It's nearly two decades since Olena Heffernan arrived in Australia from Ukraine, but she vividly remembers the graciousness of her neighbours when she moved to the green hills of Jamberoo on the New South Wales south coast.
"When I arrived in Australia [in 2004], I had people coming and knocking on my door and they were taking me to places," Ms Heffernan says.
"They taught me English. They were just wonderful, [it's] just a beautiful country with beautiful people.
Now, Ms Heffernan and her family are sharing their home with her sister Inna Neklesa along with her children Volodymyr, 13, and Viktoriia, three, who recently fled war-torn Ukraine.
Inna's husband, Serhii Neklesa, did not join them as men aged between 16 and 60 are not allowed to leave Ukraine.
"My husband can't leave Ukraine; he has to stay because he must fight for Ukraine," Ms Neklesa says.
Reflecting on her own arrival in Australia, Ms Heffernan reached out for help through a local Facebook page.
The family received clothes, food and furniture, and Ms Heffernan says their faith in humanity has been restored.
But she says people need to understand how difficult it has been, and how difficult times lie ahead.
The support of strangers
Ms Heffernan describes how people became homeless when the war broke out in Ukraine.
"When the war happened, people were running for their lives … ending up on the streets," she says.
"No food, no clothes, no money.
As Ms Neklesa couldn't access her bank accounts, she relied on support from the German government and strangers.
Strangers who took care of her and the children, welcoming them into their homes.
Welcome to Australia, but what happens next?
Ms Neklesa says it is only because of her sister's efforts that she is here today.
"My sister helped me and always called me and helped with the visa. [She] helped me with everything. If not for my sister, I don't know what I [would] do now," Ms Neklesa says.
"I applied for a refugee visa, filling in the documents, but we didn't get any response. There was no certainty if it was going to happen, and there was no reference number," Ms Heffernan says.
"My sister-in-law was watching 60 Minutes and they said applying for a tourist visa was the best way to bring your relatives out of Ukraine."
It was then they decided to apply for tourist visas, which sped things up, and after purchasing flights at $6,000 and travel/health insurance of $1,500 — expenses the Heffernan's contributed to — Home Affairs granted the Neklesa's three-month tourist visas.
The family is anxious to know what will happen next.
"I can't imagine, after three months, where I can send her," Ms Heffernan says.
Three-year window of safety
The federal government says it has made available a temporary humanitarian visa to Ukrainians forced to flee from Russia's military invasion, and who have arrived in Australia.
A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs says the visa is valid for three years and allows people to work, study and access Medicare.
More than 1,600 Ukrainians have been approved for the first stage of the two-step visa process.
Paul Power, CEO of the Refugee Council of Australia, says it is not often the council agrees with government, but in this case it does.
Mr Power says the war might continue, or peace might resume, in which case people would be able to go home.
"In circumstances where there's a short-term need, which may or may not be long-term, the Australian government is choosing not to extend permanent refugee visas to people in that situation," he says.
"What they have done, which is a significant variation to other situations, is allowing Ukrainians to come to Australia on a temporary basis.
"Then they can extend a three-year temporary humanitarian concern visa to any Ukrainian temporarily in Australia who would like to receive one.
"They are actually put on a short-term visa and once people have a temporary humanitarian concern visa, they have a three-year visa to remain in Australia," Mr Power says.
"This three years gives them the opportunity to work out what the situation is for them in relation to returning to Ukraine or not being able to return.
'I am not alone'
Inna Neklesa and her children, who arrived in Australia a week ago, are very appreciative of the effort her family and community have made on their behalf.
"It's very hard, because in my home I have my husband, my things, together we have a family, and now I must … leave my home and my life, and my friends, and my parents," Ms Neklesa says, crying.
"People help me, and my family [are] doing a lot for us and it's very good. Thank you very much for everything from Australian people who are doing for me, a lot.
