In March, we shared with you that DLi were about to form a Client Reference Committee (CRC), a forum dedicated to fostering active client participation and engagement and shaping the future of our services. After receiving nominations to join the CRC, we are pleased to advise that DLi Clients Jules, Stephen, Mark, and Corey have accepted a position as group members, with their first meeting planned in June.
Below is a brief introduction of our Client Reference Committee members:
Jules has been supported by DLi for many years. She loves seeing her mum and spending time with her family.
Jules enjoys listening to music (Lionel Richie is her favourite) and watching movies, especially romantic ones and has a fondness for keeping up to date with the Royal Family.
When it comes to food and drinks, her favourite foods include Chinese, McDonald’s, and chocolate cake, and she enjoys a good coffee or a nice glass of Moscato when the opportunity arises.
A few of Jules’ favourite things to do are baking, painting, a bit of retail therapy and heading down to Semaphore to enjoy the beach.
When you meet Jules, you immediately sense her love for life and living with a positive mindset.
Corey loves to keep busy.
As the Client MC at DLi’s inaugural International Day of People with Disability event in 2022, he has a passion for public speaking and getting involved through volunteering and performing arts.
He enjoys his sport, too, attending multiple sessions a week at the gym, wheelchair sports and cheering on his favourite team, the Adelaide Crows. When he’s not cheering his team on, he is umpiring football on Friday nights or attending Club Slick.
Corey enjoys getting out and about and indulging in culinary delights such as Chinese and Indian. He also likes to keep up to date on Facebook and YouTube by watching videos about a wide variety of interests, such as places to visit and new things to do, all the while sipping on a nice cup of coffee.
Stephen works at Bedford in the packaging department three days a week and has done so for the past 14 years. He enjoys being independent, catching the bus to and from work, to social gatherings on Friday nights or to Club Cool on Sundays. As a highly passionate footy fan, he follows both AFL and SANFL without fail (Crows and Central Districts) and enjoys keeping fit, so you will often see Stephen on the field, kicking a goal at training and on game day at the Athelstone Football Club, a member of the Inclusive Disability League.
Stephen loves getting out and about in the community and exploring parts of Adelaide with his housemate. He also loves going on short getaways to Melbourne yearly to watch his beloved Crows at the MCG and heading out to enjoy a good hamburger and chips followed by something sweet like a dessert and chocolate.
When he’s not out and about, you will find Stephen at home, learning new skills, playing pool and card games, or doing his part in domestic duties around the house, such as cooking, laundry and general cleaning chores.
Whether doing the weekly shopping or catching the bus, Mark enjoys his independence. Every Sunday, you will find Mark bowling a few strikes in the Noarlunga Ten Pin Bowling competition.
As a sports fan, Mark enjoys all types of sports and loves to document scores of recent matches he has observed, such as tennis or his favourite AFL footy team, Crows, on the TV.
Mark enjoys music and movies but looks forward to his weekly Community Participation sessions, where he gets to visit his Mum twice a week and often enjoys a nice dinner or coffee.
Mark also enjoys keeping his home and next-door neighbours’ home in good order, regularly staying up to date with his housework so he can entertain his partner and invited guests as they prepare meals together.
When he is not cooking, his favourite meals consist of pizza or pasta.
The formation of the Client Advisory Group (CAG) stems from our unwavering commitment to inclusivity and client engagement. We firmly believe involving clients in decision-making is essential for delivering services that meet their needs. By creating a structured and focused environment, the CAG provides a platform for clients to offer their experiences, insights, and unique perspectives to help us better understand the needs of our clients and make more informed decisions.
Under the guidance of our General Manager, Stakeholder and Client Engagement, Rebecca Greenfield, the CAG will serve as a platform for open and honest discussions. These meetings will encourage active engagement and collaboration among the group members, enabling them to share the feedback provided by their peers and support networks and their thoughts, concerns, and ideas related to DLi’s service delivery. Through respectful dialogue, the CAG will work towards developing meaningful recommendations to the Board and Management to ensure we continue to deliver exceptional support.
DLi is thrilled to embark on this new venture, with the diverse backgrounds and expertise of the above-mentioned Clients, and look forward to the positive impact the CAG will have as we work towards a future where all clients have an active voice in shaping their care and experiences with DLi.
Are you an existing client and want to provide your thoughts, suggestions and feedback to the committee for their first meeting? Reach out to one of the Client Advisory Group members directly or let your Support Worker, Team Leader or Client Engagement Team member know, and they will make sure your feedback is documented and sent to the committee.
Featured in DLi’s June 2023 Client Newsletter – Here
