Darya from Ukraine : From landscape architecture in Kyiv, to helping migrants in Hobart

Ukrainians have a long history of settlement in Tasmania, being amongst the earliest groups of post-war European migrants to settle in Tasmania. But nowadays, this migrant community is relatively small and elderly.  However, Darya is one of the new generation of Ukrainians to now call Tasmania home, after coming here on a Prospective Marriage visa.Darya's childhood was spent mainly in Kyiv in the 90s, a dark time in the country as the economy crashed and criminality was abundant. But by her high school years, the future was looking much brighter and Darya had the opportunity to go to the vastly different culture of Japan and study a  4- year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture. After returning to Ukraine, Darya pursued a number of different and varied jobs, before eventually working  as a tour guide, mainly in Kyiv.  She met her Australian husband at a friend's wedding in Ukraine and she would eventually come to Tasmania multiple times, before moving here permanently last year, just before the international border closed.  She now works at the MUlticultural Council of Tasmania in Hobart as a Project Officer, helping run programs to help other migrants.