Greek Australian Conversations held a public discussion on Sunday 22 February 2026 at PATRIS in Brunswick East, drawing approximately 70 attendees from across generations and backgrounds.
Titled “Indigenous Sovereignty / Republic / Bondi – Connecting the dots… Where do Greek Australians stand?”, the forum explored themes relating to civic identity, constitutional reform and the role of culturally diverse communities within Australia’s broader national conversation.
The afternoon opened with an Acknowledgement of Country delivered by Kosta Karamarkos, who paid respect to the Traditional Owners of the land and to Elders past, present and emerging.
Organisers said the event emerged from discussions held over several years among Greek Australians of different generations – including both Australian-born members of the diaspora and more recent arrivals from Greece – about the need for a public space where ideas could be exchanged openly and respectfully.
The intention, they explained, was to create a forum not only for matters concerning the Greek community or Greece’s relationship with the diaspora, but also for issues affecting Greek Australians as citizens within the wider Australian society.
Those involved in establishing the initiative have, over time, participated in a range of civic and social campaigns touching on questions of equality, democracy and human rights, both in Australia and in Greece. Sunday’s event was presented as part of that broader engagement with public life.
Speakers
The forum featured two prominent Greek Australian academics and commentators.
Esther Anatolitis is an Honorary Associate Professor at RMIT School of Art and Co-Chair of the Australian Republic Movement. With more than two decades of leadership across the arts, media and civic sectors, she has served on boards including the National Gallery of Australia and the Australian Centre for the Moving Image, and previously co-chaired the Antipodes Festival. Anatolitis was Editor of Meanjin from 2022 to 2025 and is the author of Place, Practice, Politics (2022), editor of Essays that Changed Australia (2024), and author of When Australia Became a Republic (2025). Her academic background spans architecture and philosophy.
George Vassilacopoulos is an Adjunct member of the Philosophy Program at La Trobe University, where he previously taught philosophy. A community activist since arriving in Australia in 1974, he is the co-author of A Genocide Alphabet (2025) and Τίνος πατρίδα είναι; (2025), as well as the poetry collection Ashpoems.
Framing the conversation
The discussion was structured around questions concerning the relationship between Indigenous sovereignty and Australia’s republican debate, and whether these broader constitutional and civic themes intersect with the experiences of multicultural communities.
Speakers and attendees reflected on whether Greek Australians, shaped by their migration history and long-standing participation in Australian public life, have a role in contemporary national conversations, and if so, how that contribution might be expressed.
Following the dialogue between the speakers, the floor was opened to audience participation, with attendees invited to share perspectives and suggest topics for future forums.
Organisers indicated that this was intended as the first in a series of public discussions aimed at encouraging thoughtful and respectful engagement on issues of civic importance.
