The Hellenic Initiative (THI) Australia held a cocktail reception in Melbourne last Thursday. Professor Helen Zorbas AO, the former CEO of Cancer Australia and proud director on the Board of THI since 2015, spoke at the event.
Along with many Hellenic business and media leaders, there was also the Consul General of Greece in Victoria, Emmanuel S Kakavelakis, and THI Australia Honorary Council members and supporters. Prof. Zorbas thanked all the guests and emphasised the “very generous host” Ross Savas from Kay & Burton.”
In her speech, Prof Zorbas said that THI Australia will have its 10th anniversary in 2024.
“Australia is one of the most important and dynamic parts of the Greek diaspora, and THI Australia is a unique and treasured part of a united global effort supporting social and economic recovery and renewal in Greece,” Prof Zorbas said.
THI Australia has committed more than $2 million in grants to deliver programs supporting vulnerable communities in Greece since the financial crisis in 2014. That includes over 50 grants to 11 partner charities across 55 locations in Greece.
THI Australia, Prof Zorbas said, provided “a further $900,000 of in-kind support enabled 26 graduates to participate in the successful Greek graduate Internship Program, which often resulted in life-changing opportunities for Greece’s brightest graduates.”
The global figure, which includes grants made by THI U.S. and THI Canada, is more than USD 20 million (AUD 30 million).
THI Australia has relationships with 11 “carefully vetted, truly inspiring partner charities in Greece”, working across health, social services, education and employment pathways, Prof Zorbas said.
She highlighted two examples of THI Australia’s impact in the health stream: a grant of $35,000 to Pediatric Trauma Care that enabled the purchase of more than 100 pieces of medical equipment and $100,000 in 2023 to Doctors of the World Greece that “ensured that more than 3,600 disadvantaged people accessed basic medical and mental healthcare services which they would otherwise have gone without.”
Prof Zorbas said the medical equipment for pediatric trauma care “are not state-of-the-art machines with bells and whistles.”
“They are basic, essential, potentially life-saving equipment for paediatric care for ten regional health centres on small and remote islands.
“This is equipment specific for infants and children brought into hospitals which didn’t exist on these islands of Anafi, Folegandros, Fournoi Korseon, Irakleia, Koufonisia, Kimolos, Lipsi, Nisyros, Sikinos, and Therassia.”
She then acknowledged Steve Siolis for his donation that covered the cost of the equipment for five of the ten islands.
The $100,000 to Doctors of the World Greece, she said, included 13,000 consultations with specialists and health care providers, “the provision of necessary immunisations and medications, and 3,600 psychosocial support actions.”
After Prof, Zorbas AO, THI board member George Kailis was invited to speak, who also emphasised the “great work of THI”.
Kailis said he was initially sceptical but has become convinced of the essential and positive work that THI Australia does. He raised some sobering statistics, such as the fact that youth unemployment remains unacceptably high at around 24 per cent and, during the crisis, had reached over 56 per cent.
“I call on all who can join THI Australia and positively contribute to Greece, to those most vulnerable in Greece.
“The Greek Diaspora, Hellenes and Philhellenes, can all play a role in both the economic development and crisis relief as Greece continues to rebuild and tackle issues such as increasing the minimum wage and overdue improvements to the national health system,” Kailis said.
Prof. Zorbas took to the podium again and said that she believed that “Hellenism is alive today in each of us, whether we have Greek ancestors or not.”
“Hellenism is also described as being transforming. Entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly in the talented younger generations, is a key arm of THI’s endeavours,” Prof. Zorbas said.
THI will celebrate its 10th anniversary next year with a Gala event in Sydney and a celebratory event in Athens.
