Australian immigration minister awards blind doctor a work visa

May 29 2009 by Ranjan Chakraborty

Doctor Siyat Abdi

The Australian immigration minister, Chris Evans, has intervened in an application for an Australian visa made by a blind doctor which allows him to work in Australia on a temporary basis.

Kenyan-born Doctor Siyat Abdi has been working in Australia for five years, helping African refugee youths in Adelaide. He has also been studying in Australia over that time.

The doctor has not been able to work in Australia as he was told that his attempts to gain an Australian visa would not be successful as his blindness would count against him.

Evans intervened in the case and decided that due to Dr Abdi’s specialist skills, he should be awarded a temporary work visa valid for four years. The visa included an offer of a job at a South Australian agency called Disability SA.

Dr Abdi says the news has made a profound difference: "It is worth the fight actually...that is what I have been looking for…Because previously I was not able to work, I was not able do anything. I feel this is going to make a change in my life."

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