Architecture, arts, education and advocacy

AS a 22-year-old, Tim Vo enjoys life in the ways you’d expect.

Fitness is important to him, so he bikes and hikes. He loves his footy club, the Ballan Blues, helping behind the scenes, ensuring the players achieve their goals, and he’s studious with his education degree at Federation University.

With a specific focus on history and literature, he enjoys architecture and the arts, admiring the 19th century buildings in Ballarat’s CBD.

“Without our history, we have nothing,” he said. “I love going through art galleries and looking at the changes in our society over the centuries. That’s always been an interest of mine.”

Plenty of young people are politically activated, but not many can say, as Mr Vo can, that they are their local Liberal candidate, approaching the federal election.

Originally from Warracknabeal, he’s excited to chat to as many people as he can before May 18, so Ballarat sees more than just a youthful face, and he has a broader understanding of the burning issues.

“I’ll never know everything, but I’m dedicated to be out on the streets every day, to be talking to voters and listen in to what their concerns are without any pre-established political biases,” he said.

“I’m ready to listen and I’m ready to learn from the people of this area.”

But there’s already plenty on the agenda. He’s campaigning for a strong economy to secure funding of Medicare, the NDIS, broader health, education, and would like to improve housing and rental availability.

As a future teacher, he hopes to ensure regional students in need of support get a “hand up not a hand-out.

“I want to help students be the best that they can be and give them the skill-set that they need to reach their potential,” he said.

But whether he has electoral success or not, Mr Vo simply wants to advocate for the area.

“On a personal level, I want to meet people because it’s great fun. Ballarat as a whole, and the surrounding communities, have given me so much and helped me grow in many ways.

“Standing for politics is a way I feel I can serve the community, I can listen to the community, I can get their issues out there in ways that helps them. That’s my real goal.”