Jane Le says her parents instilled in her the values of working hard and giving back to her community.
“My dad was a refugee from Vietnam; he came here in 1996,” she says. “My brother and I have been brought up giving back to the community, because Australia has given us so much. This country has given my family a second chance.”
In primary school, Ms Le volunteered at aged care centres and raised funds for the St Vincent de Paul Society. Throughout high school, she helped out in Sunshine hospital’s emergency ward looking after patients’ children and calming anxious in-patients.
Before her time at the hospital, she dreamed of becoming a doctor. But the experience has instead led her to specialise in preventative health, in which she is currently completing her masters at The University of Melbourne.
The Cairnlea resident is among 187 Western Chances 2017 scholarship recipients. The not-for-profit organisation supports young people in Melbourne’s west by sponsoring their education.
Next month all new scholarship beneficiaries will attend a special ceremony celebrating their achievements at Deakin Edge Theatre in Federation Square. Ms Le said her scholarship, which will be between $600 and $1200 each year, will help cover the cost of university text books, stationery and her internet bill.
