The Illawarra's Chinese community is rallying in support of a father searching for his missing daughter.

Tea-seller Shichu Gu travelled from central China megacity Wuhan earlier this month after his daughter Cathy Gu stopped communicating with the family.

The 24-year-old media design student abandoned her studies at the University of Wollongong last year after apparently struggling with the lessons.

Visitors to an Illawarra Chinese-language chat forum began to chronicle her erratic behaviour and raised concerns about her mental health. Her overseas studies had been financed by family savings and loans.

Relatives believe she may have become ashamed of her academic struggles and gone into hiding, and that the circumstances have made her vulnerable.

"My worst fear is that Cathy has been abducted and controlled by someone and physically suffering," Mr Gu said through an interpreter.

Shichu Gu has travelled from China to Wollongong to find his daughter Cathy Gu who went missing last year after having problems coping with her studies at the University of Wollongong. Picture: SYLVIA LIBER

"It doesn't matter what she did ... we'll forgive her. She does not need to worry to take on any burden [paying back loans].

"We'll take on anything that happens so do not worry about anything. It's normal to have some setbacks when you're young."

Mr Gu said his daughter, whose Chinese name is Ya Gu, was stubborn, shy, self-confident and kind.

She arrived in Wollongong in March 2010 and lived at College Place, Gwynneville.

Visitors to a Wollongong forum at eachinese.com suggested she later became homeless and took to doorknocking the Chinese community in search of somewhere to stay for the night. Forum contributors also raised concerns for Miss Gu's mental well-being.

Website moderator Tairan Kevin Huang, the Chinese student representative at the University of Wollongong, has been aiding Mr Gu. He believes Miss Gu is hiding outside the Chinese community.

She was last seen on February 29 in the Warrawong area.

"Culturally speaking, it's not an easy thing for a Chinese parent to support a child overseas and sometimes the student's study performance is affected by their fear [of failure]," he said.

Mr Gu reported his daughter missing to Lake Illawarra police on April 5 and has been showing her photo to passers-by in the hope someone will recognise her. He has approached the Chinese consulate for assistance.

The Illawarra's Chinese community has been supporting Mr Gu with food and free accommodation. A fundraiser is also planned to help finance his travels.

Mr Huang asked that anyone with information about Miss Gu contact him on 0435 764 460 or phone Lake Illawarra police.

By ANGELA THOMPSON

Source: illawarramercury.com.au