A coronial inquest into the deaths of 50 residents at St Basil’s Home for the Aged is set to resume in August, as the long-running inquiry continues to examine one of Victoria’s most significant aged care COVID-19 outbreaks.
The inquest, which has been underway for several years, is investigating the 2020 outbreak at the Fawkner facility, where 50 residents lost their lives, many of them members of Melbourne’s Greek community.
Former St Basil’s managers Kon Kontis and Vicky Kos are expected to be among the final witnesses to give evidence. Both declined to testify in 2021 due to concerns about self-incrimination before later being directed by Victoria’s highest court to appear.
Coroner Liberty Sanger told the court the inquiry would resume in the week beginning August 3, when Mr Kontis and Ms Kos are expected to be questioned before final submissions are heard.
During the latest hearing today, the names of all 50 residents who died during the outbreak were read aloud, serving as a reminder of the lives lost and the profound impact on families and the wider community.
Spiros Vasilakis, whose mother Maria died during the outbreak, said families continued to seek answers.
“They’ve been compelled to give evidence, and it’s the right thing that had to happen because at the end of the day, these two people ran the place during that chaotic period,” he said outside court.
“They’re not going to escape public scrutiny, and that’s at least what I hope comes out of this.”
The inquest was previously delayed while WorkSafe Victoria pursued a separate prosecution against St Basil’s under occupational health and safety laws.
Earlier this year, St Basil’s was convicted and fined $150,000 over workplace safety failures during the COVID-19 outbreak at its Fawkner facility in 2020.
WorkSafe initially laid nine charges against the aged care provider. However, following extended discussions, St Basil’s pleaded guilty to one charge relating to whether five staff members had received adequate training and instruction on the correct use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the early stages of the pandemic. The remaining eight charges were withdrawn.
The Victorian County Court found St Basil’s had failed to properly train and supervise workers at the time. During the outbreak, the facility housed more than 90 residents and employed around 110 staff.
In sentencing, the court noted that the matter had taken more than five years to resolve and acknowledged that St Basil’s has since strengthened its systems and procedures.
In a statement at the time, St Basil’s said the organisation had undergone “a complete renewal of Board oversight and senior management” since the outbreak, adding that governance structures and day-to-day operations are now significantly different from those in place in 2020.
Source: ABC.
