Representatives of organisations from the South Australian Greek community gathered on March 15 for the inaugural Community Engagement Forum hosted by the South Australian Multicultural Commission (SAMC).
The forum provided a crucial platform for Greek community leaders, youth groups, cultural institutions, church representatives and officials to voice concerns, identify challenges, and propose solutions aimed at strengthening the position and sustainability of Greek cultural organisations in South Australia.
The Commission is a statutory advisory body that reports to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs, The Hon. Zoe Bettison MP, and raises awareness and promotes multiculturalism and interculturalism in South Australia. The Commission’s mandate is to ensure that the voices of South Australia’s diverse cultural groups are heard, both within government and across broader society.
This was the first community engagement forum with the South Australian Greek community, led by Chair of the Commission, Ms Luisa Greco, and spearheaded by Multicultural Commissioner, Ms. Chloe Kourakis, with additional support from other Commission members. The forum provided a platform for Greek community leaders to discuss challenges, share opportunities, and propose solutions that the Commission can bring to the Minister’s attention.
As Ms. Kourakis stated in her opening remarks, “This forum is not just about identifying challenges but also about finding collaborative solutions that ensure the Greek community in South Australia remains strong, engaged, and well-supported… We want to create a bridge between the community and government, ensuring that voices from every generation are heard and acted upon.”
Discussions were positive and very passionate, reflecting the deep sense of responsibility the Greek community feels for preserving and evolving its cultural legacy in South Australia.
The primary objectives included enhancing event coordination, the evolution of the Greek cultural landscape in SA, increasing youth participation in community leadership, strengthening intercultural collaboration, addressing the needs of aging community members, and improving access to resources and funding.
- Event Coordination and Funding: A need for better planning
A major discussion point was the fragmentation of community events and funding applications. Many Greek community organisations host independent events, often applying for separate funding grants. This fragmented approach results in smaller funding allocations per group and reduces the overall impact of community events.
Additionally, overlapping event schedules lead to lower attendance and engagement due to divided public interest. A lack of a centralised event calendar also makes it difficult for organisations to plan events effectively, often leading to scheduling conflicts.
One participant highlighted the issue, stating, “We have all these fantastic festivals, but we’re stepping on each other’s toes. It would be great if we could have a coordinated calendar so that people could attend multiple events without them competing for attention.”
To address these issues, a majority of participants proposed the development of a publicly accessible Greek event calendar that would allow community leaders to coordinate scheduling efforts and reduce event clashes.
Furthermore, there was a strong recommendation for collaborative event planning where multiple organisations work together to pool resources and secure larger funding allocations. Establishing joint grant applications for major festivals would also ensure that funding is directed toward high-impact, inclusive events that attract diverse participation.
There was also a proposal of a centralised contact list of Greek organisation presidents and committees to improve communication and allow organisations to send out group messages.
Mr Alex Demetriou – Chair of HACCI (SA) (Hellenic Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry) emphasised the issue of sponsorship fatigue, noting that businesses are repeatedly asked to sponsor events and that grants should be structured to supplement private sponsorships. He suggested that the SAMC help connect organisations with broader funding sources to support events addressing shared themes across different communities.
- Youth engagement in the next generation of community leadership
The forum highlighted a gap in youth participation in Greek community organisations. Many committees are led by older generations, with limited representation of younger voices.
Young people often feel disconnected from the traditional structures and decision-making processes within cultural organisations, leading to declining engagement. Additionally, there is no formalised process for leadership succession, making it difficult to transition younger members into leadership roles.
A young representative noted, “It’s frustrating when we want to contribute but feel like we are being sidelined. The older generation has done so much, but we need to be given the chance to take up leadership roles and bring in new ideas.”
Youth groups represented ranged from, but not limited to, the University Greek societies to cultural organisations such as Neolea and Hellenic Collective, and Church youth initiatives such as Saint Anthony Youth of SA.
There was also strong support for structured succession planning, ensuring that leadership roles are gradually transitioned to younger members over time.
To further encourage youth involvement, participants proposed government incentives for youth-led initiatives, such as targeted grants that prioritise initiatives aimed at youth engagement and events. Additionally, there was strong support for youth advisory councils within cultural organisations to provide new perspectives and encourage innovation.
The conversation also highlighted the importance of modern communication tools. Some youth attendees suggested that organisations embrace digital engagement strategies, such as social media and online platforms, to attract and retain younger members.
- Balancing tradition and modernity
A key debate centred on how to balance cultural preservation with modernisation and contemporary progress. Many organisations focus on maintaining Greek traditions, language, and customs, but some younger members feel the need for cultural activities to evolve to remain relevant.
Ms Dina Houssos, President of the Pan-Laconian Society of SA, raised concerns about “souvlaki fatigue,” noting that too many Greek events focus on food stalls selling the same products. She suggested collaborating with cultural institutions in Greece to bring unique artistic and historical experiences to the state.
“We need to think about evolving our events and initiatives in line with Greece’s own cultural evolution,” she stated.
One participant expressed, “We don’t want to lose our traditions, but we also need to be open to how culture is evolving. Greek culture is more than just history—it’s about who we are today.”
This quote emphasised a broader discussion about the artistic revival and diversity in Greek culture, with opportunities to source new and interesting content directly from Greece.
- Integration challenges for new migrants
Newly arrived Greek migrants often face difficulties connecting with established Greek organisations, leading to social isolation and a lack of awareness about available resources.
Several community leaders acknowledged that many smaller organisations lack the resources to conduct effective outreach, which makes it challenging for migrants to find cultural and support networks.
To address this, the forum proposed the development of a public directory listing all Greek cultural organisations along with contact information, upcoming events, and available resources.
- Future planning
Mr Iakovos Digenis from the Cyprus Community of SA and Justice for Cyprus Committee (S.E.K.A) raised concerns of outdated constitutions and governance structures in many Greek organisations, especially those which are smaller in size. He called for resources on risk assessments, legislative requirements, and compliance regulations to help modernise community operations.
It was also suggested in the forum that financial grants or incentives for holding events in the off-season or on culturally significant days such as March 25 (Greek Independence Day) may promote a balanced and steady stream of events throughout the year, rather than a majority of events in the early or latter months of each year.
Next steps: Turning discussions into action
The forum underscored the need for collaboration, youth inclusion, policy improvements, and strategic community planning to ensure that Greek cultural organisations remain strong and sustainable.
The SAMC will now consolidate and present key takeaways to the Minister for Multicultural Affairs.
The SAMC told The Greek Herald it is their intention to hold follow-up forums quarterly to assess progress and track implementation of proposed solutions, and that it is in the interest of organisations throughout South Australia to collaborate on events where interests, topic areas or goals align.
The benefit for communities and supports is that, for example, if collaboration occurs then organisations will be in a more advantageous position to receiving a larger portion of grant funding from a total allocation, leading to better outcomes from communities and support.
Inter-community collaboration is key for this, and this forum presents the first step in achieving a more united community, focused on the preservation and perpetuation of Greek culture for generations to come.
*All photos copyright The Greek Herald / Peter Tantalos.
