The Collective - July 2026
Welcome to the Tribe Collective
Welcome to our first Tribe Collective update.
As Tribe continues to grow across Disability Support and Aged Care, we’ve created a space for our team to stay connected, celebrate achievements, share updates, and get to know the people behind the work we do.
While we may work across different locations and settings, we’re all connected by one purpose, supporting people to build independence, achieve their goals, and live meaningful lives.
This staff newsletter will be released monthly and will include:
Staff recognition and celebrations
Important operational updates
Compliance and safeguarding reminders
New resources and training
Meet the team features
Upcoming events and announcements
Participant success stories
Most importantly, it's a chance to recognise the incredible work happening across Tribe every single day.
For Our Team
Building Better Resources
One of our key priorities over the coming months is the development of a dedicated Staff Resource Centre designed to better support you in your role as a Support Worker. As Tribe continues to grow, we recognise that staff need easy access to information, resources, guides and support tools without having to search through old emails or contact multiple people for assistance.
The Staff Resource Centre will gradually become a central location for:
Policies and procedures
Shift note and incident reporting guides
Training resources
Forms and templates
Participant support resources
Compliance information
Frequently asked questions
Staff announcements and updates
Our goal is simple
To make it easier for you to find the information you need, feel supported in your role, and spend more time focusing on what matters most - supporting participants. This project is already underway and will continue to evolve based on feedback from our team.
Staff Recognition Spotlight
Outstanding Feedback Received
This month, we are proud to recognise Meg, Joel and Josh following exceptional feedback received from Russell Piper, Employee Relations Officer at Fairhaven, regarding the support provided to participant Hamish. For a participant to receive consistently high-quality support from multiple team members is something we are incredibly proud of and speaks volumes about the professionalism, dedication and values demonstrated by these staff. Congratulations Meg, Joel and Josh. Thank you for representing Tribe so well and for making a positive difference every day.
Meg
Meg was recognised for her ongoing professionalism and attention to detail.
Her commitment to providing consistent, participant-focused support has been evident from day one and continues to make a significant difference in Hamish's life.
Joel
Joel was acknowledged for the growth he has demonstrated within his role.
His patience, adaptability and commitment to developing his skills have not gone unnoticed and have resulted in positive outcomes for both the participant and wider team.
Josh
Prior to commencing injury leave, Josh was recognised for the stability, encouragement and professionalism he consistently brought to his supports.
His ability to build confidence and promote independence has had a lasting impact.
Feedback Received
"For Hamish to have three support workers all providing such well-presented supports, we just couldn't let that go without forwarding our feedback."
- Russell Piper - Employee Relations Officer, Fairhnaven -
Behind the Scenes
Meet Your Office Team
One of the most common pieces of feedback we receive is that staff know the names of our management team but aren't always sure who to contact.
Behind the scenes, our office team is here to support you, whether it's filling shifts, assisting with participant concerns, providing guidance after an incident, answering compliance questions, or helping with systems and processes.
Use the link below to find the right person to contact and put some faces to the names. And remember, we're always here to help, if you're unsure, please reach out. We'd much rather answer your questions than have you trying to figure things out on your own.
📞 Office Contact Information
The office should always be your first point of contact.
Phone: 0466 222 033
Email: info@tribesupport.com.au
Phone calls and messages are monitored Monday to Friday between 9:00am and 4:00pm.
For urgent rostering changes, staff shortages, participant concerns or incidents, please contact the office phone rather than individual managers where possible.
This ensures the whole management team can assist and respond efficiently.
Planning Ahead
Checking Your Roster
As Tribe continues to grow, planning ahead becomes increasingly important. We ask all staff to check their roster at least two weeks in advance wherever possible.
We understand that life happens and circumstances can change. This reminder isn't about placing pressure on staff, it's about giving everyone the best opportunity to plan ahead.
When availability changes are identified early, we can work together to minimise disruption for participants while supporting your personal commitments.
For more information about rostering and accepting shifts in ShiftCare, click the link below.
Good communication is one of the most valuable tools we have as a team.
By regularly reviewing upcoming shifts, we can:
Identify availability issues early
Reduce last-minute cancellations
Support participant continuity
Improve roster stability
Minimise stress for staff and participants
If something has changed and you are unable to work a rostered shift, please notify the office as soon as possible.
The earlier we know, the more options we have to support both you and the participant.
Shift Notes Matter
Shift notes are one of the most important responsibilities of every support worker.
They tell the story of the support provided and allow families, coordinators, therapists, behaviour support practitioners and management to understand what is occurring on support.
Shift notes also play an important role in protecting both participants and support workers.
Many important decisions are made based on the information recorded in shift notes, including support planning, therapy recommendations, behaviour support strategies, risk assessments and funding reviews.
Well-written notes help create a clear picture of participant progress over time and ensure continuity between support workers. Every note contributes to the participant's story.
Good shift notes should answer:
What happened?
What activities took place?
How did the participant engage?
Were they excited, anxious, reluctant, or independent?
What goals were worked on?
What progress was observed?
Were there any concerns?
Did anything occur that the next support worker or management team should know?
Remember
Be objective
Be factual
Focus on observations
Describe participant engagement
Link supports back to goals
Avoid
Personal opinions
Assumptions
Judgemental language
One-line notes
A good test is asking:
"Could somebody who wasn't present understand exactly what happened during the shift?"
A comprehensive Shift Note Guide, including examples of strong shift notes, common mistakes to avoid and tips for objective documentation, is now available through the Staff Resource Centre , click the link below.
Incident Reporting
New Incident Reporting Process
Following months of planning, development and testing, our new incident reporting system is now officially live
This project has been a significant focus for the management team and forms part of our broader commitment to improving quality, safeguarding and communication across the organisation.
The new system replaces several manual processes and provides a more streamlined approach to incident management from initial submission through to review and resolution.
The goal is not to create more paperwork. The goal is to ensure concerns are identified early, managed appropriately, and that staff feel supported when incidents occur.
The new process has been designed to improve:
Visibility
Tracking
Follow-up actions
Accountability
Communication between teams
Incident reporting now occurs through a dedicated online form which automatically creates a management review process.
This means incidents can be reviewed, followed up and tracked more effectively than ever before. Remember
An incident does not need to be serious to be reported.
Examples may include:
Injuries
Near misses
Behaviour incidents
Medication errors
Environmental hazards
Participant complaints
Missing person concerns
Restrictive practice concerns
If you're unsure whether something should be reported, please contact the office. When in doubt, report it.
For a step-by-step guide on how to submit an incident report in ShiftCare, click the link below.
Welcome To Our New Team Members
Over the past few months we have welcomed several new staff members across our regions.
Starting a new role can be both exciting and overwhelming, particularly in the disability and aged care sectors where every participant is unique. At Tribe, we believe support workers learn best when they feel supported themselves.
Whether you've joined us recently or have been with us for years, we encourage everyone to continue asking questions, sharing ideas and reaching out when assistance is needed.
To everyone who has recently joined Tribe: Welcome.
We're excited to have you as part of the team and look forward to supporting you throughout your journey with us. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Every experienced support worker was once new too.
Why Your Work Matters
Every day our team helps people:
🚶 Access their community
🎯 Build independence
🚂 Learn new skills
🤝 Maintain relationships
😊 Increase confidence
🏡 Remain connected to the things that matter most to them
Sometimes the most important moments are also the smallest.
A participant catching a train independently.
Someone ordering their own coffee.
A successful first day at a new activity.
A participant feeling safe and supported.
Those moments may seem small, but they're life-changing for the people we support. Thank you for the compassion, patience, flexibility and professionalism you bring to your role every day.
The work you do often happens quietly and behind the scenes, but its impact is seen in every goal achieved, every skill developed, every smile shared and every participant who feels valued, included and supported.
Together, we're building more than a service. We're building opportunities, confidence, independence and community. Thank you for being part of Tribe.
Coming Next Month
Staff Spotlight Feature
Team Anniversaries
Participant Success Stories
Staff Resource Centre Updates
Training and Development Opportunities
More Recognition and Celebrations
Thank you for everything you do.
The Tribe Management Team 💙