It was December 1951, over seventy-three years ago, when the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) was established, with Greece and Australia among its founding members.
For the vast majority of first-generation Greek migrants, the ICEM—known in Greek as DEME—was destined to radically change their lives. It transformed the futures of tens of thousands of people who left behind their homes and loved ones in search of new beginnings. Families were separated, villages deserted, and some would never return to their hometowns.
Many migrants carried little more than a trunk with a few possessions or a suitcase—sometimes empty, out of pride, so they wouldn’t appear to own nothing but the clothes they wore. But they all shared similar emotions… the bitterness of separation, and the uncertainty of what lay ahead.

Between 1952 and the early 1980s, nearly half of all Greek migrants to Australia received their “ticket to the ends of the Earth” from the ICEM, symbolising not only a journey but also a promise of a better life. While these migrants often look back with gratitude for the opportunities afforded to them, they also remember the immense challenges and sacrifices they faced before they settled in Australia.
Few, however, recognise the pivotal role of the ICEM in facilitating this mass migration.
Through “attractive offers,” the ICEM enabled thousands of Greeks to move to Australia, even as they left behind families in Greece, many of whom they would never see again.

To honour this transformative era and educate younger generations about how they came to have two homelands, we spoke with Dr Ioannis Limnios-Sekeris, who provided valuable insights into the ICEM’s impact.
Dr Limnios-Sekeris’ doctoral thesis delves into the relationship between international organisations, states, and businesses, specifically focusing on the management of post-WWII migration from Europe to overseas countries of the Western Bloc. His work particularly focuses on the role of the Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) between 1951 and 1980, as well as the shipping and airline companies that supported the transport of migrants under its auspices. During this time, Australia’s approach to Greek migrants marked a stark shift from the restrictive attitudes of the pre-war and early post-war years (1945–1951), as it began to embrace migration on a much larger scale.

What was the ICEM?
“The ICEM,” Dr Ioannis Limnios-Sekeris explained, “was an intergovernmental international organisation established in December 1951 at the initiative of the United States during a conference held in Brussels. Over time, this organisation evolved into what is now known as the International Organization for Migration (IOM).”
Greece and Australia were among the 16 founding member countries, and the ICEM began its operational work in February 1952, he continues.
“Put simply, the ICEM was created to coordinate migration on an international scale. It facilitated the relocation of people from Western European countries, which were struggling with high unemployment and what was then described as ‘surplus population.’ These migrants were resettled in overseas Western nations that faced labor or population shortages.”

Countries benefiting from ICEM programs included Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, South Africa, the United States, and others.
“Migration through ICEM programs was subsidised,” Dr Limnios-Sekeris notes. “The costs were shared among the country sending the migrants, such as Greece, the country receiving them, like Australia, and the ICEM itself, funded primarily through budgets allocated by the United States. A small portion of the cost was covered by the migrants themselves. Even so, migration through ICEM programs was financially advantageous for the migrants. If they had opted for independent migration through a travel agent, they would have had to bear the full cost of the journey.”

How migration took place
“Migration through the ICEM began with prospective migrants submitting an application to the ICEM offices,” Dr Limnios-Sekeris said.
The process then required applicants to provide several key documents, including a certificate of destitution (allowing individuals unable to finance their own immigration to qualify for assistance), and a certificate of social beliefs (a requirement shaped by Cold War-era concerns over communist affiliations).
“Next, applicants underwent medical examinations, as only those deemed fit and capable of working were accepted. This was followed by an interview or presentation to Australian representative authorities in Athens, where candidates were ‘assessed.’ The final selection for immigration was made based on this evaluation. For those who were successful, travel documents were issued, and their migration journey organised.”

The ICEM also adapted its migration programs to meet the needs of host countries. “For instance, Latin American countries like Argentina and Brazil sought semi-skilled workers. In response, the ICEM organised programs in Europe where potential migrants received vocational training in trades such as mechanics or metalwork before emigrating.”
Greek men migrated first
“The economic development of Australia in the 1950s was more advanced than Latin American countries,” Dr Limnios-Sekeris explains.

“For this reason, Greek men migrating to Australia through ICEM programs did not receive technical or vocational training. Australia at the time, particularly in the early 1950s, primarily needed unskilled workers. As a result, the ICEM during this period largely focused on unmarried male workers.”
This preference, however, created a significant gender imbalance among Greek migrants. “By the mid-1950s, many of these men, after working for a few years in Australia, wanted to start families and settle down.”
“The majority of them wanted to wed Greek women, but there were very few Greek women migrating to Australia at the time. Those already in Australia—often from families that had settled before World War II—rarely married the newly arrived migrants from Greece.”
This imbalance led to growing demands from the Greek-Australian community for more women to migrate from Greece.

“The Australian government, with its policy focused on population growth, responded to this demand. Officials recognised that if Greek men returned to Greece to find brides, there was a risk they might not return to Australia. By facilitating family reunification and encouraging the establishment of Greek families in Australia, the government ensured these populations would settle and take root in the country, aligning with its broader goals,” Dr Limnios-Sekeris explained.
The migration of women came next
“To address the growing demand for women migrants, the ICEM launched programs in 1956 targeting single women up to the age of 35. These women were recruited to work as domestic workers in Australia.”
As part of their preparation, the women attended ICEM-run schools where they received training in the use of modern household appliances such as washing machines and vacuum cleaners. They also learned about hygiene, personal care, and basic English to equip them for work in urban Australian households.

“While the domestic staff program aimed to fill a labor shortage in this sector, it also indirectly supported the broader goal of facilitating intra-community marriages among Greek migrants.”
\In 1959, Australian Minister for Immigration, A.R. Downer, visited Greece and Italy to promote the migration of unmarried women. In what Dr Limnios-Sekeris described as a “simplistic yet revealing” statement about the country’s immigration strategy, Downer remarked: “We like the looks and manners of your girls and young women. Why not send us more of them? […] If you have some to spare, we shall welcome them with open arms.”
In addition to these programs, the ICEM also facilitated the migration of relatives and fiancés of earlier migrants through the Nominated Dependents Scheme. Over time, this scheme became the primary pathway for Greek migration to Australia, further strengthening family and community ties within the Greek-Australian Diaspora.

The World Council of Churches
“For those who received an invitation from someone in Australia but did not qualify for an ICEM immigration program or even for those who could not afford the fare,” he said, “the ICEM collaborated with the World Council of Churches (WCC) to provide loans for their migration.”
“This initiative, known as the ‘Revolving Fund’, operated through a joint fund managed by the ICEM and other voluntary organisations, including the WCC. Loans were granted to prospective migrants, which they were required to repay in instalments over two years after settling in Australia. The repayment began three months after their arrival.”
Dr Limnios Sekeris adds that “there were numerous cases where borrowers failed to repay their loans. Representatives of the Greek community in Australia voiced concerns to the media at the time, arguing that this practice tarnished the reputation of Greeks. However, it’s important to clarify that such behaviour was neither unique to Greek migrants nor exclusive to immigration to Australia.”

How many came to Australia through the ICEM
“In the 1950s, immigration from Greece to Australia totalled approximately 58,000 people,” Dr Limnios-Sekeris said. This number more than doubled in the 1960s, with over 118,000 Greeks migrating to Australia. “This increase occurred despite growing intra-European migration, particularly to West Germany, and significant improvements in living conditions in Greece during the same period.”
This upward trend was disrupted in the 1970s with only around 31,000 people migrating to Australia, due to several factors, such as “Australia’s shift in immigration policy in late 1973 with the end of the ‘White Australia’ policy. This change opened the country’s borders to previously excluded populations, such as Asians and Africans. Additionally, Australia withdrew from the ICEM in the same year, while global economic crises during the 1970s further slowed migration.”
Of the 206,871 Greek migrants who arrived in Australia between 1951 and 1980, 119,064 traveled through the ICEM, accounting for just over half—approximately 1 in 2 migrants.

The cost
“The headquarters of the ICEM Mission in Greece were located in Athens. Many people may still recall the long queues of prospective migrants at 1 Sofokleous Street.”
“Over time, additional offices were established in Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Patras, and later in Heraklion, Crete. ICEM also operated schools for domestic staff in several locations, including Athens, Thessaloniki, Ioannina, Patras, Rhodes, and Lesvos.”
Immigrant travel through ICEM was subsidised by both the Australian and Greek governments.

“In 1957, for instance, the Australian government contributed $85 per person, while the Greek government paid $35,” Dr Limnios-Sekeris explained. “Until 1954, migration costs were fully covered. After that point, migrants began sharing the costs, with provisions allowing these sums to be paid three to six months after their arrival in Australia.”
“In 1956, for example, men aged 18–50 paid $20, women aged 18–50 paid $15, and those aged over 50 or between 5–18 paid $5. However, families were capped at a maximum cost of $45, and children under five traveled free.”

From Cyprus
“Cyprus joined the ICEM as an observer member in 1969 and in 1974 as a full member state of the Organisation (ICEM).” Dr. Limnios-Sekeris adds that according to Australian Department of Immigration statistics, in the 1950s about 6,100 people arrived in the country from Cyprus, in the 1960s about 7,100, and between 1970-1975 about 5,900 – a very significant increase, due to the Turkish invasion of the island and the events that preceded it. Indeed, in 1974/75, the ICEM undertook the transport of relief products to Cyprus, which were transported by Greek shipowners at no cost.”
Continued next week.