Vietnamese woman strives to make most of every opportunity in Australia

Trac Tue Nhi arrived in Australia to a place that is entirely unfamiliar. The girl from An Giang Province, southern Vietnam soon realized the opportunity was not hers alone, it carried the hopes of her entire family.

“I always told myself I had to succeed, not just for myself, but for those who never had the same chance,” she said.

What weighed on her most was not the distance from home or the need to grow independent so early, but the fear of failing, which means falling short of her family’s sacrifices. That sense of responsibility, she said, has remained her strongest source of motivation.

Moving abroad at 16 forced her to grow up quickly and stand on her own. With few advantages to rely on, effort was no longer a choice, but a constant in every part of her life.

Navigating life alone abroad at 16

With limited English and modest financial means, Nhi began looking for work the day after she arrived in Australia, knowing she would have to support herself.

She initially approached Vietnamese restaurants, but was turned away by nearly ten of them due to her weak English.

“That night, I went home and memorized restaurant vocabulary, dish names, ingredients, and basic phrases,” she said.

The next day, she returned and secured a job as a kitchen assistant at a Vietnamese restaurant. In the years that followed, she took on more than a dozen jobs to support herself.

At one point, she worked at a Vietnamese bakery, waking at 4:00 am to walk to work and prepare for opening. By 8:00 am, she would head straight to high school, then continue working in the evening at a grocery store.

She also worked as a babysitter, in nail salons, fast-food shops, cleaning roles, and as a real estate assistant, at times juggling multiple jobs to cover rent, living expenses, and tuition.

Looking back, she said much of her resilience was shaped early in life. After her parents divorced, she lived with her grandmother from the age of six.

Their daily routine was to wake before dawn to go to the market in town and prepare meals, which made her later see itself as lessons in responsibility and hard work.

“My aunt is like a mother to me,” she said, describing how her aunt, who never married or had children, devoted her life to supporting the extended family and its business.

It was that sacrifice, she said, that made her journey possible.

Giving back to community

Nhi said she was surprised and grateful to be nominated for the 2026 7NEWS Young Achiever Awards (Victoria), an award honoring young people for community impact and leadership.

She shared the news immediately with her aunt and family, whom she credits for making her journey possible.

The award recognizes young people who make positive contributions to their communities through service, leadership, and social impact, particularly those who demonstrate perseverance and a commitment to helping others.

Nhi was nominated in the Saward Dawson Community Service and Social Impact category.

Her work has focused on supporting international students, contributing to the Vietnamese community and strengthening connections between Australia and Vietnam.

While in high school, she volunteered weekly at a nursing home, where she spent time talking with elderly residents.

The experience, she said, helped ease her homesickness while improving her English.

On Sundays, she volunteered at Quang Minh Pagoda, one of the largest Vietnamese temples in Melbourne, helping prepare meals for community gatherings.

Speaking with older members of the Vietnamese community there, she said, often felt like being at home.

Having received support from many people along her own journey, she added that the nomination reflects not only personal effort but also the help of many others.

At Acknowledge Education, an Australian education provider, where she serves as National Lead for Student Engagement and Wellbeing, Nhi focuses on supporting international students both academically and in their daily lives.

She led a nationwide graduation program in December 2025 across five Australian cities, involving around 1,500 international students.

Drawing from her own experience as a student arriving in Australia alone, she regularly shares practical advice with others, especially Vietnamese students, on building confidence, improving communication, seeking mentorship, and integrating into the community.

“I felt very lonely when I first arrived,” she said. “So I try to make sure others receive support sooner than I did.”

Making most of every opportunity

Reflecting on her journey, Nhi encourages young people to invest in English and cross-cultural communication, noting that opportunities often come through relationships, not just academic credentials.

For students studying abroad, she said, limiting oneself to familiar circles can slow personal growth.

Building friendships with locals, exploring new cultures and stepping outside one’s comfort zone, she added, are among the fastest ways to develop.

She also stressed the importance of initiative, reaching out, asking questions, and proactively learning from others rather than waiting for help to arrive.

“Most importantly, you have to take responsibility for the opportunities you’re given,” she said, pointing to the sacrifices many Vietnamese families make to send a child overseas.

“If you are given that chance, make it count. I was just a girl from Rach Gia [An Giang Province] who had an opportunity, and I didn’t waste it.”

Empowering youth’s voice

Beyond her personal journey, Nhi has sought to contribute to strengthening ties between Australia and Vietnam.

She has taken part in the Australia-Vietnam Leadership Dialogue, supporting efforts to promote connections between people and younger generations in both countries, and has actively pursued opportunities to join forums focused on bilateral relations.

She said she was motivated in part by the limited presence of young Vietnamese women in such spaces, and sees it as a responsibility to represent her generation and help open doors for those who follow.

“I hope my presence can encourage more young Vietnamese, especially women and international students, to step into these spaces,” she said.