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In June, Trinh Foundation Australia (TFA) was invited to join Erin and SLPs Overseas Podcast to talk about the development of the speech pathology profession in Vietnam over the past two decades and the work of Trinh Foundation Australia.

TFA Directors Louise Brown, Rachel Lucas and Megan Nevell shared insights into how TFA works in-country with our Vietnamese partners, current volunteering opportunities, and our vision for the future.

It was a great opportunity to reflect on how far the profession has come and share more about the people and partnerships behind TFA&rsquo;s work.

🎧 Listen to the episode: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/speech-therapy-in-vietnam/id1721094728?i=1000775077035">Speech Therapy in Vietnam - Apple Podcasts</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ZR2DMR3nbPFEbLrb7gAwm">Speech Therapy in Vietnam - Podcast on Spotify</a> 
📱 Follow SLPs Overseas on Instagram:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/slpsoverseas/">Instagram</a>.

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Thank you to Erin for having us and for helping share the story of speech pathology development in Vietnam.&nbsp;

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TFA Directors shared insights into how TFA works in-country with our Vietnamese partners, current volunteering opportunities, and our vision for the future.

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TFA Featured on Podcast 🎙️

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SAVE THE DATE!

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<h1>Role: Speech Pathologist (TFA Volunteer) 
Placement Dates: Oct &ndash; Nov 2025 
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam</h1>

<h1>Late last year, Louise Ong spent four weeks in Ho Chi Minh City supporting final-year BSALT students during their CP4 placement at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy. Working alongside Vietnamese lecturers, Louise provided clinical supervision in complex cases, mentoring students as they grew in confidence and began applying theory to real-world practice.</h1>

<h1>We asked Louise to reflect on her experience.</h1>

<h1>What did you most enjoy about your role?</h1>

<h1>I enjoyed working with the lecturers, students and the patients. I loved learning about the culture in Vietnam and how the speech pathology profession in Vietnam was so resourceful and able to adapt overseas resources into their own cultural context.</h1>

<h1>What was your favourite part of volunteering abroad? And your biggest takeaway from the experience?</h1>

<h1>I enjoyed the interaction with the students, lecturers and patients the most! They were very positive and resourceful and also humorous at the same time. I am amazed at their positive attitudes to learning. My biggest takeaway is that we can all make a positive impact to Vietnam&#39;s healthcare systems in whichever way we can and hope it will create a ripple effect throughout society.</h1>

<h1>What do you think people do not realise about speech therapy services in Vietnam and the importance of capacity building? </h1>

<h1>There is low awareness of ST services in Vietnam, and due to the low awareness there is hence lower demand of the service. Capacity building is extremely important to build up the skills of professionals and to enable them to deliver more awareness/ education campaigns to the public. Which in turn is able to bring the benefits of ST services to the larger population.</h1>

<h1>What was your favourite part of volunteering abroad? And your biggest takeaway from the experience?</h1>

<h1>I enjoyed the interaction with the students, lecturers and patients the most! They were very positive and resourceful and also humorous at the same time. I am amazed at their positive attitudes to learning. My biggest takeaway is that we can all make a positive impact to Vietnam&#39;s healthcare systems in whichever way we can and hope it will create a ripple effect throughout society.</h1>

<h1 style="text-align:justify">With thanks to Louise for generously sharing her reflections and beautiful photos from her time in Vietnam.</h1>

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Louise Ong spent four weeks in Ho Chi Minh City supporting final-year BSALT students during their CP4 placement at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy. 

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Learning Across Cultures: Louise’s Reflection from Vietnam

<h2>Role: Speech Pathologist (TFA Volunteer) 
Placement Dates: Sep - Oct 2025 
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam</h2>

<h2 style="text-align:justify">When Nisrine El Choueifati stepped into a hospital classroom in Ho Chi Minh City, she was struck by something unexpected &mdash; it felt familiar. &ldquo;The knowledge of speech pathology here now,&rdquo; she reflected, &ldquo;reminded me of Australia 20 years ago when I first started.&rdquo;</h2>

<h2 style="text-align:justify">Last year, Nisrine spent three weeks in Ho Chi Minh City working as a Clinical Educator with 16 final-year BSALT students at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy. She supported students to translate strong theoretical foundations into hands-on clinical practice, while working alongside Vietnamese lecturers to strengthen clinical education together.</h2>

<h2 style="text-align:justify">We asked Nisrine to reflect on her experience.</h2>

<h2 style="text-align:justify">Did you feel adequately supported in your role?</h2>

<h2 style="text-align:justify">I felt extremely supported in this role by my colleagues and students. I also felt supported by the amazing lecturers in Vietnam, as well as international lecturers who contributed to the theoretical and clinical foundations of the program. These foundations were incredibly strong and enabled meaningful learning and collaboration.</h2>

<h2 style="text-align:justify">What did you most enjoy about your role?</h2>

<h2 style="text-align:justify">I enjoyed contributing to the new role of speech pathology in Vietnam. I enjoyed working with the strengths and passions of the people - students, lecturers and families to begin to build ripples - it reminded me how my career was born in community development and it was so lovely to be of the development of speech pathology in Vietnam. People are the assets. Having been a speech therapist and bilingual child I was reminded of the common and universal skills that children need in any country to communicate in relationship. </h2>

<h2 style="text-align:justify">What was your favourite part of volunteering abroad, and your biggest takeaway from the experience?</h2>

<h2 style="text-align:justify">Speech pathology in Vietnam reminded me of the early days of my own career. It reignited my passion and reaffirmed what is core to building strong foundations when supporting children and families: recognising strengths, coaching and building local capacity, and remaining curious.</h2>

<h2 style="text-align:justify">I loved being in a place where I met people who have been part of a long development journey&mdash;lobbying and advocating for communities. I value being part of growing people, ideas, and systems of support, and this experience allowed me to do that again.</h2>

<h2 style="text-align:justify">What do you think people do not realise about speech therapy services in Vietnam and the importance of capacity building?</h2>

<ul>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	<h2>I don&#39;t think people realise how new it is but how powerful social media has become in helping people find out about speech pathology. - knowledge of Autism internationally is also a big point for families to get help for children with communication. </h2>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	<h2>How the program started out of rehabilitation sciences and physiotherapy and how these professionals bring a unique interest and insight into speech pathology. &ndash; </h2>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	<h2>The power and passion of international lecturers and the mark they have made on the Vietnamese leaders in the program. </h2>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	<h2>It is still perceived in a medical setting; the way the students dress in lab coats within hospitals - even though the practice aims to consider the whole person and uses the ICF framework&nbsp; </h2>
	</li>
	<li style="text-align:justify">
	<h2>How speech pathology is not known in preschools, schools and in many medical professions yet and how this is an opportunity to support health promotions and advocacy</h2>
	</li>
</ul>

<h2 style="text-align:justify">What would you say to a fellow speechie considering volunteering in Vietnam? </h2>

<h2 style="text-align:justify">I highly recommend this experience for anyone who likes to build capacity and who wants to learn as much as they want to give - you will learn so much about what is essential in true communication and the power of relationships, reflection, curiosity and generosity when you are in Vietnam. You will be so pleased with the theoretical foundations of students based on the amazing development and support from TFA over the last 10 years. </h2>

<h2 style="text-align:justify">With thanks to Nisrine for generously sharing her reflections and beautiful photos from her time in Vietnam.</h2>

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<img alt="" src="https://ktr-dev.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/blogs/Nisrine%20El%20Choueifati_SeptOct%202025_HCMC7.jpg" style="height:450px; width:600px" />

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When Nisrine El Choueifati stepped into a hospital classroom in Ho Chi Minh City, she was struck by something unexpected — it felt familiar. 

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What Vietnam Reminded Nisrine About Speech Pathology

Trinh Foundation Australia was delighted to&nbsp;support Ms Sunny Oanh Doan to attend the APSSLH Conference in Thailand in December 2025. Ms Sunny co-presented the study,&nbsp;&ldquo;Exploring the Impact of a Cross-Cultural&nbsp;Telementoring&nbsp;Program on Speech Therapists Working in a Majority World Country,&rdquo;&nbsp;alongside TFA&rsquo;s former Director, Associate Professor Sally&nbsp;Hewat. Unfortunately, Ms Sarah Day was unwell and unable to co-present. Ms Sunny also shared her reflections on the conference experience.&nbsp;

&ldquo;This conference marked&nbsp;a very special&nbsp;milestone in my journey as a speech therapist. Being surrounded by such inspiring researchers and clinicians encouraged me to think bigger and feel more confident in my role in the profession. It also strengthened my commitment to contributing to the development of speech therapy in Vietnam, as we continue working towards independence and alignment with international standards in a sustainable way.&rdquo;&nbsp;

&ldquo;I would especially like to thank Ms. Sarah Day for inviting me to join her research. Even though Sarah was unable to attend the conference, her guidance and support were felt throughout the process. Being part of the research study was an invaluable experience, and presenting at the conference helped me clearly see how research can respond to real-life needs.&rdquo;&nbsp;

&ldquo;I am additionally thankful to Ms. Carla, Professor Sarah Verdon, Ms. Josephine, and Ms. Lucia for their encouragement before and during the presentation. Their kind words have stayed with me. I also gained many insights from their presentations and am excited to share these ideas with my colleagues back home. As a first step, I plan to interpret and share resources on Intensive Interaction, and my team is working towards inviting Carla to Vietnam next year to deliver Intensive Interaction training. I will also promote a neurodiversity-affirming stance within my professional network by sharing Sarah Verdon&rsquo;s videos on neurodivergent children and the Talking Children podcast.&rdquo;&nbsp;

TFA is proud to support emerging professionals like Sunny, helping them gain international experience and bring back knowledge to strengthen speech therapy in Vietnam.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Ms Sunny Oanh Doan and Professor Sarah Verdon has kindly shared some images from the conference, giving us a glimpse of Sunny&#39;s experience and the international connections she made.&nbsp;

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<img src="https://ktr-dev.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/blogs/image-20260126154607-1.jpeg" style="height:667px; width:500px" />

Former TFA Director, Associate Professor Sally Hewat and Ms Sunny Oanh Doan.&nbsp;

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TFA Director Ms. Carla Mira, Former TFA Director, Professor Sarah Verdon, and Ms. Sunny Oanh Doan.&nbsp;

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Former TFA Director, Professor Sarah Verdon and Ms Sunny Oanh Doan at the conference dinner cruise.&nbsp;

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Ms Sunny Oanh Doan and Associate Professor Sally&nbsp;Hewat&nbsp;presented on BBMP Meaningful Mentoring - the Long-term impacts for Majority World SLP mentees following participation in cross-cultural&nbsp;tele-mentoring.&nbsp;

<img src="https://ktr-dev.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/blogs/image-20260126154701-4.jpeg" style="height:667px; width:500px" />

Ms Sunny Oanh Doan and Associate Professor Sally&nbsp;Hewat&nbsp;presented on BBMP Meaningful Mentoring - the Long-term impacts for Majority World SLP mentees following participation in cross-cultural&nbsp;tele-mentoring.

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Trinh Foundation Australia was delighted to support Ms Sunny Oanh Doan to attend the APSSLH Conference in Thailand in December 2025.

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TFA Supports Ms Sunny at APSSLH Conference 2025

TFA Supports Ms Sunny at APSSLH Conference 2025.

We&rsquo;re thrilled to introduce our two Trinh Foundation Australia Young Ambassadors for 2025.

Ms Jenny Pham, a Vietnamese American student pursuing a B.A. in Linguistics (Speech and Language Studies) at the University of California, San Diego, is eager to connect her academic journey with her Vietnamese heritage.

Ms Mary Pham, originally from Vietnam and now in her final year of the Master of Speech Language Pathology program at the University of Sydney, is dedicated to supporting the growth and sustainability of speech pathology in her home country.

As part of TFA&rsquo;s relaunched Young Ambassador Program, they will join in some of this year&rsquo;s Beyond Borders Mentoring sessions, fostering cross-cultural connections and highlighting the work of Vietnamese SLTs through TFA&rsquo;s social media channels.

Stay tuned to see what they will share with us.

<img src="https://ktr-dev.sfo2.digitaloceanspaces.com/blogs/image-20251117142729-1.png" style="height:1350px; width:600px" />

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We’re thrilled to introduce our two Trinh Foundation Australia Young Ambassadors for 2025. As part of TFA’s relaunched Young Ambassador Program, they will join in some of this year’s Beyond Borders Mentoring sessions, fostering cross-cultural connections and highlighting the work of Vietnamese SLTs through TFA’s social media channels.  Stay tuned to see what they will share with us.

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 We’re thrilled to introduce our two Trinh Foundation Australia Young Ambassadors for 2025.

TFA Featured on Podcast 🎙️

SAVE THE DATE!

Learning Across Cultures: Louise’s Reflection from Vietnam

What Vietnam Reminded Nisrine About Speech Pathology

TFA Supports Ms Sunny at APSSLH Conference 2025.

🌟 Meet Our 2025 Young Ambassadors!

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