The Greek Community Today
Greeks are among the largest of the migrant communities in Australia today with 365,000 people having Greek ancestry.
According to the Year Book Australia (2006) over 260,000 Australian residents speak Greek at home. Statistically Greeks also have the highest continuing use of a native language.
Hundreds of Greek associations have been established over decades of immigration, especially in Sydney and Melbourne.
The Greek Orthodox Church is a highly significant part of the Greek community with many parishes having been built across Australia. Our section on the Role of the church gives you vital information to help you understand your client/s.
Greek language schools preserve the Greek language and culture for a growing number of second and third generation Greek-Australians.
People from a Greek background contribute to Australia’s economic development. They are prominent business operators in the food service industry, construction, real estate and tourism. Greeks are also strongly involved in politics, the arts, sport, business and tertiary education.
Almost half of Australia’s Greek community live in Melbourne. After Athens and Thessaloniki, Melbourne has the third-largest Greek-speaking population in the world. Melbourne and Thessaloniki are sister cities.
Australia and Greece have established trade negotiations and in 2007 visits between the two countries’ leaders resulted in an agreement being reached over aged pensioner benefits.
Current concerns for the Greek community include preserving the Greek language among future generations, ensuring their continued participation in the Greek Orthodox Church, and how to provide care services for a rapidly increasing number of Greek elderly. The availability of a culturally responsive service is a major consideration to elderly and their families.
