Alumni Stories
GRADS 2024: Dieu Le
“She told me she believed in me and that I had the ability to graduate,” says Dieu Le, describing how support and encouragement from her ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ mentor helped her achieve what she felt was impossible.
Dieu’s story is one of resilience and adaptation. Practising as a paediatrician in Vietnam, she decided to follow in her sister’s footsteps and move to Australia. After relocating in 2019 with her husband and two young children, she discovered that she was unable to transfer her qualifications.
“It was really hard to get my medical degree recognised here,” Dieu says.
Faced with this obstacle, she decided to explore other health professions and found herself drawn to occupational therapy (OT).
“I learned that occupational therapists help people to be more independent and manage day-to-day tasks, and I loved that it could help those living with disabilities,” Dieu says.
“In Vietnam, the healthcare system is quite different – there are doctors, nurses, and some technicians, but not many qualified physiotherapists, dietitians or OTs.”
Dieu enrolled in the Master of Occupational Therapy course at ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ, her postgraduate studies coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. The timing meant her transition to student life in Canberra was beset with a raft of challenges.
“The language barrier was one of the most severe obstacles for me and having to study online made that even more challenging,” Dieu says.
“I had been learning French in Vietnam and I had to relearn English.
“The lack of social interaction also meant that it was really hard for me to understand the society, culture and traditions in Australia at that time.”
Caring for children while studying added another layer of complexity to Dieu’s journey.
“My son was just five months old when I started my master’s,” she says.
“He would wake up two or three times a night, and I had to submit my assessments the next day, so I would type while comforting him on my shoulder.”
Dieu found it increasingly hard to keep going. The mounting challenges began to crush her confidence and strip away the belief that she could finish her degree.
“I felt so defeated because I went from being a paediatrician in Vietnam – a qualified medical professional – to a student who was struggling with anxiety,” Dieu says.
“There were at least five times during my degree that I wanted to give up.”
Dr Claire Pearce, Discipline Lead in Occupational Therapy at ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ was a key figure in Dieu’s journey, as a teacher and a confidant who recognised her struggles.
“Dr Claire knew that I was experiencing a lot of difficulties when I first came here. She helped me understand more about Australian culture and supported me through managing my anxiety,” Dieu says.
“I’d failed my first placement because I didn’t seek support and during my second last placement, I was ready to give up. Dr Claire encouraged me to keep going.”
Opening up to Claire was a huge step for Dieu, who had never spoken about her struggles and didn’t feel comfortable reaching out for help at first. She eventually accessed support from ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ’s wellbeing team and ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ Medical and Counselling. Each avenue was crucial to help her overcome adversity and achieve success.
“If I didn’t access those support systems, I wouldn’t be graduating,” Dieu says.
“[Accessing that kind of support] is not something we always do in Asian culture, but I’m so glad I did.”
Outside her studies, Dieu gained confidence by taking on roles as a support worker and an allied health assistant. While working for disability support provider Hireup, she was a recipient of the organisation’s Good Life Award in 2022. Dieu had been nominated by a client for providing general support and assisting with computer skills, as the client was writing a memoir.
“Working with Hireup was a wonderful experience – I learned a lot from my client who used a wheelchair and various other tools and techniques to manage her daily life,” Dieu says.
“I applied various frameworks and theories I was learning as a Master of Occupational Therapy student to provide the best care and help her achieve her goals.”
Dieu’s hard work and determination paid off. She walked across the stage to receive her master’s degree during the September graduation ceremonies, her family watching on and bursting with pride.
The event was not only a chance to celebrate her success, but to reconnect with Claire. Dieu presented her with flowers and thanked her for the unwavering support and encouragement that carried her through her studies.
“She is a very important person in my life,” Dieu says.
The achievement also drove Dieu to apply for a PhD scholarship in Brisbane – which she has successfully secured. She plans to return to the world of general medicine as a doctoral student and explore heart transplantations and the interactions of mitochondria, which generate a cell’s biochemical reaction . Prior to moving from Canberra to Brisbane, Dieu worked part-time as an OT in aged care, and she plans to continue working part time in the field.
“I really love working with older people. I visit their homes, do an assessment, and then I might provide them with some equipment or home modifications,” she says.
“Some of my clients told me that I changed their lives, which makes me feel more confident.”
Dieu’s journey is a powerful reminder of the importance of resilience and seeking support.
“I now know the strength it takes to open up – if you feel really anxious, you should talk to someone you trust,” she says.
“In your life, just try to work really hard. Sometimes it’s quite difficult, but if you try your best, you can move forward, and look towards a bright future.”
Words by Emma Larouche, photos by Liam Budge.
This September, we celebrated the graduating class of 2024.
Many have overcome challenges with grace and resilience, and all have grown in remarkable ways. We congratulate them on achieving this milestone.
We celebrate those who are already making an impact in their chosen fields, those who have changed careers, and others who have embarked on their postgraduate study path – we look forward to seeing what you achieve as alumni of the ÂÜÀòÊÓƵ.