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With more than 80,000 visitors, over 100 stalls and live entertainment, the Greek Summer Festival is officially Sydney’s largest Greek cultural festival of the year.

[Originally published in the Greek City Times]

The annual Greek Summer Festival was organised by under the patronage of His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia by St. Basil’s NSW & ACT and held on Sunday 12 February, at Carss Bush Park.

The massive turnout and the tremendous positive response received from the public confirms that once again the Greek Summer Festival was an overwhelming success, cementing the event as the finest of its kind in Sydney.

Basking in the aftermath of the cultural celebration, Greek City Times spoke to event organisers St. Basil’s NSW & ACT.

“St Basil’s Board of Directors, and the Executive Team would like to personally thank everyone attending and for their ongoing support of our activities,” said Mr Spiro Stavis, CEO of St. Basil’s.

“We would like to specifically thank Mr Mallikourtis Yiannis, Consul General of Greece in Sydney, The Hon. Mark Joseph Coure, MP, Minister for Multiculturalism and for Seniors, Mr Chris Minns, MP, Leader of the NSW Labor Party, Member for Kogarah, Ms Sophie Cotsis, MP, State Labor, Member for Canterbury, The Hon. Courtney Houssos, MLC, Shadow Minister for Better Regulation and Innovation, and Natural Resources, Mr Steven Kamper, MP, Mr Nick Katris, Mayor of Georges River Council, Mrs Elfa Lillis, Head of All Saints Grammar School and Mrs Emelia Katsogiannis, Head of St. Spyridon College.

“A special thanks also goes to Master of Ceremony Angela Vithoulkas, who is a multi-award-winning business owner.

“We would also like to pass on our gratitude to each person individually attending the festival and enjoying all its activities together with their family and friends.”

Amongst the live entertainment to enthral the crowd – all the way from Greece – was singer Gogo Tsampa with her band; as well as Greek – Australian band Iho Nyx, eight dance groups and a spectacular fireworks show synchronised with Greek music.

We can’t wait for next year’s Greek Summer Festival – set to be even bigger and better. Watch this space!

A re-elected NSW Liberal and National Government will boost the St Basil’s NSW & ACT Greek Summer Festival through a $140,000 investment over the next four years.

Making the funding commitment during St Basil’s festival in Carss Park on Sunday, 12 February, Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said the festival was a great reflection of Greek culture in NSW.

“We believe in helping celebrate our cultural diversity, and that is why we are committing $35,000 a year for four years to St Basils NSW & ACT to host its annual Greek Summer Festival,” Mr Coure said.

“This is a great community event, which is for everyone to enjoy and partake in Greek culture.”

Mr Coure said the funding commitment demonstrates the NSW Liberals and Nationals belief that cultural diversity should be celebrated.
“Celebrating who we are and where we come from is vitally important to helping foster greater unity and breaking down barriers,” Mr Coure said.

“We have supported numerous organisations, community groups and even local councils to host events right across our state to celebrate our diversity and give everyone an opportunity to partake.”

More than 80,000 people attended the Greek Summer Festival in 2023, with over 100 stalls from Greek organisations and community groups.
St Basil’s Chief Executive Spiro Stavis welcomed the funding commitment from the NSW Government for the next four years.

“The festival is devoted to Greek culture and especially to Ageing Australians but is open to everyone to enjoy—it is a great opportunity for our residents and the greater community to spend time with family and friends,” Mr Stavis said.

As part of the Australian Department of Health and Ageing’s National Dementia Action Plan, they want you to help create a vision for dementia over the next 10 years.

Their vision is for Australians to understand dementia and that people living with dementia and their carers have the best quality of life
possible and that no one walks the dementia journey alone.

Now they invite you to participate in a survey that will be open for your input until 31 January 2023; Click here to go to the survey now 

Alternatively, to have your say you can;
· Visit the Consultation Hub to complete a survey.
· Call 1800 565 789 to provide feedback over the
phone, or request a hard copy.
· The Translating and Interpreting Service is available
by calling (TIS) 131 450.

 

St Basil’s encourages you to provide your valuable input to support a better future for people living with dementia and their carers.

 

As part of the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s National Aged Care Reforms they introduced a Code of Conduct for Aged Care.

The attached fact sheet explains why the code was introduced, what it is and what you should expect under the code. It is in English and in Greek.

Code_of_conduct_for_aged_care_consumer_fact_sheet_EngGrk

Upon starting her tenure as General Manager of St Basil’s Randwick in recent months, Maria Vidyaeva formed a connection with all residents around the home in particular long-time resident Bill Brewer.

“Bill and I have already made a lovely connection based around his beautiful artwork, so much so that he has kindly gifted me with one of his paintings of men fishing on a very tall cliff,” explains Maria.

“It’s a simply stunning work of art and it’s such an honour to receive this painting from Bill.”

Bill resides on Level 4 at the pinnacle of the home where on most days the sunshine generously beams into his room.

“I have learnt that Bill is an enthusiastic painter who is self taught and uses several types of paints, brushes and techniques.”

“He has a wonderful painting on display at the entrance of his room (pictured below) that looks so realistic that it looks like it’s a photo.

“You can see Bill’s authenticity through his artwork.”

Bill explains that he takes a lot of inspiration from his extensive walks around Randwick and its surrounds.

“I like taking in the scenery from around the area as inspiration for my paintings, but I also like painting photos that I see in magazines, especially if they have an interesting backstory,” says Bill.

“I also finds it interesting watching people go about their daily lives while I’m out. I love being around people.”

Bill enjoys a lovely balcony with views of East Sydney, and on most days he has friendly birds who visit his balcony.

With Bill recounting why and how he painted each of the artworks in his room, it’s safe to say that Bill’s main hobby and passion is painting.

 

 

 

St Basil’s NSW/ACT is proud to share that Michelle Wicky, St Basil’s General Manager of Learning and Development, has been named as a finalist in the innovAGEING National Awards 2022 in the category of Age Services Innovator of the Year.

Read the news as reported by agedcarenews.com.au below:

The innovAGEING National Awards finalists for 2022 have been announced.

Head of innovAGEING, Merlin Kong, said the finalists represented another inspiring cohort of innovators in this year’s innovAGEING National Awards and also revealed some interesting trends.

“There is a clear shift towards innovation to support our workforce this year,” Kong said.

“This is an urgent and timely topic, and it’s great to see sector innovators putting their smarts to address workforce matters.

“In the past few years, we’ve seen a growing sophistication on what the sector considers innovative.

“This year’s innovation projects builds on this further with greater multidisciplinary focus on people and organisations.

There is a clear shift towards innovation to support our workforce this year. This is an urgent and timely topic, and it’s great to see sector innovators putting their smarts to address workforce matters.Head of innovAGEING, Merlin Kong

“It’s clear that the sector understands that technology is an important tool, but without understanding customer needs and wants, and developing tools and systems so support workers can deliver better care, being a viable business will be a hard slog.”

Kong said the innovAGEING National Awards are a way for the industry to acknowledge the hard work, ingenuity, and grit that goes into making change happen.

“To this year’s finalists, we get you, and with that, we celebrate you,” Kong said.

The winners of the innovAGEING National Awards will be announced on Thursday, November 24. To register to watch the event live please follow this link.

The 2022 innovAGEING National Awards Finalists

Age Services Innovator of the Year

• Aidan O’Flaherty, Tulich and Asset Journey – Creation of Asset Journey, allowing operators the ability to track all assets and every maintenance and repairs to those assets provide pivotal guidance on repair/replace decisions.
• David Cox, Curtin Heritage Living – Implementing an artificial intelligence falls prevention and monitoring system at Curtin Heritage Living homes.
• Helen Kemp & Samantha Billing, Benetas – Developing better approaches and processes for sourcing and recruiting care workers at pace and volume in an increasingly competitive talent market.
• Michelle Wicky, St Basil’s NSW & ACT with Ausmed Education – Spearheading adoption of Ausmed Passport™ at St Basil’s NSW & ACT compliance training program resulting in reduced costs, elimination of duplicated training, and faster onboarding.

 

See the original article here: https://agedcarenews.com.au/2022/11/02/change-makers-honoured-with-announcement-of-innovageing-2022-national-awards-finalists/

The St Basil’s Employee Awards Program 2022 is open for nominations.

 

At St Basil’s we are always looking to recognise and celebrate excellence in our people, and we want you involved. We would love to receive nominations for St Basil’s employees who have had a great impact on the lives of residents or clients, their families and their representatives.

 

Consumer Choice Employee Award

The Consumer Choice Employee Award aims to highlight the wonderful people we have and the amazing work they are doing.

 

The care and support of residents and their representatives are the priority of our workforce, so we want your help to identify, recognise and celebrate excellence in our people by having you nominate a member of staff who is worthy of your nomination: someone who regularly demonstrates the St Basil’s values of being dedicated, being respectful, having integrity, being responsible and making a contribution.

 

How to nominate?

Click here to use the online form to nominate now.

You can also complete ask for a printed form at a St Basil’s home.

Nominations will close at 6pm on 20^th November.

 

If you have any questions please reach out to us by calling 02 9784 3200 or by emailing admin@stbasils.org.au

 

Earlier this month the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (the Commission) visited St Basil’s Kogarah in an unannounced visit to assess the quality of care and services provided by St Basil’s.

Over the course of three (3) days, the Commission assessed St Basil’s Kogarah, as they do all aged care homes based on the eight (8) aged care standards with a total of 42 requirements within the standards, explains Spiro Stavis Chief Executive Officer of St Basil’s NSW/ACT.

“The Commission has now provided St Basil’s with a report of their findings and I am very pleased that St Basil’s Kogarah has been successful in achieving each of the 42 requirements needed under the eight (8) aged care standards.”

“I consider this to be a great achievement by the staff at Kogarah led by General Manager Jiang Chen and Care Manager Anjana Shrestha.”

St Basil’s exists to care for ageing Australian in need, including Greek Australians, helping them to live a life of spirituality, meaning and joy whilst receiving a high quality of personalised care in a well-run home.

“This outstanding result demonstrates that this is indeed the type of care being provided by Basil’s that aligns with each of the 42 expectations under the eight (8) aged care standards outlined below:

1.      Consumer dignity and choice 2.      Ongoing assessment and planning with consumers 3.      Personal care and clinical care 4.       Services and supports for daily living

5.      Organisation’s service environment 6.      Feedback and complaints 7.      Human resources 8.      Organisational governance

“I want to thank residents for entrusting St Basil’s with their care and support., and to their families and representatives I am grateful for their support and close knit planning that helps us deliver the best care to their love one,” adds Mr Stavis.

To learn more about St Basil’s Kogarah visit https://stbasils.org.au/residential-care/kogarah-aged-care/ or call us on 02 9784 3200.

 

Dear Representatives,

 

The Public Health Unit has confirmed that visitors can revert back to wearing a surgical mask and no face shield when attending a St Basil’s home that is not under a COVID outbreak or lockdown.

 

We ask that visitors continue to maintain standard infection control practices when visiting a loved one at St Basil’s, such as:

 

• Not touching the front of your mask or pulling your mask below your nose or chin;
• Adhering to good hand hygiene practices;
• Socially distancing.

 

In the case of a COVID outbreak or lockdown, visitors will need to wear the recommended PPE based on the instructions from the Public Health Unit such as N95/P2 respirator mask and a face shield.

 

Your support and cooperation is greatly appreciated.

 

Kind regards,

Spiro Stavis

Chief Executive Officer