In an act of Christmas generosity and compassion, Victoria Police sent a very special St Nicholas in his police vehicle to the Ukrainian Community Centre in Melbourne today to distribute toys to displaced children from Ukraine. Collected via a VicPol toy drive, the event is another expression of Australian support for displaced Ukrainians, mostly mothers and their children, … [Read more...]

The first four notes are instantly recognisable - but few would know the ‘Carol of the Bells’ is based on an ancient Ukrainian New Year’s folk chant ‘Shchedryk’, which tells the story of a swallow flying into a house to proclaim a bountiful year. Today, Christmas is almost unimaginable without ‘Carol of the Bells’. Performed around the world and featured in movies and TV … [Read more...]

UKR DNA, an art exhibition of the striking work of Melbourne-based architect of Ukrainian heritage, Maru Jarockyj, has officially opened and already been seen by hundreds of visitors. The exhibition was opened on Thursday 8 December by Councillor Dr Olivia Ball, City of Melbourne, Bwe Thay, Deputy Chair Victorian Multicultural Commission, Volodymyr Shalkivskiy - Deputy Head of … [Read more...]

AFUO Board Member, Ms Chrestyna Kmetj, has made an impassioned plea at the FINA Extraordinary General Congress this week on behalf of the Ukrainian Swimming Federation competing in Melbourne, stressing that sanctions must continue on russian and Belorussian athletes as long as russia wages its war on Ukraine, and that Ukrainian athletes must receive support to train and … [Read more...]

The NSW Government has provided $500,000 to the Ukrainian community of New South Wales to support those who have sought safe haven in the state, following the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine. NSW Minister for Multiculturalism Mark Coure said the funding had been allocated to the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) to support its work in aiding the more … [Read more...]

Almost 200 displaced Ukrainian children and their parents/carers experienced precious Christmas cheer on Saturday at a Christmas feast day hosted by the Ukrainian Council of NSW (UCNSW) at the Ukrainian Youth Centre in Lidcombe. The children and parents/carers viewed a traditional Ukrainian Christmas performance, ate Ukrainian food including holubtsi (savoury rice wrapped in … [Read more...]

Supplies of critically needed fire and rescue clothing, rescue gear, thermal imaging camera, medical donations and defibrillators have again been successfully delivered to Europe from Australia by the AFUO’s International Coordination of Medical Aid for Ukraine sub-committee (ICMAU). Working with the Australian Defence Force, 61 pallets of donated goods from Australian … [Read more...]

Five young Ukrainian swimmers competing in the 16th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) being held at the Melbourne Sports & Aquatic Centre between 13-18 December 2022 will be greeted by a sea of blue and yellow when they touch down at Melbourne airport tonight. Members of the Ukrainian-Australian community in Melbourne are preparing to greet the  swimmers at the … [Read more...]

Today on 6 December Ukrainians around the world observe the Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The Armed Forces of Ukraine - encompassing Ground Forces, the Air Force, Special Operations, the Navy and all military personnel including the Territorial Defence Forces - have been tested this year like no other. They are doing the possible and the impossible. Facing a brutal, … [Read more...]

The Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO) and the Association of Ukrainians in Victoria (AUV) will tonight honour 48 Australians who have gone above and beyond to help displaced Ukrainians in Victoria by awarding them AFUO-AUV Good Samaritan plaques. "We want to acknowledge these compassionate Aussies. They have donated money, food, clothes, goods and … [Read more...]