Empowering Speech and Language Therapy in Vietnam: A Graduate’s Story of Impact and Growth

Meet Hường Na, one of the Vietnamese students to complete the Speech and Language Therapy course organized by TFA in collaboration with Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine in 2016 - 2017. In this personal account, she reveals the transformative role this opportunity played in shaping her career and its profound impact on the lives of children with developmental delays or disabilities. 

After graduating in 2017, I returned to my work place at the Center for Special Education and Development at Hanoi National University of Education, to work as a professional assistant with expertise in Speech and Language Therapy. There, I had the opportunity to intervene with many children with developmental disorders and delays. I was also fortunate enough to help guide and support social work students, and assume the role of a Clinical Supervisor for a group of students in the Pediatric Speech and Language Therapy course in Hanoi (conducted by Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine). Concurrently, I also participated in the fieldwork supporting human resources in several provinces including Phu Tho.

Following COVID-19, I accepted a new job at the Center for Creative Initiatives in Health and Population (CCIHP - operated as a non-profit organization in Vietnam). I’m in charge of expertise for the organization’s lab and have worked as a project officer in fieldwork for a project run across three provinces: Thua Thien Hue, Quang Nam and Quang Tri. In this project, I participated in the process of capacity enhancement for the multidisciplinary team (MDT) at six hospitals. I was a consultant in speech therapy for the SALTs here as well.

In addition, my participation involved coordinating and teaching the Caregivers Skills Training (CST) for the families of children with developmental delays or disabilities in these three provinces. As someone who directly guided, supported and trained those affected in these project provinces, I have gained great satisfaction and passion for my career through each step I took. Day-by-day I apply the knowledge as well as the skills regarding Pediatric Speech and Language Therapy that the lecturers from Australia taught me. I am so grateful for what the teachers and Trinh Foundation Australia along with Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine have brought to us and our beloved Vietnam!

Many thanks,

Huong Na