In memory of Professor Jerzy Zubrzycki – the “father” of Australian multicultural policy

Join us on 11 April, at 6:00 p.m., at the meeting dedicated to Professor Jerzy Zubrzycki. The discussion will feature Zubrzycki’s biographer, John Bond, co-author of “Jerzy Zubrzycki. Wielki Polak i Australijczyk”. The introduction will be delivered by Professor Jacek Purchla and His Excellency Paul Wojciechowski, the Ambassador of Australia. Free admission.

Professor Jerzy Zubrzycki (1920-2009) was the most distinguished Pole who lived in Australia, the “father” of Australia’s multicultural policy, an acclaimed sociologist and demographer. He was born on 12 January 1920 in Krakow. Here he attended the Jan III Sobieski Grammar School. During the Second World War, he was the Home Army soldier and the member of the British Special Operations Executive, organising, among others, the airdrops of arms for the Warsaw Uprising militants. In 1956, he came to Australia, where he taught sociology at the Australian National University. He successfully combined his research with public service. From 1970 to 1986 he was the head of the Faculty of Sociology at the Australian National University. He was member of the board of the Australian Institute of Multicultural Affairs and the head of Australian Ethnic Affairs Council. Professor Jerzy Zubrzycki served as advisor to successive Australian governments and helped politicians understand how to develop the state policy of protection of immigrants. His research was also appreciated by governments in Canada and the USA. For his accomplishments he was awarder the Silver Cross of Merit, the Commander’s Cross with Star of the Order of Polonia Restituta, and the Order of Australia.