Emma-Louise Semaan – AVCAT Alumni

Our family has been on a healing journey for many years now, which I am so proud of. We stand by each other every year and march with Dad on ANZAC DAY, this day means so much to us all.

By Emma-Louise Semaan

I was awarded the Long Tan Bursary in 2023. This scholarship helped me financially in my final year of studies but was also so much more than that. I am proud of my dad’s service in Vietnam, but he, like many veterans, suffered from PTSD and struggled with his mental health. Throughout the years, he often worried about providing for us financially. This scholarship acknowledges my dad’s service in a way that provides financial support for veteran’s children like me.

My father was only 17 when he voluntarily joined the Army, he was sent to the Vietnam War at the age of 19 and served in the Army from 1964 to 1970 as a medic. The day before my dad was due to be deployed to Vietnam his father died, and his mother passed away less than three years later while he was in Vietnam. Dad was an only child and didn’t have a great childhood. However, losing his parents so young meant he felt quite alone and wasn’t able to heal those wounds, which affected him greatly.

After leaving the Army in 1970 my dad found it hard to adjust to a normal life routine. It took a long for him to deal with the effects Vietnam had on him. For many years he was angry and didn’t connect with the RSL or seek any professional help for his PTSD and depression. I know my dad still thinks about his time in Vietnam, to this day doesn’t talk about the experience much, but now he is actively involved with the RSL and the Department of Veterans Affairs. I believe he is finally proud of himself and his mates for how their service has contributed to the many freedoms our country has today.

We have a wonderful family, my mother, father, younger sister and I all have a great relationship, but my father’s upbringing and time in the war meant he suffered a great deal of trauma in his life. This affected his marriage and ultimately our childhood as well.

Our family has been on a healing journey for many years now, which I am so proud of. We stand by each other every year and march with Dad on ANZAC DAY, this day means so much to us all. He has three grandchildren now who stand by his side, proudly wear his replica medals and help Poppy lay the wreath. Having my own son taught me a lot about how hard it is to be a parent, and also how important it is to heal from past trauma and try to break down negative generational cycles.

I am passionate about childhood development and helping people, I want to ensure we are raising our next generation as resilient, compassionate, and vulnerable humans.

I am passionate about childhood development and helping people, I want to ensure we are raising our next generation as resilient, compassionate and vulnerable humans. In 2021, I started a Bachelor of Youth Work as a mature-age student at 36! 2020 had been a tough year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, I had a 12-month-old son, my husband and I both lost our jobs, and we were separated from our family for over six months due to restrictions. So honestly, it was the best decision of my life, I am now supporting young people in the residential care space and raising my own very special human.

Attending my graduation ceremony this year with both my wonderful parents standing by my side was an immensely proud moment for me! Thank you to AVCAT and the Department of Veterans Affairs for awarding me the Long Tan Bursary and letting me tell my story.

Emma-Louise was awarded the Long Tan Bursary in 2023.