Victoria’s candidates for the Certificate of Attainment in Greek were celebrated at a presentation ceremony held at the Greek Centre on 20 November. The event honoured individuals striving to master the language of their heritage.
The ceremony marked another milestone for the Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM), which was recently appointed the official examination centre for Victoria. This year, 38 candidates received certificates, the Consul General, and the GCM President, reflecting a continued rise in participation.
The certification is the only officially recognised Greek language qualification in Greece and across Europe.
The Consul General of Greece in Melbourne, Emmanuel Kakavelakis, opened the event by congratulating the recipients and highlighting the significance of learning Greek as both a cultural opportunity and a personal achievement.
Deputy Consul for Educational Affairs for Australia and New Zealand, Maria Triantafyllou, also addressed attendees, commending the participants for their dedication. She encouraged them to persevere in learning Greek, emphasising its value as a tool for communication and a gateway to Greek literature and culture.
GCM President Bill Papastergiadis spoke about the honour of overseeing the Greek language proficiency examinations in Victoria.
He underscored the importance of learning Greek in preserving Hellenic identity, sharing an anecdote from a past address to the Greek Parliament, where students of Greek heritage in the United States admitted feeling disconnected in Greece due to language barriers.
Dr Nikos Dallas, Head of GCM’s educational programs, highlighted the advantages of bilingualism. He noted that while Melbourne is multicultural, bilingualism remains a rarity, making efforts to learn Greek particularly meaningful.
Applications for the 2025 Certificate of Attainment in Greek exams will open on 1 February and close on 20 March, with the exams scheduled for May.
