Human Resources > Work Experience Induction > Notes for Work Placement or Volunteer Participants
Authorised by Office Manager
Issue Date 13 December 2010
Kyeema Support Services staff vision is...
For A Society That Accepts and Values All Citizens and Recognises Their Individual Worth:
•As a service for disabled adults, we are partly funded by the Commonwealth Government.
•We legally are required to work by the Commonwealth Disability Service Standards- there are 12 standards.
•The 12 standards are basically the way we (as staff) need to work with the employees. It is all about the ATTITUDE we work with. E.g. Treat all employees equally, give them dignity, valued status, good training, choice, integration into community etc.
•The 12 standards are attached for you to have a look at them. (You do not have to remember them all, but understand the overall importance of them).
•Employees are aware of their rights, and have advocates (independent people- outside Kyeema staff) to help them complain if we are not doing the right things.
•We are also monitored by audit teams, who speak to the employees on such matters.
•We also strive to maintain a good O.H & S standard at work.
Helpful tips for working in this field
•Talk to employees directly, using clear voice, use good eye contact.
•Use tone of voice, you would normally use for any other person you come in contact with.
•If you cannot understand a persons response, perhaps ask a fellow employee for some assistance
•Picture or drawing can help with communication.
•Body language is a strong method of communication with some employees, so learning to read these is a positive for understanding between you and employees.
•When wanting to have a conversation with employees, use OPEN QUESTIONS-
•Open questions are like….How was your weekend?
This will encourage more conversation. Generally any person will give you more information if you leave out any words such as- did you have a good weekend?
•Obtaining a little bit of information about each employee from a supervisor, will help you, understand how best to work with each individual.
•We work with a lot of confidentiality for the benefit of each employee. Information shared with you, will be more in the line of how Nursery tasks are performed by individuals, and how much assistance each person needs.
•Treat each person as individuals- because we all are.
•Each employee, here, is striving for a different life, just as we are. With different interests, dislikes and goals for their lives.
•We are trying to help them achieve their own goals, little or big.
•Most employees have attended main stream TAFE courses in Portland, e.g., Horticulture, Administration, First Aid; Food Handling Cert;
•Employees live reasonable independent lives, with friends and family, attending many social functions of their choice after work and weekends.
Employment services work under umbrella of Federal disability standards
Lalor Street programs work under umbrella of State standards