The Significance of Community for Greek Australians Living in Diaspora

Abstract

This paper will elucidate the importance of community and the significance of this for Greek Australians living in diaspora. It is based on a series of qualitative research projects undertaken by very experienced researchers, exemplifying both an emic and etic position relative to this diaspora population. Through the application of Narrative Ethnography, the lived experience of this population across the generations will be discussed. This experience will be further highlighted through the presentation of a profile of the Greek community in Melbourne illustrating the lived experience and community identity of its members. This will exemplify perceptions of what ‘community’, ‘community connections’ and ‘social connectedness’ mean to Greek Australians and allow the influence on their emotional health and wellbeing to be examined. This lived experience aims to show how a perception of Greekness influences health-related behavior, especially diet and nutrition, and creates a sense of wellbeing among members of the community. The findings of this study have wider implications for the understanding of the Greek experience in Australia and show the importance of community and the significance of cultural practices to overall psychological wellbeing. They also contribute to a wider knowledge base and will inform interventions intended to address well-being and health for members of the Greek population. This might be of assistance in policy making and meeting the health needs of multicultural communities more broadly. Keywords: Community, Greek Australian, Diaspora, Qualitative, Narrative Ethnography