Families ‘haunted’ by Covid outbreak at Melbourne aged care centre say it should be looked at in Covid inquiry

Families of victims of the deadly Melbourne aged care Covid outbreak are still reeling from the tragedy, ‘disappointed’ by the limited scope of the inquiry.

Klery Loutas's 77-year-old mother Filia was neglected following the federal government takeover of St Basil's Aged Care. Picture: Paul Jeffers

Family members of victims of Australia’s worst aged-care Covid-19 outbreak have called the limited scope of the federal government’s pandemic response inquiry “disappointing” as they continue to grapple with the life-changing consequences of that fiasco three years on.

At least 50 elderly residents died at St Basil’s Home for the Aged, a Greek orthodox facility in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, in mid-2020 amid weeks of chaos at the start of Victoria’s deadly second Covid-19 wave.

More than three years later, Klery Loutas, whose mother, Filia Xynidakis, died in the Fawkner facility during the outbreak, told The Weekend Australian it was “really dis­appointing” to learn that uni­lateral actions taken by state governments during the pandemic would not be examined during a federal inquiry as three separate investigations remain ongoing.

Former St Basil’s resident Filia Xynidakis, 77, with her daughter Klery Loutas.

“Now it’s over three years on. Am I haunted? Absolutely,” she said. “I'm going through breast cancer at the minute. It’s not hereditary. Do I think the stress of that has caused it? 100 per cent.

“If you are not going to examine the policymakers and rule-makers at the time, how is it going to be a proper process?”

Before the pandemic, Ms Loutas said her family visited her mother three times a day but when infection gripped the facility, sparked by a Covid positive worker, communication broke down and her mother was left neglected.

John Karahalios, whose mother, Margarita Karahalios, died after contracting Covid during the outbreak, said the scope of the inquiry was unfortunate but he was sceptical it could actually improve the state of aged care in Australia or ensure lessons were learned for future pandemics.

“Having an inquiry is great, but it’s not going to change anything,” he said. “I still think our aged-care industry is a second thought to the government.

“A lot of aged-care people, tend to have dementia and … certain illnesses. They are a non-voting population and that is why they are going to constantly be considered second-class citizens, which is pretty much a disgrace to this country.”

Family members of St Basil’s residents launched a class action in Victoria’s Supreme Court in late 2020 following the deadly outbreak, while a state-based coronial inquest also examined the outbreak.

Both are ongoing.

John Karahalios and his sister Stav Bekiaris, whose mother Margarita died at St Basils. Picture: Jay Town/Herald Sun

As well, WorkSafe Victoria charged St Basils with a series of offences relating to alleged failings to train staff in how to don protective equipment or require them to wear it. This prosecution is next listed for a committal hearing at the Magistrates Court in February 2024.

On Friday, Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews said he would be “happy to” appear at the federal government’s Covid inquiry even though state actions fall outside of its scope. “We will co-operate fully,” Mr Andrews said. “We should all learn from an incredibly challenging and in many respects tragic period.”