St Basil’s is committed to working with the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission (Commission) who are currently supporting aged care providers to understand and implement changes that will improve the quality of aged care.

The Australian Government is concentrating on addressing key recommendations of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety.

Four of the nine measures as part of the reforms are directly relevant to the regulation of aged care:
• expanding the Serious Incident Response Scheme (SIRS) into home care
• introducing a Code of Conduct for providers, workers and governing persons
• strengthening provider governance, and
• use of restrictive practices and consent.

St Basil’s have prepared for the changes and new requirements.

The Commission will also be producing resources that support aged care consumers and their families to understand how the reforms will deliver better outcomes, starting with the letter from the Commissioner below.

If you would like to learn more about the reforms, visit https://www.agedcareengagement.health.gov.au/reforms/

Read the letter addressed to aged care consumers and their representatives from the Commissioner, available in various languages below:

Att 1 - Commissioner letter to aged care consumers_Reforms_GREEK
Att 1 - Commissioner letter to aged care consumers_Reforms_CROATIAN
Att 1 - Commissioner letter to aged care consumers_Reforms_JAPANESE
Att 1 - Commissioner letter to aged care consumers_Reforms_RUSSIAN
Att 1 - Commissioner letter to aged care consumers_Reforms_CHINESE
Att 1 - Commissioner letter to aged care consumers_Reforms_ENGLISH

 

On Friday afternoon 16th September, the doors of St Basil’s Annandale closed permanently and the last of its residents moved to their new home at St Basil’s Kensington.

Over the last ten weeks the decommission project team led by the Director of Care and Community Services Angela Sacks, and the Annandale management team Meredith Donoghue and Maryanne Mikaele, who supported each of the 47 St Basil’s Annandale residents to find and move to a suitable new home.  

Spiro Stavis, CEO of St Basil’s NSW/ACT explains that to successfully and safely rehouse 47 residents within 10 weeks was not an easy task, and staff have given the residents a heartfelt goodbye.

“The dedication and teamwork shown by the entire team at Annandale supported by head office’s various department representatives is an achievement to be applauded. They worked closely with residents, representatives and health providers to give residents the best transition possible,” said Mr Stavis.

“I would personally like to thank all of the residents and representatives who we have been consulting throughout this process for their support and cooperation.”

At St Basil’s we pride ourselves on our unique model of care, culture and values which is why it was important to have our staff redeployed to continue their tenure at another St Basil’s location.

“Many of the home’s workforce, approximately 52 staff, were offered placements and were redeployed to St Basil’s at Randwick, Lakemba, Kensington and Miranda.”

Our former Annandale team have been supporting residents to settle in to their new homes by visiting them for a catch up in recent weeks.

Following on from Aged Care Employee Day celebrations, today, James Jordan St Basil’s NSW/ACT Chairman of the Board of Directors visited St Basil’s aged care home and it’s Community Services offices in Lakemba to personally thank staff for their ongoing dedication and hard work in recent months and throughout the COVID pandemic.

Along with the Lakemba management team, Mr Jordan presented several staff members with awards such as Employee of the Month as part of the St Basil’s Employee Awards Program.

Other special awards were also presented to staff who have demonstrated exceptional service to residents and a commitment to teamwork over the last month.

This is the first of several visits in a tour by the Board of Directors to personally thank all staff and share their appreciation with staff.

A special message to St Basil’s NSW/ACT Employees on Aged Care Employee Day

Dear St Basil’s Staff,

Today on Aged Care Employee Day on behalf of the St Basil’s NSW/ACT Board of Directors we would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the tireless work you have done since the COVID pandemic began and continue to do.

 

We imagine that the last two years have involved some of the most trying times in your career. It has undoubtedly been an unprecedented time for the Aged Care industry, and for the broader community.

 

The COVID Pandemic has been instrumental in giving us unique experiences both good and bad, and with the bad have come many challenges which you have faced head-on.

 

Although it may not feel like it, there have been many accomplishments along the way. We have seen them first-hand when St Basil’s staff banded together to support each other, residents and their families in managing COVID outbreaks; in particular getting through the outbreaks in the last six to twelve months are a testament to the care and resilience shown by all.

 

Again, we and the Board of Directors would like to share our gratitude for the ongoing dedication, compassion and expertise that you provide to the consumers whom you support every day. To show our appreciation we will be visiting each of the homes and offices soon to say thank you.

 

Yours sincerely,

James Jordan, Chairman of the Board of Directors and Spiro Stavis, Chief Executive Officer

St Basil’s NSW/ACT has announced the permanent appointment of Spiro Stavis as their Chief Executive Officer (CEO), aiming to continue the vital role of leading the organisation to deliver quality aged care services.

Mr James Jordan, Chairman of Board of Directors at St Basil’s NSW/ACT said “in the last 18 months as interim CEO Spiro was instrumental in driving the development of St Basils’ five-year pathway as outlined in the organisation’s strategic plan with a person-centred approach and the ageing community at the heart of it.”

“Spiro has since led a restructure of the organisation to enable a better level of care and support of our residents and consumers, and most recently has introduced new initiatives to St Basil’s such as Emotional Wellbeing for Older People program, obtained grant funding for new HR and Governance systems to support the operational aspects of our services, and invested in improved infection control measures and planning for the ultimate health and safety of residents.”

“The aged care industry is continuously changing and with Spiro’s deep understanding of consumer needs and our charitable purpose I am confident that he 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.

St Basils’ Executive Management Team as well as the broader staff-base provide best-practice care every day with the purpose of supporting ageing Australians in our care to live a life of spirituality, meaning, and joy.

Spiro Stavis has worked for St Basil’s for six years, and in the last 18 months as the interim CEO. He can be contacted by email at sstavis@stbasils.org.au

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 02 9784 3200.

St Basil’s has introduced the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission’s Partnerships in Care program for resident representatives.

Joining a Partnerships in Care program will help representatives to continue to provide care and companionship to the person they already support in residential aged care, even during periods of outbreak. This includes increasing their skills in infection prevention and control and formalising their care arrangements with the aged care home.

Learn more about the Partnerships in Care program now, and if you are interested in being a partner in care for your loved one, please reach out to the Home’s General Manager or Care Manager.

 

 

Up to 40% of dementia can be prevented by addressing health and lifestyle factors that include increasing physical activity, and maintaining a healthy diet and social connectedness.

An initiatives by National Ageing Research Institute, Moving Pictures – Dementia awareness for CALD communities involves the design of videos to raise awareness of what factors can reduce the risk of developing dementia.

These culturally and linguistically diverse communities nine short animations about dementia prevention are based on the most current evidence available. The animations are available in Arabic, Cantonese, Mandarin, Hindi, Tamil, Greek, Vietnamese, Spanish, & Italian. You can view them below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Find helpful information and resources by Dementia Australia.

 

 

 

 

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

Mr James Jordan, Chairman of St Basil’s NSW/ACT said, “Our aim, vision and mission is to always provide quality care for our residents and staff in a safe living environment.”

“The building was built in the 1970s and is no longer fit for purpose. Our priority now is to ensure the wellbeing and care of our residents is maintained to the highest possible standard while we look at opportunities to rehouse them within our other facilities or other local aged care providers.”

“Our team will be working closely with the residents and their families including relevant authorities to ensure this transition is as smooth as possible for them,” adds Mr Jordan.

“I take this opportunity to thank our wonderful staff, residents and their loved ones for their ongoing support.”

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 02 9784 3200.

This special International Nurses Day is the perfect occasion to honour our Nurses for their significant and tireless work, often unappreciated and unrewarded.
Together with our Care staff, our Nurses are the heart and soul of our homes. These Heroes, who have worked tirelessly especially over the past two years, have kept our community of residents not only safe and well, but also thriving to maintain and enjoy great quality-of-life.
At St Basil’s we stand with our dedicated Nurses in support of a strong future that is recognised and acknowledged for the vital role they play in our society.
Please join me in wishing all registered nurses, enrolled nurses, and nurse practitioners a Happy International Nurses Day!
Spiro Stavis, Chief Executive Officer

Spiro Stavis, CEO of St Basil’s NSW/ACT, welcomes Angela Sacks to the team as the new Director of Care and Community for St Basil’s.

 

“Angela brings a strong skillset, cultural alignment and extensive clinical, operational and management experience to St Basil’s. She’s an extremely dedicated senior level health-care professional who worked in the United Kingdom’s NHS for 28 years,” says Mr Stavis.

 

“She has joined the team to lead all elements of our St Basils’ Residential homes and Community Services, and I am confident that she will have a significant impact on the team and the care we provide to consumers.”

 

Underpinned by her ability to combine her clinical expertise and business acumen to align clinical outcomes with corporate objectives, Angela is backed by a Diploma in Management, Business Administration.

 

“Angela is known to be a creative problem-solver and leader who is adept at promoting a cohesive team environment which supports the approach we have an strive to improve every day at St Basil’s.”

 

St Basil’s exists to care for ageing Australians, including Greek Australians, in need helping them to live a life of spirituality, meaning, and joy.

 

Learn more about the St Basil’s Executive Team or St Basil’s Residential Aged Care Services now