This episode of Australia & Me delves into the extraordinary life of Queensland's first serving Vietnamese Policewoman, Teresa Thoi.

Born in a small village in Vietnam, Thoi and her family braved the seas in the early 80's for the promise of a new future in Australia. Thoi was just 10 years old when they arrived in Cairns.

It is clear that the assimilation process has left a prominent mark on Thoi's psyche. Although Thoi completed a business degree and returned to Vietnam to further her language skills, it was a chance meeting with a serving police officer that led her to pursue a career in the Australian Police Force.

Thoi is now a Sergeant working in the 'Asian Specialist Unit' in Brisbane. She admits that her role has given her a chance to give back to the Queensland community which embraced her family. She now helps other immigrants who are experiencing what she went through.

"What's rewarding is I can use my own language skills being Vietnamese. I have helped a lot of my community members."

This is truly a remarkable story of how the immigration process can unfold.