Exploring the world through clients’ tastebuds at Stevensons Road
Jasmin Ong, Service Manager has embedded a culture of diversity throughout the service, introducing clients and their families to different cultures in many ways, including through trying their cuisine.
Clients, their families, and staff have been exploring the world through their tastebuds at Stevensons Road accommodation service, sharing meals from across the globe and learning about different cultures.
Throughout her time as Service Manager, Jasmin Ong has embedded a culture of diversity throughout the service, introducing clients and their families to different cultures in many ways, including through trying their cuisine.
“The client’s palettes have changed significantly,” said Jasmin.
“It has become a customary tradition, every staff meeting someone will cook a meal to share and will tell us about their country. Staff really enjoy that, and it means our clients get to eat delicious home-cooked meals!”
Some of the most popular dishes on the menu so far have been sushi, Philippine adobo with coconut rice, wontons and wonton soup and onion-packed noodles.
Everyone at the service has input into what goes on the menu for the week ahead!
“Staff speak to the clients who are non-verbal and show pictures of what we cook. The clients point and make the choice of what they want to cook. All of the clients contribute to what meal they want for the day.”
Families even come to the service specifically to share in some of these delicious meals and put in requests for their favourites.
“The Philippine noodles are one of the most requested…they are packed with onion, and everyone loves them!”
It has also been a great motivator for customers to get involved in the kitchen.
“The moment customers come home from their day service they are running to the kitchen to see what is cooking and how they can get involved.”
“We get the customers to be involved and familiar with the ingredients taking initiative to get the different ingredients and prepare them. We will say ‘grab the garlic’ and the clients will peel it. Then when we are eating, the clients show more satisfaction as they cooked the meal. It keeps the clients interested and acts as a motivator," Jasmin said.
Mardi Obucina, Home and Living Group Manager agrees that the clients get very excited about the cooking.
“The clients really resonate with Jasmin cooking, especially her Filipino food. Sometimes they can come home from their day services quite anxious and often beginning to cook changes the whole mood, all the different smells have shown to be calming,” she says.
“It has made a real difference to the house and the families also comment on how well the clients eat in their home,” Mardi said.
Learn more about Yooralla’s Accommodation service, view our current Accommodation Vacancies, or contact:
Yooralla Tenancy Management
Phone: 03 9916 5771
Email: SDA@yooralla.com.au