Samantha's story

This year our family was proud to see the Stamas Family Scholarship awarded to Samantha Doherty, an ICU nurse at Epworth Richmond.  We recently heard Samantha’s story, and it really emphasised why as a family we are so thrilled to support the Brookes Academy at Epworth.

By funding scholarships like this one, we are able to enable Samantha and her colleagues to build upon their expertise and knowledge within the critical-care space.

Our family is deeply passionate about education, and we have felt firsthand the genuine kindness and support of nurses at Epworth. These scholarships provide really meaningful opportunities, and we’re proud to play our part.

Samantha shared the story of her journey to nursing in a recent edition of the Epworth Medical Foundation Philanthropy Report - the article is here. In the meantime, I am thrilled to share Samantha’s story below.

My story is quite a personal one.

I didn’t initially start out doing nursing. My mum became very ill with cancer when I was in my early 20s. She had a long journey, but what really stood out to us during this incredibly difficult time for our family was the nursing care she received. It brought a smile to her face every day.

Every day you saw her light up because of the care the nurses provided and how genuinely kind they were to her. I thought – I want to be that person who brightens up someone’s day when they’re having a really, really difficult time.

I started my career at Epworth within interventional cardiology. Most commonly we would support

patients who had a heart attack. They would need a stent in the cath labs and all being well they

would be home in a few days to rest and recover.

Today, I work in the ICU. It’s completely different work. We often have patients with us for weeks,

even months – it’s challenging but incredibly rewarding. We do care for the sickest of the sick, and we get to make a difference every single day.

One patient who sticks in my mind is an Irish man who was with us for about four weeks. He came in very unwell, and we got the opportunity to not only get to know him throughout his time with us, but his family as well.

And that’s the beauty of Epworth and the role that we play as nurses. We get to really make this connection with our patients and their families. We found out that he had migrated over from Ireland when he was in his twenties, we learnt about his career in Australia and we got to meet his children and grandchildren.

It’s an amazing opportunity that you would never get in any other job or any other career. Unfortunately, he did pass with us, but it was so special that we got to be there with him and his family during such a vulnerable time. It really reminded me that we are part of that experience with them. That’s something that will stick with me forever.

The race to recovery

What a pleasure it was to take part in the annual Epworth Medical Foundation Race Day this month.

GJK Facility Services was the major event sponsor once again and this year, the assembled guests raised important funds to purchase a Trident Imaging System to be used by surgeons at Epworth HealthCare to treat patients with breast cancer.

The Trident allows surgeons to take images of tumours while still in the operating theatre, in real time. This in turn enables them to determine whether a the cancerous tumours have been fully removed from the healthy tissue. By reducing the patients’ time in the operating theatre and under anaesthesia, this technology improves outcomes, wellbeing and recovery times for patients.

A representative from Epworth Medical Foundation, Chloe Rowarth, shared a little more about the Trident Imaging System with me after the event.

“This high-tech equipment will be used every day by our breast cancer surgeons in our operating theatres,” she said. “By taking an outer specimen of the tumour and testing it in the Trident Imaging System in theatre, our surgeons can immediately and accurately determine if enough margin has been taken. This means the best result can be achieved for our breast cancer patients within the shortest period of time.”

I was thrilled to be part of this event, and of the outstanding efforts that my wife Jaqui Maree and her colleagues on the Epworth Special Events Committee put into making it such a success.

To quote Chloe one again, “This is going to make the world of difference for our breast cancer patients and the surgeons who care for them, as specimens are tested there and then in the theatre, hastening the length of time in surgery and enabling a faster recovery.”

Helping vulnerable Aussies

Earlier this month I was honoured to accept an appointment as the chair of the Vulnerable Members Advisory Council at AustralianSuper.

I am proud to be part of this initiative of AustralianSuper, which identifies AustralianSuper members who are vulnerable, and offers them additional assistance.

The nature of the assistance these members require depends on the types of vulnerability they experience. For example, vulnerability may come from physical ill-health, lack of literacy, age, domestic violence, or Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander status. Our committee oversees the care we are able to provide to these members, whether that may be interpreting services, more flexibility around documentation, identity verification, or cultural training for staff-members when working with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander members.

Assessors and claims managers receive cultural awareness and emotional intelligence training to help identify and support people at risk.

Throughout my career - from my earliest days working as a part-time cleaner, to now standing at the helm of a 4000-person strong company, community care and compassion for those who are vulnerable has always been a priority. I am thrilled to accept this position on the Vulnerable Members Advisory Council to play my part in creating a positive impact on society.

A gift for pregnant women

Today, on International Women's Day, the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) hosted a special event to honor the remarkable women contributing to eye research. This event served as a platform to celebrate the advancements and contributions of talented researchers and doctors in the field of ophthalmology.

CERA, a not-for-profit Medical Research Institute located at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital and closely affiliated with the University of Melbourne, stands as a beacon of excellence in eye health research. Renowned for its innovative approach, CERA is ranked #4 in the World University Rankings for Ophthalmology and serves as Australia's only WHO Collaborating Centre for the prevention of blindness.

Among the fantastic researchers and doctors at CERA are Dr. Jennifer Fan Gaskin, Principal Investigator in Ocular Fibrosis, and Professor Robyn Guymer AM, CERA's Deputy Director and Head of Macular Research. Their dedication and expertise have significantly contributed to the advancements in eye health research.

My wife Jacqui Maree and I were proud to make a donation to CERA, in the knowledge that it will be used to support new research aimed at helping women with diabetes safeguard their vision during pregnancy. Our donation enabled the purchase of a state-of-the-art AI-assisted portable camera, unveiled at CERA's International Women's Day celebrations.

Led by Professor Lyndell Lim and Associate Professor Andrew Symons, the research aims to provide innovative ways for women with diabetes to monitor their eye health during pregnancy, reducing the risks associated with sight-threatening eye diseases. The study will introduce a streamlined approach to provide eye screenings to pregnant women with pre-existing diabetes, ensuring timely assessments and necessary referrals.

This groundbreaking research will have a profound impact on improving the eye health outcomes for women with diabetes. As we commemorate International Women's Day 2024, let us recognise and celebrate the invaluable contributions of women in eye research, driving innovative advancements in preserving vision and enhancing eye health for all.

A safer adulthood

It is a sad fact that half of all young people who enter our corrections system come straight from the state care system. Transitioning from childhood to adulthood is difficult for all of us, but imagine doing so without the support of any parents or close family-members. The care and support that vulnerable young people - such as those in the foster and out-of-home-care systems - are able to access stops on the day they turn 18, as they enter adulthood.

For many, this milestone birthday means an abrupt end to all of their support and networks. They must leave their “home” without any means of supporting themselves: no networks, no financial support, nothing. Most cannot even open a bank account because they don’t have the identification required, which in turn prevents them from accessing vital welfare support, including Medicare, Centrelink and the ATO.

Sadly, this significantly increases the risk of the young people experiencing homelessness, mental health struggles, criminal offences, early parenthood, and drug- and alcohol-problems, an outcome that is borne out in fact that they make up half of all young people in the corrections system. And of these vulnerable young people, young women are most at risk.

Our team at GJK Facility Services was deeply moved to learn about these issues from the Bridge of Hope Foundation, and we were determined to do something positive to help them. Bridge of Hope is a not-for-profit organisation that collaborates with vulnerable young women - and their care teams - to develop personalised support plans that help them transition safely from out-of-home care to independent living. The support these women receive includes both the practical, social and financial skills and resources needed for independent living, and the emotional skills that help them build resilience as they navigate adult life.

For example, the program ensures every young woman leaving care has a copy of their birth certificate, a bank account and debit card, and introduction to Centrelink, a MyKi cards and MyGov accounts. They are given driving lessons and help earning a driver’s license, and help developing a professional resume and developing interview skills, as well as free legal advice and representation if they need it.

In addition, the young women receive access to specialised mental and general health programs, and the program is currently negotiating with one of Victoria’s major hospitals to provide health assessment and advice, and to facilitate necessary surgical procedures.

I am proud to serve on the Board of Bridge of Hope, and prouder-still of the GJK team, who recently donated $20,000 to the foundation’s “Bridging the Gap” initiative as the next step in its goal to foster social change and offer help to those in need.

Life member, FMA

The Facility Management Association (FMA) is the peak industry body in Australia for facilities management companies, including GJK Facility Services. I have been proud to serve as a member of the FMA for 20 years, and to serve on the National Board for more than 10 years.

During that time, I’ve held various roles including Finance Director, member of the Audit Committee, Victorian Vice-Chair, Victorian Chair, and currently National Vice-Chair.

I was deeply honoured during an awards ceremony last week to be formally recognised as a lifetime member of the FMA, an honour that leaves me as humbled as I am proud.

The FMA does a fantastic job representing, educating and supporting individuals and businesses in our industry. Often, facilities management is overlooked or misunderstood in the community, but our work is vital to caring for the operational management of Australia’s built environments.

Helping homeless children

I am proud to share the following story from GJK Facility Services, and the support the team was able to give to the Lighthouse Foundation, an important charity that provides children and young people who are homeless - or at risk of homelessness - with the care and support they need to heal and thrive.

“In a heartwarming collaboration, our esteemed charity partner, Lighthouse Foundation, sought our support to revitalise one of their residences for young people. Without hesitation, our dedicated team sprang into action. Today, we are proud to announce that thanks to our joint efforts, this particular home in Melbourne has undergone a thorough transformation.

“GJK Facility Services are deeply honoured to be a part of this endeavour and we look forward to witnessing the positive impact the rejuvenated home has on the lives of these remarkable young individuals. Together, we are sowing the seeds of self-sufficiency, responsibility, and a clean, nurturing home environment that will endure for years to come.”

Understanding endometriosis

I recently had the privilege of attending the Women’s Health Lunch, hosted by Epworth Medical Foundation.

We were privileged to hear from Dr Kate Tyson, who shed light on endometriosis, a painful condition that affects many women. And Julia Argyrou shared her personal journey of battling the disease, and the events that motivated her to start the Julia Argyrou Endometriosis Centre at Epworth HealthCare.

GJK Facility Services was proud to be part of this event, and to support such an important cause.

Gratitude & resilience

We all have the power to change someone’s life for the better, and it may start with something as simple as a heartfelt question: “Are you ok?”

GJK Facility Services joined hands with the RUOK movement last month, taking the time to remind each of us that opening up an “Are you ok?” conversation - and approaching it with an open heart and mind - can make a significant impact on the lives of those we care about.

We all have an opportunity to create a world that is more supportive, connected and compassionate.

In the lead-up to RUOK day, GJK Facility Services encouraged its staff-members to post messages of gratitude on our Gratitude Walls, and welcomed Mark “Squiz” Squirrell, OAM (Green Beret Commando and Mount Everest Summiteer) to speak to the team about his journey and the importance of resilience.

Disco fever

The Epworth Gala Ball is one of the major events in Melbourne’s social calendar, with more than 1300 guests gathering to dine, dance, and raise-much needed funds for outstanding medical care at Epworth Hospital.

The theme for 2023 was “disco,” and party-goers did not disappoint, filling the room with more sequins and glitter than Melbourne has seen in many a decade.

Our family was proud to make a large donation to this cause during the gala in August this year, with my son Elias Stamas, CEO of GJK Facility Services (pictured below), and GJK’s Director of Strategic Relationships, Kristiana Greenwood GAICD, announcing the gift.

More than $3.5 million was made on the night, which will be used to purchase new equipment and support for the Brookes Academy for Midwifery and Nursing at Epworth.

For Our Elders

Every year, the beginning of NAIDOC Week in Victoria is marked by the official Flag Raising Ceremony, honouring the continued connection to culture, country and language of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples.

NAIDOC Week is a significant occasion that holds tremendous meaning for all Australians. This year’s theme, “For Our Elders,” is an important reminder that our Elders are the keepers of both culture and lore, and are the most important aspect of healing our people.

GJK Facility Services was pleased to send Nerida Robertson and Loyal Johaan as our representatives at the Ceremony, which involves a Smoking Ceremony, Welcome to Country, and a one-minute silence in honour of Aboriginal Elders who had passed to the Dreaming in the past year, and for all ancestors who had fought for the survival of Aboriginal peoples and cultures.

They said:

“Elders have the enormous task of maintaining and passing on traditional knowledge, values and customary practices, while helping us find balance as we navigate between different worlds. They have laid the foundations for us to be successful across multiple sectors like health, education, the arts, politics, and everything in between.”

Supporting our nurses

If COVID taught our nation anything about the healthcare environment in Australia, it was to shine a spotlight on the extraordinary and tireless work performed by armies of nurses across our nation.

Finding, supporting and retaining qualified nurses has proven to be a major challenge for many hospitals and healthcare organisations Australia-wide, especially since so many of our talented and dedicated nurses reached the point of burnout during the first two years of the pandemic.

In response to this crisis, Epworth HealthCare has come up with an outstanding initiative to support our nurses, and foster true excellence through advanced training. The Brookes Academy of Nursing and Midwifery at Epworth HealthCare recently launched to forge innovative learning pathways for nurses and midwives at all levels in clinical, leadership, education and research fields.

The result is a new cohort of nurses who are supported and developed in their careers at every stage, and an even higher standard of patient care at Epworth, as they benefit from the skills and education of the Academy graduates.

What is even more extraordinary about this Academy is that is is funded entirely by donations. What a legacy of generosity and foresight made by individuals and businesses in Melbourne! I was thrilled to have the opportunity to support this initiative earlier this year, by donating $250,000 towards the development of the Brookes Academy of Nursing and Midwifery. I truly believe this Academy will fundamentally change the face and lift the standards of nursing training across Victoria and indeed Australia.

Long-service celebrations

In an era when the average person remains in a job for just four years, I believe it is worth celebrating when employees choose to stay at an organisation for a long period of time. Their longevity of tenure is a testament to both the employee for their support, loyalty and personal contribution to the business, as well as to the business itself for fostering and committing to a workplace environment that encourages good employees to stay.

GJK Facility Services recently awarded five of its employees with Service Awards for their long-term dedication, commitment and service to the company. My congratulations and thanks go to:

• Brendan Wright, John Fotinos and Mabel Coelho for 10 years of contributions to GJK

• Meny Fotinos for 15 years (she has been called “a mainstay of the business and a pillar of strength and support to her colleagues”)

• Lenny Nikolic for 20 years (his employers say of him, “Lenny is known to be super resilient in challenging situations and a real asset to the team”)

Race Day record fundraiser

My wife and I are proud to be long-term supporters of Epworth Medical Foundation, an important charity in Melbourne that contributes to groundbreaking medical research, heartfelt medical care, advanced medical equipment, and compassionate services that help families access the outstanding care at Epworth Hospital when distance or finances might otherwise make it impossible.

I have personally served on the Board of Epworth Medical Foundation since 2018, and GJK Facility Services is a long-term partner of the Foundation. This month, GJK Facility Services was an event sponsor at the annual “Friends of Epworth” Race Day, a traditional day at Flemington that is equal-parts a fun social event and an important fundraiser, and I was honoured to address guests at the event to encourage their support of Epworth.

I’m thrilled to share that on the day, my fellow racegoers gave generously to this excellent cause, and helped to raise a record amount of more than $150,000, which will be used to purchase state-of-the-art medical equipment for patients at Epworth Hospital.

Officially carbon neutral

My company GJK Facility Services has received certification as a carbon neutral organisation by the government-backed Climate Active program, and I am thrilled at this achievement by everyone involved. This is a significant milestone in our ongoing journey to achieve net zero.

Businesses play a vital role in positively impacting change in society and the environment, and one way we are doing this at GJK is to continue reducing our emissions by implementing sustainable practices and environmental solutions into our business, operations and supply chains.

Reconciliation pathways

What an honour it was in February to receive formal endorsement by Reconciliation Australia for our Reflect Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) at GJK Facility Services.

This action plan is the next logical step in our journey to contribute to a reconciled, just and equitable Australia for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders.

With this endorsement, we are joining a network of more than 2200 corporate, government, and not-for-profit organisations that have made formal commitments to reconciliation through Reconciliation Australia’s RAP program.

GJK’s plan is available to download and read here.

About the artwork

The beautiful RAP artwork in our plan, shared above, is called “GJK Pathways to Reconciliation” and was created by Lani Balzan , a proud Aboriginal woman from the Wiradjuri people of the three-river tribe.

Lani created the piece to represent GJK and its connection with staff, families, friends, and community, coming together to learn and grow and close the gap between Indigenous and Non-Indigenous people by taking the journey together for a better understanding of Aboriginal culture.

The large gathering symbol represents GJK, with the people symbols representing employees, family, friends, and the community. The gold pathway represents our reconciliation journey, the paths are taken to build a better connection to Aboriginal culture across the land, and the work we have done with Aboriginal people over the years.

The Yarra River represented through the artwork, symbolizes the important land feature where GJK’s head office is located, with the six circle elements representing our offices in other states.

The eagle symbol represents strength and courage, and is also Lani’s totem and holds significant importance to Aboriginal culture. The eagle watches over and protects from above.

The three larger people symbols in golden colours represent GJK’s values.

A proud Australian

What an extraordinary honour it was to receive an Order of Australia this year in recognition of my personal contribution to philanthropic events in the business and community. It is deeply humbling to be recognised for something I believe in so passionately. Business cannot thrive without community, and fostering community is every bit as much about giving and participating as it is about belonging.

I am a proud Australian, and was never more proud than on the day I stood at Governor House to receive this award from Governor General Linda Dessau.

But while I am deeply honoured to have been recognised in this way, I do not act alone, and there are many in my family and business who I would call the “unsung heroes” who have directly contributed to the good I have been able to achieve in the community, and who are therefore also deserving of this award.

I wish to thank firstly my wife Jaqui Maree, who gives abundantly of her time, talents and resources to support numerous charitable organisations, and who inspires and empowers many others to do the same. In addition, I’d like to highlight the actions of the leadership cohort and entire team at GJK Facility Services, who have demonstrated time and again through the GJK Giving Back program - via volunteering work, corporate giving, their commitment to sustainability and advocacy for those in need - what it truly means to “give back.”

Clean air conversations

This is an important issue that was recently raised on the GJK Facility Services website:

“Across the globe, poor air quality contributes to around 8.8 million premature deaths per year, nearly half of which are due to indoor or household air pollution.”

The World Health Organisation has declared air pollution a ‘global public health emergency’, and poor indoor air quality costs the Australian economy an estimated $12 billion a year in lost productivity.

What we do know is that achieving healthy levels of indoor air quality is a complex and multifaceted challenge, that requires a lot more than opening a window or turning on a fan. It involves strategies like source elimination, building design, operational strategies, and human behaviour interventions.

It’s also important to consider the “journey of air” in workplaces: knowing who is responsible (or who carries the burden of care) in a workplace goes a long way to ensuring we can achieve and maintain good air quality. For example, what are the responsibilities of the building owner or facility manager? What of the tenants? And what of the individual occupants? All have a role to play in maintaining healthy indoor air-quality.

Not surprisingly, the question of air pollution came to the fore during the Covid pandemic, when the World Economic Forum began to question the role that air pollution was playing in the spread of the disease. In response, GJK authored a White Paper, “6 Essential Ways to Optimise Cleaning for Wellbeing and Productivity,” with guidelines for creating healthy surfaces, air and hands to create a safer workplace.

That paper is available to download here for anyone who is interested.

Carbon footprint

Earlier this month, my company GJK Facility Services invited sustainability experts from the building and property industry to provide guidance and insights on how we can reduce our carbon emissions in the built environment sector.

After all, the property industry is one of the planet’s worst climate offenders, being responsible for 39 percent of all global carbon emissions, and more than 50 percent of global material use.

As such, we believe it is up to us to lead the way in actioning climate change.

But to be honest, our ambitions are higher than simply “reducing” our carbon footprint: our goal is to achieve a Net Zero impact by 2050.

And as climate science continues to evolve rapidly, it is vital that we, too, evolve and pivot in order to achieve our goal of Net Zero by 2050. We asked our three panelists to provide practical guidance and insights aimed at helping us walk the right path to achieve this goal.

• Jamie Wallis (Senior Manager – Market Engagement at Green Building Council of Australia) highlighted the recent drivers of NetZero change, and discussed the importance of building- owners understanding the expectations on them, and addressing their carbon footprint

• Alexandra Lawlor (National Leader Urban Futures & Resilience at Architectus) discussed the critical role of design and the developer’s role concerning NetZero. She spoke about the importance of working with clients and stakeholders in the planning stage to create a design that would encourage sustainable behaviours

• Rebecca Jinks (Head of Sustainability & ESG at Cushman & Wakefield, Asia Pacific) shared methods and ways to pursue decarbonization in real estate, and discussed how property was vulnerable to physical and transitional risks associated with climate change, and the actions we need to consider

Click here to watch the webinar back in your own time.

Indigenous suppliers

I firmly believe that Australian businesses can and should provide greater opportunities for Indigenous suppliers to participate in the economy. By procuring both goods and services from Indigenous suppliers, we can help to create sustainable employment and strengthen Indigenous entrepreneurship, thereby improving overall economic and social outcomes for Indigenous communities.

And, while both public and private sectors have made significant inroads into driving Indigenous procurement programs, there is so much more that we can do.

At a webinar hosted by GJK Facility Services, a small panel of experts provided powerful insights into the journey of the Indigenous economy, and the benefits, challenges and future strides that Australian businesses can take to work productively with the Indigenous business sector.

• Glenn Johnston (Director of Procurement & Business Support for Infrastructure NSW) discussed a way forward for Australian businesses to lead Indigenous engagement through Reconciliation Action Plans, which give procurement the framework to support Ingenious suppliers

• Tim Moggridge (co-owner of NPM Indigenous) provided insights into his company’s growth, and how imperative business partners are to its success. Tim’s personal experience from the Indigenous supplier side revealed how critical social procurement practices were for Indigenous businesses and communities

• Madeline Taylor (Head of Strategic Client Management in JLL’s Sourcing and Procurement Team) discussed JLL’s supplier diversity strategy, and their mature social procurement framework approach, which delivered an ethical, sustainable and inclusive supply chain.

To watch back a recording of this webinar, click here.