Lifeskills @ Bendigo - City of Darebin

4Lifeskills Newsletter Winter Edition 2012Director’s Report....continuedWe should also mention that we havequite a few staff members who have beenwith us now for quite a number of years– Dick has been with us for 13 years inAugust. Pauline has been with us 6 yearsand Rebecca has been with us for over 5years. Vicki has been with us 5 years andher Café staff have mostly been with usfor the entire time the Café(s) have beenopen. Victor has also been running theHireworks for almost 6 years, and othershave been with us for more than 4 years– Dominic and Laurie. If I have missedanyone, I apologise but on behalf of theManagement at Lifeskills I particularlywish to thank all of our staff for the splendidwork they do, often under challengingcircumstances, having to be flexible withthe daily changes we need to make at shortnotice.As you can see from the articles includedin this edition of the newsletter, we arecurrently offering a range of Ready2Workoptions for more than half of ourparticipants. This is largely due to Marie’sefforts in identifying and obtaining work,and then supporting both the participantand their employer to ensure that theplacement is maintained and ongoing.We are very proud of our Ready2Workprogram, and the outcomes achieved byour participants.I also wish to acknowledge the workdone by Vicki and her team in our Cafésat Bundoora and Banyule CommunityHealth Centre (BCHC). The staff in theselocations work extremely hard and arealways helpful and supportive towardsour participants who undertake training inthe Cafes. Twelve months ago LifeskillsCafé successfully tendered for cateringwork for the LTU Union and since thenthe workload of the Café has increasedimmensely. Vicki’s team have achievedmarvels, although Vicki probably seesRice Paper Rolls in her sleep!! I am alsoaware that Vicki is often working away inthe Café, when most of us are just wakingup in the morning.As you can see from the contents ofthis edition of the newsletter planningis underway for the end of year and thecommencement of 2013. If you wish todiscuss your plans for 2012 with any ofthe staff, please give Pauline or Rebeccaa ring.Ros LeslieManaging Director