Permanent residency should be considered for migrants working on the COVID-19 frontline in essential sectors such as aged care, says Mary Patetsos, chairwoman of the Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia.
But the government’s list of preferred migrant skills does not include aged-care work.
More than 1900 Australian COVID-19 cases have been in residential aged care, mostly in Victoria. And 460 of the nation’s 663 coronavirus deaths have been connected with aged-care centres.
Speaking to The Advertiser, Ms Patetsos said public trust eroded by quality and safety failures would be regained only by ensuring staff, many of whom were casually employed migrants, were well trained in stable and secure employment.
FECCA chair Mary Patetsos. Photo: SBS News
“It is shortsighted to leave the responsibility of caring for vulnerable older persons to migrant workers who are themselves vulnerable without a clear pathway to permanent residency or citizenship,” said Ms Patetsos, who is also chairwoman of Adelaide-based aged-care provider ACH Group.
“Canada has just announced it will offer permanent residency to asylum seekers who have worked on that country’s coronavirus healthcare frontline, including aged care,” she said.
“The Australian Government should consider offering permanent residency to our frontline workers with a requirement that they work in essential sectors such as health, aged and disability (care) for a minimum of three years as a condition.”
The pandemic’s impact on overseas-born older people has been devastating, Ms Patetsos said, citing the example of the Greek Orthodox Church-run St Basil’s in Melbourne.
Ms Patetsos said Australia would experience a spike in the number of overseas-born people needing care in the next decade, some in their homes and some in residential care. Between 30 to 40 per cent of older Australians arrived after World War II.
A Home Affairs Department spokeswoman said on Wednesday they had announced a priority list to give precedence to people with critical skills who could come to Australia on employer-sponsored programs
The list names 17 occupations, such as nurses, engineers and midwives –but it does not include aged-care workers.
“The government will continue to review the immigration settings to ensure they are best placed to support Australia’s economic recovery,” the spokeswoman said.
As the fight against COVID-19 rages on in Australia and worldwide, we caught up with Infectious Disease Physician, Associate Professor* at the University of Wollongong, Spiros Miyakis, who answered our questions with regards to the challenges frontline workers face during this time and the role we can all play in the elimination of the spread of the virus.
What is the role of an infectious disease physician during a pandemic?
Many roles: To look after patients who need hospital admission. To diagnose patients with the disease and differentiate from patients who have similar symptoms due to another disease (i.e flu, other respiratory or gastrointestinal infections, etc) to treat those appropriately. To advise on the hospital response and protocols during the pandemic, to offer advice to the personnel as needed, etc.
What are some challenges you are facing during this time?
The anxiety among the healthcare workers (see recent transmissions in Victoria) and the general population alike: they need to be reassured and counselled on the real risks (versus myths spread) and be advised against complacency at the same time.
We need to keep up-to-date with the volume of new information that come to light for this –new- disease and to keep our colleagues healthcare workers informed in turn. Also maintaining personal well-being: “keep well yourself, in order to be able to look after others”. The need to keep protected from transmission, since we are at the front-line.
To keep the balance between the increased workload and some necessary personal and family time and the necessary rest (and to find time for it!). Finally, as Medical Academics, we are challenged with maintaining students teaching during pandemic, having into mind that disruption of teaching risks compromising the healthcare workforce of tomorrow!
Victoria is going through a second deadly wave of coronavirus at the moment and new cases are being recorded across Australia. Is this going to be the new normal?
No one can be certain at this point of time. Worst case scenario that the virus will circulate on a yearly basis, in parallel with flu (something like “a second flu”) by changing slightly every year (same as flu does) or even overtake the flu, as they are competing for the same hosts (interesting how much less flu we have seen this year worldwide).
There is also the possibility that the virus is eliminated, if an effective vaccine is found to increase population immunity and at the same time the virus doesn’t have advantageous mutations (these are the genetic changes that all viruses of this kind undergo, as mentioned before).
Virus elimination is the best scenario, but there is no clear certainty at this moment that this will be eventually the case; until then we will have to live with this new reality.
Why are some areas, even within the same country, hit so much harder than others?
It is a combination of geography and efficiency of control measures. To give you an example, Australia is a huge country, in terms of land size, therefore a pandemic in Melbourne cannot be easily spread to other States once measures are taken (i.e. borders closed) – the second wave was almost spread in NSW (due to continuous travel activity between the two neighbouring states) but once borders were closed and with intense testing and contact tracing, the spread in NSW was contained in large part.
Can one get coronavirus more than once? Shouldn’t people be immune after they contract the virus?
As we said before, if the virus changes successfully, then you can. It is too early to tell (this is a new virus) but there is substantial possibility. Rare cases in other countries have already been described. That’s what happens with flu also.
Let’s at least hope that, if the coronavirus “came to stay”, those with subsequent infections have a milder clinical course; this is the case with many viral diseases, but it is not always the case.
Are we close to the development of a coronavirus vaccine at all?
It looks like we are. But vaccine production is a very complex process and if one step does not work things can go backwards, so we have to “see it to believe it”. In the case of the coronavirus vaccine the clinical trials have been expedited, so the process of checking safety and efficiency (that normally takes many years) was sped up.
This, of course, does not mean a drop in quality and standards, so this is all a complex process. The big question is not if we will have a vaccine, but how effective this is going to be.
If we have a vaccine who will be vaccinated first?
As with all vaccines, those are first tested in healthy volunteers to establish safety and efficacy. Once those two are established, vaccines will be first given to two priority groups:
1. People who are at highest risk for death and complications once they catch the virus (i.e. those with chronic underlying conditions ie heart failure, lung diseases, diabetics, immunosuppressed, elderly etc), and
2. People most at risk of contracting the virus (i.e health care workers, aged care workers, living in nursing homes, institutions, boarding houses, etc).
Can Australia eliminate the virus in your opinion?
I think the current approach to eliminate the transmission of the virus into the community is more realistic. Eliminating the virus itself is not only in Australia’s hands, it is in the Global community’s hands. Even if we “eliminated” the virus, if this keeps circulating in other countries it can always return, unless you seal the borders.
For how long can the borders stay closed, us remaining isolated from the rest of the world? New Zealand has claimed virus elimination, but they have now again cases, even if limited.
We have to live with the new reality, the virus present, as long as we keep it under control without giving it opportunities to expand. For this is important to follow some principles:
• social distancing (1.5 metres);
• wearing masks when appropriate (closed spaces, gatherings, public transport, etc);
• paying particular attention to personal hygiene (hand sanitization, cough or sneeze etiquette, etc);
• getting tested when we are sick and self-isolating (instead of going to work or into the society) until the symptoms resolve and the results are back; and
• following the advice given by Public Health.
• Herd immunity or an effective vaccine?
The toll in deaths of herd immunity via the disease makes an effective vaccine imperative. The vaccine experts also argue that the immunity offered by a successful vaccine is more efficient than this offered by past disease; of course this can be specific to the pathogen targeted, and remains to be proven for SARS-CoV-2. I hope it is.
• How do you think we will be reminiscing COVID-19 in ten years’ time?
It might still be around, in waves and clusters. More likely –and I hope- it is eliminated, but it still gave us some opportunities, in order to prepare ourselves against another pandemic threat (no one exactly knows what that will be, but chances are that it will occur).
Lessons learnt from COVID-19 that we have to keep include among else:
• the importance of hand hygiene and personal cleanliness;
• taking advantage of the technology (for contact tracing, launching messages to the society, etc);
• showing flexibility in working conditions (i.e. working from home when possible, video-linking into meetings and avoid unnecessary travel time);
• co-ordinating efforts at Country level globally with appropriate leadership;
• emphasizing the importance of vaccinations; and
• paying attention to (and trust) the enormously important work of Public Health and Infection Prevention and Control practitioners.
*Spiros Miyakis is Associate Professor and Director of Teaching Hospitals, School of Medicine, University of Wollongong and Co-Director Division of Medicine and Head of Infectious Diseases and of General Medicine, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.
While Nick Kyrgios decided not to go to this year’s US Open from coronavirus worries, the Cypriot Australian tennis star has used his time more valuably, paying a virtual visit to the Queensland Children’s Hospital.
Hosted by Juiced TV on Thursday morning, the 25-year-old tennis player spoke with die-hard tennis fans Hayden, who was in hospital in Brisbane, and Claire at the Gold Coast University Hospital.
“I just want to say all you guys are amazing, you’re incredibly strong and I’m always thinking of you,” Kyrgios said from his Canberra home at the end of the visit.
“Stay strong, stay happy. I’d love to come back. I’d love to talk to more kids and also some of the workers.”
During the interview he promised to send Hayden some autographs, accepted a challenge from patient Rezwan to play a tennis match against him and his brother, and sent a message to Emily, who is beginning treatment for leukaemia.
“Stay strong and I’ll be waiting for you when the treatment’s finished,” he said.
Nick Kyrgios chats with fans Claire and Hayden and Juiced TV host Pip Forbes during a virtual visit to the Queensland Children’s Hospital on Wednesday. Picture: Juiced TV/Instagram
Not shy of adding to the media-driven feud between himself and some of the court’s best, Kyrgios said his favourite player to face off against is Roger Federer and his biggest rivals are Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
The highlight of the interview though was when Kyrgios played a game of Pictionary with Hayden and Claire, laughing along as he seemed to mistake SpongeBob SquarePants for SpongeBob RoundPants.
He is the latest in a long list of celebrities, including Chris Hemsworth, Margot Robbie, and Johnny Depp, to visit the Queensland’s Children Hospital virtually since COVID-19 lockdown began.
Nick Kyrgios showed his artistic talent on Thursday morning, speaking with the children of Queensland Children’s Hospital. Picture: Juiced TV/Instagram.
Are you looking to get dual Greece-Australia citizenship? According to an Interior Ministry bill that has been submitted for public consultation until September 10, foreign nationals will now be required to sit and pass written examinations to receive Greek citizenship.
The new examinations, called the “Panhellenics,” will be held twice a year. The questions will focus on the Greek language, while also touching on the geography and history of the nation as well.
According to the proposed legislation, the exams must be passed with a score of 80% before they receive a “Certificate of Adequacy of Knowledge for naturalisation” and only then will they be eligible to apply for citizenship.
Crete. Photo:Milan Gonda / Alamy Stock Photo
There are currently 30,000 pending applications for Greek citizenship, with this new system set to bring a much more organised granting structure.
Greece’s Secretary General of Citizenship, Athanasios Balerbas, stated to interviewers from Ta Nea that it was of extreme importance to change how individuals acquire Greek citizenship.
“When we took over the Ministry,” he relates, “we noticed the extremely long delays in the naturalisation of foreigners, who have the legal conditions to acquire citizenship, if, of course, they wish to do so.”
Acropolis, Athens. Photo: Peter Oglos/The Greek Herald
For those aged over 67 or who have diagnosed writing difficulties, the program will offer oral exams instead.
While this test will speed up the citizenship process, diaspora Greeks will still be required to have an interview with two officials from the ministry’s general secretariat for citizenship, along with an administrative fee of 550 euros, before citizenship is granted.
Two Bulgarian nationals charged with the murder of 46-year-old Greek-Australian businessman John Macris denied any involvement in the case after completing their testimony in court on Thursday.
Yuliyanov J Raychev Serafim was accused of killing the Greek Australian in the southern Athenian suburb of Voula in October 2018, where Macris was shot at close-range outside his home.
Serafim’s brother Milen Raychev is accused of driving the Nissan Pulsar getaway car, after allegedly stalking Macris for 19 days before the shooting.
The brothers have denied the charges saying they came to Greece in October 2018 on a business trip.
“We are accused of killing a man we did not know, neither him nor his family. My brother and I are not capable of committing such a crime,” one of the defendants told the judges.
CCTV footage of the shooting shows a man wearing clothes similar to those found in Serafim’s hotel room, along with a receipt.
Viktoria Karida, the widow of slain Sydney businessman John Macris, gave evidence at an Athens court at her husband’s murder trial. Photo: Nine News
The court adjourned until next Tuesday, when the prosecutor will recommend a guilty or not guilty verdict.
Viktoria Karida, the mother of two of Macris’ children, attended the court proceeding at Athens court in July, saying:
“I have nothing to say to them … My children are crying and asking for their father.”
The former Playboy model has also stated that her children Alexandra and Achilles had found out how their father was killed by watching it on YouTube.
Greek tennis player Maria Sakkari continues her good run of form after defeating Bernarda Pera 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 on the American’s home court.
Sakkari came off the back of a close victory against Stefanie Vögele, defeating the Swiss only two days ago in the first round. Similar to that match, it was Sakkari’s unbreakable set streaks that saw her proceed to the third round.
Pera outmatched the Greek in the first set, using her powerful left-hand serve and catching Sakkari off guard multiple times. In the second set, the tides turned as Sakkari imposed her powerful backcourt game and finished the set victorious with an ace.
Down to the third and final set, the victory didn’t come easy for the Greek, with Pera leading 0-40 during Sakkari’s 2-1 serve. Similar to her impressive display agaonst Vögele, Sakkari managed to pull the rabbit out of the hat and deliver three break-point chances against the Swiss.
Down to the third and final set, the victory didn’t come easy for the Greek, with Pera leading 0-40 during Sakkari’s 2-1 serve. Similar to her impressive display agaonst Vögele, Sakkari managed to pull the rabbit out of the hat and deliver three break-point chances against the Swiss.
Maria Sakkari of Greece in action against American Bernarda Pera during a Day 4 match. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/USTA)
From there it was all over as Sakkari then broke the American’s serve in the next game to go up, 3-2, and ultimately finish the game victorious.
Maria Sakkari has shown good focus in the States, defeating former world champion Serena Williams last week and now outplaying Croatian-born American Bernarda Pera. The Greek international will now have to prove her talent again against world No. 22 Amanda Anisimova.
Turkey has announced that Russia will hold live-fire naval exercises in the eastern Mediterranean, amid escalating tensions between Turkey and its coastal neighbours Greece and Cyprus over rights to search for energy resources in the region.
The navigational notice issued late Wednesday said the Russian exercises will take place Sept. 8-22 and Sept. 17-25 in areas of the Mediterranean where Turkish seismic research vessels are operating.
There was no immediate comment from Russia on the exercises, which Turkey announced after the United States said it was partially lifting a 33-year-old arms embargo against ethnically divided Cyprus.
Turkey’s Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, left, salutes from inside an F-16 jet fighter at a military air base in western city of Eskisehir, Turkey, Wednesday, Sep. 2, 2020. (Turkish Defense Ministry via AP, Pool)
It’s unclear why NATO-member Turkey would announce such drills on Moscow’s behalf, but the two countries have in recent years significantly strengthened their military, political and economic ties.
Turkey reacted angrily to the U.S. move that it said went against the “spirit of alliance” between Washington and Ankara. It also warned that it would harm efforts to reunify Cyprus, which is split between Turkish Cypriot and Greek Cypriot communities.
Warships from Greece and Turkey have been shadowing each other in recent weeks as Turkish survey vessels and drill ships continue to prospect for hydrocarbons in waters where Greece and Cyprus claim exclusive economic rights.
In Athens, Greek government spokesman Stelios Petsas said the planned Russian exercises were being “monitored by all the countries in the region, as well as our NATO allies and European Union partners.”
Tragedy, kindness and bravery. Three words that perfectly describe how the Holocaust impacted the large Jewish community on the Greek island of Corfu.
The Germans took control of the island in 1943 after the fall of Italy and implemented antisemitic laws. At the time, there were 2,000 Corfu Jews. But in early June 1944, 1,800 of these Jews were forced out of their homes and deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau. The remaining 200 found sanctuary with Greek families.
The Savvas family was one of the lucky ones.
Savvas Israel with his three daughters, Nina, Spera and Julia. Photo Supplied.
Savvas Israel managed to escape Corfu with his three daughters, Nina, Spera and Julia, and their cousin, Rosa, to a nearby Greek island called Erikousa. Having done business with the locals for many years as a tailor, Savvas was well respected and the Greek people worked together to hide him and his family from the Germans.
In fact, one person who played a particular role in their protection was the grandmother of Greek American Yvette Manessis Corporon.
“My grandmother was always talking about her life back in Greece. Among the many stories she told me… was how the Jewish family hid in the priest’s house and everyone worked together to keep the secret safe from the Nazi’s,” Yvette tells The Greek Herald exclusively.
“Every night, the Savvas girls would come to her house and she would feed them. My grandmother loved them.”
Yvette’s grandmother (top right), great grandparents and aunt, around time of Nazi occupation. Photo supplied.
Tracking down their descendants:
When Yvette became a journalist, she took it upon herself to expose this story of survival and courage in her second book, Something Beautiful Happened.
“Everyone on the island was a hero, everyone had a part in saving the family. That’s why I realised this story was history and that the story deserved and needed to be told,” Yvette says.
It was this realisation which led to Yvette’s frantic search for the descendants of the Savvas family. Despite many people telling her that she wouldn’t find anyone, Yvette says she never gave up.
Yvette tracked down the descendants of the Savvas family for her book, Something Beautiful Happened.
“I decided to go to Corfu. I first asked any family members what they remembered. I went and knocked on doors in the Jewish quarter of Corfu, searched through archives in Corfu and any documents I could find online,” Yvette says.
“Finally, with the help of Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem), the researchers at MyHeritage in Israel and by interviewing Corfu Holocaust survivors, we found them! An entire global village came together to help me find them and it was incredible.”
The “life changing” reunion:
From the information that Yvette gathered, she discovered that Savvas himself died after the war and was buried on Erikousa until his body was later moved to a Jewish cemetery on Corfu.
Of the girls, Rosa and Spera went to Israel after spending two years in a refugee camp on Cyprus. Nina and Julia went to Athens. Julia died of cancer and Nina eventually went to Israel as well. Only Rosa had biological children.
“But there are still five people alive today because of what happened on Erikousa. Rosa’s two sons and three granddaughters,” Yvette explains.
A few years ago, Yvette met with these descendants in Corfu and she says the reunion was so emotional as ‘we all immediately felt as if we’d all grown up together.’
The descendants of the Savvas family met with Yvette Manessis Corporon in Corfu. Photo Supplied.
“Meeting the family in Corfu and Erikousa was amazing and life changing. It was so powerful for all of us,” Yvette says.
“The incredible thing was that they had never even heard the story. The Savvas girls had never spoken of what happened and how they survived the Holocaust.”
Fortunately, Yvette was able to share the story with Rosa’s descendants and in turn, this solidified their friendship.
“We are still very much in touch and we consider ourselves a family. We have even met again several times since then – in Los Angeles, NY and Israel a few times.”
A strong bond that has clearly passed from one generation to the next and is living proof that evil doesn’t always win in the end.
2021 will see the 200th Anniversary of the commencement of the Greek War of Independence and by extension, the Bicentenary of the Modern Greek State.
Along with celebrations being planned all around the world, the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) is busy working on its detailed and multifaceted program.
In the collaborative spirit of the bicentenary, the GCM is partnering with a number of key organisations to present its program.
Key amongst these includes The Victorian Government, The Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia, The Greek Consul to Victoria, The Greek Orthodox Community of NSW, The Cyprus Community of Melbourne and Victoria and The Organising Committee of the National Day Celebrations.
The multi-disciplined year long celebration is being organised by a special committee bringing together a range of interests and experience. It is led by Assoc. Prof. Marinis Pirpiris and Michael Karamitos and includes Dr Jim Bossinakis, Betty Dimitropoulos, Chrissa Kanatas, Dean Kotsianis, Nick Koukouvitakis, Victoria Kyriakopoulos, Dr Stephie Nikoloudis, Stella Patras, Denise Serdenes, Tass Sgardelis, Chris Sikavitsas and is supported by Greek Community staff led by Greek Centre Director, Jorge Menidis.
Whilst the program’s detail has been worked on over the past 4 months and is still being finalised, a snapshot of its content promises a range of events and activities anchored by the GCM’s annual program of festivals and programs and embellished with a unique, contemporary and cosmopolitan offering.
A teaser of the work in progress program includes:
182! – The Graphic Short Story Collection
An adaptation of stories from the 1821 Greek Revolution presented as a Graphic Short Story collection (aka comic book).
Antipodes 2021 | Commemorating The Greek Bicentenary 27+28 February | Lonsdale Street Greek Precinct Melbourne
The award winning festival celebrates the Greek Bicentenary through themed performances, dance and musical productions.
The Inaugural Grecian Ball
A commemorative Ball to be held as a feature event of the year long celebrations.
The Greek Language & Culture Seminars: Greek Bicentenary Series Featuring leading academics and speakers.
The Annunciation Of Our Lady Feast Day A Celebration of the raising of the Revolutionary banner in 1821 at Agia Lavra by Patriarch Germanos and the official re-opening of Victoria’s oldest church on its feast day.
Death Of A Romantic: Lord Byron – The Influence Of Romanticism On The Greek War Of Independence
An ensemble of actors, & musicians will present an evening that will include readings of Byron and his fellow European Romantics such as Keats, Shelley, Hugo, Dumas and Palamas.
R-EVOLUTION-200
A re-telling of the contemporary Greek State through the minds of street (graffiti and stencil) artists.
Musical Odyssey: 200 Years of Triumphant Greek music
A symphonic tribute to the grand Greek composers and musicians who influenced Greek music for 200years.
(Super)Heroes of 1821: The Heroes of the Revolution = The Good, The Bad + The Gory
Designed for children, the event will be a multimedia presentation telling the stories of the heroes of the revolution.
The Greek Writers Festival: Mythologising Context + Identity
A celebration of 200 years of Greek and Greek Australian Writers.
200 years of Flavour. The 2021 Flavours of Greece
A celebration of Greek cuisine through food events.
Youth Summit 21
Bringing together young Greek Australians to discuss matters that are pertinent to their understanding of place, identity and a sense of belonging.
The 27th Greek Film Festival
The annual celebration of Greek film will be a celebration of the Greek bicentenary.
Antipodes: The Concert : A celebration of Greek music, dance + life
Featuring leading Greek performers, a live music concert celebration of Greek culture and life.
Greeks and cheese go together like butter and bread. Which is why this year’s Prahran Market ‘Say Cheese’ Festival will feature multiple Greek chefs preparing some of the most delicious cheese-related foods.
The festival will take place virtually on the 10th-12th of September with three free events, featuring guests like Gary Mehigan, Jerry Mai, Philip Vakos, Darren Purchese, Raph Rashid and Tobie Puttock.
The event prepared to sweep Greeks off their feet however will be on Friday, 11th September, as Kathy Tsaples of ‘Sweet Greek’ will be cooking a three course Greek feast.
Kathy will take people to the Mediterranean and guide them through preparing a delicious three-course Greek meal. Each of the dishes will champion cheese and is to be perfect for a Friday evening dinner.
Photo: Supplied
“I’ll be making a beautiful Greek meal from entre to main to dessert and people will be able to participate online,” Kathy says to The Greek Herald.
“We’re also encouraging people in the Prahran Market delivery area to purchase the kit and cook along with me as they’re watching on Friday night.”
The recipe kit box is considered perfect for families or couples who love leftovers, and available from Food Lover’s.
Born in Richmond, Melbourne, of Greek parents, Kathy grew up learning to cook traditional Greek cuisine from her mother. The Greek Australian has written two cookbooks, Sweet Greek and Sweet Greek Life, and in 2016 was named a HACCI Award winner for business excellence.
People can register for watch the cook-a-long with Kathy HERE.
The Grilled Cheese Invitational also returns for its third year with Greek chef Philip Vakos competing against Raph Rashid and Jerry Mai. Meanwhile, Masterchef and Plate of Origin judge Gary Meghan, alongside Anthony Femia and last year’s winner Darren Purchese will judge the competition.
Philip Vakos grew up with two Cretan grandmothers and he was surrounded by food from a young age. After a stint on Masterchef, Philip moved to Melbourne to follow his food dream, and most recently opened Bahari | The Hellenic Palate. Greeks will surely be rallying behind the Melbourne chef as he takes on the two other competitors in the Grilled Cheese invitational!
