There are up to 32 children of Greek-Australian descent who will be “celebrating” Easter in Melbourne without parents or family in out-of-family-care facilities. They range in age from six months to 14 years old.
While they have shelter and support they are in care facilities that are not really home. Their parents are either dead, in jail or unable to look after themselves whether for psychological reasons or due to drug and alcohol abuse, says Eleni Andrianakis, a psychiatric nurse and Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Clinician under the Department of Justice Mental Health and Outreach Forensic Service.
She told Neos Kosmos that the Greek-Australian children who were waiting to be placed out for care were among many more in a similar position.
While some of the children would have good outcomes, many were in danger of becoming numbers within the system and she was fearful that an already stretched system would fail the children.
“Sometimes the parents are given a chance but they still fail the children. No one loves a child better than a parent but it is a different thing giving birth to a child and actually raising it.”
“With Greek Easter coming up, these kids could do with simple things like the gift of Easter eggs or even clothes or even donations for outings such as to the cinema – it is more than just a gesture for them. The community can donate funds and offer support,” Ms Andrianakis told Neos Kosmos.
She said that while organisations like Anglicare, Berry Street, McKillop Family Services, Good Shepherd, provided group homes for the children, the pandemic had created funding difficulties that could affect their care of the children.
She said that while the Greek community supported many initiatives, there was a reluctance to support people grappling with mental health, incarceration or substance abuse or homelessness. But she praised the work of many women (often Philoptochos members) from Greek Orthodox parishes in Melbourne who often worked on their own to donate food, clothing and other necessities for the children and the needy. Individual women go out of their way and give of themselves.”
There was, she said a growing number of homeless people in the city and that included Greek-Australians who were living rough.
The pandemic had also seen a rise in mental health problems, substance abuse and homelessness while at the same time funding to help people was being reduced.
“We all need to be mindful of what is going on in the world. People are not aware of the mental health issues that are on the rise. We need to be aware especially around the special days of the year, like Easter, – there are many people in great need young and old,” Ms Andrianakis said.
* For more information on how you can help, contact Eleni Andrianakis on 0403 503 678.
