"Ukrainian migration to Australian began only 65 years ago." Bishop Petro (Stasyuk)

"I believe that it is very important to educate and to inform people who emigrate from Ukraine to Australia so they understood that head for a foreign land. Maybe the people who go to the Ukrainian community in Australia hope that it will be the same as it was at home. But it is worth remembering that Ukrainian migration to Australia began only 65 years ago," noted to Information Department of the UGCC Bishop Petro (Stasyuk), Eparch for Ukrainian Greek Catholics in Australia. The main confessor of Australian Ukrainians notices that misunderstandings sometimes arise from insignificant occasions. For example, the linguistic question: In Australia people speak and using spelling which existed 60 years ago. "Currently in Ukraine the Ukrainian language is much better and richer than ours. Therefore even such small contradictions can lead to conflict,” says the bishop. “There is another situation. Many Ukrainians who arrive here prefer to communicate in Russian. This can cause a problem because our people who earlier immigrated to Australia had problems with the Soviet regime, a great number from them were in camps for their political or religious persuasions. Therefore they have their vision of patriotism. But, not all the Ukrainians who arrive now are capable of understanding it. Therefore, the Australian Ukrainian diaspora is surprised when an emigrant says that he comes from Ukraine, but speaks another language." New Ukrainian immigrants come to Australia for better work. Many of them try to improve their English right away to better help them find a job. “They go where English is spoken, send their children to English schools, because want to assimilate as quickly as possible into Australian culture. Not all in the diaspora understand this nor accept it,” continues Bishop Stasiuk. He addressed the potential immigrants so they will be more sensible and considerate to the older generation of migration, so they also form relationships with those Ukrainians who already live in Australia. "We must also learn about the modern lifestyle of a Ukrainian so that it is easier to understand their conduct. Simply speaking – we must become friends," stressed the eparch of Ukrainian Greek Catholic in Australia. Recently a lot of Ukrainian clergy have come to Australia but they stay around people from the last wave of migration since they have more in common. This helps the church and society. Bishop Stasyuk tells, that the newly arrived are active people because they participate in the activity of the Ukrainian community: on Ukrainian radio, in the publishing house of magazines, manage diaspora galleries and choreographic collectives, and teach at Sunday schools. "If we will find a common language, we will have positive results of cooperation. Accordingly, our church also participates in helping the Ukrainian immigrants adjust to the conditions of the new country, culture, and worldview. The UGCC in Australia gladly gives spiritual, moral, and if it is needed, financial support," sums up Bishop Petro.

Information Department of the UGCC