For more than four decades, Andreas has been part of the Earlwood community in Sydney’s inner west. As the proud owner of a Greek biscuit shop, he was known for his kourabiedes – a buttery shortbread dusted with sugar, that brought joy to generations of local families.
One of those families ran the milk bar next door, and as a child, Rouba remembers pressing her nose against the shop window, waiting for her father to buy her and her siblings a treat.
Life has a way of circling back. More than 40 years later, Rouba met Andreas again only this time not
as a neighbour, but as his support worker through Multicultural Care. Rouba, now a team leader with over ten years of experience at Multicultural Care, recalls the moment clearly. “One Friday afternoon, I was asked to provide support to Andreas. As we walked along Homer Street, I pointed to the Greek biscuit shop and said, ‘Look, it’s still there.’ To my surprise, Andreas walked straight inside and said, ‘Follow me.’ The people inside knew him well. That’s when he told me it was his shop, the same one I remembered from my childhood. After forty years, here we were, reunited. He gave me kourabiedes and said…
“Share them with your family.”
For Rouba, the experience was more than a coincidence. It highlighted the deep, personal
connections that Multicultural Care helps foster across cultures and generations.
Support at Home: Independence with Dignity
Andreas receives services under the Australian Government’s Support at Home program (Formerly known as the Home Care Package Program). These services are designed to help older Australians remain in their homes and communities for as long as possible, with the dignity and independence they deserve. Through Multicultural Care, Andreas receives tailored assistance that respects his cultural background and personal needs including support with daily tasks, companionship, and access to social activities, services that not only meet practical needs but also nurture emotional wellbeing. Rouba explains: “It’s not just about the tasks we do; it’s about building trust and relationships. For Andreas, sharing his story and his culture is as important as the care itself.”
The Human Side of Care
For Andreas, having access to a Home Care Package has provided more than assistance it has provided
continuity. It allows him to keep living in the community he helped shape, surrounded by familiar streets, neighbours, and memories. For Rouba, the program highlights the importance of culturally responsive care. As someone from an Arabic background, she understands first-hand the importance of food, tradition, and storytelling in creating a sense of belonging.
“We don’t just care for clients,” she says. “We connect with them as neighbours, as friends, as people with shared histories.”
The Home Care Package program is built on a simple but powerful principle: that older Australians, no matter their background, should be able to age with dignity, choice, and connection. Multicultural Care brings this to life by pairing government funding with a personal, culturally sensitive approach.
Andreas’ story is a reminder that aged care is not just about services delivered, but about lives touched. Through programs like Support at Home, clients can remain active participants in their communities and sometimes, as in Andreas and Rouba’s case, to rediscover long-lost connections.
“It really is a small world, and it’s a privilege to be part of these journeys.”