The Lounge
International Student Centre
I have also been spearheading the advocacy for cultural inclusivity at The Lounge International Student Centre, where I constructed cross-sectoral partnerships with more than 30 education providers, private and public agencies, social enterprises, philanthropists and fellow NPOs to rally support for bringing together the international student community in regional Victoria. With humility as my guide, I have based on the groundwork of these partnerships and contributed to the unprecedented milestone: the establishment of the very first international student centre designated for international students in Geelong.
Stacy Doan and other Lounge International Student Ambassadors in one of the very first openings of The Lounge
Starting from the very first day when The Lounge had not even opened, I was there right from the beginning to help our Program Manager form the group of Lounge Student Ambassadors, understanding that a great leader is the one who stays strong during the toughest time in the beginning of a project. During the first days of our launch, we had very limited structures and procedures in place to facilitate events and operate promotional initiatives. This was where my decisiveness in the face of uncertainty could be of service - I walked my team through each strategy to plan, prepare and lead multiple student-centred events, and I also became the mastermind behind promotional campaigns on The Lounge social media as a designer and a content editor ensuring the quality, productivity and aesthetics of each public social media interaction. Led by students and aimed for students, we strive to create a student-centred environment where every student can feel seen, heard and connected.
Stacy Doan in her role of a Lounge Ambassador
during the first workshop of The Lounge
Operating on the simple yet profound belief that the city can truly be sustainable when inclusivity is maximised and no one is left behind, my team and I have reached out to 500+ international students, providing inclusive support and acting as a liaison to connect students to on-demand legal, housing, cultural, counselling and medical services. As the Master of Ceremonies in most of the opening nights, I have hosted 30+ workshops and events with the scale of 30-150 attendees where I foster a profound sense of belonging for international students. Managing the broad base of over 35 volunteers presented tough challenges at times, especially when there is remarkable diversity in cultural backgrounds within the volunteer cohort. However, with my leadership at the helm, we have been able to consistently host the opening nights of The Lounge every Monday and Thursday in the heart of Geelong, supplying free, warm and healthy dinners, and serving as a nexus for workshops and events unifying together student cohorts of all nationalities.
Stacy Doan as a Master of Ceremonies (MC)
at the Cultural Exchange Night of The Lounge
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Stacy Doan in The Lounge's promotional flyers and campaign
Stacy Doan facilitating a group conversation with international student participants (left) and The Lounge promotional standee (right)
Deakin Vietnamese Group
Geelong is located 76 km from Melbourne, where Deakin University is the only university around the town. Compared to Melbourne or many suburbs in Victoria, Geelong does not have a large Vietnamese community, an established committee for Vietnamese residents or an official Vietnamese student society.
Therefore, one of my goals in the next chapter of my leadership is to build a foundation to connect Vietnamese students in Geelong where every student from my beloved hometown can enhance their network of support, benefit from peer mentorship, feel proud of their cultural origins and understand that they are never alone whenever encountering challenges. From a humble start of a small meeting where 12 Vietnamese students were gathered to discuss about building a Vietnamese Students network in Geelong, to building a society of 50+ Vietnamese students where we were able to hold a multitude of gatherings, events and workshops tailoring and strengthening support for those in need, I am confident that this is a historic milestone that marks a beginning of the journey where the student community from my country living in Geelong can be unified.
Stacy Doan with other Vietnamese students at Deakin Waterfront in the very first gathering of Deakin Vietnamese Group
An important element of leadership is to possess a pioneering mindset driven by the willingness to break new ground and challenge the status quo. With the dedication in the innovative student-centred programs at The Lounge and Deakin Vietnamese Group, I consider myself as a pioneering leader whose commitment involves discovering new opportunities that drive positive long-lasting impact on the community.