As Australia marks Aged Care Employee Day, we shine a spotlight on two remarkable women at the Greek Orthodox Community Home for the Aged in Earlwood, Sydney – a place where love, language and cultural connection meet to create a true sense of home.
‘A calling not a job’
Helen Spanos, 50, has spent the past 11 years working as Facility Team Leader. For her, aged care is more than a profession – it’s deeply rooted in Greek values.
“I was inspired to work in aged care as our culture instils the values of looking after our elderly and vulnerable members of our community,” Helen tells The Greek Herald. “My personal family values drew me to work in aged care.”
What she loves most is offering warmth and comfort to elderly residents who may be missing the presence of family.
“I love being able to provide the love and care each resident needs and deserves in the absence of their family. Life is busy, family demands are higher than ever before and it is crucial we provide the love and support just as a resident’s own family would,” Helen says.
She believes her Greek background allows for a deeper, more meaningful connection with the people she cares for every day.
“We share the same values, religion, and cultural beliefs. We have common interests and deep understanding of food and religion which is fluent regardless of age,” Helen explains.
While shift work remains one of the most difficult aspects of her role, she says it is the small, quiet moments that make it all worthwhile.
“The most rewarding part of this job is residents remembering your face, being greeted with a smile and shown love and care,” she reflects. “All memories are special; this role is a calling and not a job.”
Her message on Aged Care Employee Day is one of heartfelt purpose: “I don’t see my life’s work any other way. Helping the elderly, disabled and most vulnerable in our community is a gift within itself.”
‘Very close to my heart’
At the helm of the facility is Katerina Kouris, 44, who has dedicated more than two decades of her life to aged care and currently serves as Facility Manager. She began working at the Greek Orthodox Home in 2004 and has witnessed the evolution of the aged care sector firsthand.
“Aged care has evolved significantly. We have seen low level care hostel living to high level residential care, compliance is at an all-time high,” she explains. “Demands are high… person-centred care is the expectation and at the core of our service delivery.”
For Katerina, the Greek Orthodox Home offers something unique – a deep, culturally responsive model of care.
“We are culturally specific, we speak, listen, read, and understand Greek. When we care for our residents, we care for them just as we would for our mother and father,” she says.
Her own migrant heritage provides a powerful bridge between the staff and residents.
“I personally can relate deeply emotionally, spiritually, culturally, psychologically, and emotionally to our residents,” she says. “I understand their needs, their past, upbringing, struggles and difficulties… as having Greek migrant parents and listening to their stories, they resonate very close to my heart.”
Reflecting on her career, one of the most defining challenges came during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021.
“This was a truly difficult and highly challenging time in my career. I was able to overcome this by the tremendous love and support given and shown by our residents and families, the commitment and dedication by our staff and the unconditional loyalty shown during this time,” Katerina says.
She leads with compassion and conviction.
“I practice what I preach and try to lead by example,” she says. “My motto is ‘if it’s not good enough for my parents, then it’s not good enough for our residents’.”
Under her leadership, the Home has undergone renovations, launched a dementia-specific unit, and adapted to major changes in funding and standards.
But above all, Katerina says she is most proud of “the relationships formed with all, the genuine love and care received by our residents, staff and families, stakeholders, community, contractors and external workers… the strong bonds formed is a feeling that leaves me with sincere and deep gratitude.”
On Aged Care Employee Day, she shares this final reflection: “I am truly humbled to be part of such a great organisation and facility where my actions and decision-making skills have been able to provide excellent care to our residents and ensure all their needs are met at all times.”
At the Greek Orthodox Community Home for the Aged, care is more than clinical – it is cultural, emotional and spiritual. Thanks to workers like Helen and Katerina, residents are not just looked after, they are embraced with the warmth and dignity of family.
