Local Lawyers and Migration Agents have taken up the challenge of obtaining a visa extension for Local Nurse Thi Thanh Tran.
Miss Thi is the niece of Fr. Henry Duc Tran (Parish Priest of Our Lady of Lourdes Seven Hills.)
In November 2009, Thi sought the assistance of Local Solicitors from the Toongabbie Legal Centre as her visa had been cancelled just one semester off her completion of her Nursing Studies in Australia. She is working in the hospital system and had been offered employment as a Medical Specialist and then to complete her studies in Medicine.
Joe Borg (Solicitor and Migration Agent) and Michael Vassili (Barrister and Solicitor) represented Miss Tran pro bono in the Migration Review Tribunal but her application was refused.
Fr. Henry spoke at the Migration Review Tribunal stating that his niece “Was a great support to my work within the Church. She is my niece and has provided a very positive influence for me” Joe Borg said:
“It appears that Thi contracted Hepatitis locally. She can not explain how this would have occurred but it was not present when she migrated.”
Michael Vassili said: “It appears the height of injustice that when Australia has a massive shortage of health professionals and Thi has worked diligently to progress her studies within a semester of completing that she would have the rug pulled from under her having contracted a condition locally, more likely through her work in the health profession.”
A Local Medical Unit has offered her employment while she completes her Master of Nursing Degree while she undertakes research into Liver illness. She is also working without issue for twenty hours per week in the health industry now.
Representations are now being made to the Immigration Minister to permit a valued worker remain in Australia.