April 2025 Bravo Newsletter

Board Snapshot

Hello and welcome to April’s Newsletter!

We hope you had a happy Easter break and managed to keep the chocolate indulgence in check.

Did you enjoy Bravo Day?

Planning 2025

Nominees

(Photo: Bravo's General Manager Patricia, Secretary for Governance Board Gail, Governance Board President Dianne, Governance Board Member Emma, Governance Board Treasurer Dave, Bravo's Operations Manager Deirdre, Bravo's Business Manager, Mitchell, Bravo's Community Networker Cindy, McAllister Leadership, Pam)

The Board and Management Team attended the final Planning Day on 4th April. Keep your eyes out for information on the final documents.

The ‘Ideas’ received through the “ideas Factory” on Bravo’s Website were presented. Thank you to all who contributed. BRAVO!!

Individual / Participant / Family Survey 2025

The Board extends its gratitude to all Participants for their valuable feedback in the Annual Survey. The data collected was instrumental at Planning.

• 96% of Participants consider Bravo to be a valued Organisation within the Community.

• 80% of Participants are happy with Bravo’s service.

• 77% of Participants would recommend Bravo to others seeking support.

Most people who responded were in favour of a ‘Bee Mascot’, the Board will work on this for a future release date.

Although we asked Participants about T-shirts, the Board has unanimously decided not to produce a Bravo T-shirt at this time.

Thank you once again, the Board values your feedback. We encourage you to stay connected with us on Bravo’s Facebook page and to check Bravo’s Website regularly for the latest updates and news as it happens.

Reminder: If you have any suggestions, contact the Board with your comments or ideas through the Idea's Factory on Bravo’s Website or via email at governance@bravo.org.au

In Focus: From the General Manager

Hi everyone,

GMInFocus

As we move further into autumn, we're finally enjoying some well-deserved sunshine after all that rain!

March and April certainly kept us on our toes—with wild weather causing a few postponements and plenty of last-minute changes. Through it all, the Bravo Team continued to shine, making the most of every opportunity and staying focused on delivering high-quality supports.

One of the highlights of this month was Bravo Day, where we proudly celebrated 19 years of supporting our community. It was a fantastic day filled with connection, laughter, and shared memories. A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to help make the event such a success—your generosity and enthusiasm were felt by all and helped create a truly special celebration.

The unpredictability of the past month also sparked great teamwork, creative problem-solving, and thoughtful planning to ensure we were ready for anything.

To every member of the Bravo Team—thank you. Your continued dedication to keeping people safe and well-supported is inspiring. Your flexibility, resilience, and care never go unnoticed.

Here’s to more sunshine and shared successes ahead!

Quick Insights

Supportive Minds

Supportive Mind

The Supportive Mind App is a free mental health and wellness tool developed by the Mental Health Foundation Australia.

It helps to prioritise your well-being through mood tracking, wellness tips, step tracking, and self-care activities.

How to download the App: Read More

Supporting Aged Care Staff

ELDAC

New End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) Self-Care Packs.

At a time when the aged care sector is undergoing continuous reform, self-care may provide protection against burnout.

ELDAC’s new self-care-packs may offer support to staff.

To access and download the resources: download here

To order printed resource packs from ELDAC order here

Caring in the Country - New resources for rural carers

Carers in the Country

Caring for someone with a life-limiting illness is an important role that can be challenging.

Living in a regional, rural or remote area can bring further challenges.

CarerHelp are offering carers: CareHelp are offering carers new resources.

To see the new resources: Download ELDAC Resources or Order printed packs

Plan Variation and Reassessment - New Rules

Plan Variation

The Department of Social Services has released new rules to outline when and how the NDIA can vary or reassess a NDIS plan. These changes clarify that plan variations can now be made in urgent situations – such as a crisis or emergency – or to make minor changes like adding short-term supports. Reassessments, which result in a new plan, may occur due to major life changes, shifts in support needs, or at the Participant’s request. These rules apply to current plans and aim to make the process more responsive and transparent. Read More

Get Involved: Bravo's Upcoming Events

Celebration & Recap of Bravo Day April 2025

Bravo Turned 19 - This month, Bravo celebrated its 19th birthday with a fun get-together alongside Participants, Staff, Contractors, Board Members, and invited guests. The event was filled with fun activities and topped off with a delicious BBQ brunch.

A huge thank you to the talented ‘Just Us’ singing group, whose performance had everyone singing, dancing, and smiling—truly making the day memorable!

Bravo is already looking ahead to our big 20th Birthday Celebration in 2026, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you all again next year!

Easter Raffle Draw - Winner Announced

Congratulations to Oscar, winner of the Bravo Easter Raffle drawn on 17/04/25! Funds raised from the raffle go to the Bravo Charity to help support unmet needs in the local community. A big thank you to everyone who bought tickets. We raised $355.90 great effort!

Gympie Region Industry & Careers Showcase

Careers Expo

When: Thursday, 01/05/25 | Time: 10:00am – 2:30pm

Where: Gympie Pavilion, 77 Exhibition Rd, Gympie

Bravo is excited to once again be part of the Gympie Region Industry & Careers Showcase! We’ll be there to highlight the rewarding and meaningful career opportunities available in the disability support sector.

If you're a Bravo Team Member interested in volunteering some time at the event alongside Cindy, our Community Networker, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact the office to express your interest.

This is a great chance to share your passion for your role, inspire others to consider a career in disability support, and help shape the future of our industry.

Invitation to Bravo Participants and Team Members to come along to the Pizza and Games Night

Pizza and Game

Bravo Brewing Connection

Bravo Brewing

When– First Wednesday of every month | Next catch-up: 07/05/25 at 6.45 to 8.15am

Where: The Hatch, 3 Reef St, Gympie.

Join us for Bravo Brewing Connection – a relaxed monthly catch-up where you can connect with familiar faces or get to know new members of the Bravo Team. Whether you’re catching up over coffee or just dropping by for a chat, it’s a great way to stay connected and build team spirit. We’d love to see you there!

Thank You to the Gympie Show Society

Gympie Show

Bravo extends a heartfelt thank you to the Gympie Show Society for their generous donation of free tickets for Bravo Participants. This wonderful gesture supports greater inclusion by giving people with disability the opportunity to experience and enjoy one of our region’s most iconic community events. Bravo truly appreciates your continued support in helping create more inclusive experiences in our local community.

Bravo Joins the Great Gympie Staycation Shop Local Campaign

Gympie Staycation

Bravo is a proud Member of Gympie Chamber of Commerce and will be taking part in the Gympie Chamber of Commerce’s Great Gympie Staycation—a local shop campaign running from 17 April to the end of June 2025. As a participating member, any Gympie Monopoly Board game purchased from Bravo during this period can be entered into the campaign’s weekly and major prize draws. Just hold onto your receipt and follow the online entry instructions to go in the draw to win fantastic local prizes! For more information about the campaign and how to enter, visit the Gympie Chamber of Commerce website here https://gympiechamber.com.au/great-gympie-staycation/

Acknowledgements: Give a Bravo

GiveaBravo3

This month the following staff have received a 'Bravo'. Congratulations to Kelly C., and Jordan W.

Have you experienced a Bravo Moment? A Bravo Moment is when a Bravo Team Member provides exceptional service or support. We would love to know the details of the great work provided by one of the Bravo Team. This message will be passed on to the Team Member who delivered the exceptional service.

Submit a 'Bravo!'

Disclaimer: The inclusion of information in this newsletter does not imply endorsement by Bravo Disability Support Network inc. Bravo is not responsible for the accuracy, quality, or outcomes of any external services mentioned.

	April 2025

	Board Snapshot Hello and welcome to April’s Newsletter! We hope you had a happy Easter break and managed to keep the chocolate indulgence in check. Did you enjoy Bravo Day? Planning 2025 (Photo: Bravo's General Manager Patricia, Secretary for Governance Board Gail, Governance Board President Dianne, Governance Board Member Emma, Governance Board Treasurer Dave, Bravo's Operations Manager Deirdre, Bravo's Business Manager, Mitchell, Bravo's Community Networker Cindy, McAllister Leadership, Pam) The Board and Management Team attended the final Planning Day on 4th April. Keep your eyes out for information on the final documents. The ‘Ideas’ received through the “ideas Factory” on Bravo’s Website were presented. Thank you to all who contributed. BRAVO!! Individual / Participant / Family Survey 2025 The Board extends its gratitude to all Participants for their valuable feedback in the Annual Survey. The data collected was instrumental at Planning. • 96% of Participants consider Bravo to be a valued Organisation within the Community. • 80% of Participants are happy with Bravo’s service. • 77% of Participants would recommend Bravo to others seeking support. Most people who responded were in favour of a ‘Bee Mascot’, the Board will work on this for a future release date. Although we asked Participants about T-shirts, the Board has unanimously decided not to produce a Bravo T-shirt at this time. Thank you once again, the Board values your feedback. We encourage you to stay connected with us on Bravo’s Facebook page and to check Bravo’s Website regularly for the latest updates and news as it happens. Reminder: If you have any suggestions, contact the Board with your comments or ideas through the Idea's Factory on Bravo’s Website or via email at governance@bravo.org.au In Focus: From the General Manager Hi everyone, As we move further into autumn, we're finally enjoying some well-deserved sunshine after all that rain! March and April certainly kept us on our toes—with wild weather causing a few postponements and plenty of last-minute changes. Through it all, the Bravo Team continued to shine, making the most of every opportunity and staying focused on delivering high-quality supports. One of the highlights of this month was Bravo Day, where we proudly celebrated 19 years of supporting our community. It was a fantastic day filled with connection, laughter, and shared memories. A huge thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to help make the event such a success—your generosity and enthusiasm were felt by all and helped create a truly special celebration. The unpredictability of the past month also sparked great teamwork, creative problem-solving, and thoughtful planning to ensure we were ready for anything. To every member of the Bravo Team—thank you. Your continued dedication to keeping people safe and well-supported is inspiring. Your flexibility, resilience, and care never go unnoticed. Here’s to more sunshine and shared successes ahead! Quick Insights Supportive Minds The Supportive Mind App is a free mental health and wellness tool developed by the Mental Health Foundation Australia. It helps to prioritise your well-being through mood tracking, wellness tips, step tracking, and self-care activities. How to download the App: Read More Supporting Aged Care Staff New End of Life Directions for Aged Care (ELDAC) Self-Care Packs. At a time when the aged care sector is undergoing continuous reform, self-care may provide protection against burnout. ELDAC’s new self-care-packs may offer support to staff. To access and download the resources: download here To order printed resource packs from ELDAC order here Caring in the Country - New resources for rural carers Caring for someone with a life-limiting illness is an important role that can be challenging. Living in a regional, rural or remote area can bring further challenges. CarerHelp are offering carers: CareHelp are offering carers new resources. To see the new resources: Download ELDAC Resources or Order printed packs Plan Variation and Reassessment - New Rules The Department of Social Services has released new rules to outline when and how the NDIA can vary or reassess a NDIS plan. These changes clarify that plan variations can now be made in urgent situations – such as a crisis or emergency – or to make minor changes like adding short-term supports. Reassessments, which result in a new plan, may occur due to major life changes, shifts in support needs, or at the Participant’s request. These rules apply to current plans and aim to make the process more responsive and transparent. Read More Get Involved: Bravo's Upcoming Events Celebration & Recap of Bravo Day April 2025 Bravo Turned 19 - This month, Bravo celebrated its 19th birthday with a fun get-together alongside Participants, Staff, Contractors, Board Members, and invited guests. The event was filled with fun activities and topped off with a delicious BBQ brunch. A huge thank you to the talented ‘Just Us’ singing group, whose performance had everyone singing, dancing, and smiling—truly making the day memorable! Bravo is already looking ahead to our big 20th Birthday Celebration in 2026, and we can’t wait to celebrate with you all again next year! Easter Raffle Draw - Winner Announced Congratulations to Oscar, winner of the Bravo Easter Raffle drawn on 17/04/25! Funds raised from the raffle go to the Bravo Charity to help support unmet needs in the local community. A big thank you to everyone who bought tickets. We raised $355.90 great effort! Gympie Region Industry & Careers Showcase When: Thursday, 01/05/25 \| Time: 10:00am – 2:30pm Where: Gympie Pavilion, 77 Exhibition Rd, Gympie Bravo is excited to once again be part of the Gympie Region Industry & Careers Showcase! We’ll be there to highlight the rewarding and meaningful career opportunities available in the disability support sector. If you're a Bravo Team Member interested in volunteering some time at the event alongside Cindy, our Community Networker, we’d love to hear from you! Please contact the office to express your interest. This is a great chance to share your passion for your role, inspire others to consider a career in disability support, and help shape the future of our industry. Invitation to Bravo Participants and Team Members to come along to the Pizza and Games Night Bravo Brewing Connection When– First Wednesday of every month \| Next catch-up: 07/05/25 at 6.45 to 8.15am Where: The Hatch, 3 Reef St, Gympie. Join us for Bravo Brewing Connection – a relaxed monthly catch-up where you can connect with familiar faces or get to know new members of the Bravo Team. Whether you’re catching up over coffee or just dropping by for a chat, it’s a great way to stay connected and build team spirit. We’d love to see you there! Thank You to the Gympie Show Society Bravo extends a heartfelt thank you to the Gympie Show Society for their generous donation of free tickets for Bravo Participants. This wonderful gesture supports greater inclusion by giving people with disability the opportunity to experience and enjoy one of our region’s most iconic community events. Bravo truly appreciates your continued support in helping create more inclusive experiences in our local community. Bravo Joins the Great Gympie Staycation Shop Local Campaign Bravo is a proud Member of Gympie Chamber of Commerce and will be taking part in the Gympie Chamber of Commerce’s Great Gympie Staycation—a local shop campaign running from 17 April to the end of June 2025. As a participating member, any Gympie Monopoly Board game purchased from Bravo during this period can be entered into the campaign’s weekly and major prize draws. Just hold onto your receipt and follow the online entry instructions to go in the draw to win fantastic local prizes! For more information about the campaign and how to enter, visit the Gympie Chamber of Commerce website here https://gympiechamber.com.au/great-gympie-staycation/ Acknowledgements: Give a Bravo This month the following staff have received a 'Bravo'. Congratulations to Kelly C., and Jordan W. Have you experienced a Bravo Moment? A Bravo Moment is when a Bravo Team Member provides exceptional service or support. We would love to know the details of the great work provided by one of the Bravo Team. This message will be passed on to the Team Member who delivered the exceptional service. Submit a 'Bravo!' Disclaimer: The inclusion of information in this newsletter does not imply endorsement by Bravo Disability Support Network inc. Bravo is not responsible for the accuracy, quality, or outcomes of any external services mentioned.

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