I came to Australia in 1970 as a Colombo Plan student. I received an Honours degree in Politics and Administration from the University of Tasmania, then moved to Melbourne to continue my studies at Monash University. I was extensively involved in ethnic community affairs since the arrival of Indo-Chinese refugees in Australia in 1976, leading to my appointment as the commissioner of the Ethnic Affairs Commission from 1985 to 1993. In 1977 I commenced a 16-year career in the Victorian Public Service working in the human resources development and labour market program areas in various government departments. In 1993 I resigned from the Victorian Government and worked as a Youth Employment Counsellor with the Cambodian Association until my election to the Victorian Parliament in March 1996.

Parliamentary Career
I am the first and only Cambodian-Chinese to be elected to a Parliament anywhere in the English-speaking world. I was the first Asian to be elected to a Lower House of Parliament of Australia. I was elected a Member of the Legislative Assembly for Clayton, Victoria, in March 1996 and have held the position since.

Below is my excerpt from the Parliamentary Handbook which is accessible from the Victorian State Parliament website:

Parliamentary Service: Elected MLA for Clayton March 1996. Re-elected 1999, November 2002, November 2006. Parliamentary representative on Monash University Council 1996-98.
Parliamentary Party Positions: Opposition Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural and Ethnic Affairs 1997-99. Opposition Parliamentary Secretary for Small Business 1999. Convenor, Parliamentary Caucus Economic Bill Cttee since 1997. Special Adviser to the Premier on Victoria-Asia Business Relations since March 2002.

Party Positions: Member of the ALP since 1985. Member of the following party Cttees: Immigration & Ethnic Affairs Policy 1988-92, Foreign Affairs Policy 1988-92. FEA Delegate, State Conference 1989-90. Pres., 1989-90, Sec., 1991-95, Clarinda Branch. Hotham FEA Executive and FEA Delegate to State Conference since 1995. Convenor, Parliamentary Caucus Cttee for Victorian Communities since 2003.

Ministerial Appointments: Parliamentary Secretary, Victorian Communities December 2002-December 2006.
Previous Occupation: Staff officer 1977-82. Human resource development officer 1982-85. Migrant employment counsellor 1987-89. Youth employment counsellor 1989-93, 1994-96. Overseas qualifications assessor 1994.

Committee Service: Economic Development Cttee 1996-99. Chairman, Family and Community Development Cttee 1999-2002. Economic Development and Infrastructure Cttee

Memberships: Commissioner, Ethnic Affairs Commission 1985-93 (Governor-in-Council appointee); Co-Convenor of Victorian Parliamentary Friends of Burma; Honorary Advisor to more than 20 community organisations.