Greece is at the top of the list of countries Australia wishes to sign a Work and Holiday Visa agreement with, according to the Federal Minister for Immigration Chris Bowen. Mr Bowen told a meeting at the headquarters of the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV) last week, that discussions have taken place recently between the Australian and Greek governments, in an effort to facilitate the agreement as soon as possible.
The Immigration Minister said that the reciprocal agreement – when concluded and signed – will provide an opportunity for up to 500 people between 18 and 30 years of age to travel and work in either country for a period of 12 months. President of the GOCMV, Bill Papastergiadis, told Neos Kosmos that the latest initiative to expand migration opportunities of Greek nationals to Australia was an important step in the strengthening the bonds between the two countries and expanding opportunities for young people in both nations. Mr Papastergiadis pointed out that many Greek nationals are amongst the most highly educated people in Europe, and that Greece has the highest proportion of tertiary students studying abroad.
The GOCMV President said that opportunities for them to apply their knowledge and skills in the Australian context will be of great benefit to both societies. The arrival of new Greek migrants would also be “a wonderful injection of cultural and social vitality, for the Greek community in Australia and generally for multiculturalism,” said Mr Papastergiadis, who added that young and talented Greeks who found opportunities in Australia would be bridge-builders – enhancing connections back to Greece and Europe. An edited version of the speech Mrs Eleni Lianidou, Counsellor General of Greece to Melbourne, gave last week is published on pages 20-21.