CARING FOR OUR SENIORS

Guruswamy Jayaraman, OAM

For service to the Indian community of Western Sydney

Guruswamy Jayaraman was thrilled when his parents came visiting from India in 1991, quite early in his life in Australia. He had been waiting to show them the life he had built for himself and his young family in Sydney, having moved here in 1986. Imagine his surprise when half way through their six-month stay, they announced that they wanted to cut short their visit.

There was not much for them to do here, especially during the day.

The particular challenges that face our elderly parents hit home immediately.

Today, more than twenty five years later, Jayaraman is well-known in our community for his programs in aged care services.

His social enterprise Sri Om Care delivers culturally relevant services to seniors in Sydney’s South Asian community. For this, and for his other welfare services to the Indian community, Jayaraman has been recognised with an OAM honour.

“The announcement surprised and thrilled me,” he admitted to Indian Link, but added in his trademark self-effacing manner, “It is a recognition of our community - of the way we’ve grown in this country and of the work that we do.”

Of his own work, Jayaraman said, “We run day centres in eight suburbs in the Western Sydney region. Here we run structured programs involving exercise, recreational and cultural activities, and regular outings. Admission is free, and we provide morning tea and lunch. The activities enable our elderly to develop new skills, live healthy and make new friends.”

A range of other services are offered for home care of the elderly. These include domestic assistance, personal care, respite care, transitional care (after hospitalisation, for example), physiotherapy, transport and

For 78-year-old John Francis D’Souza, the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General division, has been a befitting recognition of his four decades of community service.

It’s been a long journey from Mangalore in western India for D’Souza, who migrated to Australia with his wife Beatrice Eva D’Silva and daughter Sunita, in 1974. The family decided to settle in a quiet little town of Mount Gambier and two years later, obtained Australian citizenship.

During his eventful life in Australia, D’Souza worked as office manager at Fidler & Webb from September 1974 shopping assistance.

“These services are aimed to allow the elderly to live as independently as possible in their own environment and community,” Jayaraman explained. “In recent years, we have tied up with the larger mainstream aged care companies to provide these services to their South Asian clients.” to October 1976 and then served as National Payroll Manager for K&S Corporation between 1976 and 2004.

Besides specialising in personalised care services for the elderly, Sri Om Care also provides housing assistance to older people who are in danger of becoming homeless, advisory services for them to gain information about specific services, and advocacy for seniors at government and community levels.

A sad aspect of this work in aged care has been the cases of elder abuse that have come to Jayaraman’s notice. Financial abuse is an increasing complaint, such as when parents sell off their hard-fought assets in India to help their adult children settle in here, only to find themselves totally dependent and often neglected.

He joined the St Paul’s Conference of St Vincent De Paul Society in Mount Gambier in 1974 and became president in 1983. He founded the Central Council of South East South Australia, serving as president during 1988-1993, 19962000 and again in 2017.

D’Souza’s service to the community also came through the Mount Gambier Catholic Parish, Mount Gambier Public Hospital, South East Regional Community Health Service, the Mount Gambier Sheltered Workshop, South East Women’s Shelter, and many other

Jayaraman choked up as he talked of the gratitude shown to him by not only these but other seniors under his care.

“Their appreciation is what gives me the most joy,” he said.

Jayaraman is inspired in his work by the Hindu spiritual master Sri Om Adi Sakthiyendra Swamigal, in whose name his charitable organisation in Sydney, Sri Om Care, is founded. Before he plunged headlong into aged care, Jayaraman served on community organisations Sewa International Australia, VHP Australia and the Hindu Council of Australia.

He is currently the Chair of Auburn Diversity Services.

An IT professional by background, Jayaraman worked hard to acquire the skills and networks needed for his work in aged care. “Funding was scarce in the beginning, but it gradually began to trickle in, from local councils, government and even the community. From relying on donated food and facilities, we have now grown to utilising the services of specialised, organisations. qualified staff.”

As the founding member of the South East Women’s Shelter, its new building in 1999 was named “D’Souza Court” in his honour by then State Minister of Human Services, Dean Brown. He served the Shelter in various capacities such as committee member, treasurer and chairperson.

He was Citizen of the Year in the City of Mount Gambier, (2003) and has also received the Pride of Australia Award.

D’Souza also had the privilege to carry the Olympic Torch during the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

Today John is father to four and grandfather to eight.

But funding was not the only problem.

“For our very first day centre at Seven Hills, we had to convince the carers, and in many cases the seniors themselves, to come and avail of our service,” Jayaraman recounted. “The families would often say, we are taking care of all of their needs, thank you. We had to overcome the resistance that the adult children showed!”

How would he like the community to help him today?

“Come and check us out,” he said with confidence. “See the work we do, recognise us, give us credit for what we do, and let us serve you.”

You could also help by donating to Sri Om Care: the not-for-profit organisation has DGR status (donations above $2 are tax deductible).

And if you are inspired by Jayaraman’s story, perhaps you could consider volunteering your time in the care of our seniors.

Rajni Anand Luthra

The D’Souzas have enjoyed their life in a small country town, “after having lived 14 years in Bombay”. But they have maintained their ties with the home country.

“I visit Mangalore every two to three years,” John said. “The graves of my mum and brother are in Urwa Church, and all my friends and relatives live in Mangalore.”

Daughter Sunita is very proud of her father’s commitment to serve his adopted country.

“So grateful for the opportunities Australia gave him,” she said in a Facebook post.

Frankey Gerard Fernandes