Open letter to Education Minister James Merlino
2nd October 2020
Today 23 academics, 23 educators, 14 community leaders, 76 current/former/future parents and students of Footscray Primary School, and concerned citizens have co-signed the following letter to the Victorian Minister Education James Merlino asking that moves towards axing the Vietnamese bilingual program at Footscray Primary School be halted immediately.
Full letter text below. You can view the original letter here. To add your name to the open letter please email: parentoffps@gmail.com
The Hon. James Merlino MP
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education
Level 3, 1 Treasury Place,
East Melbourne VIC 3002
Dear Minister Merlino,
We thank you for your previous communications with parents of Footscray Primary School and taking an interest in this matter. However, we feel there are important issues which remain unresolved. The School Council’s decision to end the Vietnamese bilingual program continues to be of great concern for many in the school and broader community. Now several job advertisements for the proposed Italian bilingual program have heightened the urgency.
Most bilingual programs are introduced for their community and cognitive benefits. This was certainly the case 35 years ago with Vietnamese and remains so to this day, a program that is one of a kind in Australia. Even if there were perceptions of recruitment and/or quality concerns with the current Vietnamese offer, we would like to hear and explore them properly and then see them addressed. But this case has not been made nor communicated. Instead, we are left wondering why and how this decision was made, why at this time when Victorian communities are already under so much stress and why our grievances continue to go unaddressed. This causes a significant erosion of trust and confidence in the School leadership for concerned parents and community members.
Vietnamese is a growing language in Victoria, Australia and internationally. Vietnamese is the highest ancestry group in the Victorian State electoral district of Footscray. It is also the fifth most spoken language in Victoria and Australia.
A petition started from within the school parent community in August has gathered over 16,000 signatures, with over 8,000 of them from Victorian residents, including current and past members of the school community.
A large community of fellow Australians who live in a multicultural society identify with and are attached to Vietnam, its history, people and language. This decision to axe the Vietnamese bilingual program represents a loss for the Vietnamese community, the western suburbs of Melbourne, the Footscray Learning Precinct, multiculturalism, Asian literacies, the language community in Melbourne and therefore to us all. However, the biggest loss is suffered by the children of Vietnamese background whose identity, cognitive development, and familial bonds will be weakened. Ultimately their future prospects will be impacted.
We, the undersigned, call on you to put the recruitment on hold until there is due process for our community to find a solution. We look forward to your response and to partnering with you and others who share a commitment to vibrant Vietnamese bilingual education in Victoria.
Sincerely,
Community Leaders
Dr Vicki Couzens, Board Member — Victorian Aboriginal Corporation for Languages
Dr Tien Nguyen OAM, Former Federal President of the Vietnamese Community in Australia
Bon Nguyen, President — Vietnamese Community in Australia — Victoria
Phong Nguyen, Chair — Vietnamese Museum Australia
Kim Bui-Quang, Board Member — Vietnamese Museum Australia
Dinh Nguyen, President — Vietnamese Veterans Association of Victoria
Peter Ky Nguyen, President — Footscray Asian Business Association
Robert C Bundle, Indigenous Advisory Group — Footscray Community Arts Centre
Sang Nguyen, Former MP — Melbourne West Legislative Council
Paul Huy Nguyen, President — Vietnamese Community in Australia — NSW
Dr Anh Nguyen, President — Vietnamese Community in Australia — WA
Thuy Quach, President — Vietnamese Teachers Association of Victoria
Faith Thanh Tien Bui, President — Vietnamese Students’ Association, Victoria
Can Ngoc Tran, President — Vietnamese Catholics Melbourne
Ryan Johnston, Director — Buxton Contemporary, The University of Melbourne
Academics
Dr Van Tran, Linguist, Teacher — Djerriwarrhh Community and Education Services
Dr Anh Nguyen, Associate Research Fellow — Australian Catholic University
Dr Julie Choi, Senior Lecturer (Additional Languages) — Melbourne Graduate School of Education
Dr Tess Do, Lecturer — The University of Melbourne
Dr Chanh Tran, Lecturer — La Trobe University
Margareta Windisch, Yarraville — RMIT lecturer
Lan Anh Hoang, Senior Lecturer — The University of Melbourne
Dr Maree Pardy, Deakin University, Footscray resident
Dr Mary Tomsic, Research Fellow — Australian Catholic University
Dr Lea Campbell, The University of Melbourne, North Fitzroy resident
Dr Jordana Silverstein, Research Officer — La Trobe University
Prof. John Gibbons, Monash University
Dr Tania Canas, cohealth Arts Generator
Dr Liz Murray, University of San Francisco, Former teacher Footscray Primary School
Dr Helen Ngo, Deakin Univeristy
Dr Kate Just, Artist and Academic — The University of Melbourne
Prof. Natalie Tran, Professor of Educational Leadership — California State University, Director — National Resource Center for Asian Languages
Dr Alexandra Kurmann, Head of French and Francophone Studies, Researcher in Vietnamese Diaspora Literature — Macquarie University
Dr Carolyn D’Cruz, Senior Lecturer — La Trobe University
Jess Hardley, Associate Lecturer — Murdoch University
Dr. Markela Panegyres, Theorist and visual artist
Dr Ligia (Licho) López López, Melbourne Graduate School of Education — The Univeristy of Melbourne
Professor Tom G. Griffiths, The University of Newcastle
Educators
Ba Phu Ly, Principal — Hong Bang Vietnamese Ethnic School
Son Xuan Nguyen, Principal — Le Van Vietnamese School
Trinh Truong, Vietnamese language teacher
Lê Thị Thu Hằng, Vietnamese language teacher
Tưởng Nguyễn, Primary teacher — Hoppers Crossing
Michael Le, Secondary teacher — Springvale
Quyen Phan, Early Childhood Educator, North Melbourne
Thinh Hoang, Former Footscray Primary School bilingual teacher
Chau Cong, Former Bilingual Coordinator — Footscray Primary School, Teacher — Camberwell Primary School
Ngoc Nguyen, Former Footscray Primary School bilingual teacher
Chau Nguyen, Former VSL Vietnamese teacher
Mai Nguyen, Vietnamese Liaison Officer — Deer Park West Primary School
Huong Nguyen, Secretary — Thien An Vietnamese Ethnic School
Mimmalisa Trifilo, Teacher — Lara Secondary College
Kathy Pham, Classroom Teacher
Quang Thanh Long Tran, Middle School Coordinator, teacher — University High School
Mary Merkenich, LOTE teacher and AEU State Councillor
Emma McNicol, Teacher and Academic, Doctoral Researcher — Balaclava
Cam Hong Thi Khuong, Teacher-Bendigo Kangan Insitute of TAFE
Thuy Quach, Vietnamese teacher
Trisha Wheeler, Classroom Teacher — Footscray
Kevin Long, Educator — Williams Landing
FPS Parent / Alumni
Gemma Cafarella, Former Footscray Primary School student, Lawyer, Footscray resident
Thu Hoang, Former Footscray Primary School student
Tuan Hoang, Former Footscray Primary School Parent
Hung Hoang, Former Footscray Primary School Parent
Tien Nguyen, Former Footscray Primary School Parent
Hoang Tran Nguyen, Footscray Primary — School Council Parent Member
Alison Langley, Footscray Primary School Parent
Anh-Thu Nguyen, Footscray Primary School Parent
Anthony O’Sullivan, Footscray Primary School Parent
Brian Sardeson, Footscray Primary School Parent
Chantal Wynter, Footscray Primary School Parent
Dennis Matotek, Footscray Primary School Parent
Dương Trọng Thủy, Footscray Primary School Parent
Hao Do, Footscray Primary School Parent
Hien Tam Thi Le, Footscray Primary School Parent
Hòa Bùi, Footscray Primary School Parent
Huynh Huu Dinh, Footscray Primary School Parent
Jess McKenzie, Footscray Primary School Parent
Joshua Mullan, Footscray Primary School Parent
Minh Anh Nguyen, Footscray Primary School Parent
Minh Phan, Footscray Primary School Parent
Nam Ho, Footscray Primary School Parent
Ngan Nguyen, Footscray Primary School Parent
Nguyễn Tuấn Việt, Footscray Primary School Parent
Oanh Luc, Footscray Primary School Parent
Paul Beaumont, Footscray Primary School Parent
Quyen Tran, Footscray Primary School Parent
Rachel Pitts, Footscray Primary School Parent
Rebecca Boyce, Footscray Primary School Parent
Tạ Văn Vy, Footscray Primary School Parent
Tam Nguyen, Footscray Primary School Parent
Tony Bui, Footscray Primary School Parent
Trang Nguyễn, Footscray Primary School Parent
Warren Bond, Footscray Primary School Parent
Matthew Holzer and partner, Footscray Primary School Parents
Erin Tsubono, Footscray Primary School Parent
Emma Johansson Taylor, Footscray Primary School Parent
Kim Hutchinson, Footscray Primary School Parent
Paul Davis, Footscray Primary School Parent
Simon Mcsweeney and Heidi Golz, Footscray Primary School Parent
Jacqueline Low, Footscray Primary School Parent
Andy Erskine, Footscray Primary School Parent
Irene Andrianopodos, Footscray Primary School Parent
Michale Leslie, Footscray Primary School Parent
Ben Daniel, Footscray Primary School Parent
Manju Gurung, Footscray Primary School Parent
Anh Tuan Luong, Footscray Primary School Parent
Vũ Kim Phượng, Footscray Primary School Parent
Lê Quang Vinh, Footscray Primary School Parent
Lê Thị Thu Thảo, Footscray Primary School Parent
Mark Ford, Footscray Primary School Parent
Sebastian Bourges, Footscray Primary School Parent
Hong Phan, Footscray Primary School Parent
Bùi Thị thúy Nhi, Footscray Primary School Parent
Ngân Bảo Đặng, Footscray Primary School Parent
Hà Nguyễn, Footscray Primary School Parent
Thuần Vi, Footscray Primary School Parent
David Chu, Footscray Primary School Parent
Lý Tú Phương, Footscray Primary School Parent
Bùi Thị Mai Hương, Footscray Primary School Parent
Nhu Quynh Pham, Footscray Primary School Parent
Hoàng Tuấn Hải, Future Footscray Primary School Parent
Huong Bich Tran, Future Footscray Primary School Parent
Thao Thanh Lai, Future Footscray Primary School Parent
Quy Xuan Bui, Future Footscray Primary School Parent
Ha Do, Future Footscray Primary School Parent
Nguyen Hoai Anh, Future Footscray Primary School Parent
Thi Thao Linh Pham, Future Footscray Primary School Parent
Vu Van Bien, Future Footscray Primary School Parent
Đỗ Phương Anh, Future Footscray Primary School Parent
Nghiem Trang, Future Footscray Primary School Parent
Nhu Quynh Doan, Future Footscray Primary School Parent
Loc Nguyen, Future Footscray Primary School Parent
André Dao, Future Footscray Primary School Parent, Writer
Scilla Taylor, Grandparent at Footscray Primary School
Greta Shannon, Former Footscray Primary School student
Guy Owen, Former Footscray Primary School Parent
Elizabeth Richards, Former Footscray Primary School Parent
Priya Holmes, Former Footscray Primary School Parent
Community Members
Thi Tran, Translator/Interpreter — Braybrook
Dr Trang Hoang, For Life Medical Centre
Dr Hieu Linh, For Life Medical Centre
Lian Low, Footscray resident
Leanne Petroff, Yarraville
Nick Giannopoulos, Comedian, actor, film director
Nhan Nguyen, Footscray resident
Stacey Kazakis, Brunswick resident
Tara Hoang, Senior Business Analyst, Financial Institutions
Jo Williams, Maidstone
Jorge Andres Jorquera, Victorian Socialists Candidate Maribyrnong Council
Kate Coleman, Greensborough
Jacinta Cashen, Brunswick
Deb Chapman, Brunswick
Thuy Tran, Maribyrnong
May Mauseth, Director — Alviss Consulting
Thai Hoang Phuong Ngo, Co-Director — Hyphenated Projects, Doctoral Researcher
Khanh Do, Bank Manager — NAB
Dzung Nguyen, Social Worker — COHEALTH
Polly Bennett, Footscray resident
Dr Van Davy, Pearl Beach, NSW
Elizabeth Muldoon, West Melbourne
David Linden, Ocean Grove
Irene Fernandez, South Yarra
Toni Bloodworth, Northcote
Claudia Freyer, Fawkner
Hoa Nguyen, Housekeeper — Deer Park
Chung Nguyen, Retired — Braybrook
Carol Nguyen, Research Analyst, Altona North resident
Giselle Au-Nhien Nguyen, Writer, Brunswick East resident
Jinghua Qian, Writer, Footscray resident, Arts Ambassador — Maribyrnong City Council
Jessie Nguyen, Sunshine resident
My Nguyen, Student — Monash University
Emily Pham, Northcote resident
Jennifer Tran, Maidstone resident
Lana Nguyen, Moonee Ponds resident
Hanh Lai, Trader — Ascot Vale
Hong Loan Pham, Bulleen resident
Thanh Nguyen, Lalor resident
Bieu Phan, Housekeeper — Flemington
Thao Nguyen, Housekeeper — Flemington
Hang Nguyen, Self-employed — Flemington
Tu Lai, Housekeeper — Flemington
Thi Nguyen, Housekeeper — Brunswick
Khuong Nguyen, Retired — Flemington
Ngoc Do, Housekeeper — Flemington
Bay Lai, Housekeeper — Flemington
Tuan Tran, Library Officer — Malvern Library
Thi Tran, Self-employed — North Melbourne
Khanh Do, Storeman — Country Road Group
Kien Nguyen, Development Engineer — Clevertronic Pty Ltd
Thao Tran, Housekeeper — North Melbourne
Thuc Tran, Director — Riteware Company
Chau Tran, Retired — Keilor Downs
Viet Tran, Student — The University of Queensland
Anh Nguyen, Retired — Flemington
Anh Tran, Sushi Chef — Sushi Sushi
Kim Do, Developer — Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
Vy Nguyen, West Footscray resident
Nadia Niaz, Editor — Australian Multilingual Writing Project
Chi Vu, Writer and Doctoral Researcher — Victoria University
Nhan Nguyen, Footscray resident
Rebecca Grimaud, Fitzroy North
Quan Bao, Lalor
Thanh Nguyen, Lalor
Tuan Bao, Bulleen
Gian Phan, Bulleen
Hong Luan Pham, Bulleen
Liz Walsh, Victorian Socialists Candidate Maribyrnong Council — Maidstone
Alison Cooke, Seaford
Brigitte Lambert, Croydon
Ky Dinh Vu, Retired — Chadstone
Sarah Dinh, Customer Service Representative
Natalie Kuo, Mount Waverly
Alex Elliott, Class Instructor
Andrew Ng, Dentist — St Albans
Jacinta Schreuder, Melbourne
Lin Cheng, Melbourne
Peter Ngo, Keysborough
Cath Edwards, Social Worker
Lisa Nguyen, Radiographer — Balaclava
Paula Joyce, Youth Counsellor — Footscray
Matt Tambellini, Graphic Designer — Footscray
Ai Nguyen, Resevoir
Rachel Walker, Disability Supervisor — Footscray
Olivia Tian Chai Koh, Melbourne
Elly Louchart, Clifton Hill
Muhammad Shahid Imran, Glen Iris
Oanh Tran, Beauty Therapy — Lalor
Veronica Witteveen, Braybrook
Văn Vũ Nguyễn, Richmond
Xuân Toàn Nguyễn, Richmond
Kim Lâu Nguyễn, Richmond
John Nguyễn, Richmond
Thi Thanh Hương Nguyễn, Richmond
Prue Delalande, Senior Youth Worker, Dandenong
Patrick Donelan, Northcote
Stephen Robert Irving, Yarraville
Alexandra Roper, Coburgh North
Catriona Vi Nguyen-Robertson, The University of Melbourne, West Footscray
Bryden Williams, Footscray
Dominic Hong Duc Golding, Vietnamese Adoptee and Community Advocate
Van T Rudd, Visual Artist — Sunshine
Angelina Russell, Social worker — Geelong
Tina Tran, Footscray
Rachel Sztanski, Footscray
David Jones, Yarraville
Sarah Brasier, Artist — Preston
To add your name to the Open letter please email: parentoffps@gmail.com
