Founding the Vietnamese Students Society - A place where Deakin Vietnamese students can call home!

Being away from home is hard. But being away from home with no one to reminisce about its beauty, its food, its laughter, and its rhythm is even harder. Especially when your home is as breathtaking as Vietnam. When I first arrived in Australia, I missed more than just a place. I missed the connection. I missed being around people who understood the joy of Vietnamese street food, the sound of our language, the way we celebrate even the smallest things with a cup of ca phe da, a bowl of che and a karaoke mic.

That longing led me to gather like-minded friends and co-found DEVISE, Deakin Vietnamese International Students and Extension. As General Secretary and one of its founding members, I led initiatives that came straight from the heart. One of the first was the DEVISE Survival Guide, a panel and workshop event to help new Vietnamese students navigate life at Deakin, from referencing and special consideration to groceries and homesickness.

Vi is the person on the left

Vi is the person standing , third to the right

Vi and the DeVISE team at club events

One of our proudest moments was Open Mic Night, where over 120 students came together to sing, laugh, and celebrate Vietnamese culture. In May 2024, it was named Event of the Month for its impact on student wellbeing. That journey brought me to something bigger. I was honoured to be recognized as a key convener of the Vietnamese student community and elected as the first international Vietnamese student on the DUSA Council.

Through DEVISE, I demonstrated leadership that combined strategic planning with cultural empathy. I identified a gap in support for Vietnamese students and built a team to address it, coordinating events that not only reduced isolation but also fostered cross-cultural understanding within the broader university. From designing the Survival Guide Panel to executing the award-winning Open Mic Night, I managed logistics, delegated tasks, and motivated volunteers to create spaces where over 120 students could connect and thrive. This experience showcases my ability to establish new initiatives, guide diverse teams toward shared goals, and achieve outcomes that improve both individual well-being and community cohesion.

DEVISE was my beginning. The first club I founded. The first space I built. The first place that felt like home. It taught me the power of creating community, and what it truly means to lead with heart. To my DEVISE team: thank you. You continue to carry Vietnamese voices at Deakin with pride, strength, and love.

Vi is the person on the right

Vi as the host for DEVISE Open Mic Night Day 1 and 2