EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR - Ms Voula Messimeri-Kianidis AM

Voula has been involved in the community services sector for nearly 25 years, with a particular focus on multicultural affairs and women’s issues.

As Executive Director of Australian Greek Welfare Society (AGWS) she manages an agency with a diverse range of programs including aged and disabilities, childcare, training, counselling, community education and policy.

Previous positions have included family counselling in country Victoria, co-ordination of a service that focused on occupational health and safety, equal opportunities for girls in secondary education genetic counselling.

Tertiary Qualifications:

  • Bachelor of Social Work
  • Post Graduate in Community Development
  • Post Graduate in Applied Science: Innovation and Service Management

Voula has a strong commitment to social justice and community building and to this end she has served on a number of Boards and advisory bodies, including the following:

  • Inaugural Chairperson of the Women’s Health Service in the North
  • Chairperson of the Immigrant Women’s Domestic Violence Service
  • A founding member and Deputy Chairperson of the Victorian Immigrant and

     Refugee Women’s Coalition (VIRWC)
  • Included in the Victorian Honour Roll of Women in 2007, for work in

     advocating for a cohesive, culturally diverse Australia     
  • Member on the SBS Advisory Committee
  • Council member of RMIT University
  •Council member, Australian Multicultural Advisory Council (AMAC)

Current Positions:

  • Honorary President, Federation of Ethnic Communities’ Councils of Australia (FECCA) www.fecca.org.au
  • Deputy Chair of VITS LanguageLink www.vits.com.au

Other:

  • Participant in the Leadership Victoria Program, (1995)
  • In 2008 was recognised under the Order of Australia, for service to the community through executive roles with a

     range of multicultural organisations and advocacy roles on behalf of migrants, refugees and women.

DEPUTY DIRECTOR/

FAMILY & COMMUNITY SERVICES MANAGER - Ms Tina Douvos-Stathopoulos

Tina is the Deputy Director and Manager Community Services and has been with the organisation for18 years. During this time she has held a number of positions within AGWS gaining great knowledge and expertise within the Greek and wider community.

Previous positions within AGWS have included direct client work, counselling, group work, community education, community development and project work. More specifically her expertise is in the areas of aged care, families, women and domestic violence.

During her time at AGWS Tina has been responsible for the development of innovative programs and services in response to community needs. These have included the Greek Legal Information and Referral Service, problem gambling education and counselling services and Men’s and Family Relationship Program.

Tina was a committee member of the Victorian Immigrant and Refugee Women’s Coalition and was a committee member of the Buoyancy Foundation for 6 years. Over the years she has represented AGWS and the Greek community on many state and local government committees and networks.

Qualifications: Graduated from Monash University with Bachelor of Social Work Degree.

AGED & DISABILITY SERVICES MANAGER - Mr Stelios Piakis

Stelios has been the manager of the Aged & Disability Services Unit since March 2011. Prior to this, He was Manager of the Children's Services Unit of AGWS for 19 years.

Formal Studies

• Completion of Year 12 equivalent, Athens, Greece.
• Bachelor of Education: double Major in Modern Greek and English, sub-Major in Cinema Studies, La Trobe University, 1991.
• Honours in Modern Greek, La Trobe University, 1992.

Stelios is strongly committed in the provision of services to the elderly and disabled clients of AGWS based on the Active Service Model, thus empowering them to achieve their aspirations. He has made a number of conference presentations as a Children’s Services Manager, including the following:

• “LOTE learning in the preschool sector” (2000, National LOTE Conference, Melbourne)
• “Why Learn Greek”, presentation to LA Trobe University prospective students, 10/9/2003
• “Early childhood education” (2004, Greek Australians in the 21st Century conference, Melbourne)
• “The ‘bi’ world: supporting bilingualism in early childhood education by implementing a bilingual program (2005, co-author, Early Childhood Australia national biannual conference, Brisbane)

Distinctions

• Hellenic Distinction, Social Welfare sector, 1999

COORDINATED CARE & TRAINING MANAGER - Ms Nikki Efremidis

Nikki is the Co-ordinated Care & Training Unit Manager and has been with AGWS for over 15 years. 

Nikki has worked in various positions within the organisation, predominately within the Aged & Disability Services Unit.  Over the last 15 years, Nikki has developed experience in Workforce Development, OH&S and Quality Systems.

Nikki has a Bachelor of Arts (La Trobe University) and more recently completed a Certificate IV in Care Co-ordination.  Nikki has developed extensive expertise in the aged care and disability sector and is currently developing her skills in the education and vocational training sector.

FINANCE/HUMAN RESOURCES/

ADMINISTRATION MANAGER - Ms Maria Bellos

Maria has over 20 years experience in Finances, Human Resource Management, and Administration. She holds a Diploma in Accounting and Management, and a Certificate in Human Resources.

After working in the private sector in a number of positions including as Credit Controller and Co-ordinator of sales representatives for a total of 10 years, she joined AGWS in 1986.

She was first associated with AGWS through the child care centre as a parent where she was actively involved on

the parents committee for several years while both her children attended AGWS child care in Richmond.

Maria remains passionately interested in the welfare and wellbeing of the Greek community. Her love for the Greek culture and its people remains central to all her work and commitment to AGWS.

BUSINESS & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT MANAGER - Mr John Lioupas

John has been with AGWS since 1992 and is currently the Manager of the Business and Program Development Unit. Over the years John has held a number of different positions within AGWS, giving him an indepth working knowledge of the organisation and the Australian-Greek community.

In his current role, John is responsible for developing innovative programs that target the ever increasing needs of the Australia-Greek community. Some of the programs that John has managed in recent years have included the Falls Prevention Project for the Greek Community in Australia, Australian-Greeks Against Childhood Obesity Project, National Childhood Obesity Schools Project for Australian-Greeks Greeks Against Gambling Project and the Healthy Active Solutions for Australian-Greeks project.

In fulfilling his role as the Business and Program Development Manager, John is also required to seek new funding opportunities, develop appropriate partnerships and prepare all relevant written submissions.

John's involvement with the other community organisations has been quite extensive and over many years he his volunteered his time serving on Committees of Management.

Tertiary: Bachelor of Education (Melbourne University)