Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia Greek Welfare Centre

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROGRAM Funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing

Greek Welfare Centre The Greek Welfare Centre is the welfare and community services arm of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia The Centre was established in 1975 and provides bi-lingual / bi-cultural services to people of Greek background The Department of Health and Ageing funded the Community Partners Program (CPP) Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Aims of the Greek Cultural Partners Program (CPP) To increase links between mainstream aged care services and the Greek community To raise awareness of cultural issues pertinent to Greek individuals and their families Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Question What famous Greek events or famous Greek people does anyone know? Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Answers Birth place of democracy Philosophy Olympic games Literature Political science Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Famous Greeks Aristotle Sophocles Socrates Plato Hippocrates with the first Creed for medical practitioners (Hippocratic Oath) Zorba the Greek George Miller Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Greek People Greek people are hospitable and always welcome people with a “good heart” “Kali Kardia” Most Greek people identify with their Greek heritage and value Greek customs & traditions Greek elderly have high status and are treated with respect Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Family relationships Family relationships are considered extremely important It is important to communicate with the family particularly for older migrants. Family is likely to play an essential role in providing care. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

The Greek Community • Diverse backgrounds and countries of origin • Greece / Cyprus / Greek Egyptian / Romania/ Asia Minor Background • Rural / island / urban background • People born in Australia ( Greek background) • Greek people identify with the Greek cultureand are proud of their heritage Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Migration Process Question Who were the first Greeks in Australia ? Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Migration Process Answer 7 convicts who arrived on 28th August 1829 who were convicted of piracy . Antonios Mandis, Ghikas Boulgeris, Georgios Vasilakis, Damianos Ninis, Konstantinos Strombolis, Georgios Laritsos and Nikolaos Papandreas. 1836 British government freed them and they were repatriated. Antonios Mandis remained and worked as a vine dresser at Camden Picton and died 1880. Ghikas Boulgaris also remained, married an Irish girl and had 10 children. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Migration Process The largest proportion of Greek migrants arrived in Australia in the post war period, 1950’s and 1960’s, when Australia signed a major agreement with Greece, to provide assisted passage to thousands of Greek immigrants. Migration from Greece continued under the family reunion schemes. Following the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974, many Greek Cypriots became refugees and a significant number came to Australia. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Chain Migration Chain migration: Post war Greek immigrants arriving in Australia chose to live in cities and congregated in areas where friends, relatives or people from their region in Greece settled Newcomers were helped by the chain communities to settle into Australian life It provided them with a certain degree of security and independence. This made them feel part of a community which understood and shared their social and cultural values, while being initiated into the “strange” ways of Australian life Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Impactof Migration • Process of leaving country of origin is associated with loss • Process of resettlement • Managing daily demands while acculturating to new environment and simultaneously grieving over displacement • Minority group, isolation and marginalisation Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Countering Feelings Of ‘XENITIA’ • Persistence in retaining culture • Family and community of paramount importance • Success compensates for losses and sacrifices • Meeting family obligations is considered as accomplishment Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Greek Cultural Activities Leisure and Recreation Greek people generally prefer to socialise in large groups Most social events are centred around food and/or celebrations. It is acceptable for men and women to separate at social gatherings and many activities can be enjoyed by all Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Greek Cultural Activities Activities for Males Many Greek males play cards Tavli (Backgammon) Gardening Activities for Females Cooking Arts and crafts eg knitting, crochet, cross stitch Gardening eg pot-plants, flower and vegetable Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Greek Cultural Activities Greek Shadow Puppets (‘Karagiozis) A giant-sized puppet with a big nose called “Karagiozi” entertains people with his wry sense of humour General Activities Gentle exercises with traditional music Going for a walk in a park or at the beach Visiting flower shows or nurseries Picnics Visiting people in Greek day group settings for socialising Visiting Greek Orthodox Churches celebrating patron saint festivals Visiting Greek Orthodox Monasteries Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Language Although Greek is the common language, there are regional dialects that are generally understood by all Greek people Older people may have limited literacy in Greek ABC = Αβγ Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Greetings Greeks tend to express their emotions and use gestures. Physical contact between people is seen as a natural means of communication. It is acceptable to shake hands at an introduction or for a hello. People may kiss each other on one or both cheeks. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Use of Interpreters Confidentiality should be emphasised so as to allow people to feel secure in using interpreters When requesting interpreters it is important to consider the gender of the interpreter especially when dealing with the elderly (males for males - females for females) Even when an interpreter is organised, Greek elderly may also request for a family member to be present Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Education Many Greek elderly people have only attended a few years of primary schooling First migrants sent their children to afternoon Greek classes, this is still continued by many second and third generation Greek Australian Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Music and Dance Dance – traditional folk dances include: Zembekika Nisiotica (Island), Critika (Crete), Ipirotica (regional dances) Music – There are regional differences in modes of music. These are accompanied by traditional instruments such as bouzouki, baklama, laouto, violin or toumberleki Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Religion Predominantly Greek Orthodox. Religion is an integral part of Greek family life. Greeks Austalians have maintained many of their religious and social traditions, which are often inter-related Greek elderly usually celebrate their patron saint’s day, rather than their birthday Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Fasting Orthodox Greeks observe designated fasting days during the year (vegan) These include Lent (40 days before Easter), 1st to 15th August and 40 days before Christmas Fasting is also observed on Wednesdays and Fridays. This is to remind each person that Wednesday was the day that Jesus was betrayed and Friday the day that He was crucified People who are ill or frail may be exempt from fasting Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Other Religious Events Name days Engagements Weddings Baptisms Funerals Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Iconostasis Most Greek homes have a dedicated area that contain: Icons of the Lord, Our Lady and the Saints Kantili (an ongoing light) Thimiato (a censer) Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Eating Habits Greek people eat a Mediterranean diet rich in meat, seafood, legumes, vegetables and fruit. They prefer to cook with olive oil. Thick slices of bread are a common accompaniment to Greek meals. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Eating Habits Breakfast is a quick and light meal, usually just a coffee and paximathi. (A hot breakfast is rare) Lunch is traditionally the main meal of the day. However, nowadays, in major cities this has changed to the evening meal as people are usually working during the day. Evening meal, the entire family gathers round the table to eat, drink and have lively conversations. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Greek Beverages Retsina, is a type of wine usually served with meals Ouzo is another popular beverage which is usually drunk before a meal in conjunction with ‘mezedes’(a variety of dips and snacks) Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Greek Cafes (Kafenio) Greek cafes are very popular. For Greeks, it is not simply a place where you go to buy coffee but it is a place where people meet up to relax, have a drink or dessert or snack and discuss politics, world problems. The Kafenio is a place where men go to relax away from the pressures of life. There the men not only drink coffee or have a beer with their friends, they also play cards or tavli (backgammon) and talk for hours while flipping their worry beads komboloi) Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Greek Coffee A briki is used to make Greek coffee. It is a small metal pot with a handle that boils the water, coffee and sugar until it makes a ‘kaimaki’ (crema). Then it is slowly poured into a demitasse cup and saucer. A good Greek coffee has lots of crema on top. If overcooked, however, the crema disappears. Greek coffee is customarily served with a glass of water. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Greek Coffee Greek coffee is traditionally brewed with three different sweetnesses Sketos(plain, no sugar) Metrios(medium, half to one teaspoon of sugar per coffee) Glikos (sweet, one to two teaspoon of sugar per coffee) Traditional Greek coffee is served with sweet biscuits such as a koulourakior paximadi or perhaps a Greeksweet pastry such as abaklava Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Seeking Help It is initially difficult for Greek people to request assistance from outside of the family. It is assumed the family through its support networks should be caring for their needs. Implies family is incapable or unwilling to take care of their loved one. May experience a sense of shame People may feel grief, guilt, anxiety, remorse, for they believe they are not honouring their role as a family member Greek people may wait until a crisis occurs before they request assistance from services. Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Greek Community Partners Program The Greek Welfare Centre Newtown (02) 9516 2188 Harris Park (02) 9687 8955 Wollongong (02) 4228 1609 Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of AustraliaGreek Welfare Centre

Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia Greek Welfare Centre