After surpassing over a thousand international candidates, Huong was presented with the award, a scholarship worth AUD20,000 to study Bachelor of Economics at RMIT Melbourne, by the governor of Victoria.

Huong said she is very proud to receive the award, especially being a Vietnamese student. Saying it demonstrates how disadvantaged students can also go on to achieve great things, if they are given the opportunity to study and follow their dreams.

After graduating in Australia she plans to return to work for KOTO Vietnam to help poor children to change their lives in the same way she has. She also hopes to secure another scholarship to pursue further education.

Huong is studying at Trade College at Box Hill Institute in Melbourne. She used to be a trainee at KOTO – a social business which trains and educates street children

More than 17,500 Vietnamese students are currently studying in Australia.