Greek Women Speak - smashing taboos in multicultural Australia
Schedule
Sat, 14 Feb, 2026 at 11:30 pm to Sun, 15 Feb, 2026 at 08:00 am
UTC+11:00Location
The Greek Centre | Melbourne, VI
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KORALY DIMITRIADIS PRESENTS, SUPPORTED BY THE GREEK COMMUNITY OF MELBOURNE -A DAY EVENT/SYMPOSIUM SMASHING CULTURAL TABOOS IN MULTICULTURAL AUSTRALIA
TO RE-ENERGISE, INSPIRE, EMPOWER & EDUCATE
(online tickets available too!)
Join us for a ground-breaking first! GREEK WOMEN SPEAK platforms Greek and Greek-Cypriot women we don't often hear from in the mainstream talking about taboo subjects!
Please note: we envisage this event will sell out before the date so please book your tickets early as it also helps us with catering.
Featuring guests from Melbourne and Sydney and moderated, curated and presented by controversial journalist, bestselling poet and author Koraly Dimitriadis.
Featuring the award-winning film TACK, the first #metoo documentary out of Greece!
A DAY PASS ENTITLES YOU TO COME AND GO AS YOU PLEASE. There will also be a "quiet" room where you can have a breather!
All genders and ethnicities welcome.
Fully catered and partially sponsored by Grazing With Stella, with delicious Greek-inspired catering.
Each session will include audience question time and encourage discussion and participation with practical advice provided by experts with lived experience.
PROGRAM
9:30 – 10:00 Registration, morning tea, shop, chat.
10:00 – 10:45 THE OLDIES: DEMENTIA, S-X AND DATING – HOW DO WE NORMALISE IT?
Featuring: Petr Malapanis – Poet, currently documenting her mother’s dementia journey including heightened se-uality.
10:45 – 11:00 Refill your cup, morning tea leftovers, have a stretch and chat
11:00 – 12:30 GAFS PRESENTS THE AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE OF THE AWARD-WINNING FILM “TACK” BY GREEK-BRITISH DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER VANIA TURNER, PRODUCED BY THE ONASSIS CULTURAL CENTRE.
The Olympian who pioneered Greece's MeToo movement inspires a younger athlete to break her own silence. Language: Greek with English subtitles.
12:30 – 1:15 Lunch, stretch, shop, go to our quiet room if you need time out
1:15 – 2:00 TACK, #METOO & VIOLENCE HIDDEN IN THE SHADOWS – HOW CAN WE SHIFT VICTIM BLAMING IN COMMUNITY?
Featuring: Jo Galanis – domestic violence survivor and advocate.
Nikki Simos – advocate and life coach in mental health, author of five books documenting her 30-year struggle vocalising se-ual violence in the television industry and overcoming cultural shame.
2:00 – 2:15 Lunch leftovers, shop, network, quiet room if you need a break.
2:15 – 3:00 MENTAL HEALTH, INCARCERATION AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE: HITTING ROCK BOTTOM AND REBUILDING YOUR LIFE IN THE FACE OF CULTURAL SHAME.
Featuring: Eleni Psillakis – Sydney-based executive member of “Keeping Women Out of Prison Coalition” and support worker for incarcerated women who overcame anorexia, clinical depression and incarceration.
Stella Andrianna Michael – creative writer, visual artist, support worker in mental health, alcohol and other d-ugs.
3:00 – 3:15 Afternoon tea, have a chat, quiet room if you need, stretch.
3:15 – 4:30 “THAT’S WHAT THEY DO” BY KORALY DIMITRIADIS, BOOK LAUNCH, POETRY PERFORMANCE & CONVERSATION: BULLYING , EMOTIONAL ABUSE AND HOW TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF IN A CULTURE THAT TELLS YOU TO SHUT UP.
Featuring: Emily Highfield – lawyer, mediator and lead singer and guitarist of the neofolk and black metal band Suldusk.
Stefanie Costi – Sydney-based anti-bullying lawyer, Ted-X speaker, writer, advocate for workplace safety and inclusion.
Koraly Dimitriadis – performance poet, creative writer, film and theatre maker, opinion journalist, author of the poetry books Just Give Me The Pills, She’s Not Normal, Love & Fck Poems and the short story collection The Mother Must Die.
4:30 - 4:45 Stretch, afternoon tea leftovers, chat.
4:45 – 5:30 WHAT WILL PEOPLE SAY? FORGING TABOO PATHS IN CULTURE AND LIFE.
Featuring: Roula Krikellis – radio presenter (The KK Factor), who overcame divorce and judgment.
Kat Zam – popular queer Greek-Aussie creator of comedy and documentary, weaving cultural heritage and identity into her work.
5:30 – 6:00 Have a last coffee, network, shop, until next time!
Supported by The Greek Community of Melbourne, Grazing With Stella, Toorak Law, Arc Up Australia, The Ania Walwicz Estate, Outside The Box Press, Dingo Drama TV and the Greek-Australian Film Society (GAFS). We would like to thank all of our other donors and sponsors for helping to make this event happen! We could not have done it without you!
Poster design Rosie Giuliano
https://www.instagram.com/the_rosie.g/
If you can't make it but would like to donate to the longevity of our new festival, you can donate here. https://www.pozible.com/project/greek-cypriot-women-speak
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Where is it happening?
The Greek Centre, 168 Lonsdale Street,Melbourne,VIC,AustraliaEvent Location & Nearby Stays:
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