A groundbreaking symposium exploring the cultural and historical intersections between Greek and Indigenous Australians will take place on Saturday, June 7 at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney.
Titled “Encounters of Transformation: Intercultural Relations between Greek and Indigenous Australians,” the event is a collaborative effort by the Consulate General of Greece in Sydney and the UNSW School of Humanities & Languages, in association with the Foundation for Hellenic Studies at UNSW and the university's Hellenic Society (HellSoc).
The one-day symposium aims to shed light on the often-overlooked connections between the Greek diaspora and Australia's First Peoples. These interactions, both direct and symbolic, will be explored across fields such as literature, visual arts, activism, and Indigenous self-representation.
Participants will also have the opportunity to view a special exhibition of works by Christina Tsaou, a young Greek visual artist whose creations are deeply influenced by Indigenous Australian art forms.
The symposium will be held at the Patricia O'Shane Building (E19), Room 105, UNSW, from 9:30am to 4:00pm AEST, and is divided into two segments:
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Part A: Academic presentations by Greek and Indigenous scholars, including Dr Petro Alexiou, Ms Effy Alexakis, Mr Leonard Janiszewski, Ms Daphne Arapakis, and Dr Vassilios Adrahtas. Each speaker will present for 20 minutes, followed by a 10-minute audience Q&A.
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Part B: Two in-depth roundtable discussions featuring not only academics but also Greek and Indigenous writers, artists, community leaders, and activists—individuals who have directly engaged in dialogue and initiatives bridging the two cultures.
Attendees will also enjoy a lunch break and afternoon tea, offering informal opportunities for dialogue and networking.
The event highlights an important and evolving area of Australian multicultural studies, one that resonates strongly with Greek communities worldwide and particularly those in Australia, where Hellenic heritage has long been woven into the national tapestry.
Registration is essential and can be completed online:
👉 Eventbrite Registration
For full program details:
👉 UNSW Event Page
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