Janina left a generous gift in her Will to AMCS
Janina Wojcik was born in Poland in 1920 and worked on the family farm with her four siblings from a young age.
At the start of Second World War in 1939, Janina was taken for slave labour in Germany. At the camps, Polish people worked seven days a week, received small food rations, and were subjected to a strict curfew. They could not possess money or objects of value and were required to wear the ‘Polish P’ on their clothing.
After the war, communists threatened to invade Australia. The then Australian Prime Minister, Ben Chifley, recognised the need for a long-term strategy for Australians to defend themselves against another potential invasion. The Australian economy had suffered under the strains of war and conscription. Meanwhile, millions of displaced people were stranded in various countries in Europe, Africa and India.
Janina and her husband, Boleslaw, were among the first wave of displaced people to arrive to Australia in 1947. Of the 170,000 migrants selected, approximately 60,000 were Polish. Although many migrants initially lived in difficult conditions at camps and centres around Australia, they still integrated and contributed to society. Janina worked in a clothing shop and Boleslaw worked as a labourer at a concrete factory until his death in 1989.
When Janina’s health deteriorated in 2003, she was recommended to Australian Polish Community Services (now AMCS) for assistance with daily tasks and home care. Like many seniors from a multicultural background, Janina wished to stay in her own home. AMCS supported her until she passed away in 2010.
Janina left AMCS a gift in her will as a thank you for providing her with ongoing care.
Through her generosity, her legacy will continue to live on for many generations to receive the quality support they deserve.
"Everything is going perfect. Everyone is professional in giving me care."
"I joined AMCS because Sofie, now my Care Advisor, met and spoke with me and my wife, Eleni. Sofie was friendly and patient, taking the time to understand our needs and provided information and prices in a clear and honest manner. This gave us the confidence to choose AMCS. Eleni felt we would be a good match. Everyone is friendly, and AMCS support me to live at home."
"Your support workers, case manager and your customer service are remarkably pleasant, friendly and professional. Keep up the good work team! We need more of AMCS staff out there!"
"I first joined AMCS two years ago. The staff speaks Italian, supports me in every way and takes a genuine interest in my life and hobbies."
"My family and I find AMCS staff and carers friendly, reliable and trustworthy. I’ve always liked baking for my family because it brings everyone together. With my carer's help, I can still cook for them. They are professionals and we are very grateful for their support and care. Special mention to Tabi, Tina P. and Dr Lara Jakica."
"AMCS is the light of hope shining in my life keeping me going strong throw away any hard time that God allowed me to pass through it. God bless you all. My Care Advisor supports me v. kindly. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Love you all. God bless you all."
"I have arthritis and my eyesight is not good. My support worker is nice and we get along well. She keeps my house clean, changes the bedsheets and helps with transport. I do not know how I would survive without these services."
"I would recommend AMCS to others. Thank you again for the services you provide."
"At 83, it’s a bit hard to do everything. The worst part is changing the bed sheets. I can’t lift the mattress. My support worker comes every fortnight. I can rely on her for general things and don’t even have to tell her what to do."
"My Care Advisor is the best. I wouldn’t change her for anyone else. My support worker is an amazing carer who brings so much support and care and joy to me. Excellent service from care advisor and support worker."
"AMCS is a very good company and they see that I have all I need. The service and my support worker are great. My care advisor, Sofie, looks after me well. She rings me and asks how I am going. I am very happy."
"Very happy with my Care Advisor. Absolutely great. Fabulous."
"I have been very happy with all the support workers that have come from AMCS to help me at my home. I have never had anyone who was not nice. My gardener, Andrew, is a lovely man who works hard and calls me if he changes the days he works. Sofie has been wonderful, so understanding and easy to talk to. She helps me to stay in my home and meets all my needs. The coordinators are very helpful with changes to the service and the occupational therapist provided me with strategies. The changes have helped me to stay safe in my home. Everything I have said is true from my heart."
"The staff go out of their way to help and support me."
"My care advisor is an amazing girl that I can't speak highly enough about. She makes me feel as if she is one of my grandkids. She works with all her heart, looking after me. She remembers my shopping when I forget anything. She really supports me during this hard time, especially when I couldn't see anyone else. She deserves my respect and love. All thanks to you, Anthelia, and AMCS. All the support and services I have received from the package helped me to live independently and safely at home.”
"We are happy with the service we receive from AMCS as it is always of a high standard.The two carers, Ewa and Natalia, who visit our home on a regular basis, are very good, efficient and friendly. We are happy with them.We are also satisfied with, Faten, our care advisor. Whenever we call her, she always listens and everything is resolved promptly."
"My husband initially joined AMCS after he came back from the hospital. The staff did whatever he asked and were accommodating. When the time came for me to have a Home Care Package, it wasn’t even a question on my preferred provider. Everybody is helpful, always responsive and I like the services very much. I love everything. AMCS not only looks after me, but also, they organise activities, outings and clubs."
"Transferring to AMCS is one of the best decisions I ever had. They’re able to understand and respect my culture and communicate in my language. Whenever I need support from my case manager, she attends to it very promptly. She calls and checks on me regularly which makes me feel like I’m not alone anymore. AMCS is my family now."
"I am so happy for so long. I value the service and help so so much – I cannot express in piece of paper. Thanking you so so much. Please continue. Don’t forget our generation."
"Two of the carers, Aneta and Jacqui are the most dedicated carers I have. When they clean it is perfection and I don’t even have to tell them anything. When I’m depressed they know what to say and do make me feel someone cares."
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