Families of residents who died during the COVID-19 outbreak at St Basil’s Home for the Aged in Fawkner, Victoria, have spoken out after the aged care provider was fined $150,000 over workplace safety failures linked to the tragedy.
Speaking outside court on Wednesday, Spiro Vasilakis, whose mother Maria died during the outbreak at the facility’s Fawkner site in Victoria, described the penalty as “very disappointing.”
“At the end of the day we have a penalty of $150,000 to pay for 45 lives,” he said. “We want to see someone held accountable.”
Another family member, Maxine Mitsinikos, whose mother Georgia Mitsinikos also died during the outbreak, said families were still waiting for closure and accountability.
“I want them to be accountable, somehow, for these lives,” she said. “I want there to be some kind of compensation.”
The case stems from a devastating COVID-19 outbreak that began in July 2020, when the first infection was confirmed on July 9. Within days, widespread transmission was detected after all residents and staff were tested.
In the weeks that followed, 45 residents died from COVID-19-related complications, while dozens of staff members were also infected.
WorkSafe Victoria initially laid nine charges under occupational health and safety laws. 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 how to correctly put on and remove personal protective equipment (PPE). The remaining eight charges were withdrawn.
The Victorian County Court found the aged care provider had failed to properly train and supervise workers during the early stages of the pandemic. At the time, the facility housed more than 90 residents and employed around 110 staff.
In sentencing, the court noted the case had taken more than five years to resolve and acknowledged that St Basil’s has since strengthened its systems and procedures.
In an earlier statement, St Basil’s said the organisation has undergone “a complete renewal of Board oversight and senior management,” adding that governance and day-to-day operations are now significantly different from those in place during the 2020 outbreak.
Today, 77 residents live at the Fawkner aged care home.
A separate coronial inquest examining the deaths of residents remains ongoing, though proceedings had previously been put on hold.
Source: ABC.
