During a visit celebrating the final stages of a Hellenic Senior Lectureship in Global Diasporas appointment at the University of Melbourne’s Parkville campus, Liberal member for Mitchell Alex Hawke has praised the value of the fully established Chair to follow.
The Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs met with the Provost, Professor Nicola Phillips (Acting Vice Chancellor), with Greek community and Melbourne University representatives present during the visit.
The Greek Community of Melbourne has championed efforts to establish a Hellenic Chair in Global Diasporas, working with the Faculty of Arts and the Melbourne Humanities Foundation Board to raise necessary funds.
“I was glad to have the opportunity to meet with representatives of both organisations to celebrate their progress toward establishing this important academic position, that will contribute to Australia’s social cohesion and build greater understanding of global diaspora communities, for the benefit of all Australians,” Minister Hawke said.
The University of Melbourne received $2.5 million in funding from the government, to establish the Chair in the School of Culture and Communication of the Faculty of Arts at the University.
The Hellenic Chair in Global Diasporas in association with the Greek Community of Melbourne aims to:
- – lead research in the field of global diaspora studies
- – promote an understanding of Greek society within broader cultural studies, and
- – engage the wider public on the relevance of Hellenism and global diasporas
“It is also envisaged that Greek language and culture units would be offered as breadth subjects once the program commences,” said GCM Board member and Education Convenor Dr Nick Dallas, adding that collaborative links with the Greek Studies program at La Trobe University are also anticipated to be developed.
The role of the Chair further comprises the promotion of an interdisciplinary research culture and engagement with diasporic communities.
Reverend Professor Russell Goulbourne, Dean of the Faculty of Arts, underlined that “the position signals the Faculty’s commitment to new ways of working in partnership with communities to tackle key social issues and imagine more humane futures for all”.
A key stakeholder in lobbying the federal government for the funding, President of the Greek Community of Melbourne, Bill Papastergiadis, was also present during Minister Hawke’s visit.
“This chair is evidence of the importance and relevance of the diaspora in the development of our multicultural cosmopolitan society.
“Research that will be undertaken in this faculty will greatly enhance our understanding as a diaspora of our needs and this will help us to navigate a way forward with new projects and initiatives,” Mr Papastergiadis said.
