Most Ukrainian immigrants arrived in Australia after the Second World War, mainly in the years 1947-52. In most cases they were refugees displaced by the war and afraid to return to their communist-occupied homeland. These immigrants included skilled workers, professionals, scholars, scientists, musicians and artists, many of who had to fulfil 2-year contracts with the Australian government in exchange for passage to Australia. By 1954, government sources indicated that 17,239 Ukrainians had arrived in Australia.
Some difficulties arise in calculating the number of people of Ukrainian origin in Australia.
The 1981 Census lists 10,941 people born in Ukraine, and provides no statistics concerning Ukrainians born in other countries or in Australia. The 1976 Census indicated 17,585 regular users of the Ukrainian language. The community estimates that it numbers approximately 45,000. It was formed in 1950 and co-ordinates the participation of Ukrainian Australians in Australian social, cultural and political life. Australia has more the 260 Ukrainian organisations which include religious, political, social, cultural, educational, financial, women's, youth, sporting and professional associations.