What’s your connection to Brimbank?
I volunteer at the Sunshine Hospital on a weekly basis. I also moved out west two years ago. I’d always wanted to live in this area, but living overseas made it difficult.
What do you like best about the area?
The people here are really down to earth and I’ve found them to be very friendly. On a personal point, I feel like there are tremendous opportunities for social work and that I can be of service to people out here.
Tell us about your work at Sunshine Hospital.
I began volunteering at the hospital two years ago. I’m part of the volunteers meals assistance program at lunchtime, which is essentially helping people who can’t manage the food tray themselves. I also offer support to parents and carers when young children are going into surgery and am part of the information centre, which offers additional resources and information to patients and families.
You mentioned you’d spent time overseas?
Yes, I went to Vietnam – I planned to stay a year and ended up staying 20. While I was there I helped found Loreto Vietnam-Australia Program. The program has helped 55,000 children, many of whom are disabled and living in impoverished villages, by providing them with access to improved educational opportunities.
What made you return to Australia?
After all those years I really just decided that I wanted to hand it over to the Vietnamese people.
So you’re fluent in Vietnamese – that must help your work at Sunshine Hospital?
Absolutely it does. There’s a large Vietnamese population here and it’s really helped communicate with families. I actually wear a badge now that says I speak the language and when people see that, they really do open up, it’s been terrific to be able to help in that way.
