The ECCV congratulates Cam Nguyen, Founder, CEO and Honorary Secretary of the Australian Vietnamese Women’s Association, who was named Victorian 2021 Senior Australian of the Year and was a finalist in the Australian of the Year Awards.
Cam is a former Board member of the ECCV and a longstanding advocate in multicultural affairs in Victoria. “Cam has played an enormous role in pioneering support for the Vietnamese community since arriving in Australian as a refugee in 1975 and her dedication has helped refugees and migrants from many backgrounds feel valued and empowered,” says ECCV Chairperson, Eddie Micallef.
Cam was presented with the award by the Victorian Governor, the Honourable Linda Dessau AC, at an intimate reception in Governor House with a virtual ceremony on 26 January 2021.
The Award comes as no surprise, given Cam’s contribution to the Victorian community. Her tireless work spans over several decades since she and her husband arrived as refugees after the fall of Saigon.
Despite having an MA in economics from Cambridge University and her husband being a senior diplomat, Cam still struggled to get settled into Australia. No stranger to the challenges of being a newly-arrived refugee, she decided to help others like her.
“I was at a loss with no friends or community network… It took us more than five years to feel really settled,” Cam says.
“That is why I wanted to start the organisation to help people.”
Soon after arriving in Melbourne, the couple founded the Vietnamese Friendly Society with friends, providing interpreting services and information about Australia to newly-arrived Vietnamese refugees. This was done without any funding – an impressive feat that serves as a testament to their dedication to helping the community.
In 1983, Cam formed the Australian Vietnamese Women’s Welfare Association (AVWA), with the support of 16 Vietnamese professional women, while bringing up her family and working full-time.
Since its founding, the AVWA has grown to become a dynamic organisation with over 200 paid staff and volunteers. The organisation helps Vietnamese and Victorians of all backgrounds with programs including home care, training, and counselling.
In 1995, she became AVWA’s full-time executive director and has been its CEO since 2004. She has also worked for AMES for 19 years as a teacher, organiser, principal, and co-ordinator.
With no sign of slowing down at 80, Cam Nguyen has additionally served on several committees, including as honorary secretary for a consortium of African organisations.
As Victorian Senior of the Year, Nguyen shared her own insights on getting older: “Ageism doesn’t just come from younger people,” she said. “Older people can have prejudices against themselves”. Her words of advice? Have self-compassion and look at the brighter side of life.