Chrestyna Kmetj
With a strong focus on putting community first, I understand the important role community and multicultural organisations play in maintaining cultural and social fabric of community.
My role within the Executive of the AFUO as Liaison for the Parliamentary Friendship Group (2016-) federally and for Victoria involves bipartisan discourse with all levels of government, focusing on local issues of community and its interplay with national and international political, economic, and social issues of the day.
As the CEO of Plast National Executive for Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organisation of Australia (2021-) leadership and mentoring youth are cornerstones of my drive and focus for community youth within the Ukrainian diaspora in Australia and internationally.
More recently, my roles have converged to working with government and community groups locally, nationally, and internationally in response to the full scale invasion of Ukraine, humanitarian aid programs locally and abroad with the AFUO and Plast Ukrainian Scouts, migration, resettlement, and in media, and international youth diplomacy.
Initiating and running the social media campaign of Art of Lockdown for the Australian Ukrainian community 2019-2021 resulted in publishing the book to reflect this community connectivity program. Coordinating and running the Positive Living and Wellbeing website for the AFUO in response to the Covid pandemic drew focus on the need to maintain focus on community mental health and providing a platform for members of multicultural communities to gather information and support with confidence.
Combining my passion of volunteer work for social purpose with my business experience in construction and development, and media and marketing – my management background gives the skills of project coordination and management
My Vision – Facilitating and engaging in programs which enhance cultural, political, and economic diplomacy via the exchange of ideas, information and mentoring within the Australian Ukrainian community.
Promoting a multicultural and diverse community which respectfully engages is all aspects of Australian life, while giving back to the wider community and social fabric of our day to day lives.
