Maria was born in Saigon in 1975, the same year the decades-long Vietnam War ended. Growing up in a post-war era meant she was surrounded by poverty and turmoil.
In early 1987, Maria and her family were captured and imprisoned while attempting to escape, but were released six months later.
My memories have always been tied to trying to escape from Vietnam, with many failed attempts.
In October 1987, her family tried to flee again – this time successfully. They spent six months in at a refugee camp in Pulau Bidong, Malaysia, before they were processed by United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and accepted to resettle in Sydney, Australia.
Maria recalls her feelings of gratitude: “I had appreciation of freedom for a new beginning.”
When Maria arrived on 29 April 1988 at age 12, she faced a language barrier. However, her determination saw her progress through three terms at an English Intensive Language school, after which she was able to move into mainstream schooling in Year Eight.
For Maria, Sydney’s Australian-Vietnamese community has been central to her settlement, helping her stay connected to her heritage and encouraging her children to take pride in their roots.
To support these communities, she encourages Australians to welcome refugees with warmth, support them, provide opportunities, and connect with them.
“Australia is truly a land of opportunities, and we should welcome more refugees and give them a chance at life and to contribute to this multicultural nation.”
