In 1951, just years after waves of Polish migration following the Second World War, a group of community leaders gathered in Sydney to form what would become the peak body for Polish Australians: Rada Naczelna Polonii Australijskiej, the Polish Community Council of Australia.
The Council's emblem tells the story — a free crowned eagle resting on two boomerangs forming the map of Australia. The eagle's tail covers Tasmania, where many former Polish RAF pilots and Carpathian Brigade soldiers settled. These were people who chose Australia as home because they refused to return to a Soviet-occupied Poland.
For 75 years, the Council has represented Polish organisations across every state and territory, championing Polish language education, supporting youth development, promoting Polish culture, and advocating for the community's interests with both Australian and Polish authorities.
The Council operates entirely on a volunteer basis, with administrative costs covered by member organisation fees. Its 57th National Convention was held in Sydney in May 2025, marking another milestone in its enduring service to Polish Australia.