In 1979, Linny Kimly Phuong’s parents arrived in Australia as refugees from Vietnam. They were sent to a refugee camp in Malaysia, where they were eventually accepted by the United Nations Humanitarian Entry Program and brought to Australia.
35 years later, Phuong is the founder and chair of a not-for-profit organisation that aims to improve the health literacy of migrants and refugees in Australia. The Water Well Project was set up to ensure that people living in Australia of refugee background are given equitable access to healthcare and health education and are kept safe and well in Australia.
When Phuong was in high school, she dreamed of becoming a doctor and saving the world – and here she is.
Phuong is now an advanced paediatric trainee at the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne as well as being the chair of the Water Well Project and a former pharmacist. She is also studying for her Masters of Public Health.
Phuong says she is inspired by her parents.
“Their bravery and journey makes me realise how much we take for granted every day,” she said.
“They are my heroes. Deep down, their story has always made me feel compassion towards people of refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds, who through courage try for a better situation for themselves and their families.”
Phuong decided to support refugees and migrants in their journey by improving their access to health care and education once they arrive.
“The Water Well Project gives them the tools, and allows them to gain access to resources to help both themselves and their families, and even wider communities, be physically and mentally healthy.”
So what’s her secret? According to Phuong, all you need is a lot of energy, a good breakfast and a supportive husband.
The short facts on Linny’s story
Born. Melbourne, Australia
Childhood. Melbourne, Australia
Leadership qualifications? Bachelor of Medicine/ Bachelor of Surgery; Bachelor of Pharmacy with Honours
What was your career ambition in high school? To be a doctor and save the world.
And your first, ever job? Pharmacist (I was super focused through high school)
Today, who and what do you lead? The wonderful volunteers of The Water Well Project. What’s unique about our volunteers, is that they are all qualified healthcare professionals who offer their time and share their knowledge with refugee and asylum seeker communities, on top of their busy schedules.
How do you stay informed on a daily basis? Eg, which news outlets do you follow? Any online news and/or gossip columns 🙂
What helps you manage your wellbeing? Family time.
What is the first thing you do in the morning? Check emails (unfortunately).
Can you describe an average work day for you? Emails at home. Breakfast (the most important meal of the day; and sometimes the only meal of the day until I get home after a long day). Clinical work which varies in intensity depending on the patients and their families. Working in Paediatrics can be tough, as you are often dealing with anxious parents and families. And then there is the other side of the spectrum, of non-caring, neglectful parents. This situation is sadder and much much worse to deal with. After a long day at work, which usually involves lots of un-rostered overtime, I get home and try and spend time with my much cooler, calmer other half.
What’s your leadership ‘superpower’? (something that makes you unique, and great at what you do) Maybe the fact that I need less sleep than others?? The ability to get excited very easily (which drives me). Or my husband, who is a supportive, calming and rational influence.
What, if anything, do you believe needs to change in order to better support women at work – particularly in your industry? Perhaps wider cultural change. To succeed as a doctor in Medicine, there is a lot of competition for very few specialty positions. Many women take time out to have babies, which I feel is still a perceived limitation, rather than an opportunity to learn a different set of skills in order to become a better doctor and patient advocate.
Advice to 18-year-old self. Take your own path. Things generally work out. 🙂