Years of Service for Sharon Dawe

At Rural Lifestyle Options Australia we appreciate our staff's efforts and are always looking for new ways to recognise them for their stellar achievements and meritorious career milestones.

One of our latest staff recognition initiatives is our Years of Service Medals which are given to staff members when they achieve 5, 10 and 15 Years of Service.

Pictured here are the incredible Sharon Dawe and Sheryl Colton who have achieved all 3 medals! 🏅

Sharon has been a Lifestyle Support Worker with RLOA for over 15 years, providing support to participants to help them enjoy life to the fullest while also being a firm and fierce advocate for her dearly beloved brother Nick! Sheryl has been with the organisation for over 20 years and recently received her 20 Years of Service Award.

We can’t thank Sharon and Sheryl enough for their service over the past 15 and 20 years respectively! 👏

To learn more about how we recognise the amazing achievements and milestones of our team, please visit www.rloa.org.au/careers

#RewardAndRecognition#EmployerOfChoice

Short-Term Accommodation (STA) 🏝🎊

Getaway with Rural Lifestyle Options Australia's ‘STA Your Way’ Short-Term Accommodation Package, designed with you in mind, with each stay tailored to your needs.

Your journey starts by discussing your getaway aspirations with one of our ‘STA Your Way’ Specialists, who will work with you to develop an itinerary.

They will also assist you in determining the right team of Lifestyle Support Workers to support you during your stay. Our Service Delivery and Rostering Teams will use this information to ensure you receive the support you need during your visit and the support you want!

Each stay under our ‘STA Your Way’ program includes your accommodation expenses, your support and a $100-a-day Meal and Entertainment credit which can be used to dine out at your favourite restaurants and participate in local activities. ___________________ To learn more about how Rural Lifestyle Options Australia can support you or your loved one under the NDIS, please visit www.rloa.org.au/sta.

Carole’s achievements over the last 30 years

Yesterday, Jennifer Reeves wrote a touching message about her mother Carole Caswell in celebration of both International Women's Day and Carole’s achievements over the last 30 years during her time as Chair of Rural Lifestyle Options Australia. ✨

Carole has recently been recognised as a Lifetime Ambassador of Rural Lifestyle Options Australia in addition to recently receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to the organisation over the past 30 years. 🙏

We would like to extend our sincerest congratulations to Carole and from the bottom of our hearts thank you for everything that you have done to make Rural Lifestyle Options Australia what it is today. 💖

You can read Jennifer’s original post below. 👇

"It's quite fitting that on International Women's Day, I am writing to say how proud I am of our wonderful Mother, Carole Caswell.

Recently, Mum resigned as Chair of the Board, after volunteering for an amazing 30 years of her life with a disability group now known as Rural Lifestyle Options Australia. Mum has given up so much of her time, has had to make many decisions, sometimes under challenging circumstances and has moved with the various organisational changes throughout the years, including seeing NDIS rolled out.

I remember I was 18 when Mum started a committee with a few parents in the Beaudesert & Jimboomba community who wanted a meaningful future for their children with disabilities, and for them to reach their potential. They applied for their first grant from Qld Gov't to start the ball rolling... and that's how it all started, 30 years ago. RLOA now employs 237 staff and they support 430 participants like my brother Martin.

Mum has now been awarded the very fitting title of "Ambassador" of RLOA, along with our dear family friend Ann Armstrong.

Martin would not be the wonderful, confident & jovial man he is today without the support of RLOA. Dad was Martin's full-time carer and when Dad passed away, Mum was still working full-time & I don't like to think where Martin would be today without RLOA. Martin may not know what Mum actually did at RLOA, but he certainly knew that she held some sort of importance there, which he loved being part of if he saw Mum when she visited for meetings!

To Mum... through all the adversity that life has thrown at you, you amaze me with your resilience, positivity and your outlook on life - and your dedication as a parent to provide the best life possible for Martin. I speak on behalf of darling Dad, dear Jayne & our special Marty when I say YOU ARE LOVED so much by me and by so many. Now you can say that you are fully retired! You can put this award proudly next to your Australian of the Year Award, Regional Local Hero 2007!"

To learn more about how Rural Lifestyle Options Australia enriches the lives of the people we support, please visit www.rloa.org.au

#30Years#LifetimeAchievementAward#NDIS