Mandatory education will be provided to all staff before the commencement of the program to ensure that everyone is well equipped and ready for it!!
We will also include the residents and their family. Every month, we will be sharing information about each standard in the Newsletter.

• November 2023- Purchase of the new property next to Kalyna Care- 14 Chaucer Close, Delahey. This is another area to use for staff education and training. A new gate has been placed in  between for easier access.
• March 2024- Kalyna Care has completed and been accredited by NDIS for 0115 Living Environment and Medication Administration. Presently, we have two NDIS participants and continuously complying with NDIS standard requirements.
• April 2024- Blessing of the building- New Sosna and Topolya, total of 20 premium rooms.
• Workforce and Governance Responsibilities- The Registered Nurse Coverage and Mandatory Care Minutes,  we are committed to comply with the Aged Care and Safety Commission initiative. Monthly monitoring of roster and reporting to the board in place. Now in the last two months, Kalyna Care has met the requirements. For the October- December 2024 requirement, we need to provide 225.04 care minutes per resident per day and for our October data, we have rostered 232.11 minutes. Regular monthly meeting with the ACSQS team together with FM and Chairman of the Board.
• Increased in the staff hiring of different roles and no agency staff used during the year.
• Managed to fill 144 beds and waiting list has commenced.
• All complaints to ACQSC addressed immediately and all are closed.
• Clinical team re- structuring; Nurse in Charge in each wing commenced last July 2024.
• All mandatory educations are completed for the year.
• Covid- 19 Outbreaks are tightly monitored. Four outbreaks noted and nil residents’ death reported. Clinical team continuously promoting the vaccination.
• AN-ACC Funding has been introduced to replace ACFI. Mandatory care minutes is based on funding.
• Residents’ activities have been revamped and appointments have increased.

PROJECTS COMPLETED:

• Second Roofing Project completed: At the back part of Konvalyia near café.
• Construction of additional bedrooms commenced- x1 in old Sosna and x1 in old Topolya area. Completion by end of November 2024.
• Additional skip rooms in new Sosna and new Topolya. Completion by end of November 2024.
• Additional pan rooms in new Sosna and new Topolya. Completion by end of November 2024.
• BestMed- Online medication administration system now in use.
• Small projects: Updating carpets and flooring in different areas that requires attention.
• MH projects: Updating the old rooms one at a time. Changing of bathroom flooring, adding more downlights, painting of the room, fixing and/or replacing cupboards.

THE YEAR AHEAD:

• Clinical platform- Changing Autumn Care system to eCase- 2025 first quarter.
• Preparing the staff for the upcoming Quality Standards- 2025 second quarter.
• Consistent monitoring and reporting of care minutes- monthly
• MH Project- to work with Dementia Australia’s recommendation (lighting, flooring, sound distribution etc.)

Jennifer Ibanez
Facility Manager

Honoured guests, valued members of Kalyna Care, distinguished representatives from Hromada, our community churches, and our respected partners from Dnister, welcome. It is a true privilege to have each of you with us today as we gather to reflect on our journey, celebrate our accomplishments, and set our vision for the future of Kalyna Care. Your presence today not only shows your support but also highlights the deep connections that bind us in our shared commitment to improving the lives of those we serve. Thank you for
joining us, and we anticipate a meaningful and productive day together.

I am privileged to continue serving as Chairman of the Kalyna Care Board of Directors. However, it’s essential to recognize that Kalyna Care’s achievements over the past year are due to the collaborative efforts of my fellow board members and the exceptional administrative team at our facility. Throughout this challenging period each director has dedicated their efforts wholeheartedly to guide us through these demanding times.

The financial statement reveals a noteworthy transformation, despite numerous hurdles we encountered. The Total Comprehensive surplus for the fiscal year amounted to $ 2.7 million in surplus. Although we faced persistent challenges from recurring Covid-19 outbreaks, the situation improved, thanks to enhanced vaccination efforts and the milder impact of COVID-19 strains. This has boosted community confidence and resulted in a substantial increase in the number of residents we serve.

The new residential wing, expanding our capacity to accommodate 144 residents, is now fully operational.

The service outcomes for the 2024 financial year met the standards set for the delivery of Aged Care Services. In October 2022, the Department of Health and Age Care introduced a new funding model known as the Australian National Aged Care Classification (AN-ACC) in response to recommendations from the Aged Care Royal Commission. This change resulted in a significant increase in funding. However, this increase was partially offset by higher staff costs, general expenses related to food and other items due to a growing number of residents and a new Enterprise Bargaining Agreement (EBA).

I would like to express my appreciation and extend my thanks to our banking partners, Dnister Ukrainian Credit Cooperative, and their affiliated organizations, for their unwavering support. I can report that we are now debt-free.

On behalf of the Board, I sincerely thank the dedicated efforts of our Executive Staff:
Jennifer Saberon Ibanez, our Facility Manager, has grown the business and leads a skilled and dependable team of managers who share her commitment to advancing the goals of Kalyna Care. The facility if now full and financially viable, despite various challenges.

Nik Jayawantha, our Corporate Services Manager, remains a steadfast and unwavering presence, consistently working behind the scenes without complaint. He puts in extra hours during late nights and weekends to ensure that our financial documents are meticulously prepared for our banking partners and government agencies.

I’d also like to mention the others in the Senior Management team for their extraordinary dedication and hard work:
Frances Pasiliao – Clinical Manager
Wayne Azavedo – our new Hotel Services Manager, also need to mention our former HSM Amanpreet Singh who worked for us more than 4 years and ensured our residents were well looked after with regards to meals.
Sarah Hzaife – Quality and Compliance Officer
Michelle Goltz – Client Liaison Officer

Their contributions are truly invaluable to the success of our organisation.

I would like to take a moment to sincerely thank the dedicated individuals who are the heart of Kalyna Care – our incredible workers, nurses, leisure and lifestyle, care staff, kitchen staff, maintenance, administrative, laundry and cleaners. Your tireless commitment and hard work have made Kalyna Care not just a care facility, but a welcoming and comfortable home for our residents. Your efforts, often carried out behind the scenes, have created a warm and appealing environment for both residents and staff. Your compassion and dedication foster a true sense of belonging and comfort for our residents, and for this,
we are deeply grateful.

Furthermore, I want to express our sincere thanks to the visiting clinical staff. Thank you to the doctors who have been here for a long time: Dr. Andrew Soloczynskyj, Dr. Jabbar Akram, Dr. Luqmaan Malik and Dr. Ifana Akram. Also thank you to pharmacists, physiotherapists, podiatrists and others who tirelessly attend to the health needs of our residents. Your expertise, care, and professionalism play a pivotal role in ensuring the wellbeing of those in our care. Your support is invaluable, and we deeply appreciate the collaborative efforts that contribute to the overall health and happiness of our residents.

Thank you all for being an integral part of the Kalyna Care family.
We acquired a property located adjacent to our eastern property boundary providing us with additional options and a new point of access from Chaucer Close.

I wish to extend my sincere gratitude to my fellow directors, whose contributions have been essential to sustaining Kalyna Care. Their collective efforts are invaluable in ensuring our organization operates smoothly. Allow me to introduce each of them in alphabetical order:

Basil Chamula’s role as deputy and his wide-ranging contributions are invaluable. His dedication to projects like the new building, café, and budget review highlights his commitment to enhancing our facilities, while securing the substantial roof replacement reflects his strong financial acumen. Additionally, his role as an ambassador at Ukrainian events strengthens community ties and enhances our public image. Basil’s efforts have positively impacted both Kalyna Care’s development and its engagement with the community.

Ray Chamula has been a valuable asset to our governance. His dedication to tasks such as generating meeting minutes and assisting with IT-related matters has helped ensure the smooth functioning of the organization. Furthermore, his willingness to offer insights and serve as a listening post has greatly assisted effective communication and a supportive atmosphere within Kalyna Care and me personally when I’ve needed advice.

Greg Lubczenko’s active participation in directors’ meetings, even remotely, is highly valued. His attentive listening, thoughtful solutions, and offers of assistance demonstrate his dedication to our goals. His contributions, including writing meeting minutes and his expertise in marketing, further highlight his importance to the team. We welcome him back to Melbourne.

Luba Pryslak’s experience as a facility manager in ethnic aged care enriches our clinical governance. Her proactive approach, including meeting with relatives and staff to address concerns, strengthens communication and care quality, directly benefiting residents’ well-being. Luba’s expertise and commitment have been instrumental in advancing our clinical governance initiatives.

Roman Rozek’s role as treasurer, combined with his accounting expertise in aged care, is an invaluable asset to our organization. His financial acumen ensures transparency and fiscal responsibility, while his work with executive staff and budget reviews underscores his commitment to our financial health and sustainability. Roman’s skills are essential to our operations, making a vital impact on the quality of care we provide and contributing significantly to our success.

Our vision for this aged care facility is a deep dedication to enriching the health, well-being, and quality of life of our elderly residents. Beyond essential medical support, our goal is to offer innovative and responsive care services rooted in Ukrainian heritage and traditions, fostering an environment where seniors can thrive, live fulfilling lives, and feel valued.

In closing, I want to express my sincere thanks to each of you for being here today at the Kalyna Care meeting. Your presence and steadfast support mean so much to us. Together, as a committed and unified community, we have accomplished a great deal, and your ongoing involvement is essential to our success. We deeply appreciate your insights, dedication, and commitment to our mission, and we look forward to your continued support as we move forward. Thank you for being an invaluable part of the Kalyna Care family, and we are excited to embrace the opportunities and challenges ahead as we work together to make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve.

Dr Igor Jakubowicz

LMusA, MBBS, MFM, CertFamPlan, GDip Forensic Med, GCert Travel Med., GAICD, Asst Prof UCSD

Chairman of Kalyna Care Board of Directors

2024 AGM Board Chairman’s Speech

Our aged care residents, their families, staff and members of the board were honoured that SBS World News visited and filmed the ceremony at the Kalyna Care Chapel. During the interview the reporter spoke with Bishop Mykola Bychok, our board member Roman Chamula and Professor Marco Pavlyshyn with 102-year-old mother Alexandra. It was a special event.

We are grateful for SBS’s support and pleased to share with others how Kalyna Care brings the cultures and traditions of Europe to life every day.

Click here to read the news story.

Update 22 Nov 2022
All Kalyna Care Staff are fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Contractors, visiting GPs and allied health specialist must provide their vaccination status before entering the facility

Guided by the Victorian Department of Health, we have the following COVID protocols in place:

• An Infection Prevention Control (IPC) Team lead by our Clinical Manager
• Rapid Antigen Testing for all visitors, contractors, and non-regular staff
• Services Victoria QR Code Check in and EntryTrcker check in which requires a COVID declaration for all persons entering the facility
• Regular PCR COVID testing for staff
• COVID Monitoring of residents (and testing when required)
• Wearing the required PPE (as per DHS guidelines)
• Our own cleaning staff trained in infection prevention cleaning protocols
• A vaccination program for residents and staff (COVID 19 and Flu Vaccinations)
• Regular staff training on infection control principles
• All staff, volunteers, placement students and contractors are fully vaccinated against COVID 19

For more information, please contact our Facility Manager or call 9116 4100.

• COVID-19 Vaccination roll-out info
• Prioritising Residential Aged Care
• COVID-19 Vaccination FAQs
• Covid-19 Vaccination info in Ukrainian

How vaccines work

This video describes how vaccines work in the body after you receive a vaccination.

Priority rollout (animation)

This video describes how vaccines will be rolled out, and who they will go to first.

Where can I find out more information?

News and information about the development, approval process and plans for COVID-19 vaccines – Department of Health website

The vaccine roll-out roadmap outlines the staged roll-out of the vaccine to priority groups – COVID-19 vaccine national roll-out strategy

Call 1800 237 981, 6am-10pm (AEDT) 7 days a week to chat about your concerns or access useful resources and FAQ’s

Older Persons Advocacy Network’s free services support older people and their representatives to address issues related to Commonwealth funded aged care services.

OPAN has useful information and resources on COVID-19.

OPAN aims to provide a national voice for aged care advocacy and promote excellence and national consistency in the delivery of advocacy services under the Program.

You are welcome to come on in and ‘walk through’ our accommodation rooms.

Konvalyia Premium Room

Konvalyia Room

MH Renovated Room

This is a remarkable achievement given prevailing challenges in the industry and expectations from the Royal Commission.

While Kalyna Care will take a moment to rejoice, the journey begins now for us to maintain a consistently high standard of care and to work towards being the best in our CALD, standalone ‘space’.

Thank you to all staff and supporters of Kalyna Care!