The delegation from the Australian Embassy, led by the newly appointed Ambassador Geoff Bowan, visited the Save Ukraine Center. 

During the visit, we introduced our team’s daily work with children and families who have survived occupation, loss, and displacement. We shared how various forms of support are integrated into a single approach — from safe spaces and education for children to structured psychosocial support for parents, helping families gradually rebuild a sense of stability and trust in their daily lives. 

The team also presented the “Sure Start” program, implemented with the support of the Australian Government through the Direct Aid Program (DAP). It is designed to provide long-term family support by helping parents better understand their children’s needs and create an environment where recovery and development are possible. 

A separate part of the visit was dedicated to the PANDA Center — a specialized space designed to support child survivors of sexual abuse and exploitation. With Australia’s support, a key stage of its preparation has been completed, and the center is now nearing full operational status to begin receiving children in need. 

One of the most powerful moments of the visit was a conversation with teenagers who were rescued from occupation. They spoke about life under constant pressure and propaganda, and the difficult decision to leave everything behind to regain their freedom. 

Visits like this are vital because they demonstrate how international support translates into tangible change — not in abstract terms, but in the lives and recovery of specific children and families. 

We are sincerely grateful to the Australian Government, Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Australian Embassy to Ukraine for their partnership, trust, and consistent contribution to restoring childhoods in Ukraine.