Email Address: Admin@avhpav.org.au | Phone Number: (03) 9367 7927.

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Trung Quach

Dear Esteemed Members and Colleagues,

It is a deep honour to step into the role of President of the Vietnamese Health Professionals Association of Victoria (AVHPAV) for 2026-2027.  I want to thank the committee for their trust. I am still not entirely sure if this is a promotion or if I just happened to be the last person standing — but either way, I am incredibly honored! 

As I look across our membership — composed of dedicated doctors, dentists, pharmacists, and allied health professionals — I am reminded of the remarkable journey our community has taken over the years. We are not just a professional body; we are a bridge between our rich heritage and the Australian healthcare system, united by a shared commitment to excellence and service.

*Our Vision for 2026*

In the coming year, my goal is to build upon the strong foundation laid by my predecessors while steering our association toward three key pillars:

Mentorship: I would like to bridging the gap between our seasoned practitioners and our bright generation of students and new graduates. Let’s share the clinical wisdom, but also the important stuff—like how to survive a 24-hour shift on nothing but caffeine and determination.

Connection (The Fun Kind): Enhancing our networking opportunities and bridging the gap between specialists and non-specialists, our doctors, dentists and allied health. We’re health professionals, but we’re also human. I want to see more of us connecting outside of the clinic — ideally over a meal where nobody is checking their pager.

Community health: Where possible, strengthening our health promotion initiatives within the Vietnamese-Victorian community to address health literacy and preventative care. Ensuring our voices are heard in broader healthcare policy discussions, representing the unique needs of our practitioners and our patients.

*A Shared Journey*

Success in this role is not a solo endeavour. I’m stepping into big shoes, and I’ll likely be leaning on many of you for advice. The strength of AVHPA lies in your participation, your energy, and your heritage. Whether you have been with us since our inception or are joining us as a new graduate, your contribution is what makes this association a home for Vietnamese health professionals.

I look forward to meeting many of you at our upcoming events and working side-by-side to make 2026 a fantastic year.

Let’s do some great work, help our community, and try to keep our caffeine intake to a medically acceptable level.

Warmest regards,

Dr Phuong Huu Pham
President AVHPA of Victoria 2026

Our History

In 1987, a small contingent of Vietnamese doctors and pharmacists from Melbourne attended the 1st International Conference of the Vietnamese Physicians of the Free World, held in Montreal, Canada. The group decided to establish a similar association based in Australia to promote and support the services of Vietnamese healthcare. Thus the Vietnamese Australian Medical Association of Victoria (VAMA of Victoria) was officially established in 1988. The initial management committee board included Dr Le Thanh Canh (President), Dr Tran Quoc Dong, Dr Tran Xuan Dung, Ms Nguyen Le Thi (Pharmacist-representative) and Dr Tran An (Dental-representative). Thereafter, health professionals from other Australian states (Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia) have established their equivalent medical associations.

In 1988, Dr Ha Ngoc Thuan was elected President of the Vietnamese Australian Medical Association of Australia (VAMA of Australia). Dr Ha organized the first national Vietnamese Medical Conference in Australia, which was held in Brisbane, Queensland. At this opening conference, it was decided that future national conferences would be held every two years, and be organised by the elected President and his committee in the home state of that President. It was decided that the President would hold a two-year term and that each subsequent President would be elected from a different state on a rotational basis. The President would be elected by the voting members present at the biennial national Conference.

As an association, we have worked hard and are proud of our achievements and contributions to the activities of the Vietnamese Physicians of the Free World.

Since then, the VAMA of Victoria has been then re-defined to be more inclusive of other Australian Vietnamese health professionals. The Vietnamese Australian Medical Association of Victoria (VAMA of Victoria) was then represented by the Australian Vietnamese Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Association in Victoria.

In January 1997, the Victorian branch successfully organised a national Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Conference in Victoria (at the Veneto Social Club, Bulleen). The management committee included: Dr Tran Quoc Dong, Dentist Tran An, Pharmacist Nguyen Le Thi, Dr Tran Anh Ton, Dr Nguyen Ngoc Huong, Dr Tran Minh Hung, Dr Pham Huynh Hung, Pharmacist Nguyen Thao and Dentist Nguyen Thanh Tung. On that occasion, we had the honor of welcoming special guests from the US, Dr and Mrs Nguyen Duc Lien.

    The number of Vietnamese health professionals has increased rapidly throughout Australia.  In Victoria, alone, the number of Vietnamese doctors has reached over 200, including practitioners within the fields of Cardiology, Dermatology, Endocrinology, General Practice, General Surgery, Haematology, Orthopaedic Surgery, Oncology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, Respiratory, Radiology, Rheumatology and Urology.

    We would like to acknowledge the previous VAMA Presidents for all their hard work and contributions to our association:
    Dr Le Thanh Canh, Dr Tran Quoc Dong, Dr Nguyen Ngoc Huong, Dr Tran Anh Ton, Dr Tran Thanh Nhon, Dr Brian Cung, Dr Duong Phu Cuong, Dr Le Anh Huan.

    We trust that our association will continue to grow as the support from our members grow!

    Dr Dong Quoc Tran,

    Founder of The VAMA Victoria

     Our Mission

    • Support, sponsorship and participation in community-based Vietnamese health promotion activities.
    • Encourage and support continuing medical education in terms of organising regular medical conferences and clinical meetings.
    • Provide an open and friendly environment for both educational and social networking amongst the association’s members.
    • Host and welcome interstate and international colleagues to our educational and social functions.
    • Acknowledge the importance of our undergraduate students who are the “future” of the association. Thus, we provide support and sponsorship of a variety of activities of the Medical, Dental and Pharmacy Students.

     

    Management Committee 2023-2025

     Executive Committee

    • President: Dr Phuong Huu Pham
    • Vice President: Dr Hung Phu (Andre) Tran
    • Vice President: Mr John Ly
    • Treasurer: Dr Thai Hong

    Social Subcommittee:  Ms Hien Phan and Ms Isabelle Le

    General Committee

    1. Dr Trung Quach, Nephrologist
    2. Dr Sarah Nguyen, General Practitioner
    3. Dr David Hiep Phan, General Practitioner
    4. Dr Trang Hoang, General Practitioner
    5. Dr Hieu Dinh, Dentist
    6. Dr Hai Phan, General Practitioner

    Senior Advisors

    1. Dr Phuc Nhan Pham
    2. Dr Sy Lieu Pham
    3. Dr Hoang Huy Huynh