Braving Melbourne’s cold weather, over 30 people gathered at the Greek Community Centre in Lonsdale Street on Wednesday for a public meeting hosted by the Pharos Alliance, a volunteer-led initiative working to revitalise the teaching and use of the Greek language in Australia.
The meeting, the first in a series of new open forums planned by Pharos, aimed to present the organisation’s work, achievements, and ongoing challenges while seeking ideas from the broader community.
Opening the event, Pharos President Emeritus Professor Joseph Lo Bianco AM celebrated the official launch of Pharos NSW on 15 May at the NSW Parliament. “We’ve always recognised the importance of working across state borders, and this initiative opens new pathways for national cooperation,” he said, adding that the Victorian team looks forward to strengthening ties with its NSW Committee member.
Theo Markos detailed the advocacy underway in Victoria, including engagement with Department of Education officials and the Greek Consul General to raise awareness of the current issues affecting Greek language programs.
Notable attendees included Mike Zafiropoulos AM, long-time advocate for Hellenic culture and language; Kelly Ioannou, former manager of Alpha Early Learning Centre; Ms Carol Fraser, social worker and Greek-Australian Cultural League member; and Dr Nick Dallas, Education Officer at the Greek Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria (GOCMV), which kindly hosted the event.
The meeting was marked by lively discussion and a range of practical suggestions. Coralie Kouvelas from Yarra Plenty Library Services passionately advocated for expanded Greek storytime programs across libraries. “Greek must be maintained,” she said, to enthusiastic applause.
Youth voices were prominent. NUGAS representatives Jamie Gallos and Martha Stamatopoulos, along with La Trobe University Greek Studies students, spoke of their commitment to keeping Greek relevant and accessible. Suggestions included incorporating Greek into dance classes, using music to engage youth, launching a podcast, and increasing visibility on platforms like TikTok.
Alexander Gerasimidis, a young speaker who shared his personal journey of regaining fluency in Greek, earned a strong round of applause, saying, “Working with families is a great place to start.”
While participants praised Pharos’s wide-reaching efforts, they also acknowledged that expanding and sustaining these programs requires greater resourcing—particularly to support a ‘pre-school to post-school’ continuum of Greek language learning.
The most urgent concern raised was the limited presence of Greek in public schools and the need for structured bilingual programs. A proposed solution included a “hub” system, enabling students to begin Greek education early and continue it seamlessly throughout their schooling.
Additional ideas included supporting Greek storytime in Melbourne’s northern suburbs (Thomastown, Lalor, Mill Park, Mernda), increasing Pharos’s social media presence, and leveraging digital tools to reach younger audiences.
Professor Lo Bianco concluded the evening by thanking attendees for making the meeting “a huge success” and promised that Pharos would take community feedback seriously. “It’s great to come to meetings where we discuss practical issues in a united way. Let’s do more,” one participant said.
Pharos’s next Raising Bilingual Children seminar will take place on 8 June. The free seminar explores how families can promote Greek-English bilingualism at home and is open to all. Register via: www.mgtav.asn.au/seminar—language-in-the-home.html
