It’s been more than 43 years since a small group of Greek visionaries decided to establish a not-for-profit organisation to care and advocate for Greek Australian elders. Contrary to mainstream aged care providers, the pioneers of Fronditha Care identified the need and demand for culturally appropriate aged care services, services that cater to the cultural, linguistic, spiritual and emotional requirements of the Greek migrant community. It’s more than a physical care plan. 

Fast forward to 2020, Fronditha Care assists over 1000 elderly people across two states through its five residential care homes and community services. Executive General Manager of Residential Care, Jim Scantsonihas is a pillar of the organisation. He has worked there for 25 years. He is one of the few that has closely watched the development and transformation of the organisation and its ascent within the aged  care sector. We invited him to speak to about the trailblazing organisation and its next steps regarding residential aged care.

1. Can you please give us a brief history of Fronditha Care’s residential services? 

Fronditha Care was established in 1977 to advocate for the care of the elderly of the Greek community of Melbourne. Fronditha Care now offers residential care services across four sites that cover the northern (Thornbury), eastern (Lower Templestowe), southern (Clayton South) and western (St. Albans) Metropolitan regions of Melbourne. In 2011 we expanded to NSW, building a 66 bed facility in Newcastle, Mayfield, in partnership with the Hippocrates Australian Greek Aged Persons Association (AGAPA). We currently have a 456-bed capacity, and with the completion of our new THALPORI facility in St Albans in 2021, our bed capacity will increase to 488. 

2. What is Fronditha Care’s model of care and how is it different to other aged care providers in Australia?

Fronditha Care pioneered the culturally appropriate model of care. Beyond a physical care plan, the cultural, spiritual and emotional needs of our elders are just as important to their wellbeing. It fosters a strong sense of belonging, connection and engagement. So our environment, food, activities and initiatives have this model as their epicentre. I have to emphasise that not only do we hire appropriately qualified staff, we also recruit staff who have the language competency and cultural aptitude to care for seniors with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

3. You consider the facility in Newcastle to be “a multicultural village”. Can you explain why?

Our model of care can cater to a variety of cultures. Our residential home in Newcastle cares for people from a multitude of cultural backgrounds and celebrates Australia’s cultural diversity. In Melbourne, our homes provide the same model but to predominantly elders from a Greek background.  

4. Next year we are expecting the completion of the new 92-bed St Albans care home . What facilities will it provide?

Our St Albans care home will be palatial and appropriate for the needs of our elders in the Western suburbs of Melbourne. This bespoke contemporary residence will be spacious, comfortable, furnished to luxury standards, equipped with all modern conveniences , cinema, café, library, private dining with accessible outdoor areas and landscaped gardens. It will cater to both singles and couples accommodation, all with own ensuite.

The specialised 30-bed Memory Support Unit will care for people who live with dementia. 

5. COVID-19 has deen a significant challenge to the aged care sector, especially in Victoria. What were the precautionary measures you took and how did you manage and suppress the July outbreak in Fronditha Care’s 60-bed care home in St Albans?

As a not-for-profit, the people we care for is our primary concern. We have directed a significant amount of resources into protecting our people. 

We established a thorough outbreak management plann, ensuring staff is well trained on all its protocols, procedures and measures. We were proactive in educating the residents and their families to ensure they followed essential infection control and hygiene procedures. We also discouraged visitation from those whose were unwell or were a COVID-19 risk. 

Communication was crucial so digital communications tools and platforms have been embraced.  All information provided to consumers and their families was open and transparent, and bilingual (Greek and English) so our stakeholders could clearly understand what was happening at each stage. 

Finally, we cooperated and still do very closely with the DHHS, PHU & Victorian Aged Care Response Centre, industry peak bodies and all levels of government, following all their directives and recommendations, drew from a surge workforce, kept in regular and close contact with resident families and representatives.

6. Why are residential aged care homes necessary for the community?

Aged care is an essential service because a lot of people that age, require support from their family and community and in many instances from professionals. Some people can remain independent; others need help at home, while others require the more specialised care that only a residential aged care home can provide. With an ageing population, Australia’s demand for aged care services continues to grow and as life expectancy increases, so does the need for residential aged care.

7. A lot of people argue that to enter a residential aged care home you must sell your house. Is this true? 

The short answer is no, but let me clarify. Before someone enters residential aged care, they must undergo a Centrelink income and assets assessment to determine what fees and charges they must pay. If they choose not to have this assessment completed, they will be charged at the highest rate at any aged care home in Australia. 

If the consumer is deemed to have no assets they will be supported by the government who will subsidise the cost of their care only requiring them to contribute @ 85% of their pension. 

If a consumer has assets above the Government set threshold, they will be required to contribute to the cost of their care. That does not mean that they must sell their home; there are other options available on how the fees and charges can be paid. It is important to note that the family home is not assessed as an asset if the partner or a dependant of the consumer is still living in the home.    

*For more information about Fronditha Care and its services, visit frondithacare.org.au or call (03) 9552 4100

Australians will be able to travel between all states and territories except Western Australia by Christmas, under a new agreement struck between the nation’s leaders.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said National Cabinet had also agreed to public health measures to ensure states and territories remain open in 2021.

Western Australia is easing some border restrictions, but travellers from NSW and Victoria must continue to quarantine upon arrival.

“It also is a plan that importantly embeds public health metrics in ensuring that when Australia opens safely it remains open safely,” Mr Morrison said.

“That’s incredibly important.”

The Prime Minister said states that were reopening could learn lessons from NSW, which he dubbed as “battle hardened” from recent months.

Mr Morrison said Australians also needed to accept that checking into venues, maintaining social distancing and adhering to COVID–safe measures were new normal parts of life.

“The task is to reopen safely and then to stay safely open,” he said.

“By staying safely open you’re giving confidence to businesses, to people in jobs, to people who are making decisions about their future and what they’re going to do.

“Stop-start, stop-start, does not provide that.”

The National Cabinet agreement was announced ahead of South Australia confirming it would reopen its border to Victoria on December 1.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also announced a major overhaul of COVID-19 restrictions in her state.

Queenslanders will be allowed to gather in greater numbers, but there is no easing of its hot spot declarations, which dictate who can travel into the state freely.

Sourced By: ABC News

Labor says the Government must urgently address cyber security and access issues after it re-announced funding to digitise services in the upcoming budget.

The Government confirmed it will spend $700 million in this budget to expand digital capabilities across agencies and departments. However, the Shadow Minister for Better Public Services Sophie Cotsis said more pressing issues need to be addressed.

READ MORE: Sophie Cotsis demands action over Service NSW cyber attack which saw 3.8 million documents stolen
READ MORE: Sophie Cotsis MP: Dominello must take responsibility for massive cyber theft from Service NSW

“Digitisation is important for access but the Government needs to fix the terrible mobile services and telecommunications issues that are common in regional and rural NSW,” Ms Cotsis said.

“In some lower socio-economic suburbs only 30% of people have access to technology or Wi-Fi and rely on a McDonald’s or Westfield shopping centre for connectivity.

“And in bushfire-ravaged communities, the Government still has a lot of work to do.”

A 2018 report from the Auditor-General repeatedly warned that Government agencies were grossly ill-prepared for cyber attacks and recommended urgent cyber security measures should be implemented.

In a 2020 report on local government, the Auditor-General found: 

• 80% of councils do not have formal cyber security policy / framework;
• 46% of councils have not included the threat of cyber attacks in their risk register. 

“There are a number of issues that need to be addressed and re-announcing funds isn’t going to get them sorted,” Ms Cotsis added.

The move to further digitise state systems comes just months after cyber criminals stole 3.8 million documents, including health records, legal information and finances from Service NSW.

Ms Cotsis was among the 186,000 people whose personal information was stolen.

“The Government is talking about learning the lessons from COVID-19. I hope they’ve learnt their lesson from the recent Service NSW data breach,” she said.

“It is critical to ensure sensitive information is safeguarded at every step of this rollout. This is the Government’s responsibility and it must be taken seriously.

“The Government said the attack occurred because Service NSW did not use multi-factor authentication for staff log-ins, which means the NSW Government has not been following guidance from the Australian Cyber Security Centre. This is among many issues that must be urgently addressed.”

At the recent cybersecurity inquiry, witnesses raised concerns about the Government’s lack of cybersecurity framework and preparedness. The inquiry is ongoing.

Alex Theris, 29, and Kynan Maffesoni, 24, have pleaded guilty to supplying MDMA and cocaine after their phones and vehicles were bugged by police earlier this year.

Between November last year and January this year, Alex Theris was involved in the sale of more than 27 grams of cocaine, messaging and meeting up with clients on multiple occasions, according to police facts.

Strike Force Pallamana detectives, along with Strike Force Raptor North officers, swooped on properties at Elermore Vale and Macquarie Hills in February and seized 28 grams of MDMA, steroids, $15,000 in cash, mobile phones, documents and other items.

Five other charges of drug supply were withdrawn after Theris pleaded guilty to supplying drugs on an ongoing basis in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday.

Maffesoni, from Macquarie Hills, also appeared in court and pleaded guilty to two charges of supply prohibited drugs on an ongoing basis.

Police facts said Maffesoni made many transaction and sold numerous amounts of drugs at various locations across Lake Macquarie including in the carpark of Cardiff RSL and Wests Cardiff.

He would send messages to a group chat saying “get in while stocks last” or “restocked, anyone need to put an order in for tonight?”

Both men have had their matters adjourned until December.

Sourced By: Daily Telegraph