A pioneering program funded by the AFUO’s Ukraine Crisis Appeal (UCA) Resettlement Fund has provided over 50 recently arrived Ukrainian women with much needed mental health support.  The Women’s Circle (Zhinoche Kolo) program provides group talk therapy, trauma informed yoga, and nature-based retreats and workshops run by professional counsellors, Australian-Ukrainians … [Read more...]

Thank you Australia for joining 31 countries in delivering interventions before the International Court of Justice - the UN’s highest court - in support of Ukraine’s case against Russia.  The intervention “demonstrates Australia’s unwavering commitment to upholding fundamental rules of international law and the integrity of the Genocide Convention,” said the Attorney … [Read more...]

Seven psychiatrists and psychologists from the Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) in Lviv and “Bezbaryernist” in Kyiv are in Australia for three months to train in trauma management and explore mental health strategies which will help Ukraine cope with the mental scars of war. The full-scale Russian invasion has intensified the need for mental health services for … [Read more...]

Proudly assisted by the AFUO, The Australian newspaper journalist Liam Mendes has been reporting from Ukraine since mid August with searing photos and interviews which bear witness to the courage of the Ukrainian people and the resilience of the human spirit. His latest front page story featured Ukrainian soldiers in Donetsk praising the Aussie Bushmaster. The previous … [Read more...]

A compelling video has been posted by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine highlighting Russia’s kidnapping of 20,000 Ukrainian children from occupied territories. In the video, 8-year-old Valya is forcibly taken to Russia, given up for adoption, deprived of speaking her native tongue and subjected to the ideology of ‘ruscism’ - the hatred of everything Ukrainian. She dreams … [Read more...]

“Adult” - a  short film directed by 13 year old Elina Myshanych from Kyiv - has won the Grand Prix Award at the Lantern & Light International Children's Film Festival (LLICFF). The film poignantly and cleverly captures innocence lost because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Filmed last winter while Elina was unable to go to school because of Russian missile … [Read more...]

A young 9-year-old boy from Lviv, Max, has become obsessed with the Melbourne Demons AFL team! Against the backdrop of russian missile attacks, damaged buildings, wounded civilians and attending school in a bunker, the packages Max has received from Aussie Debbie Daks with Demons scarves, jumpers, footy balls and tapes of the game have given him moments of happiness and … [Read more...]

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) has called on the Federal Government to declare the Wagner Group a terrorist organisation. This move would bring Australia into line with the important action taken this week by the government of the United Kingdom. AFUO Co-Chair Stefan Romaniw OAM said yesterday “The Wagner Group has committed war crimes in … [Read more...]

Own a piece of history and participate in the AFUO’s Defend Ukraine Appeal (DUA) Adopt a Drone campaign to create your own personalised drone! Drones are used for reconnaissance on the Ukrainian front-line and, while in short supply, are critical to enhance the safety and effectiveness of Ukrainian defenders. Donate over $1,000 and you can order an image/text to be … [Read more...]

In a bipartisan show of support for Ukraine, the 60th Parliament of Victoria has established a Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Ukraine Group, to strengthen ties between Ukraine and Victoria and foster trade, rebuilding and cultural/travel exchange programs.  Co-convened by the Hon Lee Tarlamis MLC (Labor) and the Hon Matthew Guy MP (Liberal), the group numbers … [Read more...]