Vietnamese-Australian social worker recognised for volunteer work with offenders

5/1/00
A Vietnamese-Australian social worker with the Ministry of Justice has today been recognised for his volunteer work with offenders experiencing substance abuse problems.
Justice Minister Peter Foss said that Phan Van Tan spent more than 100 hours of his own time translating a workbook for Vietnamese offenders who had problems with substance use.
Mr Foss presented Mr Tan with a certificate of appreciation at a special morning tea today at Mirrabooka.
Mr Tan is employed as a Community Corrections Officer at the Mirrabooka office of Community-Based Services.
He migrated to Western Australia in 1986 with his wife and young son after fleeing a life of persecution in war-torn Vietnam. He was imprisoned in Vietnam and then spent six months in a resettlement camp in Malaysia before beginning a new life in WA.
Despite having completed his tertiary education at Saigon University in 1969, Mr Tan returned to university in WA, studying social work full time at Curtin University.
He also studied English and worked as a gardener, cleaner and as an interpreter for the Immigration Department before completing his degree in Social Work.
"A few months ago Mr Tan contacted the Substance Use Resource Unit seeking permission to translate some of its material to use with his Vietnamese clients," Mr Foss said.
"Staff at the Resource Unit didn't expect Mr Tan to produce a fully translated version of the workbook Thinking It Through.
"As a result of Mr Tan's tireless work, the translation will also be used at Albany Regional Prison, which houses a number of Vietnamese prisoners.
"Mr Tan is to be congratulated on his initiative and efforts which will go a long way towards helping Vietnamese-Australians both in the community and in prison with substance abuse problems."
Media contact: Chris Morris 9321 2222