Frequently asked questions

Partner Organisations

• Akashic Counselling

  

  Polaron has formed a unique and collaborative partnership with Canadian counselling private practice Akashic Counselling.  Akashic’s principal and Registered Therapeutic Counsellor Michelle Hohn will work with Polaron leadership on ways to best promote the mental health and well-being of both their clients and staff. Through a combination of counsellor-facilitated workshops and the option of individual sessions, custom education and awareness training will be developed and delivered to support the sometimes-difficult terrain of historical family research and navigating potential emotional trauma and impacts on the path to EU citizenship by descent.

• Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA)

  

  We hold a membership with the Australian Institute of International Affairs (AIIA). The AIIA is an independent, non-profit organisation promoting interest in and understanding of international affairs in Australia. It provides a forum for discussion and debate, but does not seek to formulate its own institutional views. The Institute arranges programs of lectures, seminars, workshops, conferences and other discussions.

• CALD Reference Group

  Polaron’s CALD Reference Group was established in October 2013 to provide guidance, recommendations and feedback on CALD communication strategies.

  The Reference Group includes over 60 ethno-specific community organisations, community leaders, bi-lingual educators, interpreters, translators and consumers.  They helps Polaron develop stronger links between communities, establishing an effective platforms for communication that connects people across cultural groups.

• Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria (ECCV)

  

  Polaron is a proud member of the Ethnic Communities’ Council of Victoria.

  ECCV is a member and Victorian representative council of the Federation of Ethnic Communities Council of Australia (FECCA). They are a key advocate for culturally diverse communities in Victoria since 1974.

  For 40 years ECCV have been a link between multicultural communities, government and the wider community, advocating human rights, freedom, respect, equality and dignity for ethnic and multicultural communities.

• Southern Homelessness Services Network (SHSN)

  

  Polaron holds a membership with the Southern Homelessness Services Network (SHSN). The SHSN is a resource for the homelessness sector in the south of Victoria, with a vision to end homelessness in the Southern Region of Melbourne.

• Victorian Refugee Health Network

  

  Polaron is a member of the Victorian Refugee Health Network. The Victorian Refugee Health Network was established in 2007 to facilitate greater coordination and collaboration amongst health and community services to provide more accessible and appropriate health services for people of refugee backgrounds.

• Women's Business Link

  

  Polaron is a partner organisation of Women’s Business Link. They are a networking group set up by women for women, designed to inspire, enable and empower our members to reach their full potential, professionally and personally. They are also part of Polish Business Link.

• Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR)

  

  The Association of Jewish Refugees provides social and welfare services to Holocaust refugees and survivors nationwide. About 70,000 refugees, including approximately 10,000 children on the Kindertransport, arrived in Great Britain from Nazi-occupied Europe in the 1930s. Founded in 1941 by Jewish refugees from Central Europe, the AJR today extends membership to anyone who fled a Nazi-occupied country as a Jewish refugee or who arrived in Great Britain as a Holocaust survivor.

• Australian Institute of Polish Affairs (AIPA)

  

  Our CEO, Eva Hussain is a member of the Australian Institute of Polish Affairs (AIPA). AIPA is an independent, voluntary, non-political organisation founded in 1991 in Melbourne. It seeks to develop stronger and more diversified ties between Australia and Poland by inviting, and organising meetings with, expert speakers, both Polish and Australian.

• Australian Society of Polish Jews

  

  Our director, Eva Hussain, is the Vice President of the Australian Society of Polish Jews and Their Descendants. The Society is dedicated to preserving and promoting the historical and cultural heritage of Jewish life in Poland and to fostering understanding between current and future generations of the Polish and Jewish communities.

• Association of the Jewish Historical Institute of Poland (SZIH)

  

  Polaron is a partner organisation of the Association of The Jewish Historical Institute of Poland (SZIH). The SZIH is a non-government, not-for-profit organisation. Founded in 1951, its objective is to preserve and commemorate the history and culture of Polish Jews, and their contribution into the world culture. The Association is the co-founder of the Museum of the History of Polish Jews.

• Association of Jewish Refugees (AJR)

  Polaron has proudly supported the Association of Jewish Refugees by providing pro-bono translations since 2018. Founded in 1941, AJR is the national charity supporting Holocaust refugees and survivors living in Great Britain. AJR provides social, welfare and care services, as well as advice and assistance on welfare rights and Holocaust reparations. The AJR is committed to the education of future generations about the Holocaust and is the UK’s largest dedicated funder of programs and projects which promote teaching and learning about the Holocaust.

• Association of Professional Genealogists

  

  We are a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists. The APG is an independent organisation whose principal purpose is to support professional genealogists in all phases of their work. The association also seeks to  protect the interest of those engaging in the services of professional genealogical research.

• Go Polish

  

  Polaron is a partner organisation of Go Polish. They are qualified teachers with experience of teaching Polish as a foreign and second language. They offer one-to-one lessons in London, but also conduct online sessions for people from all over the world.

• Israel Genealogical Society (IGS)

  

  We also hold membership of the Israel Genealogical Society (IGS). The IGS is Israel’s genealogical organisation, offering members a full range of research materials, guidance and support. Founded in 1983, the IGS is a not-for-profit organisation with active branches across the country.

• National Archives of Australia (NAA)

  

  Polaron is officially recognised as a genealogical institution by the National Archives of Australia (NAA).

  The NAA can be described as the memory of our nation – collecting and preserving Australian Government records that reflect our history and identity. The collection traces events and decisions that have shaped the nation and the lives of Australians. Visitors are welcome to explore the collection, online or in person, to learn more.

• Polish Australian Business Forum

  The Polish Australian Business Forum (PABF) was established in 2015 to create a platform for Polish professionals living in Australia. The first event took place at the Consulate General of the Republic of Poland in Sydney in June 2015 and attracted more than 70 Polish business leaders. Since then PABF has built a space for discussion and knowledge exchange between Polish and Australian leaders to grow their business in Australia.

• Polish Business Link (PBLINK)

  

  Polaron hold a membership with the Polish Business Link. Polish Business Link is a Polish British networking organisation that help diverse business communities to grow in domestic and global markets.

• Polish Community Council of Victoria (PCCV)

  

  Our director, Eva Hussain, has been a board member of the Polish Community Council of Victoria (PCCV) since 2014. The PCCV’s mission is to enrich and enhance the  well-being of the Polish-Australian community.

• Polish Genealogical Society of America

  

  Polaron is a partner organisation of Polish Genealogical Society of America (PGSA). The PGSA is an organization founded in 1978 and headquartered in Chicago, exists to collect, organize, preserve and disseminate information on Polish and Polish-American family history, and to provide educational support on methodologies and resources to individuals and professionals conducting research in Polish genealogy.