Bashed in Melbourne by Neo-Nazis With a Brick and Left for Dead, International Student and Music Teacher Now Set for the World Stage
After seeing the story on the news, a Melbourne music teacher reached out to help. What followed became a national movement and a global message about justice, resilience, and the power of music to heal.
Vietnamese international student Minh Tuan Duong was violently attacked in Melbourne by a Neo-Nazi group, struck in the head with a brick so forcefully that it shattered into two pieces. At the time, Minh was working at 7-Eleven, juggling night shifts and studying at Swinburne University in pursuit of a better life.
While Minh was still recovering from the brutal assault, Melbourne music teacher Adrian De Luca saw his story on the news and stepped in, offering free piano lessons and supporting his recovery. Adrian also helped arrange a trip for Minh to visit his mother in Vietnam. But at Melbourne Airport, just as they were about to leave the country, Minh was pulled aside, his visa cancelled, and he was kicked out of Australia, placed under a re-entry ban and left without any formal assistance.
Adrian launched a petition that drew nearly 90,000 signatures and went on national television to campaign for Minh’s return. Eventually, Minh was granted a new visa and allowed to return to Australia.
From that act of kindness, We Are Australia® was born — a registered harm prevention charity supporting international student victims of crime.
Today, Minh is an Australian citizen, a CPA, and Treasurer of the charity that helped rebuild his life. Minh’s story reflects a broader failure to protect international students when they are most vulnerable..
We Are Australia® is a finalist in the 2025 PIEoneer Awards in London, recognised for its groundbreaking student support work. https://pieoneerawards.com/
About
We Are Australia® is a national harm prevention charity dedicated to supporting international student victims of crime through advocacy, education, and trauma-informed care. Since its founding, the organisation has directly supported over 300 students and reached thousands more through outreach and community initiatives.
“We don’t promise to give international students a voice; we promise to be their voice.”
— Adrian De Luca, Founder & Director, We Are Australia®
Media Contact:
Adrian De Luca
Founder & Director, We Are Australia®
E: adrian.deluca@weareaustralia.org
M: +61 421 439 379
