25/07/2026
He survived one of Australia's most horrific racist attacks. Then, before his plane even left the ground, his student visa was torn up, and he was banned from returning.
While working at 7-Eleven Australia to support himself as an international student, Minh Tuan Duong became the victim of one of Melbourne's most horrific racist attacks.
He was punched.
He was kicked.
He was stabbed.
A brick was smashed over his head with such force that it broke in two.
Doctors weren't sure he would survive.
But the nightmare didn't end there.
While still recovering from his injuries, Minh travelled home to Vietnam to visit his family.
Before he boarded his flight, his student visa was cancelled.
I, (Adrian De Luca) watched as an Australian Border Force officer tear up his student visa in front of us.
In a matter of minutes, the victim of a near-fatal racist attack had been banned from returning to Australia.
He left knowing he could not come back.
He could no longer continue his medical treatment in Australia.
He could no longer complete his accounting degree at Swinburne University of Technology.
His future had been taken from him before the plane had even left the ground.
Most people never heard what happened next.
After seeing Minh's story on the news, I contacted Victoria Police and offered to give him free piano lessons if he ever returned to Australia.
He did.
Those piano lessons became a friendship.
That friendship inspired the creation of We Are Australia Foundation, dedicated to supporting international student victims of crime.
Today, Minh has rebuilt his life.
He returned to Australia.
He completed his accounting degree.
He became a Certified Practising Accountant CPA Australia
He became an Australian citizen.
Today, he serves as the Treasurer and Public Officer of We Are Australia Foundation, helping other international student victims rebuild their lives after violence, trauma and crime.
This week, Minh has been named an Australian Professionals Of multicultural Communities APOC Community Impact Award Finalist. In the City of Melbourne
No award can erase what happened to him.
But this recognition honours the extraordinary person he chose to become.
Congratulations, Minh.
Your courage, resilience and compassion continue to inspire all of us.
Together, We Are Australia. 🇦🇺
❤️ Please join us in congratulating Minh on this well-deserved recognition.