Programs
Since 2015 we have been helping people in need in Ukraine. And now we are in need of your donations more than ever.
UNBROKEN | НЕЗЛАМНІ
A Lifeline for Ukraine’s Wounded
UNBROKEN is a unique ecosystem of humanity — uniting more than twenty projects that provide a full spectrum of services: medical treatment, prosthetics, physical and psychological rehabilitation, housing and social reintegration.
Since the beginning of the full-scale war, over 20,000 wounded Ukrainians, including children, have received life-saving treatment at UNBROKEN. Patients come from across the country, many suffering from mine-explosive injuries, gunshot wounds and severe burns.
A New Milestone: Rehabilitation for Spinal Cord Injuries
Recently, UNBROKEN launched a dedicated Rehabilitation Department for Patients with Spinal Cord Injuries, a specialised unit that accommodates up to 30 patients. Here, medical teams provide complex care for those facing the most challenging recoveries — restoring movement, independence, and dignity.
To ensure appropriate care and comfort, the department urgently required 10 specialised functional hospital beds, designed specifically for individuals with spinal cord injuries. Each bed included essential features such as:
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Electric height adjustment
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Independent backrest and leg positioning
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Trendelenburg and reverse Trendelenburg positioning
UCA’s Contribution: Funding Critical Equipment
With a total cost of $45,380 AUD (123,900 UAH per bed, purchased within Ukraine), the Ukraine Crisis Appeal (UCA) proudly funded all 10 hospital beds — directly strengthening UNBROKEN’s capacity to save lives and accelerate recovery.
Members of the UCA Committee have visited this remarkable facility firsthand. Inside, 40 operating theatres run continuously, supported by medical teams whose expertise and dedication are nothing short of heroic. They tackle cases that others cannot — offering hope where there might otherwise be none.
Innovation and Partnership for the Future
UNBROKEN is more than a hospital — it is an innovative hub for recovery and reinvention. The organisation now produces its own prosthetics and is planning to open a university to train the next generation of rehabilitation specialists.
This forward-thinking approach makes UNBROKEN an invaluable strategic partner for UCA, particularly in the long-term rehabilitation of veterans, civilians and children affected by war.
Together, we are helping Ukraine’s wounded rebuild their strength, independence and hope — because being UNBROKEN is not just a name, it is a spirit.
Nazareth Rehabilitation Program: Restoring Hope and Dignity for Ukraine’s Veterans and Their Families
For veterans returning from the frontlines, the road home is often one of the hardest journeys they will ever take.
The Nazareth Rehabilitation Centre stands as a beacon of hope for Ukraine’s defenders and their loved ones — a place where physical wounds, invisible scars, and the impact of war on entire families are met with care, understanding, and a clear path towards healing.
A Holistic Approach to Recovery
The ongoing war in Ukraine has left tens of thousands of soldiers and their families facing complex challenges: physical injuries, psychological trauma, addiction, and the struggle to rebuild their lives in shattered communities. The Nazareth Centre meets these challenges head-on with a holistic model of rehabilitation that combines:
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Physical recovery — including tailored programs for veterans with disabilities and injuries
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Psychological healing — through inpatient and outpatient counselling, therapy sessions, and support groups
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Social reintegration — practical assistance for starting businesses, repairing homes, paying utility bills, and reconnecting with community life
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Spiritual support — helping veterans and their families find hope, meaning, and renewed purpose
Caring for the Whole Family
Nazareth recognises that the impact of war extends beyond the battlefield — it reaches mothers, wives, and especially children who face fear, instability, and loss.
Children of veterans take part in therapeutic and recreational activities designed to help them regain emotional stability and enjoy the simple joys of childhood again. Wives and mothers receive specialised counselling, outreach, and a supportive community that walks alongside them every step of the way.
A Safe Haven in Difficult Times
Today, with the war still expanding and more families displaced, Nazareth has opened its doors wider than ever before. Up to 160 people — men, women, and children — now live at the Centre, where they find safety, shelter, and daily support from specialist therapists and mental health workers.
Nazareth has also become a sanctuary for people with disabilities, thanks to accessibility upgrades funded by the Ukraine Crisis Appeal. The first groups of veterans and their families have already completed their programs in these new, inclusive facilities.
Real Impact, Real People
Between August 2024 and July 2025, the Nazareth Rehabilitation Program achieved:
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34 veterans in recovery from alcohol, drug, or gambling addictions
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116 veterans supported through inpatient psychological programs (average duration: 18 days)
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40 veterans and families assisted directly with practical needs: small business support, home repairs, medical care, utility bills, and more
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Over 700 people reached through outreach programs — pottery workshops, hospital visits, and coordination meetings
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163 women — wives or mothers of veterans and active servicemen — provided with psychological support or outreach care
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37 children engaged in Nazareth’s healing activities and workshops
The Cost of Hope
The need is growing every day. The Centre’s annual operating cost is currently $123,000 AUD, and it is projected to rise to $175,000 AUD in Year 2 as demand increases and more families seek help.
With your support, Nazareth can continue to expand its facilities, train more therapists, and welcome more veterans and their families in need.
How Nazareth & UCA change lives (2024)
Safe Homes
Caritas Ukraine Safe Homes project is providing appropriate domestic settings and immediate complex psychosocial support to displaced families with children including psychological aid, organized children’s leisure activities, restoration of learning process as well as fostering the integration of internally displaced persons into the hosting community.
Services and support include:
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Specialist assistance and counselling to assist residents overcome the trauma of war and to regain confidence and life skills to work and live unsupported.
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Only one family accommodated per room to provide the necessary privacy required for individual family units to navigate through their own journey of recovery.
- Encouraging socialisation by assisting with employment and children’s local school attendance.
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Encouraging self-sufficiency through community gardens, farming, common projects etc.
- Serenity and security with the shelter tucked away in the woods of a village and gated to enable additional level of security comfort.
Per Safe Home project cost of repurposing a building, fit-out and a 12-month program is $AUD175,000.
Child Friendly Space
The war in Ukraine has had a devastating impact on children. They witness violence, experience displacement, and suffer from trauma. Many are struggling to cope with fear, anxiety, and the loss of normalcy. 240 families in the Berdychiv territorial community have lost a father or mother at the frontline.
Ukraine Crisis Appeal’s (UCA) Mission: To Restore Childhood
Caritas Ukraine's "Child Friendly Space" project in Berdychiv in partnership with UCA is a lifeline for these children. We create safe havens where they can:
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Rediscover joy: Through play, creative activities, and engaging learning experiences, we help children reconnect with their childhood.
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Heal from trauma: Trained psychologists provide support and guidance, helping children cope with the emotional and psychological impact of war.
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Develop essential skills: Educational programs and activities foster learning, build confidence, and prepare children for the future.
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Rebuild a sense of normalcy: By providing a supportive and nurturing environment, we help children regain a sense of stability and hope.
What We've Achieved So Far:
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Reached 143 children: Providing them with a safe space to play, learn, and heal.
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Supported 42 parents/caregivers: Offering guidance and resources to help them support their children.
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Provided essential services: Including speech therapy, psychological counseling, and educational activities.
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Organized mobile outreach: Bringing support to children in shelters and remote communities.
How We Achieve Our Goals:
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Creating Safe Spaces: We establish child-friendly spaces equipped with toys, games, and comfortable areas for children to relax and play.
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Providing Comprehensive Support: Our team of qualified professionals, including psychologists, social workers, and educators, provide a range of services tailored to the individual needs of each child.
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Engaging Parents: We involve parents in the program through workshops, support groups, and joint activities, strengthening family bonds and providing valuable resources for parents.
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Building Resilience: We utilize therapeutic interventions, such as art therapy and play therapy, to help children process their trauma and develop coping mechanisms.
The Impact:
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Improved emotional well-being: Children experience reduced anxiety, improved mood, and increased resilience.
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Enhanced social and emotional development: Children develop essential social skills, such as communication, cooperation, and empathy.
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Improved academic performance: Children gain valuable educational support and develop a love of learning.
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Strengthened family bonds: Parents and caregivers receive support and guidance, enabling them to better support their children.
Your Support Matters!
Every contribution, no matter how small, makes a significant difference in the lives of these children. Your support will help us:
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Expand our reach: Reach more children in need.
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Enhance our programs: Offer new activities and expand our services.
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Provide essential resources: Ensure children have the support they need to thrive.
Please donate today and help us bring hope and healing to children affected by war in Ukraine.
Humanitarian Aid
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine our focus changed completely to provision of emergency services to displaced persons in Ukraine (food, shelter/hygiene products, medical aid, clean water, clothing etc) via our on the ground partner Caritas Ukraine. We have spent $1,250,015 on the program so far and contributed to the following:
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Assistance provided to 1,182,978 people
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621,906 food packages delivered
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247,143 hygiene kits delivered
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33,034 kits with bottled water provided to areas with limited/no access to clean water
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79,277 sets of bedding distributed
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23,843 people were provided with emergency accommodation
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7,606 people received psychological consultations
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31,667 people received legal aid and special assistance services
Medical Aid
Ukraine Crisis Appeal donations have funded over $4.5 million of critical lifesaving medical supplies.
The AFUO medical committee sourced millions of dollars of medical supplies were generously donated by Australian hospitals and medical providers.
Our partners CH2 and RAWCS aided with storage and packing, and QANTAS with free airfreight of the shipments to the United Kingdom. Numerous volunteers navigated the logistical challenge of transporting our medical supplies from the United Kingdom to Ukraine.
Our Australian partners Rotary Donations in Kind in Footscray West provide warehouse and logistical support for our container shipments of medical and humanitarian aid.
Five 40 foot high cube containers have been shipped from 2023 to 2025.
Our partners on the ground in Ukraine, Rotary Ukraine Unity distribute the medical supplies to regions and medical facilities across Ukraine, including:
👉 Radiology equipment – X-ray room, C-arm, mobile Ultrasound machines
👉 65 wheelchairs
👉 90 walking frames
👉 80 sets of crutches
👉 47,048 Israeli bandages
👉 20,000 bandages
👉 102,962 tourniquets
👉 24,400 haemostatic gauze
👉 5,000 Plaster of Paris bandages
👉 20,216 space blankets and sleeping bags
👉 350 warm blankets
👉 750,000 dried protein meals
👉 1,800 Infusion pump sets
👉 10,000 pulse oximeters
👉 412 orthopaedic kits and related supplies
👉 150 Portable ultrasounds
👉 195 defibrillators
👉 5 dental chairs
👉 6 patient hoists
👉 1,000 personal first aid kits
👉 2,000 medical backpacks
👉 Surgical gowns
👉 4 airline pallets of antifungal tablets
👉 Surgical instruments
👉 30 airline pallets of fire & rescue kits including thermal imaging cameras, rescue equipment, and uniforms
👉 General consumables including IVs, catheters, syringes, oximeters, first aid kits, bandages, thermos blankets, and more
👉 Warm winter clothing
👉 Children’s toys
Volyn Recreaton Centre
The Liubomyr Husar Integration and Recreation Center serves as a unique space for rehabilitation, education, integration, and spiritual development for children, youth, Caritas staff, and volunteers. The center's primary mission is to create high-quality conditions for the rehabilitation, education, and spiritual well-being of children and young people facing difficult life circumstances, particularly those affected by the war in Ukraine. Additionally, the center provides a space for preventing professional burnout and promoting emotional well-being among Caritas employees and volunteers.
As a result of the project:
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500 children affected by war experienced improved psycho-emotional well-being
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Physical health improved through sports competitions, active leisure, and outdoor activities.
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Creativity and social skills were enhanced through workshops, contests, and interactive programs.
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Better integration and emotional resilience were fostered.
Ukraine Needs Ambulances
Save Lives in Ukraine: Donate towards the cost of an Ambulance Today
The war in Ukraine has devastated the country's healthcare system. Hospitals are overwhelmed, medical supplies are scarce, and countless lives are at risk. Your generous donation can help us provide critical support by delivering life-saving ambulances to Ukrainian hospitals.
HOW IT WORKS
Our fundraising and logistics efforts are focused on securing the necessary resources to deliver life-saving ambulances to Ukraine:
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Vehicle Sourcing: The Ukraine Crisis Appeal partners with London based Medical Life Lines Ukraine (MLLU) to acquire second-hand ambulances in the UK.
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Refurbishment: MLLU ensures the vehicles are mechanically sound and fitted with new tyres, etc.
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Equipment and Supplies: Ambulances are loaded with essential medical supplies, including first aid kits, defibrillators, oxygen tanks, stretchers, medications, and medical equipment.
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Volunteer Drivers: Dedicated volunteers from Australia and around the world drive these ambulances in convoys led by MLLU across the Poland-Ukraine border, to deliver these ambulances to hospitals and rescue services.
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Distribution: We work closely with Ukrainian Ministry of Health and State Emergency Service to identify hospitals with the most urgent need for ambulances and supplies.
IMPACT
Your donation can make a tangible difference in the lives of Ukrainians. By providing ambulances, we are:
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Saving lives: Enabling rapid transportation of the wounded to hospitals for critical care.
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Supporting healthcare workers: Providing them with the tools they need to save lives.
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Bringing hope: Demonstrating solidarity with the Ukrainian people during their darkest hour.
RESULTS
To date, donors have funded A$244,814 to deliver four emergency evacuation vehicles and seven fully equipped ambulances across Ukraine, saving countless lives.
Two of our volunteer drivers – Ivan Semciw and Chris Leptos – would be pleased to talk to you directly about this program. Contact Darka Senko on 0417 237 938
Join us in making a difference. Every donation, no matter the size, contributes to our mission of saving lives in Ukraine.
Detailed report (Sep 2024)
Lifesaving neurosurgery for Ukrainian children - "Tabletochki"
Tabletochki charitable foundation is the only Ukrainian organisation operating nationally and ensuring comprehensive support to the whole subgroup of vulnerable people not just subjected to war but— families with children affected by cancer.
Brain and spinal cord cancer are one of the most common and most dangerous oncological diseases in children. The war has made young Ukrainians facing this disease even more vulnerable jeopardising access to medicines and supplies.
Children facing brain and spinal cord tumours urgently need advanced neurosurgical operations. These procedures rely on state-of-the-art, precision equipment and essential highcost surgical equipment that must be disposed of after each surgery. These tools are critical for surgeons to save lives and preserve vital functions, enabling children to walk, talk, and embrace life.
However, the equipment and consumables for these life-saving surgeries aren't available through public procurement, and the respective costs fall on the families’ shoulders. Such costs being $3AU-$5k AU exceeds what most families can afford, this leads to a risk of treatment abandonment that is fatal for children with brain and spinal cord cancer.
The Ukraine Crisis Appeal has provided 100,000 AUD to fund neurosurgical devices for the complex neurosurgical treatment of 40 Ukrainian children with brain and spinal cord tumours from all around Ukraine. This financial support is a vital lifeline, offering hope and a path to recovery for these children.
A chance to survive, grow, learn, and again enjoy being a child. Please consider a donation to support further surgeries noting "Tabletochki" in the comments field of the donation page. Children are our future and our responsibility!
Veteran Aid
The russian invasion of Crimea and eastern Ukraine in early 2014 and ongoing fighting led to the death of more than 9,000 soldiers and over 20,000 casualties.
So, how we helped? By designing special programs with Caritas.
The aid programs that Caritas Ukraine operate specifically for veterans and their families address:
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psychological and psychosocial support
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legal support
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health care, home-based care
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prevention of orphancy
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prevention of institutionalization of children
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prevention of violence and discrimination
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advocacy, public policy-making
IDP Emergency Housing
Ukraine Crisis Appeal has spent $2.56 million dollars, establishing 18 shelters housing 9000 displaced children, women, the elderly, and men across the most devastated regions of Ukraine.
Our goal is to establish at minimum 30 more such shelters across Ukraine.
In April 2022, Ukraine Crisis Appeal, together with the NGO "Rotary Club Kyiv International" launched a large-scale project, the aim of which is to equip long term temporary accommodation for internally displaced people in Ukraine.
Volunteers of the Rotary Club Kyiv International have ensured effective cooperation with local authorities and heads of shelters, finding the necessary premises, goods, their purchase, and delivery, as well as quality control of the performed work.
Shelters are completed in as little as 2 weeks by volunteers working tirelessly repurposing public buildings, kindergartens, sanitoriums and halls. All shelters have bunkers for added safety.
The shelters are warm, clean, and comfortable. They are equipped with bedding, furnishing, white goods, kitchen fit outs etc. which is all band new and purchased in Ukraine.
The purchase of equipment in Ukraine is a mandate as it supports the Ukrainian economy and provides employment in manufacturing.
The residents are the casualties of war, they have lost everything they own. In many cases their homes demolished and unrepairable. Several lost their homes in 2014 when the war first broke out, they rebuilt and have now lost everything again.
To further support our residents professionally run health, mental health and children’s education support and wellbeing programs have been introduced into the shelters.
Approx Shelter cost: $ 143,000 AU
Approx.: $285 per bed
OT Training
Prior to February 24, 2022, The Ukraine Crisis Appeal successfully funded Professional Occupational Therapy skills training courses in Ukraine.
Occupational Therapy is an essential service which has life changing benefits for those with disabilities, such as Veterans and any individuals with needs for rehabilitation. Thanks to the Ukraine Crisis Appeal, an official skills course and materials were created, and the first round of training was successfully completed.