University of Tasmania student Vanni Pham has won a national award for helping her fellow students to succeed in their studies, by leading enjoyable and inclusive study sessions.
A Peer Leader with the University’s Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) program, Vanni was recognised as an Outstanding New PASS Leader at the 2026 Australasian PASS and Peer Learning Awards.
Recently completing her Bachelor of Information and Communication Technology, Vanni was one of three students to receive this award, which was presented at the Australasian PASS and Peer Learning Conference, held in Sydney in June.
An international student from Vietnam, Vanni started her degree at the University of Tasmania in 2023, and the following year she started working as an International Peer Leader.
During her studies, Vanni noticed that many of her fellow ICT students tended to be reluctant to ask for help when they were struggling with their coursework.
She said many students were determined to be self-reliant and were hesitant to seek assistance, describing themselves as “lone wolves”.
Vanni saw an opportunity to change this experience, by joining the PASS program as a PASS Leader in 2025, supporting students enrolled in the first-year unit Programming Fundamentals.
Her goal was to create an inclusive, creative and collaborative space for on-campus study sessions. She wanted these sessions to be enjoyable and people-focused, making everyone feel safe and included.
She said she always endeavoured to make dry or complex topics fun and interactive, with activities that made the ideas tangible and memorable.
And while Vanni supported other students with their studies, she continued to excel at her own.
Her sister also attended the University of Tasmania, and Vanni’s first visit to Tasmania was to attend her sister’s graduation ceremony. She fell in love with Tasmania immediately and moved to Hobart to study ICT, excited by the career opportunities the degree could lead to.
Vanni received a scholarship as part of a celebration of 50 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Australia, which covered 50% of her tuition fees.
“[It] was really helpful because I come from a middle-class household,” she said.
“My parents were able to support me better, and I could focus on my studies.”
Vanni actively sought opportunities to engage with Tasmania’s diverse community. Through volunteering as an International Student Ambassador for Study Tasmania and the City of Hobart, she built meaningful cross-cultural connections, supported community initiatives, and helped promote Hobart as a welcoming destination for international students.
Vanni hopes to use her degree to become a business analyst, and is eager to merge her IT skills with business knowledge.
"The work environment is dynamic and diverse," she said. "And with my background, I can bring insights from an IT perspective into the business world."
The University of Tasmania has a record of delivering quality peer learning opportunities, and our PASS program has been nationally recognised since 2008 as one of the premier programs in the Australasian region.
Alongside the PASS Program, our Peer Assisted Learning Support (PALS) program offers peer support to help build broader academic and numeracy skills.
- You can read more about our PASS and PALS programs in the Student Portal and see the units PASS currently supports.