Inspired by the vision of bringing a ‘fresh approach’ to community services, Chorus commenced the Fresh Approach project this year. We worked closely with Chorus staff and volunteers to develop strategies to support relational ways of working, and designed community activities to connect neighbours and provide us with a better understanding of customer needs.
Supported by Lotterywest, the Fresh Approach is an innovative program that experiments with new ways of working to bring Chorus closer to communities.
Housed in the Bull Creek Social Centre, the Fresh Approach team worked with Chorus staff, community members and local partners to design and trial a range of activities with the idea of creating a suite of programs, tools and ideas that Chorus could implement in the future.
Three themes have been explored – how to work in more local and relational ways, getting to know communities better and learning how to form better connections with customers; working with local care providers to coordinate services better and create whole-of-community health outcomes; and looking at ways to activate the people in a community to form networks of care, looking out for neighbours and each other.
A design team formed with people from across Chorus explored ways to get to know customers and their networks better through a ‘relational card sort’, an easy activity that Support Workers could perform with customers to get to know their preferences. Some customers preferred their support worker to be a confidante, whereas others liked someone who is friendly, but just gets the job done. The relational card sort activity helped Chorus staff to find out what is most important to customers.
Social Support Group Facilitator Elli understands that there are often barriers to adopting new working practices but says her Design Team have been “coming up with some really interesting ideas about building relationships and it’d be nice to see a more relational approach becoming the new way of working at Chorus”.
The Fresh Approach team also tested practices to internally implement a ‘relational approach’ between staff and volunteers.
We learnt Support Workers wanted to meet others in their team who work in the same area or with the same customers to talk about highlights and challenges of their roles. In response, Fresh Approach began testing a Support Worker Huddle.
Fresh Approach team member Nikki Drury said: “We have two huddles up and running who are keen to continue meeting regularly. Having a chance to be a part of this process has highlighted how important it is for Support Workers to have this chance to connect, problem-solve difficult situations and share strategies.
“There have been a lot of laughs and meaningful conversations so far that have left me feeling uplifted and fortunate to be involved.”
The Fresh Approach team also explored ways to bring people together to form supportive networks – where neighbours look out for each other, or an isolated person might make new connections. The team designed a range of ideas to try in Bull Creek including Neighbourhood Weaver role and Street Teams.
Neighbourhood Weaver
A Neighbourhood Weaver built local relationships and connections with residents, local groups, health care and other community resources.
This allowed us to open up more opportunities for customers and for Chorus, and discovered new prospects to build the community’s capacity to connect and care for each other.
Street Teams
Street Teams invited local residents to connect with their neighbours and offer help to those who might need it – particularly those who may be seen as more vulnerable. The Fresh Approach team developed a website and a resource pack to help people get started, and offered support for people to set up their own Street Teams. The pilot attracted a great response, with 66 registrations from across Bull Creek.
“There’s a community feel here, like a small country town in a street!” explained Street Teams member, Nita. “I signed up to Street Teams because it follows on from what we’re already doing here – helping each other out.”
Chorus CEO Dan Minchin said, “Strong street-level networks play a big part in keeping us connected and in helping each other through difficult times. Street Teams Bull Creek harnesses that community spirit and finds non-physical ways of staying ‘together apart’”.
Since launching Street Teams, Bull Creek has been buzzing with creative activity – bear hunts with bears in windows, sitting on balconies or perched in a trees; colourful chalk art decorating the pavements; Mother’s Day portrait exhibitions celebrating the hard-working mums and grandmas of Bull Creek; and a ‘Driveway Dawn Service’ to commemorate our fallen service men and women on ANZAC Day.
We also heard lovely stories of casseroles, cakes and roses left on neighbours’ doorsteps and a man who shared his poetry.
Following the initial pilot, the Fresh Approach team trialled another experiment to connect people at the street level, sending coffee carts to a selection of Bull Creek streets with free coffee. By connecting with a designated ‘host’ on the street who invited their neighbours, the Fresh Approach team created the space for neighbours to connect – many of whom had never even met each other prior to that day.
“I think it’s awesome! We’ve got people from all down the street, all ages. They’ve made some new connections but also cemented some older ones. It’s really good that they touch base, so they can wave to each other on the street and help each other out if they need to,” said the Street Teams coffee cart host.
In this special series of blogs, Chorus CEO Dan Minchin explores how taking time to understand human connection, particularly during the time of coronavirus, has shaped our approach to community service and helped us move forward towards ‘Chorus 2.0’.
Isolation was a difficult time for many people. Chorus Support Workers took a fresh approach to support customers – looking outside the box to suit individual circumstances. They adapted even more to the lockdown measures during the COVID-19 pandemic and found simple ways to connect with customers while maintaining social distancing. Walks, games, and coffees were popular ways to stay connected.
Caring for carers
Ken lives with dementia and before COVID-19 had been attending a Chorus Activity Centre regularly. Ann Marie was in Ken’s area and decided to drop by and see how Ken was doing. Ken’s wife, who is also his carer, wasn’t coping too well and asked if Anne Marie could take Ken out.
Within five minutes of Anne Marie knocking on the door, Ken was on the bus and the pair were off for a coffee and (diabetic-friendly) cake. They had a great time sitting by the river drinking coffee and eating cake. “Ken has a great sense of humour so it’s easy being in his company,” said Anne Marie. Ken’s partner also enjoyed some much-needed respite.
Beer & cheese
One customer, who is 96, had not been outside for four weeks. She lived on her own and was feeling very low. Rachel walked with her to the Mandurah foreshore for some fresh air, while keeping their social distance. On their return, they celebrated by having a beer with cheese on crackers that the customer had made up as a treat.
Caring for our furry friends
We love our animals and at times it can be difficult to take care of them. When Joan went to hospital she was worried about her little dog. Her neighbour Ken, also a Chorus customer offered to look after the dog and Support Worker Sharon also lent a hand.
It was an overwhelmingly positive experience for Ken who experienced responsibility and a sense of belonging for the first time in many years. Sharon and Ken explored ways that Ken might feel when the dog goes home, including the possibility of getting a dog of his own.
A great example of the fresh approach – staff, volunteers and customers!
