Making important connections
While studying a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) and Master of Arts (International Studies), which is now a Master of Global Studies, Lee dived into RMIT’s clubs and societies scene.
He quickly joined the RMIT Association of International Students (now the RMIT International Studies Association) and became the association’s publicist. In his second year at RMIT, he was elected president.
The experience not only won Gary new friends, but put him in contact with university staff and management. It was the start of what would be a career-building network.
“The catalyst of everything I do now was formed during that period because of the connections I made,” he said.
“It then led to important connections with staff and I enjoyed that access to really important people within the university, including the Vice Chancellor.
“So I guess my journey in Australia started as a volunteer, as a student leader, and up until today I haven't given up volunteering. I feel volunteering is a way of life for me more so than a hobby or a passion.”
International students - now and then
Looking back, Gary said the issues facing international students during the 2000s haven’t changed much today.
“Back then, a lot of the issues were around homesickness, missing family, adapting to a new country and integrating with local students,” he said.
“In my opinion, those issues are still very prevalent today. The complexities have changed and it has evolved a little bit more.
“So where we used to talk about homesickness, we probably talk about mental health nowadays. But the issues around integration haven’t changed because international students are still very keen to connect with locals.”
Curiosity was a driving force for Gary. He wanted to know more about his fellow international students - where they came from, what they ate in their home countries, the cultural traditions they practiced.
It led to him gaining insights on how people worked best together and managed to overcome challenges.
Climbing career highs
The soft skills Gary developed as a volunteer were invaluable. His strengths in communication, teamwork and leadership led to a role at RMIT as an Education Abroad Advisor.
Following this, he began working at the City of Melbourne as an International Student and Youth Project Officer. From there, Gary worked his way up and became an International Education Project Coordinator.
Today he is manager of International Education - a position he has held for almost three years. Gary has worked at the City of Melbourne for 16 and a half years, and his passion still revolves around supporting international students.
“We're still the only council I feel that has a designated international education team within the council because a high number of our residents are international students,” he said.
“We want to know that when students come here, they have the best time and they want to tell everybody about it.”
Medal recognition
When he’s not at work, Gary spends his time volunteering with various non-profit organisations including the African Music and Culture Festival, the Indian Group Festival, the PoisE’n and PoisE’n Bollypop dance crews, and the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.
“Volunteering helps put you outside of your comfort zone. It helps you meet other people and it also shows people that you have something to give, and we all have something to offer,” he said.
Gary’s many community service achievements in the international students’ sector landed him a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2023. The medal was also in recognition of Gary’s position on numerous committees including North Melbourne Football Club’s The Huddle, which helps young people’s future outcomes through sport, the Victorian Multicultural Commission (VMC) Regional Advisory Council and Crime Stoppers Cultural Inclusion Reference Group.
He is also an ambassador for the AFL Multicultural Program, Melbourne Victory, Welcoming Australia and the Bully Zero Australia Foundation.
The OAM and everything he did to earn it underlined the importance of one of his personal philosophies: dare to be different.
“As a student, I felt that I needed to do extravagant things to stand out, but as I grew up, I realised that being different means daring to be myself and what I want,” he explained.
“That’s actually harder than trying to become something I'm not.”
Story: Kate Jones
