2019

15. Client Feedback

16. Our News

Summer

2019

Issue 103

2

Celebrating 2019

Thank you

We appreciate the 2018 ClubGRANTS we

received from the following clubs. Your support

enables us to continue to innovate and

support those most in need:

We are grateful for the support of

the NSW Government who

awarded us $53,231 for the

Dementia Wellness Workshops we

will be holding at the 5 Senses

Garden in partnership with Sydney Local

Health District.

We could not do without the ongoing support

of our key funding body:

Thank you and Welcome Board Members

Dorothy Jamieson (Client

Representative): An inner west

resident for over 50 years, Dorothy

retired in 2007 after a successful

career as an executive assistant and

office manager across a range of

industries. She has been a member of

Neighbour Aid for over 20 years, becoming

more involved over time, taking advantage of

the social outings and participating in the

Stand Tall program.

Lorna Clifford (Client

Representative): Lorna has

accumulated a wealth of life

experience. She grew up doing jobs

at the Red Cross, CWA and church

social clubs where her mother was a

member. Lorna enjoys the social side of

Neighbour Aid outings as well as experiencing

new places safely whilst keeping her brain

active. Her hobbies include sewing, reading,

walking, the movies, and keeping up with the

latest retail trends.

We thank Wendy Turner for two terms as

Chairperson and welcome Ben Lever as our

new Chairperson, Jeanette Gilbert as returning

Treasurer and Francesca Grace as returning

Secretary. Congratulations and thank you to

our other Board Members who were elected

for another term, including Janice Adam,

Wendy Turner, Lorna Clifford, Fiona Fischer,

Lesley Hambusch, Dorothy Jamieson and

Mercy Splitt.

Annual General Meeting

Our Annual

General

Meeting was

held on 23

October

2019 at the

Canada Bay

Club. We

presented our 2018/2019 Annual Report with

the theme The Power of Connection. Human

connection is a unique and powerful force in

creating communities and meaningful

relationships. This is the essence of Neighbour

Aid. Please read our stories in the Annual

Report. Thank you to the wonderful team at

Neighbour Aid for their assistance at the

Annual General Meeting and to Anne-Lee and

our Coordinators for bringing together a

comprehensive and professional Annual

Report. Thank you to our volunteers and Board

Members present on the day - Wendy Turner

(Chairperson), Ben Lever, Janice Adam,

Dorothy Jamieson, Lorna Clifford and Val Day.

Thank you also to the Canada Bay Club for the

lovely venue and catering.

3

Thank You to our 2019 Volunteers

Alex Kyaw

Alex Maitland

Alex Stoker

Amy Fisher

An Minh Thi Nguyen

Anandwardhan Harkikar

Andrew Lummow

Andy Keum

Anna Kelly

Anna Xue

Ashley Reed

Azeem Dawre

Ben Lever

Benjamin Cantelo

Carlo Gilchrist

Cassandra Houlihan

Chelsea Chan

Cheryl Sumady

Cherylyn Channell

Chloe Wagenknecht-Reid

Chris Li

Christine Carter

Christopher McFarlane

Cindy Zhang

Clive Gilmore

Colin Buckman

Colin Dunn

Collins Nguyen

Col Garvey

Connor Anagnostopoulos

Daniel Fechner

Daniela Mrencevski

Danielle Nasr

Daphne Lackner

David Braund

David Wilke

David Wood

Deb Harris

Deborah White

Debra Brown

Dianne Couch

Dolly Kachwaha

Dorothy Jamieson

Elissa Howie

Ella Callan

Ella Low

Emily Goldenstein

Eric Lam

Eve Mullen

Fiona D’Souza

Fiona Fischer

Francesca Grace

Francesca Koovousis

Gary Kearns

Geethu George Chenginiyadan

George Cooley

Gibson Marijcke

Harley Mahon

Heidi Lau

Helen Forstman

Henry Yeung

Holly Neely

Ilikini Sorova

Jace Hoffman

Jack Johansson

Jackie Chen

Jade Campbell

Jade Houghton

James Bradley

Jan Ireland

Janice Adam

Jean Burkinshaw

Jean Hanna

Jeanette Gilbert

Jee Teng Ong

Jeff Graham

Jeff Northam

Jenida Satem

Jenny Mines

Jeremy Tsz Yim Chan

Jetty Lim

John Yang

Joseph Cabusas

Joseph Szima

Jo Penkala

Julie-Anne Hall

Ka Shin Leona Leung

Kani Shan

Karina Kouck

Kate Vincent

Kimberley Jenkins

Kirsty Azzopardi

Kizzy Yang

Kristina Kresic

Kristina Strangers

Lachlan Kadrian

Lauren Rice

Leianne Ross

Lesley Hambusch

Lisa Tran

Lorna Clifford

Louisa Wilson

Lynnette Hewitt

M M Imran Khan

Maddie Andrews

Marc Schroder

Maria Prendergast

Maria Splitt

Marijcke Gibson

Mark Maureira

Marla Cranston

Melanie Mence

Melanie Morningstar

Melissa Watt

Meryn Slater

Michael Doyle

Michael Myant

Miriam Tomita

Mirsina Houvardas

Moana Peai

Myriam Baghhnaqui

Natalie Bamber

Nick Kulevski

Nicole Bondoc

Nicole Jones

Nicole Sultana

Oliver Ashcroft

Pam Williams

Paris Bradford

Paul D’Arcy

Paul Wayland

Peter Crawford

Peter Dale

Prasad Wijesekera

Queenie Saguin

Richard Crass

Robert Matthews

Rodney Strangers

Roman Dronov

Ron Pond

Rosanna Kerwan

Sally James

Sarah Buxton

Sarah Lindsay

Sean Bradley

Selina Foo

Shannon Kiernan

Shannon Tong

Sharon Filippi

Sharron Chen

Shaun Herat

Shonagh Briscoe

Simon Bromage

Simon Kennedy

Sivathmajan Tharmanathan

Stella Angelo

Stephen Edwards

Stephen Trickey

Susanne Liang

Suzanne Weinert

Terry Lockyer

Thufail Rafeekh

Thuy Van Ngo

Tim Wilkinson

Tony Moody

Tracey Forrest

Tri Nguyen

Trisha Molinari

Val Day

Van Brian To

Vijendra Singam

Vishal Patel

Vivian Faraj

Warren Farrell

Wendy Turner

Wesley Stewart

Yin Xu

You are all a valued part of the Inner West Neighbour Aid community. The

dedication of your time and skills is appreciated. Have a happy, safe festive season.

4

Volunteering at Neighbour Aid

Volunteer Survey

Thank you to everyone who responded to our

Volunteer Survey. Below are some of the

comments from the survey and what

volunteering with Inner West Neighbour Aid

means to our volunteering community.

“They are all passionate about the services they

provide & I see the clients appreciate the

attention & service they receive. It is a warm,

fun, welcoming environment to work in.”

“Positive attitude in dealing with clients and

volunteers, making both groups feel wanted”

“Neighbour Aid cares for volunteers and those

who get the service”

100% of respondents believe their volunteering

role and/or client they are matched with is the

right fit for them. They all feel confident giving

feedback and believe Neighbour Aid would

deal effectively with any complaint made. This

is wonderful as it highlights the sense of

community and working together that exists

throughout our community.

“Fostering community & their clients’ place in it”

Volunteers feel Inner West Neighbour Aid’s

greatest strengths are:

“Inclusivity and thoughtfulness”

“Building a bridge between the volunteers and

the clients.”

“People power. It has a group of

knowledgeable, friendly and genuine

employees.”

“Community spirit and genuinely valuing its

volunteers”

“It is uniquely strong as it successfully combines

both compassion and professional service.”

An area to improve is around the training we

offer. I am happy to report we are looking to

offering an online training option next year. We

are always open to feedback.

Appreciation from a Client’s Daughter

“I just wanted to say a very big thank you for

allowing Stuart and the NAB team to come to

Mum’s and do such a remarkable job.

When Mum came in half way through the day

the first thing she commented on was the

wonderful smell of the garden – we were both

overwhelmed.

The remainder of the day after everyone had

left, she was out there pottering around with a

little pair of garden secateurs pruning away,

collecting pots and dead-heading azaleas and

following all the paths that they uncovered.

It has brought more light into her bedroom in

particular, which she loves and overall, the

place just feels a whole lot better.

Stuart was a wealth of knowledge about the

plants in the garden and was enthusiastic

about the hidden treasures in the garden.

Some things we were even unable to

recognise.

Again, thank you very much for all the work –

the team from NAB were fabulous and I think

they really had a good day even though they

sure worked for it – glad they were able to

head off for a counter lunch and a cool ale –

they sure deserved it.”

Save the Date

Please save Saturday 7 December,

8.30-10.30am for our Volunteer

Christmas Breakfast. It’s wonderful to

get together to celebrate. Details to

come.

Rochelle Self, Volunteer Coordinator

5

From the Garden

Words from a

Volunteer

Gardener

“We choose to

become

volunteers not to

feel good about

ourselves but

because we care

about others, the

elderly and those

living with a

disability. We

care about their

circumstances,

their needs and wellbeing, so we want to help,

help them to do things they might not be able

to do themselves, like gardening.…The fact that

their garden… is now a safe place to spend

time in… it’s worth the effort we put in. Okay,

volunteering does make you feel good, it just

happens!”

Col, volunteer

Australian Institute of Horticulture Awards 2019 Award of Merit Roman Deguchi 5 Senses Garden

Rivendell Flower & Garden Show 2019 – Exhibit and presentation

What’s Growing in the Vegepods?

Spring is a busy time in the veggie garden and

our 5 Senses Garden raised Vegepods are no

exception. The weather has warmed up and

it’s time to plant those lovely summer cropping

fruits and vegetables like tomatoes, eggplant,

chilli and lettuce.

We have added

organic fertilisers such

as Dynamic lifter to

feed the plants and

sugarcane mulch to

keep the weeds down

and keep the moisture

in. Now growing in the

Vegepods: Cherry

Tomatoes, Roma

Tomatoes, Lebanese Eggplant, Nepitella

(Lesser Calamint), Sorell, Onions, Shallots,

Leeks, Chives, Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels

Sprouts, Spinach, Rainbow Chard/Silver-beet,

Bok Choy, Rocket, Lettuce, Parsley, Coriander,

Thyme, Oregano, Sage, Curry plant, Carrots,

Broad Beans cucumber & Celery

Our Working Bee volunteers have been busy

germinating Heirloom Italian seeds for summer.

These include ‘Piriforme Abruzzese’ & ‘San

Marzano’ tomato varieties, ‘Italian Fryers’

mixed capsicums, the all-rounder bush bean,

Italian Romano and sweet basil.

Some of our Workshop clients have helped by

bringing seeds from home. Giovanni planted

cucumber, tomato and basil seeds which

have all sprouted. Natalie, has contributed

Radicchio and the Nepitella mentioned

above, which is like a cross between oregano

and mint.

The Little Library at the 5 Senses Garden is now Open

Trade a book and relax in

the Garden to read a new

one today.

Roman Deguchi, Garden Projects Coordinator

Natalie Ciccio, Garden Team Leader

Stuart Blundell, Garden Team Leader

6

From the Garden

Nonnas and Yiayias are Sharing their

Recipes at the 5 Senses Garden

“More salt,” says Natalie Saitta, as she checks

the water in the big pot of pasta bubbling

away on a portable burner. Beside her, Mary

Ianni nods, as the two of them test whether the

penne is al dente yet. Behind them, two more

women are slicing bread and chopping onion

and tomato for what will become a plate of

vibrant bruschetta, decorated with edible

flowers from the garden where all of this is

taking place.

Nonna Saitta, as she's also known (she tells us

later that she has two children, seven

grandchildren and one great-grandson), has

just finished a pesto-making demonstration,

part of the weekly workshop program at a very

special community garden in the Sydney

suburb of Concord West.

Soon, she’s stirring her pesto into the drained

pasta – “Always save some of the cooking

water,” she says, as she adds some in along

with the pesto (the starch in the water helps

distribute the pesto, and create a thicker,

smoother sauce) – then serving up bowls for

the gathered group of 18 women and three

men, including her husband, Filippo and her

daughter, Maria. Each bowl gets a dusting of

parmesan and a small sprig of basil on top,

and then everyone sits down at the long

communal outdoor table.

After the pasta and bruschetta, and plenty of

lively conversation, there are homemade

sweets; Elsie Tan has come with a lime and

lychee cheesecake, while Linda Kendrick,

who’s here with her mother Joan Kingston, has

made raspberry blondies. “It’s a beautiful

morning,” says Joan. “I come often!”

The Monday morning gatherings are

sometimes a cooking lesson, sometimes about

plants or other topics, but always with a meal

to share at the end. Previous sessions have

ranged from risotto-making to gardening for

good health; coming up, there’s a talk on

geraniums and pelargoniums, a Greek-Cypriot

feast and a session on Christmas cooking.

The workshop program has evolved alongside

the growing garden this year. Roman says, “It’s

about providing opportunities and opening

doors, so the wider community can meet these

incredible people, and older people can share

their stories…

what happens

with a lot of

community

services that

focus on older

people and

people with

disabilities, it's

often

segregated.”

The Monday

sessions, and

the inclusion of

a playground in

the garden,

aim to

encourage multiple generations to come

together.

Excerpt from SBS Online story featuring the 5

Senses Garden on 21October. To read the

whole story and watch the video visit: https://www.sbs.com.au/food/article/2019/10/21/n

onnas-and-yiayias-are-sharing-their-recipes-

community-garden

7

Workshops February 2020

Monday 3 February - Cooking Class with

Two Good Co.

Learn the tricks of

the trade from the

fabulous Chef

Angie Prendergast

from Two Good Co.

Chef Angie, will

guide us through a

new recipe and

teach us

techniques on how to make cooking

enjoyable, easy and healthy. This is a hands on

experience, so be prepared to get involved (if

you like). By the end of this workshop you will

have learnt a recipe and shared a meal with

new and old friends. Two Good supports local

women’s refuges for domestic violence

survivors.

Monday 10 February - Encouraging Beneficial

Insects and Wildlife into the Garden with

Elizabeth Docking, The Royal Botanic Garden

There is something

special about

hearing birdsong

and frogs in your

garden, watching

birds feeding their

young and

discovering a blue

tongue lizard has

made your garden

home. Learn how to

create a garden

that encourages wildlife into your garden.

There are many benefits of sharing your

garden with wildlife that you may not have

considered. If your garden is full of flowers and

native plants you will have a diversity of birds,

bees, butterflies, frogs, lizards and soil fauna

and flora. In a diverse garden there is a

greater chance that plants, pests and

predators will live in harmony, thus giving you

healthier plants. Your diet and health will also

be enhanced.

Monday 17 February - Acai Bowl Cooking

Class with Karima from Karima’s Kitchen

An Acai Bowl is made

from acai berries that

are native to Central

and South America.

Some studies show that

acai fruit pulp is even

richer in antioxidants

than most berries. There

are many health

benefits to acai,

especially if eaten in the

form of an acai bowl,

which has yoghurt,

bananas, berries and nuts, topped with

Karima’s crunchy homemade granola. Karima

will also have a special tasting of her gourmet

homemade pickles, relishes and jams. There

will also be the opportunity to purchase these

at a special price, however there is no

obligation to buy.

Monday 24 February - Sharing Project

We return to our popular

sharing project. Bring a book

for the new little library in the

Garden, share a favourite

recipe, bring along some

family photos or produce from

your garden. We will also have

a special appearance from

our friends at the Concord West Rhodes

Preschool. They will share something that is

special to them too.

Book Today

All workshops are held at the 5 Senses Garden

Rhodes Park, Concord West

Mondays 11am-1pm

Lunch is provided

Workshop cost $5 (client) $15 (family/friends)

Client transport (if needed) $10

Open to all Neighbour Aid clients

Workshops are very popular. Please book early

to avoid disappointment.

Call 9799 5099 to book

There will be no workshops in January.

8

9

10

Out and About

Highlights and Plans

2019 has been a great year for outings. We

have driven far and wide with our fantastic

Social Support Workers and witnessed

friendships develop amongst our clients.

Neighbour Aid offers and safe, happy place to

enjoy getting out of the house into the

company of wonderful people.

During 2019 we visited

the Sydney Ageing

and Disability Expo at

Homebush. It was a

very interesting day

enjoyed by all who attended. The Expo

provided information on retirement living and

future planning. It gave clients an opportunity

to connect and network with Allied Health

professionals and service providers in Sydney.

It featured practical equipment to assist with

staying independent. A must for 2020. Keep an

eye for it in the outings calendar.

2020 promises to

be a great year

for some new and

interesting

activities. Some

of the favourites

will be included as

requested: a

lunch by the

water is always

popular.

We will embrace

our creative side

in 2020 with some

trips to Sydney art

galleries to enjoy some exhibitions by both

Australian favourites and international artists. It

is something to challenge ourselves and there

are varied opinions of some of the works.

SH ERVIN Gallery is presenting an exhibition to

celebrate Margaret Olley and her generous

donations of artworks over her lifetime. A very

special exhibition honouring a very special

Australian artist. It will be wonderful.

The Art Gallery of NSW features ARTEXPRESS, a

collection of the most outstanding student

artworks of 2019. The creativity of these young

people is amazing.

The ABC is part of

everyone’s history

listening to the radio or

watching television.

Please join us for a

specialised tour of the

Ultimo studios.

Who knows they might put us on the air!!

Book Early

Please remember when booking for outings all

clients go onto a waiting list. Confirmations are

done every two weeks. Please book in for your

outings as soon as possible.

Final reminders

If it has been a long time since you’ve been on

an outing or you’ve never been on one with

us, please call us on 9799 5099 to help make

the process easier.

A reminder to wear layered clothes this time of

year. Please also bring a bottle of water when

on the bus with the hotter weather.

If while travelling to or from an outing you

need to use the toilet, just ask for a ‘pit stop’.

Staff are sensitive to everyone’s needs and will

find the closest bathroom.

The Social Support Team

11

Stand Tall with Friends

‘Stand Tall’ is about building a person’s

confidence as well as improving their health

and wellbeing by not sitting at home on the

couch. This program aims to re-enable people

coming back from falls or injuries, create

friendships, while reducing isolation, minimising

falls risk and celebrating every achievement in

a supportive group of like-minded people.

What does Stand Tall mean to you?

Dorothy: The weekly Stand Tall lessons for me

have improved my posture, my strength and

especially my balance. I feel a lot more

comfortable walking along the street. It’s not

just about the exercise, it’s the company also!

What positive changes have you noticed since

starting Stand Tall?

David: I have been getting stronger and fitter

and keeping better balance from going to

exercises and Standing Tall.

What do you enjoy about participating in

Stand Tall?

Elsie: It’s very good exercise. After exercising I

feel my neck pain and other pains reduce. I

feel healthier and ‘Standing Tall’ as possible.

What progress have you noticed since you

started Stand Tall?

Margaret: I’ve been coming for just over 12

months. I’ve made new friends and look

forward to each session. My biggest

improvement has been I can now clap my

hands above my head, which I’d not been

able to do since injuring my shoulder in a fall 2

years ago.

What do you like about Stand Tall?

Ella: I love Tiana. I love gym. I never miss it!

If you are interested in gaining new skills, more

confidence and improving your health with

friends, get in touch with Emma. Ask any

questions or to come along for a trial. If you

already have an Aged Care Number from My

Aged Care this will speed up the assessment

process.

Emma Torres, Social Support Worker

12

Health and Wellbeing

Alive & Kicking

Our Alive & Kicking program has been running

since 2011. It originated from clients talking

about how they would love to do exercises but

it being hard to do alone. Some clients called

Neighbour Aid and asked about issues they

were experiencing like continence, memory

loss, depression and mobility. We even had

enquiries from clients about how to release

their creative side in a friendly environment.

Alive & Kicking is not just for the girls. 2019 has

brought a couple of men to our group.

Referrals were received from local hospitals,

existing clients; one of our clients was

encouraged by his family to get involved in

regular and safe exercises. Another client is the

husband of one of

our regulars and

didn’t want to feel

left out.

The camaraderie

between the men

is fantastic. Not

only is it fun for

everyone it is

noticeable that all three are getting fitter and

stronger in all the activities.

Max has been a regular

since the beginning of

the year. He says, “It

gets me out and it’s

great to have people to

chat with as I live alone.

The exercises thanks to

Fleur are really helping

with my balance and

fitness.” He enjoys being

part of all our fun

activities.

When Joe first came along there were no

other men attending so he dropped off for

awhile. Then he heard about some new clients

so he returned to the group. Joe says, “It

makes such a difference to me when I come

along.”

Chris has also joined our group. Chris says, ‘the

group is welcoming to us. We are part of the

Alive & Kicking team. The programme gets the

mind, body and spirit moving. Move it or lose it.

The social aspect is great and I also have

enjoyed my creative side.’’

Our popular Alive & Kicking program runs

weekly on Tuesdays. Please call our office if

you would like to know more.

Jackie Walters, Social Support Coordinator

13

Photo Gallery

14

Client Corner

Are you going ok?

Loneliness and isolation can impact on our

physical, emotional and mental wellbeing as

we get older. If you need support or are

experiencing emotional distress, please reach

out:

- Talk to someone you trust

- Contact your GP, a counsellor, psychologist

or psychiatrist

- Visit a hospital emergency department

- If your life is in danger call emergency services

on 000

Other support available includes:

Lifeline Australia – 13 11 14. You don't need to

face your problems alone. Lifeline is available

24 hours, every day.

MensLine Australia – 1300 78 99 78. Support for

Australian men anywhere, any time. Phone

and online counselling.

Suicide Call Back Service – 1300 659 467. For

telephone counselling and support in a crisis.

This service is available 24/7 across Australia.

Beyond Blue – 1300 22 4636

Open Arms - Veterans & Families Counselling –

1800 011 046

Client Story: John the Bird Rescuer

One Saturday in October we were on our way

to drop John home after a lovely lunch when

we noticed an injured bird trying to fly up, up

and away off Georges River Road.

It appeared to have been hit by a car and

looked to have a broken wing.

After turning the bus around to park in a

nearby street, John went straight to the First Aid

kit to arm himself with a pair of gloves. I picked

up the bird from the kerb while watching for

cars on the busy road. John supervised safely

from the footpath. When we returned to the

bus, John carefully held the bird until he

reached home. Our student volunteer,

Catherine then bravely held the injured bird to

the local vet clinic. We left the beautiful

spotted dove in the trained hands of the vets.

John checked in the following week to ensure

the dove made it to the vet safely.

He always shows concern for others no matter

if they are a human or feathered or furry friend.

If you need help for sick, injured or orphaned

native wildlife please CALL the Rescue Line on

(02) 9413 4300. The rescue line operates 24

hours a day, every day of the year.

Emma Torres, Social Support Worker

15

Client Feedback

2019 Client Survey: The Results are In

Earlier this year we mailed out a Survey to the

510 clients registered with Neighbour Aid and

165 people responded (32%). We are grateful

for the many positive comments, but there is

always room for improvement. We’ve listened

to and thank you for your feedback:

100% of respondents said Neighbour Aid dealt

with the initial contact promptly, efficiently and

courteously and that they would recommend

Neighbour Aid to other people.

Staff were described as friendly, helpful, caring

and kind.

89% of respondents felt the garden teams listen

to and respect their requests.

77% of respondents highly value the

contribution that volunteers make to the

garden service.

“Wonderful team effort by volunteers . I now

have a happy and healthy garden. I can’t do

it so it gets a good clean up.”

75% of respondents said they have made new

friends through outings and our exercise

programs.

91% of respondents said they enjoyed the

range of outings offered by Neighbour Aid.

100% of respondents said they were matched

with a volunteer quickly and efficiently for

volunteer home visiting or dog walking.

“My dog regards our volunteer walker as a

friend. It is providing extra exercise for my dog.”

100% of respondents said the shopping

program helped maintain their independence.

78% of respondents enjoy reading the

Neighbour Aid newsletter.

87% of respondents trust Neighbour Aid to

recruit reliable and kind volunteers.

83% of respondents believe Neighbour Aid

would deal effectively with any complaint

received by a client.

77% of respondents feel safer and better

supported in their home and community

because of Neighbour Aid’s services.

At the time the Survey was released, the 5

Senses Garden Workshops and Help at Home

had just commenced.

This is how we will improve:

We have introduced Help at Home

service to provide additional services

around the home to complement our

government funded services.

Aged Care Information Sessions were

held in 2017 and 2019. We’ll try improve

the way we inform clients of relevant

changes in aged care services and

government funding.

We will incorporate changes into the

reassessment process to follow up on your

service experience with Neighbour Aid,

provide information on other services that

Neighbour Aid offers .

We’ll find ways to celebrate and explain

the roles of volunteers in our services.

There are many people we did not hear from.

We encourage you to call the office and

speak with a staff member any time. Your

feedback is important and confidential.

16

Our News

A Very Merry Xmas Breakfast on

25 December 2019

Inner West Neighbour Aid will hold a special

event ON Christmas Day for the first time. We

believe in creating a strong community, a

place where people come together and

belong. If you will be celebrating Christmas

alone this year we would like to be your ‘back

up family’ at our Very Merry Christmas

Breakfast at the Canada Bay Club. It is our

pleasure to spend the morning with clients

who are unable to spend the day with family

or friends. This event is generously sponsored by the Canada Bay Club. Places are limited

and transport will be provided. If you would

like to know more please contact Jackie.

Details

Place: Canada Bay Club, 4

William St, Five Dock

Cost: $15 for the breakfast

and $10 for transport (if

required)

Call 9799 5099 and book

before 16 December

Good Bye Anne-Lee

We farewell Anne-

Lee our Marketing

and Development

Specialist who is re-

locating to the UK

with her family to

kick off 2020. Anne-

Lee began working

with Neighbour Aid as a marketing specialist in

May 2016 and offered an ongoing role. During

her time here, she led the re-branding project,

was responsible for Club grant applications

and proposals, developed the content for

and launched our new website, our newsletter

and other publications. We thank Anne-Lee

for sharing her passion for community and the

environment with us. Her smile and friendship

will be missed in the office. We wish her and

her family all the best with the next stage in

their journey.

Holiday Office Closure

Our office will close on Thursday 19 December

and reopen on Monday 6 January 2020.

Contact us

If you would like to learn more about our

services, volunteer with us or support us, we

would love to hear from you.

Phone: 9799 5099

Email: admin@iwna.com.au

Post: PO Box 247, Croydon Park, NSW 2133

Visit us: Located on the grounds of Croydon

Park Public School via Beresford Ave car park

You’re invited to join us for our

2019 Client Christmas Party

Friday 13 December

11am – 2pm

Burwood RSL, 96 Shaftesbury Rd,

Burwood

$15 for the party

$10 for transport (if required)

Call 9799 5099 and book before

2 December