The Greek-Australian Society (GAS) is preparing to launch its fourth intake of the GAS Mentoring Program in collaboration with the National Union of Greek Australian Students (NUGAS).
Initially launching the program during the pandemic and experiencing three consecutive years of growth, GAS will celebrate its ongoing national expansion by hosting the annual kick-off event in Melbourne for the first time on Thursday November 16.
GAS Mentoring Program Director and co-founder George Psihoyios said this event is a significant milestone for the maturity of the program.
“For the first time ever, we are launching our Program in Melbourne, an iconic and large cosmopolis that is home to the largest Greek-Australian community in the Southern Hemisphere,” he said in statement provides to Neos Kosmos.
“We are delighted to be co-hosting our launch of the Program with one of our key Melbourne community partners in NUGAS Victoria, who play a key role in representing Greek-Australian university students in the state of Victoria.”
The program began with five mentors in Sydney and has now expanded to include 15 industry and community leaders based in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Athens, and the United States.
This year’s launch event will officially start the application process for prospective mentees for the 2024 intake, and it will also unveil the confirmed panel of 2024 GAS Mentors.
Held at the Greek Centre, the event will be free for all current NUGAS students, serving as a show of support for graduating senior students as they embark on their careers. It also aims to encourage broader community involvement.
NUGAS co-presidents Billy Battista and Marissa Robotis said they are honoured to join GAS as another pillar in the Greek-Australian community, and that the program “embodies the spirit of ‘philotimo’— our inherent desire to give back, uplift, and foster growth within our community.”
“Through this program, NUGAS members in Melbourne will gain unparalleled access to knowledge, experience, and networking, as they transition from university into the professional sector.”
Notable attendees at the event will include GAS Board delegations from Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne, along with board members of the Greek Community of Melbourne.
Dr Andonis Piperolgou, a 2023 GAS Mentor from the University of Melbourne, will be in attendance, along with several new Melbourne-based GAS Mentors who will be introduced during the event.
GAS has over 300 individual members nationwide, whose focus is to support young people and preserve Greek-Australian language, arts, and culture, through collaboration with community organisations.
Some notable partnerships include their membership in the Pharos Working Party, which works on revitalising Modern Greek in Australia, and their work with the Australian Museum of Contemporary Photography on the multi-year Epistrofi exhibition and project.
The 2024 GAS Mentoring Program Launch Thursday 16 November 16 at The Greek Centre, 168 Lonsdale St Melbourne, from 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Tickets for the event can be purchases here.
