The committee was an informal association until it was incorporated as a charitable organization on the 29th April 1982 with the name Australian Greek Society for Care of the Elderly Inc. More recently, the name “Fronditha Care Inc.” has been adopted for simplicity and ease. The aim of the new body was to establish a hostel for frail older persons who could not live securely alone. To achieve this, a grant was secured from the Federal government for approximately half the cost of a hostel with the balance being raised by public appeal. A major donation of $100,000 from the City of Oakleigh was nearly equivalent to the cost of purchasing the land at 94 Springs Road, Clayton South.
The Greek Community resisted the idea of facility based care, in line with the belief that all Greek elders were cared for by their families. Educating the community about the real facts was a major task of Fronditha.
The first hostel, Pronia, with 40 beds was completed in October 1983. The committee of Fronditha acted as a management group for the hostel, resulting in the realisation that many applicants for care actually needed nursing home services. This led to the next project, Steyi, a 30 bed nursing home, which was completed in July 1989.
The steadily increasing call on Fronditha’s services led to the steady growth of the Society. Galini hostel for 32 dementia sufferers was completed in 1993, Thalpori (St.Albans) 30 bed nursing home opened in 1996, and Anesi (Thornbury) 30 bed nursing home opened in July 1997.
Thalpori was achieved by the purchase of an existing nursing home from the Multiple Sclerosis Society, although substantial renovations were required. The home is on a large site with room for other services. A 30 bed hostel was built in 1999 and 20 independent living units were completed in May 2002. Fronditha built and opened Storgi a 60 bed facility at Lower Templestowe in May 2005.
Since 1995 Fronditha has provided home community care services, with approximately 140 persons receiving care in their own homes at any one time. There is a continuing education programme for the community, with a radio show every week and regular talks to groups such as elderly citizens' clubs.
In 1998 a demographic and needs analysis study of Greek elders in Melbourne (funded by the Victorian Government) was completed for Fronditha by Con Tsingas. This confirmed the belief that the greatest period of need for services lies in the next 20 - 30 years.
The years of growth had meant Fronditha has gone from a committee of volunteers to a major community group with sizeable assets. It is a significant employer and a recognised expert in aged care. There has been a stable group of directors and senior staff, providing continuity of policy and planning. Sound financial management has left Fronditha with a strong asset base from which to launch the next era of growth.