Vale Nguyen Khanh Tran

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of former SRC Disabilities and Carers Officer, Honi Soit editor, and international student advocate, Nguyen Khanh Tran.

Nguyen Khanh Tran was one of the most outstanding student journalists and activists at the University of Sydney and within Australia’s disabled and international student communities. They dedicated their life to advocating for equity, Disability rights, LGBTQIA+ rights, and the welfare of international students. They fought tirelessly against injustice in all its forms.

In 2023, Khanh authored a courageous and powerful critique of the Council of International Students Australia, highlighting its failures as a peak body for international students. They were deeply concerned about housing affordability and the cost-of-living crisis affecting students, frequently writing articles, publishing commentaries, and actively participating in campaigns to address these issues.

From 2023 to 2024, Khanh played a pivotal role in the Fair Fares campaign, advocating for public transport concessions for international and part-time students in New South Wales. They mobilised students and residents to sign petitions both online and in person, and stood alongside student representatives at the NSW Parliament debate in May 2024.

As the SRC Disabilities and Carers Officer from 2023-2024, they worked closely with the SUPRA Disability and Inclusion Network prior to their term, during their term, and up to the time of their death. In this role, they collaborated extensively with Gemma Lucy Smart, the SUPRA Disabilities Officer, achieving numerous significant milestones. Their achievements included the securing of an autonomous disabilities community room on campus and the launch of the space, the establishment of the joint SRC/SUPRA/USU Disability Hub stall during WelcomeFests and Disability Inclusion Week, co-running of countless social and activist events, co-editing Disabled Honi, and co-creating and designing the SRC/SUPRA Accessibility Handbook. They were passionate about working on the campaign to remove harmful discrimination against disabled peoples in Australian immigration law with the ‘Welcoming Disability’ initiative, among many other accomplishments.

At the 2023 Sydney University Roundtable Discussion: 100+ Years of International Students, Khanh presented an exceptional policy paper. They outlined systemic challenges such as employment barriers and the need for affordable student accommodation, and didn’t just identify problems – they offered concrete, well-researched solutions, showcasing their deep commitment to meaningful change. It was at this discussion that Khanh called for a collective effort to fund a state-level international student representative body, an idea that directly inspired the establishment of the NSW International Student Representative Committee in 2024.

Khanh once said, “I hope to contribute concretely to improving the lives of myself, others, and make a positive return to the Australian, Vietnamese, and global community.” Indeed, they did just that, earning respect and admiration.

The news of Khanh’s passing has shocked and deeply saddened those of us at SUPRA who had the privilege of knowing and working with them. Their passion, intellect, and fearless advocacy have left a lasting impact on our community. They were a dear friend to many of us at SUPRA including the authors of this statement.

We extend our heartfelt condolences to their family, friends, and everyone who loved them.

Vale, Nguyen Khanh Tran.

Weihong Liang (SUPRA Education Officer), Gemma Lucy Smart (SUPRA Disabilities Officer) and Vivian Bai (SUPRA President)

• Read Khanh’s submission to the 2023 Roundtable Discussion: 100+ years of international students at the University of Sydney
• Read Khanh’s Editorial for Disabled Honi 2023
• Download the SRC/SUPRA Accessibility Handbook
• Read the Australian Law Students Association (ALSA), Australian Medical Association (AMA) and National Union of Students’ (NUS) joint 2022 report on disability and higher education in Australia
• Learn about the Welcoming Disability initiative
• Learn about the Fair Fares campaign

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