A disability advocate and humanitarian engineer, Huy has been nominated for the prestigious award for his contribution to international development, something he feels passionate about.
“Being nominated means that the work I’m doing for people with disability is being more and more recognised by the mainstream community. This makes me proud and very positive that Australia is becoming a more inclusive society and embracing diversity as part of our culture, and I feel privileged to be a part of that.”
Huy’s commitments include a program in the Solomon Islands, where he initiated the first wheelchair basketball program. He also worked on a collaborative project with a variety of non-government and local organisations in Timor Leste. His work helped to address the issues people with disabilities face in regards to access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene.
Originally from Vietnam, Huy contracted polio when he was 18 months old and has since used a wheelchair. This has been the driving force behind his passion for creating a more disability-accessible society.
Huy has also contributed to SPIN, Canberra’s Weekends on Wheels , a Centenary of Canberra event running throughout October. Huy’s event Wheelout, is an awareness and fundraising wheelchair basketball event.
“Wheelchair basketball is a sport that can be played by people both with and without disability, thus creating an inclusive environment.”
As well as being nominated for the Young ACT Australian of the Year Award, Huy has also recently been the state winner of the Pride of Australia Award and a 2013 finalist for the National Disability Award.
Graduated from a Bachelor of Engineering at ANU in 2010, Huy regularly comes back to the University to host guest lectures. He also takes on current ANU engineering students as interns within his organisation.