Dr Melissa Afentoulis’ road to retirement turned pathway for PhD at Melbourne uni

·

Melissa Afentoulis was contemplating retirement after accomplishing a lot in her extended community services career, however, decided to embark on a PhD in Arts at the University of Melbourne instead.

This is where she soon realised that her life’s hopes and dreams had “come to fruition”.

Beginning early in her career as a social worker who helped to develop a new migrant resource centre, and acting as the CEO of a women’s health organization, Afentoulis found it wasn’t easy to retire after still feeling she could give so much from her experiences.

“When you’ve been working continuously all of those years, in both enjoyable and challenging roles, you can’t just stop,” Afentoulis says. “I look back and think, ‘How did I ever do all these things?’”

Afentoulis, the child of working-class Greek immigrants, came to Brunswick from the island of Lemnos at the age of nine. She became the first member of her family to attend university when she enrolled in an undergraduate program at the University of Melbourne.

Regularly going back to Lemnos over the years, she realised something interesting: the increasing numbers of younger people who were born in other countries but still returning to the home country of their parents and grandparents.

“Whereas I was born there, and I had an existing connection, [they] were coming back for their holidays and not just loving it, but really making a connection that they had never had before,” Afentoulis says.

Afentoulis shared her views with a couple she met at a dinner party, who inquired whether she had considered pursuing a PhD on the subject. She chose to apply after being inspired by their belief in her.

Dr Melissa Afentoulis
Dr Melissa Afentoulis’ published PhD.

“I wrote a proposal. I wasn’t sure if it was on the right track, nor did I really know what starting a PhD involved. Not only was I accepted, but they offered me a scholarship!”

Afentoulis’ PhD sheds light on late-twentieth-century Australian immigration experiences. She implemented oral history to investigate how migration shapes identity and belonging while simultaneously influencing migration.

Her study, she believes, has raised awareness of Lemnos identity and established parallels between their experiences and those of immigrants in general, particularly those who came to Australia after the war.

“There are three cohorts in my oral history data,” Afentoulis explained.

“There are the first-generation immigrants, then there’s the second generation – the children and grandchildren of that cohort – and there are those who didn’t leave the island. They’re the three groups that interact.”

Afentoulis’ supervisor, Professor Joy Damousi AM also has a Greek background and is an expert in oral history and migration history.

“Our relationship was pretty pragmatic. She would give me the framework and I’d go back to my desk and think ‘what do I do now?’ But she had faith in me. When I reflect, I couldn’t have had a better supervisor.”

Afentoulis claims that her study has not only given her academic fulfillment, but also had a major influence on her personal life.

“At a personal level, it was part of the connection I had made back to my homeland myself,” she says. “I wanted to see it through the eyes of others.”

Source: The University of Melbourne

Advertisement

Share:

KEEP UP TO DATE WITH TGH

By subscribing you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Advertisement

Latest News

Giannis Antetokounmpo in talks to buy the Sydney Kings

NBA superstar Giannis Antetokounmpo is in talks to buy a stake in the Sydney Kings — with plans to rename the team the ‘Spartan Kings.’

Paros submerged, Syros pelted by hail as storms sweep the Cyclades

Severe weather swept across several Cycladic islands on Monday, March 31 with Paros and Syros among the hardest hit.

Sydney remembers Cyprus’ fight for freedom ahead of National Day anniversary

Cypriot and Greek Australians gathered in solemn remembrance on Sunday, 30 March, for a memorial service marking Cyprus National Day.

Greek Orthodox Community of SA celebrates 204th year of Greek Independence

The Greek Orthodox Community of South Australia commemorated Greek Independence Day with joyous festivities on Sunday, 30 March.

From alleyway to legacy: Coburg’s Kastoria Lane project gains momentum

Merri-bek City Council has greenlit public consultation for the naming of Kastoria Lane, a project set to transform a neglected alleyway.

You May Also Like

Victorian State Election 2022: Here are the Australian candidates of Greek heritage

Early voting has opened today for Victorians as the state election approaches on Saturday, November 26 this year.

Turkey agrees to back Sweden’s NATO bid

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has agreed to go forward with Sweden's bid to join the NATO military alliance, at the summit in Vilnius.

YouTube stars Danny and Michael Philippou set to create debut feature film

YouTube stars Danny and Michael Philippou are bringing their film-making talents to the big screen after securing funding for their debut feature film.