The Greek Community of Melbourne (GCM) has announced another Greek Australian students’ tour to Athens for September 2025. The tour focuses on civics, education and culture and aims to augment the ties between Greece and the Greek Australian diaspora for the future.
In a meeting between the Governor of Attiki, Nikos Chardalias, and the President of the GCM, Bill Papastergiadis, the Governor reaffirmed his support for the initiative.
“As long as I’m here as Governor, this relationship with the GCM and its students will continue,” said. Chardalias.
“In Greece, the GCM’s great work is well recognised not only by the Greek government but also by the Prefecture of Attiki. We are proud to work with the GCM and must invest in the cultural development of the diaspora’s young adults.
“I will make time to personally meet with these students upon their arrival. This is Greek hospitality,” Chardalias added.
Papastergiadis welcomed the Governor’s support and underscored the durable relationship between the GCM and Greece’s state.
“Nikos [Chardalias] has been a strong advocate for cross-national relations for a long time. I first met Nick as a Deputy Minister years ago, and since then, our bond has continued to grow,” said Mr. Papastergiadis.
Papastergiadis told Neos Kosmos that the Greek Australians who go on the tour “build personal links and networks that last a lifetime”.
“These tour participants see and engage with institutions and people that represent a contemporary Greece in all facets.
“Participants see firsthand how Greek civic society works, and how our ancient and modern cultures, and politics meld to form a modern and advancing EU nation,” Papastergiadis said.
Papastergiadis said that he was also “keen to explore future possibilities of a reciprocal tour of young Greeks to Australia”.
“I would love for them to see our great metropolises, our vast land, from snow-covered peaks, to red deserts and tropical paradises.
“Most important, I would love them to learn from our First Nations cultures, custodians of this vast land for 50,000 years, and to learn how Ancient Greek and Indigenous cultures share many values, around family, clan and community,” Papastergiadis told Neos Kosmos.
Papastergiadis, also a Commissioner for the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC), said that he would “love to see an increasingly multicultural Greece learn from Australia, one of the best examples in the world of a successful multicultural and multi-faith society”.
“Deeper diaspora links between Greek and Australian Greek youth would benefit both our nations well into the future,” Bill Papastergiadis, President of the GCM
“Australia is an advanced economy with sophisticated policies and practices across political, governmental, social welfare, educational, cultural, and creative sectors.
“Deeper diaspora links between Greek and Australian Greek youth would benefit both our nations well into the future,” Papastergiadis said.
He went again to thank the Governor of Attiki, Nikos Chardalias, who he said is a “friend and a believer in the impact of the Hellenic diaspora”.
* Expressions of Interest for the Greek Australian students’ tour to Athens follow this link https://wkf.ms/3J35x83
