On 24 February 2022, Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine including troop deployments and the use of cruise and ballistic missiles. This followed months of tension with a build-up of the Russian military on the Ukraine border and Russian recognition of two self-proclaimed states in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine and deployment of Russian troops in Donbas. In 2014 Russia had invaded and annexed the Crimean Peninsula from Ukraine. The Ukrainian people, both professional soldiers and citizen volunteers continue to resist the Russian invasion.
Many Ukrainians and other Eastern Europeans in Australia will experience stress and anxiety in the light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They may fear for the lives and safety of family and friends in Ukraine, and for Ukraine’s future. Others also fear that the conflict may move outside of Ukraine’s borders. The current events may also trigger or exacerbate pre-existing mental health issues.
This website brings together information and resources to assist service providers to better understand and meet the mental health needs of Ukrainians as well as other communities affected across Eastern Europe and beyond as a result of this invasion.
Disclaimer: This profile contains general information only and cannot be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. The Transcultural Mental Health is not responsible for the information provided by external websites and documents listed in this resource.
Contents
Note on Culture
Background
Ukrainian Community in NSW
Other Communities Impacted by the Invasion
Mental Health
Ukrainian Organisations in NSW
Service Providers
Resources in Ukrainian and Russian
References and Further Reading
Note on Culture
This profile has been prepared by the Transcultural Mental Health Centre. It aims to provide general information about Ukrainian people and culture. It is not prescriptive and cannot be applied to every individual born in Ukraine or with Ukrainian heritage. It is important to remember that culture is more than a set of inherited traditions and beliefs. Culture is shaped by historical, political, social and economic circumstances and is constantly evolving and changing as it circulates across nations and geographic boundaries.
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Background
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe, the second largest in area on the continent after Russia. Ukraine is bordered by Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Moldova and the Black Sea.
Historically Ukraine has experienced domination by Poland – Lithuania, Russia and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR). After a period of independence between 1918 – 1920 and war with the Soviets, Ukraine became part of the USSR establishing a single party socialist republic government. The 1930s saw the arrests, deportations and executions of Ukrainian intellectuals. Deaths during Holodomor, the human-made famine of 1932–1933, have been estimated at 4.5 million while WWII saw the persecution of Jewish Ukrainians during the Holocaust. Throughout the 20th Century czarist and soviet policies banned publication and education in the Ukrainian language, nevertheless Ukrainian culture has remained strong.
With the dissolution of the USSR in December 1991 Ukraine gained full independence and a democratic infrastructure was established. The President, who is head of state and commander in chief, is chosen by a popular election. The legislature has a mix of single-seat and proportional representation and the Prime Minister is chosen through a legislative majority and is head of government.
The days following the Russian invasion saw nearly half a million people, mainly women and children (as men under 60 are not permitted to leave), fleeing Ukraine to Poland and other neighbouring countries. It is estimated that up to 4 million people could flee Ukraine as the conflict intensifies.
The Australian Prime Minister has indicated that the Australian Government is fast-tracking visa applications from Ukrainians and has flagged a special intake of refugees on top of Australia’s existing annual humanitarian allocation, as well as offering skilled migrants or students priority.
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History of Ukrainian migration to Australia
Ukrainian migration to Australia has a long history and there is a strong Ukrainian community of around 38,000 people in Australia.
Prior to WWI around 5,000 Ukrainians had arrived in Australia. Larger numbers of Ukrainians began to arrive in Australia following WWII. In most cases they were refugees displaced by the war and included skilled workers, professionals, and people from a rural background. Many were required to fulfill 2-year work contracts with the Australian government in exchange for passage to Australia.
There were limited numbers of Ukrainian migrants to Australia during the Soviet era. Those arriving during this period were largely Ukrainian Jews and Ukrainians from Poland and the former Yugoslavia. Following Ukrainian independence in 1991 several waves of Ukrainian migrants arrived in Australia. These included young, skilled professionals and those coming through the family migration stream.
Ukrainian Community in NSW - Demographics
- In 2016 there were 4829 people in NSW born in Ukraine and 14,446 with Ukrainian ancestry. This is a 22.7% increase in the number of people with Ukrainian ancestry since 2011 (from 11,773).
- 55% of people with Ukrainian ancestry were born in Australia, 22.2% in Ukraine, 5.9% in Germany, 2.5% in the Russian Federation and 2.3% in Canada.
- 7.0% of people with Ukrainian ancestry were born overseas and arrived in Australia between 2011 and August 2016.
- In 2016 the majority of people with Ukrainian ancestry in NSW spoke English at home (60%), followed by Russian (20.2%), Ukrainian (14%) and Polish (0.9%).
- Most people with Ukrainian ancestry in NSW speak English only, well, or very well (94.6%). 4.9% are unable to speak English well or at all.
- In 2016, 16% of the population with Ukrainian ancestry were children (aged 19 years and under), 36% were young adults (20 to 44), 48% were older adults (45 years and over).
- 27.1% of Ukrainians in NSW are Western (Roman) Catholic, 6.5% are Russian Orthodox, 5.5% are Christian - not further defined, 5.3% are other Eastern Orthodox and 5% are Anglican.
- In 2016 most people with Ukrainian ancestry in NSW lived in Sydney (10,633) in the Sydney City (749), Randwick City (644) Waverly Council (483) Bayside Council (463) and Newcastle City (455) local government areas. There are 3,798 people with Ukrainian ancestry living in regional NSW.
Recent arrivals
- Between January 2019 and June 2021, 405 Ukraine-born people arrived in Australia. 203 of these were part of the Family migration stream and 202 as part of the Skilled migration stream. There were less than 5 humanitarian entrants from Ukraine during this period.
- During the same period 198 people who speak Ukrainian arrived in Australia. Of these 88 were part of the family migration stream and 110 were part of the skilled migration stream.
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Support for recently arrived Ukrainian Nationals in Australia
The Australian Government is providing a range of support for Ukrainians who have been displaced by the conflict. Visit the Australian Government Home Affairs website for further information.
Note important changes to this information, July 2022
- The offer of a Temporary Humanitarian Concern (THC) (subclass 786) visa only remains open until 14 July 2022.
- The Australian Government offer of a Temporary Humanitarian Stay (subclass 449) in Australia will expire on 14 July 2022. Ukrainians, or their family members, wishing to accept the offer must do so by 14 July 2022.
- Persons who arrive after 14 July 2022 will not be able to accept the offer and will need to look at what other visa options would be suitable for their circumstances.
- Persons who do not accept the offer by 14 July 2022 can seek information about visa options via the DHA online enquiry form or the Explore visa options page.
NSW Refugee Health Service
The vast majority of newly arrived Ukrainians will be eligible for Medicare, including anyone on a Protection Visas (subclass 866) or Bridging Visa A (subclass 010). Those that are ineligible for Medicare can make a Referral to one of Refugee Health Service's GP clinics in Liverpool, Blacktown or Auburn. RHS has developed a series of factsheets describing arrangements for Medicare ineligible Ukrainians needing health care in public hospitals in NSW. English, Russian and Ukrainian.
Settlement Services International
The Department of Home Affairs has advised Settlement Services International (SSI) that short term limited support can be provided to Ukrainian nationals in Australia who hold non-humanitarian temporary visas (subclass 600), Humanitarian Stay (Temporary) (subclass 449) or a Temporary (Humanitarian Concern) (subclass 786) visa, under the Humanitarian Settlement Program (HSP).
SSI Support for newly arrived Ukrainians – HSP (PDF 156.2KB)
Download a poster about the program below.
SSI Ukrainian support poster in English (PDF 117.6KB)
SSI Ukrainian support poster in Ukrainian (PDF 139.7KB)
SSI Ukrainian support poster in Russian (PDF 139.3KB)
Refugee Service, Legal Aid NSW
Fact Sheet Humanitarian visa options for people from Ukraine (PDF 232.3KB)
This factsheet provides general advice for people applying under the humanitarian program. For advice about applications in the Family program, such as partner visas, you should speak with a lawyer or migration agent about your particular circumstances. It is general information only and is current at 1 May 2022.
NSW Health
NSW Health will provide access to public hospital services free of charge for people from Ukraine who arrived in Australia on or after 1 December 2021. This is a temporary arrangement under the NSW Health policy for asylum seekers without Medicare. For further information download a factsheet Free public health care for Ukrainians in NSW (DOCX 198.1KB).
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Mental Health
There are a range of factors that may influence the mental health and wellbeing of Ukrainians in Australia. Many will experience stress and anxiety in the light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. They may fear for the lives and safety of family and friends in Ukraine, and for Ukraine’s future. The current events may also trigger or exacerbate pre-existing mental health issues. Mental wellbeing is complex and an interplay of factors influence each person’s mental health. It is important when working with Ukrainian Australians to understand the individual context and experiences of each person and to avoid stereotyping or generalisations across the community.
Some of the factors that may influence the mental health of Ukrainians in Australia include:
- Pre-migration experiences of war, violence, political repression and displacement resulting in a high prevalence of mental health issues such as Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety. (Birman 2014, de Doty 2018, Johnson 2021, Roberts 2019, Shelemei 2021, Shevlin 2018 and Singh 2021)
- Increased use of alcohol and other drugs for those with experience of conflict and displacement (Doty 2018, Isralowitz 2002, Patel 2020 and Ramachandran 2019)
- The ongoing collective and individual psychological impact of living in a totalitarian society, including depression, a sense of inferiority, distrust and fear (Marais 2020)
- Intergenerational impact of trauma on succeeding generations (Marais 2020)
- The use of psychiatry as a tool of repression in the Soviet era resulting in distrust, stigma and fear of asking for help (Marais 2020 and Quirk 2021)
- A lack of mental health help seeking culture in Ukraine (Zhluktenko 2021)
- Lack of knowledge about mental illnesses, appropriate treatment and services available (Landa 2015, Ramachandran 2019, Roberts and Schubert 2019)
- Somatization of mental health issues (Schubert 2019)
- Settlement difficulties and acculturation stress (Oleinikova 2015, Bilewicz 2021, Team 2007)
- Experience of discrimination can contribute to increased emotional distress (Salama 2020, Team 2007, Tankosić 2021)
Literature
Bilewicz, M., Skrodzka, M., Olko, J., & Lewińska, T. (2021). The double-edged sword of identification. The divergent effects of identification on acculturation stress among Ukrainian immigrants in Poland. International Journal of Intercultural Relations, 83, 177–186. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijintrel.2021.06.009
Birman, D., Simon, C.D., Chan, W.Y. and Tran, N., 2014. A life domains perspective on acculturation and psychological adjustment: A study of refugees from the former Soviet Union. American Journal of Community Psychology, 53(1), pp.60-72. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10464-013-9614-2
Bobesky, C.M. and Mulvaney, M., 2020. Ethnic identity among Ukrainians in the United States: intergenerational and community influences. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 43(12), pp.2255-2274. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/01419870.2019.1671597
Doty, S.B., Haroz, E.E., Singh, N.S., Bogdanov, S., Bass, J.K., Murray, L.K., Callaway, K.L. and Bolton, P.A., 2018. Adaptation and testing of an assessment for mental health and alcohol use problems among conflict-affected adults in Ukraine. Conflict and Health, 12(1), pp.1-13 https://conflictandhealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13031-018-0169-6
Isralowitz, R., Straussner, S.L.A., Vogt, I. and Chtenguelov, V., 2002. A preliminary exploration of immigrant substance abusers from the former Soviet Union living in Israel, Germany and the United States: a multi-national perspective. Journal of Social Work Practice in the Addictions, 2(3-4), pp.119-136. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1300/J160v02n03_08
Javanbakht, A. 2022. Many Ukrainians face a future of lasting psychological wounds from the Russian invasion. The Conversation. March 8, 2022 12.20am https://theconversation.com/many-ukrainians-face-a-future-of-lasting-psychological-wounds-from-the-russian-invasion-177986
Johnson, R.J., Antonaccio, O., Botchkovar, E. and Hobfoll, S.E., 2021. War trauma and PTSD in Ukraine’s civilian population: comparing urban-dwelling to internally displaced persons. Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, pp.1-10. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00127-021-02176-9
Knaifel, E. and Mirsky, J., 2015. Interplay of identities: a narrative study of self-perceptions among immigrants with severe mental illness from the former Soviet Union. Transcultural Psychiatry, 52(1), pp.74-95. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1363461514552585
Landa, A., Skritskaya, N., Nicasio, A., Humensky, J. and Lewis-Fernández, R., 2015. Unmet need for treatment of depression among immigrants from the former USSR in the US: A primary care study. The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine, 50(3), pp.271-289. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0091217415610320
Marais, J.F. and Kazakova, O. et al. (2020) Understanding and building resilience to early life trauma in Belarus and Ukraine. World Health Organization https://www.euro.who.int/en/countries/belarus/publications/understanding-and-building-resilience-to-early-life-trauma-in-belarus-and-ukraine-2020
Marczak, M., Sorokowski, P. and Sobol, M., 2021. Balanced time perspective as a facilitator of immigrants’ psychological adaptation: A study among Ukrainian immigrants in Poland. Transcultural Psychiatry, 58(6), pp.789-803. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1363461520949673
Michalski, T., Brosz, M., Stepien, J., Biernacka, K., Blaszczyk, M. and Grabowski, J., 2021. Perceived stress levels among Ukrainian migrant and LGBT+ minorities in Poland during the COVID-19 pandemic. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(23), p.12838. https://www.mdpi.com/1391644
Oleinikova, O., 2015. Coping With Post-Soviet Transition: Achievement Vs. Survival Life Strategies Of Post-Independence Ukrainian Migrants In Australia (1991-2013).Thesis Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, School of Social and Political Sciences. University of Sydney https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/bitstream/handle/2123/14460/Oleinikova_OA_Thesis.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y
Patel, S.S., Zvinchuk, O. and Erickson, T.B., 2020. The conflict in East Ukraine: A growing need for addiction research and substance use intervention for vulnerable populations. Forensic science & addiction research, 5(3), p.406. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7194209
Quirke, E., Klymchuk, V., Suvalo, O., Bakolis, I. and Thornicroft, G., 2021. Mental health stigma in Ukraine: cross-sectional survey. Global Mental Health, 8. https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/DD66E53BE822249C13472454A9D5E89E/S2054425121000091a.pdf/div-class-title-mental-health-stigma-in-ukraine-cross-sectional-survey-div.pdf
Ramachandran, A., Makhashvili, N., Javakhishvili, J., Karachevskyy, A., Kharchenko, N., Shpiker, M., Ezard, N., Fuhr, D.C. and Roberts, B., 2019. Alcohol use among conflict-affected persons in Ukraine: risk factors, coping and access to mental health services. European journal of public health, 29(6), pp.1141-1146. https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/id/eprint/4653077/1/Ramachandran_2019_Alcohol_use_among_conflict-affected_persons.pdf
Roberts, B., Makhashvili, N., Javakhishvili, J., Karachevskyy, A., Kharchenko, N., Shpiker, M. and Richardson, E., 2019. Mental health care utilisation among internally displaced persons in Ukraine: results from a nation-wide survey. Epidemiology and psychiatric sciences, 28(1), pp.100-111. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/epidemiology-and-psychiatric-sciences/article/abs/mental-health-care-utilisation-among-internally-displaced-persons-in-ukraine-results-from-a-nationwide-survey/88702459BFCBFF4D88A49ED5400E3C88
Shelemei, O. and Volodarska, N., 2021. Recovery of Women Well-Being in Migration: Example of Ukraine. Revista de cercetare și intervenție socială, 75, pp.115-126. http://www.rcis.ro/images/documente/rcis75_07.pdf
Shevlin, M., Hyland, P., Vallières, F., Bisson, J., Makhashvili, N., Javakhishvili, J., Shpiker, M. and Roberts, B., 2018. A comparison of DSM‐5 and ICD‐11 PTSD prevalence, comorbidity and disability: An analysis of the Ukrainian Internally Displaced Person's Mental Health Survey. Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 137(2), pp.138-147. https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/108613/1/A%20Comparison%20of%20DSM-5%20and%20ICD-11%20PTSD%20%28MS%29.pdf
Singh, N.S., Bogdanov, S., Doty, B., Haroz, E., Girnyk, A., Chernobrovkina, V., Murray, L.K., Bass, J.K. and Bolton, P.A., 2021. Experiences of mental health and functioning among conflict-affected populations: A qualitative study with military veterans and displaced persons in Ukraine. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 91(4), p.499. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2021-39926-001
Summers, A., Leidman, E., Pereira Figueira Periquito, I.M. and Bilukha, O.O., 2019. Serious psychological distress and disability among older persons living in conflict affected areas in eastern Ukraine: a cluster-randomized cross-sectional household survey. Conflict and health, 13(1), pp.1-10. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13031-019-0194-0
Team, V., Manderson, L. and Markovic, M., 2017. Cultural Competence in Health: Understanding the Food Choices of Older Ukrainian Australians. In Culture, Migration, and Health Communication in a Global Context (pp. 87-104). Routledge.
Tankosić, A. and Dovchin, S., 2021. (C) overt linguistic racism: Eastern-European background immigrant women in the Australian workplace. Ethnicities, p.14687968211005104. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/14687968211005104
Wypych, M. and Bilewicz, M., 2022. Psychological toll of hate speech: The role of acculturation stress in the effects of exposure to ethnic slurs on mental health among Ukrainian immigrants in Poland. Cultural diversity and ethnic minority psychology. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2022-23266-001
Zhluktenko, V (2021)The Delicate Balance of Mental Health in Ukraine The Storyteller IOM UN Migration https://reliefweb.int/report/ukraine/delicate-balance-mental-health-ukraine <viewed 28 February 2022>
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Ukrainian Organisations in NSW
(note: this is not an exhaustive list of Ukrainian organisations in NSW)
Australia-Ukraine Chamber of Commerce
Website: www.aucc.biz
Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations
PO Box 251, Essendon, Victoria, 3040
Phone: (03) 9375 1781
Website: www.ozeukes.com
Free Thought Newspaper
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Free-Thought-Вільна-Думка-1568795693419839
Nova Ukrainian School Inc.
Located in Blakehurst, Castle Cove, Parramatta, Holsworthy
Website: www.novashkola.webs.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nova.ukrainian.school
Plast NSW — Ukrainian Scouting Organisation
Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/PlastNSW
St Andrews Ukrainian School
57 Church Street, Lidcombe, NSW 2141
(in the grounds of St Andrews Ukrainian Catholic Church)
Phone: (02) 9649 9975
Website: www.standrewsukrainianschool.com
Ukrainian Association of Cabramatta Fairfield
32 Broomfield St, Cabramatta NSW
Website: https://ukrainianacf.business.site
Facebook: www.facebook.com/UkrainanACF
Ukrainian Association of Sydney Сiднейська Громада
59-63 Joseph St, Lidcombe NSW 2141
Phone: (02) 9749 1912
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.hromada.org.au
Ukrainian Australian Social Association Queanbeyan
Ukrainian Hall, 19 Atkinson St, Queanbeyan NSW 2620
Phone: (02) 6297 9841
Ukrainian Catholic Church
Website: https://catholicukes.org.au/parishes/sydney
St Andrew's Parish – Lidcombe
57 Church Street, Lidcombe NSW 2141
Phone: (02) 9649 9975
Email: [email protected]
Parish of The Protection of The Mother Of God
105 Gosford Rd, Adamstown, NSW, 2289
Phone: (02) 4961 3651
Email: [email protected]
St. Volodymyr’s Church
56 Kenny St, Wollongong, NSW 250
Ukrainian Central School, Sydney
Ukrainian Central School
51-57 Joseph Street, Lidcombe, NSW 2141
Phone: (02) 9749 1912
Website: www.shkola.com.au
Ukrainian Council of NSW
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: Facebook.com/ucnsw
Website: https://ucnsw.org
Ukrainian Orthodox Churches
Intercession of the Holy Virgin, Ukrainian Orthodox Church
108 Corner Arthur Street and Mitchell Road,
Strathfield West, NSW 2135
Phone: (02) 4784 3213
Email: [email protected]
Facebook:www.facebook.com/PokrovaUOC
St Athanasius Ukrainian Orthodox Church
53 William St, Granville NSW 2142
Phone: (02) 9622 0441
Website: www.uaoc-diaspora.com
Ukrainian Autocephalic Orthodox Church of the Protection of the Theotokos
108 Arthur St, Strathfield NSW 2140
Phone: (02) 9764 3914
Website: www.uaoc-diaspora.com
Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Transfiguration
35A Kildare Rd, Blacktown NSW 2148
Phone: (02) 9642 5243
Facebook: www.facebook.com/uaorthodoxchurchBlacktown
Ukrainian Studies Foundation in Australia
PO Box 270, Lidcombe, NSW, 2141
Email: [email protected]
Mobile: 0425 350 197
Ukrainian Women’s Association of Australia
Email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/UkrainianWomensAssociationAustralia
Ukrainian Youth Association (CYM) Sydney
3 John St, Lidcombe NSW 2141
Phone: (02) 9649 7815
Facebook: www.facebook.com/cymsyd
Ukrainian Youth Association in Australia
P.O. Box 32, Darlinghurst, NSW, 1003 Australia
Website: www.cym.org/au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/au.CYM
Email: [email protected]
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Service Providers
Transcultural Mental Health Centre (TMHC)
Transcultural Mental Health Line 1800 648 911
If you require information or support for a mental health concern, either for yourself or someone you care for, call the Transcultural Mental Health Line on 1800 648 911.
The line operates for people from culturally and linguistically diverse communities in NSW from Monday to Friday between 9:00 am and 4:30 pm.
At other times please call the NSW Mental Health Line on 1800 011 511.
Clinical Consultation and Assessment Service 9912 3851
Public mental health services can call our Clinical Consultation and Assessment Service on (02) 9912 3851, Monday to Friday between 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.
TMHC Community Capacity Building in Strengthening the Mental Health of New and Emerging Refugee Populations
TMHC’s community capacity building program for refugees provides mental health and wellbeing information sessions for community groups and service providers who work closely with communities and distribution of mental health and wellbeing resources, including language-specific resources. We also work with community and service providers to develop initiatives tailored to specific needs
Contact
Mental Health Consultant - Prevention and Community Engagement
Email: [email protected]
NSW Service for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Torture and Trauma Survivors (STARTTS)
Phone: (02) 9646 6700
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.startts.org.au
Mental Health Community Living Supports for Refugees
A community-based program located in seven Local Health Districts (LHDs) that provides support for refugees and asylum seekers with mental health issues to live and participate in the community in the way that they want to. Click here for a list of local providers.
NSW Mental Health Line - Call 1800 011 511
To use an interpreter call Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) on 131 450 and ask them to ring the Mental Health line on 1800 011 511.
NSW Refugee Health Service
Phone: (02) 9794 0770
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.swslhd.health.nsw.gov.au/refugee
Hark Clinic at the Children's Hospital at Westmead
Provides health assessment for refugee kids every Friday through the outpatients department at the Children's Hospital at Westmead
Website: www.schn.health.nsw.gov.au/find-a-service/health-medical-services/refugee-service/chw
Settlement Services International (SSI)
Phone: 02 8799 6700
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.ssi.org.au
SSI Ukraine response www.ssi.org.au/get-involved/current-affairs/ukraine-response
The Refugee Council of Australia has published a webpage Support for Australian Refugee Communities Impacted by Coverage of the Crisis in Ukraine and also maintains a database of additional refugee and asylum seeker services at: www.refugeecouncil.org.au/services-nsw
Bilingual mental health professionals
Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW)
The AASW Directory for Social Workers can be searched by language preference.
www.aasw.asn.au/find-a-social-worker/search
Australian Psychological Society
Find a psychologist. Search for a psychologist using issue, name, location or area of practice, then refine result by selecting from ‘Preferred Language’ www.psychology.org.au/Find-a-Psychologist
Psychology Today Directory
Directory of psychologists in NSW select Language from ‘More’ www.psychologytoday.com/au/counselling/nsw/sydney
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Find a Psychiatrist directory can be searched using location, language, problem area and practice details. www.yourhealthinmind.org/find-a-psychiatrist
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Resources in Ukrainian
Transcultural Mental Health Centre
A Practical Guide: A good night's sleep (PDF 678.8KB)
A Practical Guide: Stress and stress management (PDF 660KB)
Australian Government Department of Health
A wide variety of information about COVID-19 in Ukrainian
COVID-19 Resources in Ukrainian
Australian Human Rights Commission
Making a complaint Ukrainian (PDF 186KB), English version (PDF 141KB)
Centre for the Study of Traumatic Stress
War in Ukraine Mental Health Resources in Ukrainian
War in Ukraine Mental Health Resources in English
Dementia Australia
https://www.dementia.org.au/resources/ukrainian
What is dementia? Ukrainian/English (PDF 412KB)
Diagnosing Dementia Ukrainian/ English (PDF 393KB)
Early Planning Ukrainian/ English PDF 402KB
Changed behaviours and dementia Ukrainian/English (PDF 425KB)
Looking after families and carers: Taking a break Ukrainian/English (PDF 410KB)
Caring for someone with dementia: Communication Ukrainian/English (PDF 426KB)
Worried about your memory? Ukrainian (PDF 1.1MB)
It’s not a disgrace, it’s dementia Video in Ukrainian with English subtitles
Medline Plus (USA)
Health Information in Ukrainian (українська)
Links to numerous fact sheets on a variety of diseases and conditions in Ukrainian
Palliative Care Australia
What matters most – starter card set in Ukrainian
Positive Living and Wellbeing
A positive living and wellbeing site for the Ukrainian community
https://wellness.ozeukes.com
Psychology Tools
Resources for therapists in Ukrainian – note: payment is required for download
Understanding Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Ukrainian
SBS Radio
SBS Settlement Guide Podcast in Ukrainian
United Nations, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Humanitarian response in Ukraine and neighbouring countries: Resources in English, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovakian, and Ukrainian
World Health Organization, Regional Office for Europe
MhGAP Intervention Guide for Mental Health, neurological and substance use disorders in non-specialized health settings - Version 2.0 2016 in English and Ukrainian
Doing what matters in times of stress: an illustrated guide in Ukrainian (PDF 6,223MB), English version PDF 2,272MB)
Resources in Russian
Transcultural Mental Health Centre
A Practical Guide: A good night's sleep. Russian (PDF 685.4KB)
A Practical Guide: Stress and stress management. Russian (PDF 661.9KB)
Help for you and your family after disasters. Russian (PDF 140KB)
Kessler 10 Russian (PDF 185KB), Whose recovery and outcome are they anyway? Russian (PDF 166KB)
Australian Government Department of Health COVID-19 Resources
Russian www.health.gov.au/resources/translated?f%5B0%5D=field_language%3A1156
Carer Gateway Multilingual Resources
Russian www.carergateway.gov.au/document/541
Centre for the Study of Traumatic Stress
War in Ukraine Mental Health Resources in Russian
Dementia Australia
Russian www.dementia.org.au/resources/russian
Embrace Multicultural Mental Health
https://embracementalhealth.org.au Select appropriate language from list.
My Aged Care information
Russian www.myagedcare.gov.au/ru/russian
NSW Health
COVID-19 Information in Russian
Looking after your mental health during COVID-19 in Russian (PDF 51KB)
United Nations, Inter-Agency Standing Committee (IASC)
Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Humanitarian response in Ukraine and neighbouring countries: Resources in English, Hungarian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Romanian, Russian, Slovakian, and Ukrainian
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References and Further Reading
Aljazeera (2022) ‘Russia's invasion of Ukraine’ Aljazeera
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/2/26/russias-invasion-of-ukraine-key-moments-by-day <viewed 28 February 2022>
Australian Government, Department of Home Affairs (2018) Ukraine-born Community Information Summary www.homeaffairs.gov.au/mca/files/2016-cis-ukraine.PDF
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