Photo credit: Neos Kosmos
Many migrant couples who arrived in Australia recently describe their journey as “a road paved with thorns.”
Neos Kosmos reports that in their attempt to escape te financial crisis, the newcomers f the 2010-2025 period face serious challenges that shake their relationships to the core. Greeks who took the leap toward a new beginning in a country promising fewer financial struggles often find themselves fighting a daily battle for survival and for the preservation of family unity.
A psychologist and family therapist Kostas Kiomourtzis said, “Migration was, for many Greeks, a major life decision. Along with their dreams and expectations, they also carried unresolved issues that relocation did not solve but instead magnified. Life abroad brings new difficulties, an unfamiliar culture, language barriers, and the absence of family and friends. Without a support network, many experience loneliness, making communication within the family even more vital.”
Many migrants arrived in Australia with strong qualifications and work experience, expecting to quickly find employment in their fields. The reality, however, has been far more complex. Despite speaking English, they face barriers such as certification requirements or non-recognition of degrees, forcing many to take jobs far below their skill level.
This loss of professional identity adds enormous strain at home.
Melbourne’s high cost of living quickly erodes the perceived advantage of migration. School fees, rent or mortgages, and daily expenses create constant tension. Couples often work opposite shifts just to make ends meet, leaving little time or energy for connection.
Families with children face even greater stress. A unique challenge for this generation is the constant digital link to Greece. While social media offers connection, it also deepens homesickness and emotional confusion.
Another factor is the sudden disappearance of the traditional social structure that once surrounded Greek couples. Unlike earlier migrants who settled in close-knit communities like Oakleigh or Brunswick, many newcomers are dispersed across suburbs according to affordability. Without that built-in social network, feelings of isolation grow.
The struggle faced by this new generation of migrants differs greatly from that of their grandparents. They came equipped with degrees, skills, and digital literacy, yet many find themselves emotionally stranded between the dream of Australia and pull of Greece. Without adequate support, that dream can easily become a nightmare.
