Deer Park resident and author, Alyssa Huynh, chats to Hannah Hammoud about living in Brimbank and her new book.
Tell us a bit about yourself and what you do?
My name is Alyssa Huynh, I am 30 years old and a Vietnamese-Australian freelance writer, anti-racism advocate, diversity and inclusion advisor and speaker. I’ve been writing for almost half of my life, which is 15 years. In my final years of high school, I started sharing inspirational and motivational pieces on life and love and in 2020, in a time where anti-Asian hate was prominent on a global scale and we saw the #StopAsianHate movement unfold, I thought deeply about my own experiences with racism, a lifetime of navigating the complexities and challenges of identity as a woman of colour and my connection to my culture. I decided to change direction in terms of how I used my voice and platform and began my anti-racism advocacy journey. By doing so, I’ve been fortunate enough to experience this strong sense of community, connection and a desire to create change.
What is your connection to Brimbank?
I was born and raised in Deer Park and am proud to still call it home. I’ve made so many special memories here that I will forever cherish. The reason why it holds so much significance for me is because my beloved grandfather, before he sadly passed away from bowel cancer in 2007, always used to take my sister and I to Deer Park Library after school and on the weekends. My mum shared with me that as a refugee, he wanted to find free things in the community that would bring us joy, and that he certainly did. As a little girl, the library became my happy and safe space and from there, I developed a love for books and reading which turned into a love for the power of words and writing.
Tell us something people would be surprised to know about you?
Something people may not know about me is that despite how passionate I am and how proud I am for some of my life’s accomplishments, I am quite introverted and struggle with my anxiety on a daily basis. Growing up, I’ve always been quite shy and reserved and was never one to speak up in school or at work, but through my anti-racism advocacy I’ve really used my voice in a way that I have never before.
Your book, Safe Space, is now available in bookshops. Tell us about it and your writing journey?
The writing journey has truly been a labour of love. I started writing this in December 2022 and only recently put the finishing touches on it. Writing it called for deep reflection, openness and vulnerability and to share as much of my life experiences and learnings as I could. At times, it was a very emotional process but I knew it was important for my story to be told so that I could connect with those who would hopefully feel it resonates with them. Safe Space is part memoir, part self help. I explore the challenges that I’ve faced as an Asian-Australian woman and those that have made me the advocate I am today. I share the different ways that racism has presented itself in my life from my childhood and throughout my friendships and relationships and the impact that it’s all had on me from internalised racism, not feeling Asian enough or Australian enough and not really knowing myself to now feeling like I’m on this very empowering journey to reconnecting with my culture and strengthening my cultural identity. The book has a little something for everyone as I share practical advice for those who have had similar experiences to me or those wanting to add their voice to the discourse as well as for allies who want to show up for POC (person(s)/people of colour) in a meaningful way.
