12/06/2026
As Refugee Week approaches (14–20 June), I have found myself reflecting on my own family’s journey to Australia.
In 1983, my father arrived in Australia after spending time in a refugee camp in the Philippines as one of the many Vietnamese people seeking safety and a new beginning. Three years later, in 1986, he was able to reunite with his family, sponsoring my mother and his four children to join him in Australia.
While I arrived through family reunion rather than as a refugee myself, I have come to appreciate that my life today is deeply connected to the courage, sacrifice, and resilience of those who came before me.
Like many families, ours experienced separation, uncertainty, and the challenge of starting over in a new country. Yet Australia provided an opportunity for our family to rebuild, contribute, and create a future that may not otherwise have been possible.
Refugee Week is a reminder that behind every migration story is a human story — one of hope, perseverance, family, and belonging.
I am grateful for the opportunities my family found here, and I honour the journey of my parents and the many refugee families whose strength continues to shape Australia.
Belonging Resilience
