Celebrations have taken place across many of our sites to mark the festival. At Head Office, colleagues enjoyed traditional Indian snacks over morning tea.

Some of our colleagues have shared what Diwali means to them:

What does Diwali personally mean to you, and how do you usually celebrate it with your family or community? 

Charu: Diwali has always been my favourite festival since childhood. It’s not just a day—it’s a whole month filled with joy, warmth, and togetherness. I love how the celebrations begin early with homes, local markets, and even offices glowing with decorations and lights. 

Savita: The Festival of Lights is a time to share joyful moments with family and friends. To mark the occasion, we light up our home with Diyas and beautiful decorations, filling very corner with warmth and brightness.

Naren: For me, Diwali is more than just a festival it’s a feeling. It’s about reconnecting with myself, my family, and the values I grew up with. 

Even when I’m far from home, I hold on to those traditions. I light a diya, call my family, and try to recreate that same energy with the community here in Australia. It reminds me that no matter where I am, I carry that light within me.

Roopansh: Diwali is much more than just a festival - it’s a beautiful reminder of the triumph of good over evil, light over darkness, and knowledge over ignorance. My family and I celebrate by lighting diyas (lamps), decorating our home with rangoli, sharing sweets with loved ones, and taking a moment to reflect on gratitude and renewal. Even being away from India, I keep those traditions alive - it’s a way of staying connected to my roots.

How does it feel to be able to celebrate Diwali at Eldercare and share the festival with your colleagues? 

Valay: It feels truly special to celebrate Diwali at Eldercare this year — to bring the warmth and joy of the festival into our workplace and share it with such wonderful colleagues. It’s a reminder that light and togetherness can brighten not just our homes, but also the place where we work and care for others every day.

Charu: Celebrating Diwali at Eldercare feels incredibly special, this being my first one. It’s heartwarming to see the spirit of the festival embraced in the workplace, where colleagues come together not just to work, but to share joy and culture. Diwali here feels like extending my family circle—it’s festive, meaningful, and deeply fulfilling.

Savita: It truly feels inclusive and heart-warming to celebrate Diwali with our Eldercare colleagues. 

Naren: Celebrating Diwali at Eldercare with my colleagues feels really special. Diwali is all about light, good energy, and being together and bringing that into work makes the day feel even more meaningful.

What I really enjoy is how everyone comes together sharing food, having conversations, and showing genuine interest in each other’s traditions. It creates a warm, welcoming vibe that makes the workplace feel more like a community. It’s not just about the festival it’s about connection, respect, and celebrating what makes each of us unique.

Are there any particular values or messages from Diwali that resonate with your work at Eldercare? 

Savita: Diwali carries profound values that beautifully align with the spirit of Eldercare. These values deeply resonate with our work at Eldercare, where we strive every day to bring warmth, dignity, and connection into the lives of older adults. 

Charu: Diwali is rooted in values like compassion, light over darkness, and the importance of relationships—all of which align beautifully with the ethos of Eldercare. Just as the festival brings light into homes, our work brings light into lives—especially for those who need care, dignity, and companionship. It’s a powerful reminder of why we do what we do.

Naren: Diwali is all about light, renewal, and coming together and I see a lot of that reflected in the way we work at Eldercare. Connection — one of Eldercare’s core values — is at the heart of both Diwali and our work here. Whether it’s with residents, families, or each other, it’s those small, meaningful moments that make a big difference.

What do you think is the importance of celebrating cultural festivals like Diwali at your workplace?

Charu: Celebrating cultural festivals like Diwali at work fosters inclusivity, understanding, and joy, while bringing colleagues together to celebrate diversity. These celebrations break down barriers, spark conversations, and build stronger bonds among colleagues. Diwali at the workplace is more than decoration and sweets—it’s a celebration of shared values and collective spirit.

Savita: Embracing the cultural values of others is essential to building a truly inclusive and multicultural community. At Eldercare, sharing these values and building meaningful connections allows us to celebrate our diversity and enjoy enriching experiences together as a team. 

Naren: Celebrating Diwali at work isn’t just about the festival, it’s about people. I’ve been lucky to celebrate the festival at Eldercare for a few years now, and every time, it brings people closer. When we celebrate together, it’s about community, rather than just culture. And that’s what makes it so special.

Roopansh: Celebrating festivals like Diwali at the workplace fosters understanding, unity, and respect among colleagues. It reminds us that diversity is not just something to acknowledge, but something to celebrate. These moments of cultural exchange make our workplace warmer and more human.