It is no small feat that a former refugee from Africa has earned the trust of the aged under his care, their families and recognition at a state and national level. But by giving of himself aged care worker Koryom “Tut” Nyuon has crossed divides of age, race, culture and language to
be an invaluable support to the people under his wing and their families.
Mr Nyuon has worked as a personal care worker for Fronditha Care, a residential aged care organisation whose clients are almost exclusively Greek, since 2012. In that time he has earned the residents’ respect and trust; to the point where it was pressure from the families of Fronditha residents that his name was put forward to earn Fronditha’s Employee of the Year accolade.
He won the award and went on to become Aged And Community Services of Australia (ACSA) Employee of the Year for Victoria and was a front-runner for the national award. ACSA is the leading national peak body representing providers of retirement living, community, home and residential care for more than 450,000 elderly Australians. So Mr Nyuon’s contributions within the aged care industry are no small matter.
Even with that in mind, his achievement stands the higher because from the age of 16 he fled South Sudan to live in a refugee camp in neighbouring Ethiopia until he found a place in Australia in 2003, five years later. He was one of 120 children who were abducted from his school to forcefully fight for the Sudan People’s Liberation Army in the bitter war for independence from Sudan. Just 50 of that group escaped and Mr Nyuon was one of them.
He found shelter in the Sholekole Refugee Camp, home to more than 28,000 other refugees.
During that difficult time, he worked as a clerk for the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) and helped to distribute food and essentials to the camp. His wages were clothes and food.He also served as a mentor to children in the nearby Dimma camp, offering constant support and helping them to keep up with their studies.
READ MORE: South Sudanese distinguished aged carer feels like an honorary Greek
These were experiences that were to stand him in good stead when he was finally accepted to settle in Australia.
His ability to help others again came to the fore as he found a niche as a social worker after two years of working as a warehouse assistant. He worked for the Brotherhood of St Laurence, the Migrant Resource Centre at Box Hill before joining Fronditha Care’s residential aged
care facility at Templestowe as a personal care worker in 2012.
In that time he also studied to better himself with Certificates in English as a Second Landguage, Human Resource Management and a Bachelor of Arts in (International Community Development) from Victoria University.
“The first year (at Templestowe) was very difficult but it got easier as I learned to understand what the residents wanted,” Mr Nyuon told Neos Kosmos.
“Language was the difficulty and some of the residents are from the generation of migrants who did not learn to speak English,” he said.
Today Mr Nyuon greet his wards with a yeia sou and he can hold conversations in Greek with them.
He said there were many elements of Greek culture that found echoes in his own Sudanese world, especially the strong commitment to family.
“Patience is very important. The things is, I do not mind helping people or people calling me to do something for them. I put myself forward as an assistant to all people. People use aged care service because they need help and I do what they want.”
Fronditha Executive Manager, Public Affairs, Zoe Angeli told Neos Kosmos that in putting him forward for the award nomination, family members of residents under his care said that Mr Nyuon “cautiously undertakes every aspect of others’ needs, from feeding the residents to talking calmly to them.”
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“They have also observed him making sure a resident is positioned comfortably, even if it is ‘by a centimetre’.Ms Angeli said that for frail residents and those suffering from dementia, having Mr Nyuon care for them was hugely beneficial for their mental health and general well-being.
“They feel secure, loved and cared for, which has alleviated their anxiety,” Ms Angeli said.
“Tut is an ambassador for the Sudanese community and an excellent example of a former refugee excelling in the community and aged care sector.”
Mr Nyuon is married and the father of two young children. His wife also works and they live close to Templestowe.
“Being recognised for my work makes me very happy. A lot of people supported me during the interview process for the awards. I appreciate the Greek community and all the people who helped me to be where I am today,” he said.