Tim Watts (Gellibrand, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I recently had the pleasure of attending the Vietnamese community in Australia Dual Identity Leadership Program Graduation Dinner in West Footscray.

The Dual Identity Leadership Program is designed to support Vietnamese-Australians in further developing and enhancing their leadership skills. This year saw 35 participants selected to take part in the inaugural leadership program. Participants were able to gain a deeper understanding into the Vietnamese diaspora in Australia and Vietnamese contemporary history.

Speakers in the program ranged from Malcolm Fraser, Nicola Roxon, Jon Faine, Major General David McLachlan AO, Major Bruce Davies MBE, Cam Ngyuen, Professor Kieu Tien Dung and the Reverend Tim Costello. The program highlighted the importance of leadership in community service and the fact that it is everyone's responsibility to participate in making our community a better place.

We, in Melbourne's West, are proud to recognise our future leaders, and celebrate the diverse backgrounds that contribute to building our community. We are particularly proud when these community leaders come from refugee backgrounds.

I would particularly like to acknowledge those who put their time and effort into organising this program. Congratulations to Bon Nguyen, President of the Vietnamese Chapter of Australia, and, in particular, to Vice-President Viv Nguyen for their time and dedication.

The following members of the steering committee also deserve thanks and congratulations: Lawrence Ho, Albert Le, Cathy Nguyen, Cuong Nguyen, Dan Thanh Nguyen, Huong Nguyen, Kim Nguyen, Thomas Nguyen, Veronica Nguyen, Alexandra Wong and Tin Nguyen.

The Vietnamese Chapter Australia Dual Identity Leadership Program is a symbol of the public leadership and community spirit found within Melbourne's West, and I look forward to seeing it grow in the years to come.

See this speech in context