The new financial year has kicked off with fresh milestones and renewed energy in our outings program. July was a month full of colour, music, and memorable experiences. We enjoyed Morning Melodies, explored the Vintage Tram Museum, visited Gardenworld, celebrated Christmas in July at Sky High Dandenong, and revisited the much-loved Fortnums restaurant in Sassafras. Most outings ran at full capacity, with some even exceeding expectations. This growing participation clearly shows that our outings are making a meaningful impact in keeping clients socially connected and engaged—despite the winter chill.
A major highlight this month was the Support for Carers outing, where a group travelled from Bendigo to the Melbourne Aquarium. Special thanks go to Rosanne, Shan, Aff and Daniel for their invaluable assistance in making this trip possible.
We’ve also seen a significant increase in Home Care Package clients joining our programs, and many providers have expressed interest in offering our outings to their clients. This growing demand is a testament to the quality, care, and joy our team delivers on every trip.
From a compliance perspective, July brought important updates. Under CHSP funding, DEX reporting has changed: Social Support Group is now Group Social Support, and Social Support Individual is now Individual Social Support. Additionally, the Support for Carers program has transitioned to a new reporting method using service delivery tracking to record activities and outcomes. Our team has quickly adapted to these changes to ensure continued accuracy and compliance.
This month also saw our team leaders step up to lend a hand by training as lead hosts, further strengthening our leadership capacity. Their commitment to learning and growing reflects the adaptability and dedication that defines our team.
As we look ahead, we’re excited to maintain this momentum with even more diverse outings and opportunities for our clients. July ended on a high note, and I extend my heartfelt thanks to every member of our team—including our dedicated volunteer hosts, enthusiastic students, drivers, and office staff—for their hard work, positive energy, and commitment to making each outing a success.
