From housekeeper to a highly respected nurse and educator

Anastasia Gessa – later Liveriadis – was born in 1934 in Ptolemaida, northern Greece. Despite the hardships of a childhood steeped in sorrow, she completed her secondary education and moved to Athens, where she studied at the Athens School of Public Health. Yet the young woman’s future did not lie in Greece… In 1959, with nothing but a suitcase in hand and hope in her heart, Anastasia emigrated alone to Australia. There, she began from scratch, working initially as a housekeeper, armed only with determination, resilience, and a remarkable inner strength. Through relentless effort and dedication, she earned academic and postgraduate qualifications, she rose to become a highly respected nurse and educator, and she contributed significantly to Australia’s healthcare and higher education sectors.