29 June 2023: Viktor ‘jumped for joy’ seeing the face of his beloved big sister again, family thanks Mater ‘angels’
Mater News
A Mater eye surgeon has helped restore the vision of a “near-blind” refugee who was rescued from the frontline of the war in Ukraine by his sister living in Queensland.
For the first time in more than a decade, Viktor Olepir, a 57-year-old who has Down syndrome, is now able to ‘clearly see’ the face of his sister Zoya Olepir following cataract surgery at Mater Hospital Brisbane.
Mr Olepir arrived in Australia last March and was assessed at Mater Refugee Complex Care Clinic (MRCCC), which provides healthcare at no cost to those seeking asylum who do not have Medicare and have complex healthcare needs.
20 June 2023: Mater Refugee Complex Care Clinic – 21st Anniversary
Mater Hospital Brisbane, South Brisbane
Ethiopian coffee-making, an African drum performance, Persian delicacies and other activities by Brisbane’s refugee communities were part of the 21st anniversary celebrations of Refugee Complex Care Clinic (MRCCC).
MRCCC was established in 2002 and is the longest continuing clinic of its kind in Australia. The service offers specialised primary health care including complex case management for people seeking asylum, treatment, specialist referrals, and is a secondary consultation service for general practices.
14 June 2023; Partnership helps refugees and asylum-seekers get to work
Cath News
Mercy Community’s Romero Centre and Logix Engineering have partnered to provide refugees and asylum seekers in Brisbane with much-needed experience through a series of successful work placements.
In March 2021, Logix Engineering, the wholly Australian-owned Brisbane firm which manufactures electrical and communications cabinets for road and rail infrastructure, was struggling to find suitable workers.
It was referred to the Romero Centre, which helps rebuild the lives of people who are seeking safety and asylum. Since then, a fruitful partnership has developed with the firm recognising the untapped potential and unique perspectives brought by refugees and creating opportunities for skills development, professional growth and community integration.
