50 Years of GWC Community Services

On 3rd March 1975, the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of Australia established the first Greek Welfare Centre (GWC Community Services) in Sydney due to the overwhelming number of issues and needs of Greek migrants.

The Greek word for welfare is “Pronoia” and means forethought, concern, care. It encompasses two strands of action – to prevent and to deal with needs of the community. These two aspects have guided the development of services offered by GWC Community Services.

Over the past five decades a productive working relationship has been formed with all our parishes and many organisations who have sought assistance with a variety of issues. The contribution of the Greek Welfare Centre to the broader Australian community is evident from its extensive experience in developing specialist ethnic specific and multicultural services, working with mainstream services on access and equity and social justice issues, contributing to policy and service development in areas of education and training, immigration and settlement, mental health, aged services and so on.

As we move to the next chapter of GWC Community Services, we feel humbled and grateful to all the people before us who had the vision and strength to set the foundations of this blessed organisation which has encouraged all to continue this sacred work of the church.

We also take this opportunity to reflect on the thousands of migrants who entrusted their problems with us over the years, who opened their hearts and shared their suffering. We would like to say to them that it is an honour and a blessing to listen, to assist and to serve them in their hour of need.

“The work of Greek Welfare Centre is unique not only because you serve people but because you serve within the context of the Church… That is why I do not consider you to be simply a welfare organisation but a workshop of Holiness.” + His Eminence Archbishop Makarios of Australia