Duc Pham Optometrist Duc set up his optometrist business in B...

Duc Pham Optometrist Duc set up his optometrist business in Bankstown back in 1992 when there was only one other optometrist in the area. At the time he was living in housing commission in Macquarie Fields and it was really hard to set up a new business starting from nothing. However he knew it was going to be great, so he persevered and in less than six months he had the business up and running. At age 12, Duc and his brother had to leave Vietnam. His father wanted him to go to Australia, however at the time the Australian government did not accept minors, so he and his other brother decided to go wherever they would be taken. They found themselves separated from their family in a refugee camp in Malaysia living in very harsh conditions. “I have had a lot of hardship before, life is not always easy. My story is interesting. At 12 years old I was a refugee in Malaysia. I saw a boat of one hundred people die. At 12 years old I saw that, so I always appreciate life.” Duc finally arrived in Australia as a refugee on a boat at age 16. He had learnt English in Canada and went through school in Sydney and then onto university. After university, his first imperative was to get secure work. “I chose the health profession as it was a safe and there is always work guaranteed. This work will last for a very long time, I should be able to continue to 65 without any issues.” Duc was attracted to Bankstown because of the strong presence of an Asian community. “ I’ve seen a lot of changes over 22 years here, waves of gangs, though it has improved with lively shopping districts, and is much better than what it was in the 90’s. I know most of the shop owners around and we rely on each other for survival so we have to work together”.

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