Helen Zahos

Helen Zahos
Born (1977-04-14) 14 April 1977
Darwin NT (raised Groote Eylandt)
CitizenshipAustralian, Greek
EducationNorthern Territory University, Monash University
OccupationsRegistered Nurse, Humanitarian, Paramedic
Websitehttps://helenzahos.com/

Helen Zahos (Greek: Ελένη Ζάχου) is a Greek and Australian nurse, paramedic, and humanitarian worker.[1][2][3][4][5]

Early life and education

Zahos was born in Darwin, Northern Territory, and grew up on Groote Eylandt. She trained in nursing and paramedicine in the Northern Territory, completing qualifications through Charles Darwin University.[6][7] She is a doctoral researcher at the Monash University Accident Research Centre on the psychosocial wellbeing of Disaster Medical Assistance Teams.[8]

Career

Zahos has worked in emergency nursing and paramedicine across urban, rural, and remote settings in Australia.[9][10] Her work has included service delivery in emergency departments[11] and remote Aboriginal communities in East Arnhem Land and APY Lands.[12][13][14]

Her volunteer humanitarian work has included disaster and conflict responses in Southeast Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.[15][16] These have included responses to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines, the Nepal earthquake, the European migrant crisis,[17][18][19] and the Ukraine conflict.[20]

Zahos has contributed to research and public discussion on disaster health, Indigenous health and refugee health.[21][22] She has co-authored peer-reviewed publications in public health[23][24][25] and emergency care[26] journals and has participated in academic and public forums addressing humanitarian health practice.[27][28][29][30]

Awards and recognition

In 2016, Zahos received an Excellence Award for Community Service from the Hellenic Australian Chambers of Commerce and Industry Federation.[31] Zahos was nominated for a Pride of Australia medal for her volunteer nursing work.[32] In 2023, she was a finalist for the QBANK Everyday Heroes Awards.[33] In 2025, she was awarded a Special Commendation Award for Community Service at the Charles Darwin University Alumni Awards.[34]

Affiliations

She is affiliated with professional and humanitarian organisations including the Australian College of Nursing and the Royal Society of the Arts.[35][36]

References

  1. ↑ "Spotlight on Humanitarian Nurse Helen Zahos". World Youth International. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  2. ↑ Kapetopoulos, Kirie Kappas and Fotis (2024-11-27). "Helen Zahos: From war zones to advocacy and a few mountain peaks". NEOS KOSMOS. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  3. ↑ "Disaster zone nurse Helen thought she was poor until a school social experiment revealed she was 'well off'". ABC News. 2024-08-14. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  4. ↑ Al Jazeera English (2017-05-13). Family of 10-year-old Iraqi burn victim appeals for help. Retrieved 2025-10-25 – via YouTube.
  5. ↑ "Watch Nerves Of Steel: Insight". www.sbs.com.au. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
  6. ↑ Johnson, Susan (2019-02-10). "Nurse Helen Zahos has seen terrible human suffering during earthquakes, wars and refugee crises". Courier Mail.
  7. ↑ writers, Staff (2025-10-28). "Darwin's Helen Zahos honoured for Global Humanitarian Service at Charles Darwin University Awards". NEOS KOSMOS. Retrieved 2025-10-29.
  8. ↑ "Accident Research Centre Directory - Helen Zahos". Accident Research Centre. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  9. ↑ "ANMJ October – December 2022". Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal. 2022-09-19. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
  10. ↑ "Indigenous people in Australia prepare for COVID-19". Global Voices. 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
  11. ↑ Saroukos, Raphaella (2022-10-12). "'It felt like being in a war zone': Nurse looks back 20 years after bombings". NT News.
  12. ↑ "The huge danger facing our nurses". NEWS.COM.AU. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  13. ↑ Zahos, Helen (2018-08-22). "'Over my career, threatening situations have become normalised'". SBS News.
  14. ↑ "Indigenous children facing malnutrition and illiteracy". SBS News (Greek). Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  15. ↑ Grant, Dwayne Grant (2017-06-09). "She's seen Syria but this is worse". Gold Coast Bulletin. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  16. ↑ "Tireless nurse and paramedic Helen Zahos volunteers again, now in Iraq". NEOS KOSMOS. 2017-05-05. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  17. ↑ Bochenski, Natalie (2015-09-06). "Qld emergency nurse heading to Greece to help refugees".
  18. ↑ BILLIAS, MARIA (2015-10-08). "Darwin woman tells of misery of European refugee crisis".
  19. ↑ "Global Voices - One Australian Nurse's Stirring Response to the Refugee Crisis". Global Voices. 2016-09-21. Retrieved 2026-01-03.
  20. ↑ "Australian nurse discusses her humanitarian mission to Ukraine's frontlines". Global Voices. 2022-08-05. Retrieved 2025-10-25.
  21. ↑ "Preparing for assignments in unstable and unpredictable environments: Ten tips from Dart Centre Asia Pacific". Global Center for Journalism & Trauma. 2023-02-13. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
  22. ↑ "Reporting a traumatic community event - resources for media workers". Global Center for Journalism & Trauma. 2022-12-13. Retrieved 2025-11-27.
  23. ↑ Zahos, Helen. "Seasonal patterns of communicable disease incidence and antibiotic prescribing in Moria refugee camp, Greece - Journal of Public Health 46(1):41-50". academic.oup.com.
  24. ↑ Zahos, Helen (2021). "Ivermectin single dose versus Benzyl benzoate two application for scabies mass treatment in UNHCR refugee camp of Lesvos island. A retrospective cohort study". www.lekarskyobzor.sk.
  25. ↑ Hart, Paul L.; Zahos, Helen; Salt, Nicola; Schofield, Roger; Mahroof-Shaffi, Siyana; Simonek, Tomas; Harkensee, Christian (2023-06-14). "Lessons to learn from the analysis of routine health data from Moria Refugee Camp on Lesvos, Greece". Journal of Public Health (Oxford, England). 45 (2): 347–355. doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdac127. ISSN 1741-3850. PMID 36415082.
  26. ↑ Zahos, Helen; Crilly, Julia; Ranse, Jamie (2022-09-01). "Psychosocial problems and support for disaster medical assistance team members in the preparedness, response and recovery phases of natural hazards resulting in disasters: A scoping review". Australasian Emergency Care. 25 (3): 259–266. doi:10.1016/j.auec.2021.12.005. hdl:10072/418057. ISSN 2588-994X. PMID 35550349.
  27. ↑ TEDx Talks (2018-12-07). Creating Change Through Volunteering: Lessons from a Humanitarian Nurse | Helen Zahos | TEDxRobina. Retrieved 2025-10-25 – via YouTube.
  28. ↑ "Ethical humanitarian storytelling in conflicts: Greek-Australian Helen Zahos talks about trauma". SBS Language. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
  29. ↑ Zahos, Helen (20 August 2020). "Iraq March 2017 - Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal. 25 (1): 24". Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal. p. 24.
  30. ↑ Zahos, Helen (20 August 2020). "Humanitarian Crisis a roller coaster ride for an Australian nurse. Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal. 23(8):16-18". Australian Nursing and Midwifery Journal. pp. 16–18.
  31. ↑ CoreDNA. "HACCI Excellence Awards". www.hacci.com.au. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  32. ↑ Australia Network, News Corp (2017-01-21). "Honouring our local heroes".
  33. ↑ "QBANK Celebrates Excellence of Everyday Heroes". www.qbank.com.au. 2023-10-16. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  34. ↑ Herald, The Greek (2025-10-29). "Greek Australian nurse Helen Zahos recognised for 25 years of humanitarian work". The Greek Herald. Retrieved 2026-01-02.
  35. ↑ "Helen Zahos". Global Center for Journalism & Trauma. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
  36. ↑ Staines, Kimberley (2020). "A catalyst for change. Issue (2) 48-49" (PDF). RSA Journal (2): 48–49.
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