Prince Long Lo nominated in the 7News Young Achievers Awards QLD for helping refugees, migrants and international students

As a former international student who knows how hard it can be to adjust to Australian life, Prince Lo is now up for a statewide recognition for his work helping thousands through the same transition. Read his story here.

A former international student who has helped thousands of newly-arrived residents has been nominated for a Queensland young achievers award.

Prince Lo is a nomination for the 7News Young Achievers Queensland award, Tuesday, February 14, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Prince Long Lo moved to Australia from Hong Kong in 2013, after his parents gave him a one-way ticket to a new life.

“It is terrifying. I technically was in the shoes of the people I’m now helping,” he said.

“Growing up in an Asian family, there’s definitely parental pressure (and) they expect the children to be in good form and they want them to succeed and do well.

“They explored options of me to study overseas, and they chose Australia for me. I didn’t have the chance to say where I go or what I do.

“But I think they did have confidence in me that I would settle well here.”

Mr Lo, 27, has since graduated from the Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelors Degree in Business (human resources management) and Psychology, and a Masters of Social Work from the University of Queensland.

Three years ago, he made a “leap of faith” and moved to Toowoomba, where he has worked closely with several organisations to help refugees, migrants and international students settle into Australian life.

Prince Lo wants to be the person for newly arrived residents he wished he had when he arrived in Australia from Hong Kong a decade ago. Tuesday, February 14, 2023. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Now, he has been nominated for The University of Queensland Create Change Award through the 7News Young Achievers Awards.

“People are in a very vulnerable situation when they first arrive,” Mr Lo said.

“Coming to a completely new country with complete different new system, way of communications, and a new way of day to day things … it’s different and it’s very daunting.

“I’ve been through the stage of not knowing what to do, not having any family or friends (in the town), and it’s very intimating … a lot of the peers I come across, they are struggling.”

Mr Lo said his goal was to be the person for new residents that he wished he had when he first arrived in Australia.

“I want to support them to the point where they are self reliant and able to do things by themselves or at least trying to explore things by themselves,” he said.

“Young people can achieve a lot in the region and young people can create a voice for change in the region.

“So I don’t really care if get (the award) or not. I just wanted to give it a go and see what happens.”

The finalists and winners will be announced on May 19, 2023.