I am thrilled to announce that after a thorough selection process, Herma Waters has been appointed permanently to the position of Director of Care, Quality & Risk. Herma has been serving as the Acting Director since January 2024 and has demonstrated exceptional leadership, dedication, and expertise.

Herma brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to this position. Herma has 30 years of nursing experience between the acute and aged care industries. Herma having previously held key roles within St Basil’s, and other aged care facilities throughout Australia. Herma exemplifies our commitment of providing high-quality care to all our consumers.

Throughout her tenure as Acting Director, Herma has consistently shown her ability to drive positive change and uphold the highest standards of care and quality within our facility.

Please join me in congratulating Herma on her appointment. We are confident that under her leadership, our organisation will continue to thrive and excel.

If you have any questions or would like to extend your congratulations to Herma, please feel free to reach out to her directly on hwaters@stbasils.org.au or on 0423 864 814.

Thank you for your continued dedication and support as we move forward with Herma in this important leadership role.

Sincerely,

Diana Horvatovic
CEO St Basil’s

Mr James Jordan, Chairman of Board of Directors at St Basil’s NSW/ACT announced that after a robust recruitment process, Diana Horvatovic has been successful in being appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for St Basil’s NSW/ACT.

“In the last 6 months as acting CEO, Diana has been instrumental in driving improvement in standards across all of the St Basil’s Homes,” says Mr Jordan.

“She provided St Basil’s with continuity in leadership and the strong expertise to lead the organisation in the vital role of delivering quality aged care services.”

Mrs Horvatovic joined St Basil’s in 2021 and brings to the role over 17 years of valuable Aged Care industry experience in both governance and operations gained at the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing and the Office of Aged Care Quality and Compliance, and other leading aged care organisations.

“The aged care industry is continuously changing and with Mrs Horvatovic’s deep understanding of consumer needs and expectations, the Board is confident that she will continue to drive the St Basil’s team on its current trajectory to fulfil its mission of delivering
quality services to support individual needs of ageing Australians including Greek Australians,” adds Mr Jordan.

“Mrs Horvatovic is a key driver of our Continuous Improvement Plans across our clinical and non-clinical environments. The delivery of best-practice aged care services to our residents is her passion. Her hands-on approach, empathetic nature and practical guidance brings a wealth of support to the St Basil’s workforce.”

“The Board is confident that Mrs Horvatovic’s experience, leadership style and energy will be critical to in the continual evolution and ongoing improvement.”

“We wish Mrs Horvatovic all success in her new role. Together with support from Senior Executives, Senior Management and all of our staff, we are all committed to providing best-practice care every day and supporting ageing Australians to live a life of spirituality, meaning, and joy.”

To learn more about St Basil’s NSW/ACT visit www.stbasils.org.au or to request information email admin@stbasils.org.au or call 1300 367 551.

St Basil’s NSW/ACT has made the difficult decision to close its aged care home in Kensington.

James Jordan, Chairman of St Basil’s NSW/ACT says, “The decision follows significant consideration by the Board of Directors and the Executive team. Our aim, vision and mission are to always provide the best possible care for our residents in a safe and quality living environment. Whilst the clinical care of residents has been maintained, the physical environment has been challenging and the building is now outdated. Despite our efforts to renovate, it no longer meets the more complex clinical needs of residents who require care.”

 

“Reviews conducted by the Aged Care Regulatory Body and our own Quality Team, resulted in the identification of environmental compliance gaps. The environment is not conducive to the complex care needs of residents in the long term,” adds Mr Jordan.

St Basils’ management will be working closely with each resident and their families to relocate to another home of their choice.

To request more information email admin@stbasils.org.au or call 1300 367 551.

[17 January 2024]

Hundreds of people across the St Basil’s community, together with family and friends, are celebrating the important annual spiritual occasion of Christmas.

Together, residents and staff spend time in the weeks leading up to Christmas decorating the home and baking traditional treats. They have also enjoyed evening bus outings to take in the festive Christmas light shows in their local community.

 

“Christmas is such a special time of year, which is why we want to make it special and memorable for residents, their family and friends. Hosting festivities with live entertainment, a delicious three course meal surrounded by family and friends is important to residents,” says Diana Horvatovic, Acting CEO.

 

“Residents are also enjoying bus outings to view the local Christmas light displays, and they love it.”

 

On Wednesday 20th December at St Basil’s Lakemba family and friends of residents gathered to celebrate Christmas with a fresh BBQ lunch, live entertainment and a gift for each resident from St Basil’s.

Mr John and Mrs Niki Georges shared lunch with their guests, children; Daughter Anna, son Simon and his wife Kathy.

John and Niki Georges are enjoying their first Christmas party at Lakemba having moved in earlier this year.

 

 

“We are very happy with St Basil’s since mum and dad moved here five months ago, and they are happy too,” explains son Simon Georges with a big smile on his face.

 

“This is a beautiful Christmas lunch and a lot of fun,” adds Simon.

 

Whilst enjoying the lunch part festivities Mr John Georges made a point of sharing thoughts about his wife who is sitting across the table from him, “My wife is beautiful and she has given me my beautiful children. I love her.”

 

Above, the Georges family enjoying their first Christmas Party lunch celebration together at St Basil’s Lakemba. (pictured left to right) Niki Georges, Anna Liakos, Kathy Georges, Simon Georges, and John Georges.

 

All St Basils’ residential aged care homes and community services have hosted Christmas festivities in recent days, encouraging residents, clients, their family and friends to join in.

 

 

Resident faces light up at the sight of the Christmas light displays

 

“On behalf of St Basil’s, it is with great pleasure that I wish the community a Merry Christmas and safe and prosperous New Year.”

“I pray that you enjoy this precious time with your loved ones, and cherish all of the joyous times you have together over the holiday season,” says Diana Horvatovic, Acting Chief Executive Officer.

 

To see more photos of our Christmas Party festivities, follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stbasils.org.au

The annual St Basil’s Employee Awards Program aims to recognise and celebrate excellence in our people.

We encourage Consumers, Clients or their representatives to nominate St Basil’s employees who have had a great impact on their lives from our residential homes, independent living and our community services.

Winners were announced at the St Basil’s Annual Staff Christmas Party on Friday 8th December. And the 2023 winners are…

 

Community Services

Winner: Adriana Charry Rivera

Finalists: Pat Daliardos, Ellen Manetas

 

Ανεξάρτητα Διαμερίσματα Συνταξιοδότησης

Winner: Simony Eleftheriades

Finalists: Harry Megalokonomos, Theodoros Hassiotis

 

Κένσινγκτον

Winner: John Soulos

Finalists: Ganesh Swamy, Rochelle Cook, Wendy Thorne

 

Kogarah

Winner: Leonidas Ellinas

Finalists: Bidhya Koirala, , Anju Thapa

 

Lakemba

Winner: Badhra Waiba

Finalists: Dimitra Bousgas, Angela Mamfredas

 

Μιράντα

Winner: Nicholas Genaris

Finalists: Cecily Gauci, Wanthana Bunphong

 

Ράντγουικ

Winner: Jerry Liu

Nisha Khadka, Theodoros Hassiotis

 

Thank you to everyone who nominated a St Basil’s employee and shared their wonderful stories and experiences as part of the Awards program. By taking part in this initiative you have enriched the lives of the people who work tirelessly to support the ageing community.

 

Με εκτίμηση,

Diana Horvatovic

Αναπληρωτής Διευθύνων Σύμβουλος

The St. Basil’s Homes NSW/ACT Board of Directors were re-elected at the organisation’s Annual General Meeting held on 29th November 2023.

 

With over thirty people in attendance at the AGM including the Board of Directors, Bishop Iakovos representative of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios, Members, Executive and staff of St. Basil’s NSW/ACT, the organisation’s members confidently re-elected Mr James Jordan, Dr Theo Penklis, Mr Greg Gav, Mr Spiros Arvanitakis and Mr Kos Dimitriou to the Board of Directors.

More information about each Member of the Board can be found here: https://stbasils.org.au/about-us/board-of-directors/

 

At the Annual General Meeting Diana Horvatovic, Acting CEO of St. Basil’s NSW/ACT extended her gratitude to the Board and Staff of St. Basil’s for their dedication to the consumers, clients and families of St. Basil’s.

“It is our privilege to serve and care for the St. Basil’s family of residents and clients like they are our own,” said Mrs Horvatovic.

“Our workforce has faced several challenges, however despite these challenges, we continue to enrich the lives of residents as we continue to deliver person-centred, quality care.

“It gives me an immense sense of pride to be leading a spirited organisation that strives to maintain excellence in aged care.”

 

“Our organisation will continue its mission to deliver quality services that support the individual needs, goals and preferences of ageing Australians, including Greek Australians,” adds Mrs Horvatovic.

 

The Board is responsible for providing strategic leadership to St. Basil’s NSW/ACT within a framework of prudent and effective controls and establishing the organisation’s vision, mission, and values underpinned by the Aged Care Quality Standards in the interests of its consumers, stakeholders and the communities in which it operates.

 

St Basil’s Aged Care NSW/ACT, an activity of the Greek Archdiocese of Australia, cares for ageing Australians across Sydney and the ACT using quality accredited best-practices in health and safety, a qualified and compassionate workforce, and an environment with culturally traditional values.

 

To learn more about the wide variety of services available to ageing Australians across Sydney and the ACT by St. Basil’s NSW/ACT visit www.stbasils.org.au

 

Thank you to the Year 12 students of Holy Spirit Catholic College who volunteered their time to visit residents at Lakemba in September.
Students and residents enjoyed the time engaging in and working on arts and crafts.

 

Nominate a St Basil’s employee for an award!

St Basil’s consumers and/or their representatives have the opportunity to nominate a St Basil’s team member in the 2023 St Basil’s Awards Program as employee of the year.

We’d love your support in identifying and recognising a few St Basil’s employees from each of our residential aged care homes who have been making a positive impact on you or your loved-one, so we’re asking for nominations under the category of:

Consumer Choice Employee of the Year

Nominations by consumers or their representatives can be made here

You can also nominate by asking for a nomination form at the front desk. 

We hope you take part in our 2023 Awards program!

Each consumer or representatives can nominate a few employees, nominations are not limited to one employee. Nominations close at 6pm on 31st October 2023.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to announce that Diana Horvatovic (nee Gutkovich), St Basils’ Director of Care, Quality and Risk has been appointed to the role of acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO).

Diana Horvatovic

As Acting CEO, Diana, will provide St Basil’s with continuity in leadership and the strong expertise to lead the organisation in maintaining the vital role of delivering quality aged care services. Diana joined St Basil’s in 2021 and brings to the role 16 years of valuable Aged Care industry experience at both governance and operations gained at the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing in the Office of Aged Care Quality and Compliance, and other leading aged care organisations.

Diana is a key driver of our Continuous Improvement Plans across our clinical and non-clinical environments. The delivery of best-practice aged care services to our residents is her passion. Diana’s hands-on approach, empathetic nature and practical guidance brings a wealth of support to the St Basil’s workforce.

The Board is confident that Diana’s experience, leadership style and energy will be critical ingredients in the continual evolution of St Basil’s into one of the most admired aged care providers in NSW and ACT.

We extend our gratitude to Peter Kaliaropoulos for his contribution and efforts over the last few months, as he will be stepping down from the role and as a Board Director effective 11 August 2023.

We wish Diana tremendous success in her new role. Together with support from Senior Executives, Senior Management and all our staff, we are all committed to providing best-practice care every day and supporting ageing Australians to live a life of spirituality, meaning, and joy.

Με εκτίμηση,
James Jordan,
Chairman of the Board of Directors, St Basil’s NSW/ACT

Dear Residents, Representatives, Family and Friends of St Basil’s,

I want to take this opportunity to remind everyone of the vulnerable nature of aged care residents. Many of them have specific dietary requirements, and some are on a modified texture of food and fluid due to medical conditions. It is of utmost importance that we take all necessary precautions to ensure the well-being and safety of our beloved residents.

I urge you, as family members and representatives, to refrain from sharing food and fluids with other residents during your visits. We understand that the sense of community at St Basil’s is strong, and the desire to offer comfort and companionship to other residents is natural. However, sharing food without proper knowledge of individual dietary needs can be harmful and even life-threatening to some residents.

To minimise any potential harm to your loved ones and others who live in St Basil’s homes, we kindly request that you seek guidance from our registered nurses before offering any homemade food or fluids to any resident. Our dedicated nursing staff will be more than willing to assist you and ensure that the provided items align with the resident’s specific dietary requirements and medical needs.

While food is one of the great joys of life, it can also cause significant problems particularly for vulnerable people such as the elderly, if not handled, stored or managed appropriately. We are committed to upholding the safety and well-being of all residents at St Basil’s, and your cooperation in this matter is of paramount importance. By adhering to these guidelines, we can work together to maintain a nurturing and secure environment for everyone under our care.

In order for us to provide an environment where residents can enjoy the food of their choice in the safest way, we have the following requirements regarding food brought in by visitors. We ask that you work with us by adhering to these requirements.

 

Food Prepared or Cooked by Family or Friends

>Care must be taken in food preparation to ensure good hygiene practices and sanitised working.

>Cooked food should be cooled quickly in the refrigerator and kept in a covered container to prevent contamination.

>Cold foods must be kept cool during the drive from your home to the aged care home.

>Hot food can be placed in a thermal container that retains the heat of the food for the journey to the aged care home.

>Food brought into the home must be labelled with the following information:

-the name of the food item (e.g. banana cake)

-a list of all ingredients

-the date it was prepared (may be an earlier date than the date brought in)

-the name of the resident it was brought in for

 

>You must fill in the required information in the Resident Food Register. If you cannot find the Register please ask one of the staff members.

>If the food brought in requires refrigeration please place it in your loved one’s refrigerator or one of the refrigerators available to families. Ensure the food is labelled as per dot point 5.

>Please note – if your loved one is cognitive they should be encouraged to discard any uneaten food 48 hours after preparation. If your loved one is not cognitive they will have the food disposed of by staff after this time.

 

Food Purchased in Packaging

>Where the food item has been purchased and is in a package it must contain the manufacturer’s label, including a ‘use-by-date’ or ‘best before’.

>If the food brought in requires refrigeration please place it in the resident’s refrigerator or one of the refrigerators available to residents.

>Please note – if your loved one is cognitive they should be advised that the food should be discarded once the ‘use-by-date’ or ‘best before’ date has been exceeded. Where your loved one is not cognitive, the food will be discarded by care staff or Food Services staff once the ‘use-by-date’ or ‘best before’ date has been exceeded.

 Food Purchased – Not in Packaging

>Where the food purchased does not come in packaging (e.g. a purchased vanilla slice), it is your responsibility to either ensure that your loved one consumes the item at the time (i.e. while you are present) or to add a label to indicate the name of the food item, the date of purchase, and the place of purchase.

>Please note – if your loved one is cognitive they should be encouraged to discard any uneaten food 48 hours after preparation. If your loved one is not cognitive they will have the food disposed of by staff after this time.

Please ask reception for food labels.

 

Remember, in the interests of safety, food is not to be offered to any other resident without checking with care staff first. This is to ensure issues such as food allergies and texture modifications are safely managed.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding this matter or anything else related to St Basils’ homes, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or the management team. We are here to support you.

I appreciate your understanding and cooperation in this critical matter.

You can learn more about aged care food safety and the dining experience by reading the fact sheets provided by the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and the Food Safety Information Council;

>Nutrition and texture modified food and drinks: eating and drinking when you have problems with swallowing: https://bit.ly/3LpW7T5

>Supporting safe and enjoyable mealtimes for people with swallowing difficulties: https://bit.ly/3L1Yrhx

>Food Safety Tips: https://bit.ly/3Khhk0n

Με εκτίμηση,

Νταϊάνα Γκούτκοβιτς
Director of Care, Quality and Risk