Khoa Do (b. 1979)
2005 Award

Khoa Do (pron. Kwa Doe) is an exceptional young Australian. As a writer, director, actor and teacher he has carved an impressive niche for himself in the Australian film industry. He shows leadership, compassion, a will to inspire and inform Australians on issues that affect our communities.

As a two-year-old, Khoa left Vietnam on a fishing boat with his parents, who were willing to risk their lives sailing to find a future for their children in another country. Khoa and his family arrived in Sydney and based themselves in Bankstown.

Against the odds, Khoa received a scholarship to attend high school at St. Aloysius, and went on to study Arts-Law at the University of Sydney.

While he explored his love for theatre, film, and comedy, Khoa worked as an English teacher and job-seeking-skills volunteer amongst youths living in Cabramatta.

In 2000, he was awarded the Young Vietnamese-Australian of the Year Award for his services in drama and working with youths in Sydney's south-west.

In 2001, Khoa was nominated for an AFI Award for his screen play for the short film Delivery Day. The film tells the story of a young girl and her struggle to balance the demands of school, her mother and the family's backyard sweatshop and is based heavily on Khoa's own experience.

A year later, Khoa commenced voluntary work with disadvantaged kids at Cabramatta's Open Family Youth Social Services Centre. He was asked to teach film-making to these 'at risk' youth and saw no better way to teach them than to go ahead and make a film with them.

A script was developed based partially on the experiences of those in the class, with all the major cast members first time actors. The end result is the now internationally acclaimed film, The Finished People.

The film is not only an inspiration to those who watch it, but it is an inspiration for anyone who sees the truthfulness and bravery of performances of these incredible youths.

In 2004, Khoa was nominated for two AFI Awards, three Film Critics' Circle Awards and two Australian Writers' Guild Awards for this film and for his community theatre.

Khoa's achievements, strong sense of character and willingness to help others are an inspiration for all Australians.