The president of the GMVC stated that the grant will be used towards achieving two major goals.
New Hellenic Chair in Global Diasporas
Mr Papastergiadis said that the first half of the grant will be used to establish a Hellenic Chair in Global Diasporas at the School of Culture and Communications. Although an agreement has not been confirmed yet, the GCMV is in talks with the University of Melbourne to facilitate the Chair.
‘’Possibly at the University of Melbourne. We have already started talks with the university’s chancellor. We started them two years ago’’.
The president of the GCMV also pointed out that the grant is the result of contacts and discussion the Community has had the past 3 years with Greek organizations as well as the state and federal governments.
It should be noted that the Chair will not be solely dedicated to Greek Studies. Rather, it will conduct research on other migrant communities as well.
‘’When we were discussing with the prime minister and the minister (David Coleman), we said that as a community, we should open our doors to other ethnicities and highlight the multiculturalism that Australia serves as the example of,’’ said Mr Papastergiadis.
New Greek Centre Hub
The second half of the grant will be used to build or buy a new building to house the Greek Centre Hub in Melbourne. This centre will provide services to members of the community but also expand the GCMV’s presence in the city.
‘'We want a strong Greek element at the center of Melbourne, through other buildings that represent the GCMV and the wider Greek Community’’.
Mr Papastergiadis said that the Hub will focus on the youth and the elderly and that the income it generates might contribute to the GMCV.
