Early Teens

I (Louie Liu) grew up in Marrickville during the 90s, a time when the area was notorious as the drug den of Australia. Despite having a caring family and a well-provided upbringing, I found myself drawn into a life of crime. By the age of 16, I was involved in gang activities, selling stolen goods and drugs. My descent into more serious criminal activities led to my first drug-induced psychosis at 20, resulting in a 3-month stay in a psychiatric unit. In 2002, my criminal activities caught up with me, and I was arrested for a robbery-related offence. I was sentenced to 5 years, serving 3 years in jail and 2 years on parole. However, this experience did not deter me from returning to a life of crime. After my release, I became involved in organised crime, importing drugs from overseas. This led to another episode of drug-induced psychosis in 2006 and a subsequent suicide attempt.

A Turning Point In Prison

My second incarceration in 2009, for drug importation, marked a significant turning point. Sentenced to 7.5 years, I served 5 years in prison and 2.5 on parole. During this time, the structured environment of prison helped settle my mental health issues and provided me with the opportunity to study. I completed Cert 4 in Cooking, which allowed me to find a job quickly upon my release.

A pivotal moment in my transformation was my involvement in the Pups in Prison program, now known as Defence Community Dog. This program, where inmates trained pups to become companion dogs for ex-Defence personnel suffering from PTSD, allowed me to take on a positive role for the first time in my life. This experience showed me that even people in special forces could suffer from poor mental health, inspiring me to pursue a new path.

After my release, I saved money by working as a Chef and took up Personal Training at Bathurst TAFE. Encouraged by the Head Teacher, I applied for Exercise and Sport Science and was accepted. Despite the challenges of studying with a poor educational foundation, I persevered, eventually entering into the Charles Sturt Physiotherapy program. My journey was marked by hard work, persistence, and the support of family.

Paying It Forward

Education created a world worth living in for me. This is why I approached Charles Sturt University to set up a Scholarship, with the intention to give both a financial and morale boost to those who are facing similar challenges.

Understanding the obstacles faced by formerly incarcerated individuals, I believe education and support can provide a pathway to a better future, just as it did for me. My scholarship aims to give others the chance to transform their lives, just as I did.

For me, study was 10 times harder than jail. I believe people with similar experiences to me would likely have a very poor foundation in study, as our early foundations in life are built on drug habits, poor concentration, poor stress management, poor technology skills and poor study habits. I firmly believe the person sponsored through this scholarship will change the world.