LETS HELP ERIC TO STILL CALL AUSTRALIA HOME

Hello. My name is Katrina Spencer and I’m raising funds for Eric Vavaki. We wish to raise funds for his day to day living . He needs money for clothes, for food and for transport whilst he is rehabilitating, re skilling and building his new life.

We met Eric at the PA Spinal Cord Unit, seven months ago whilst visiting our dad who had suffered a fall and was also in the SCU. Eric is an amazing man - motivated, positive and humble.

Despite his situation, he has not shown any anger or animosity at what has happened, despite that he was the only one of five injured seriously in a car accident. He was a passenger in the back seat of a car. going to have a meal at a friends house . He loves Australia and is so grateful to this amazing country for giving him the opportunity to live a dream life here.

I would love you to join with us and others to make his dream a reality. He wants to train and continue to work within the fishing industry. He wants to continue to live here in Australia , a place he’s called home for the last four years.

The following story aired on the ABC, October 4th 2022. This is an edited version of Eric’s story …

Eric Vavaki faces possible deportation to Solomon Islands after paralysis leaves him homeless and unable to work

Key points:

Unable to work and with nowhere to live, Mr Vavaki faces an uncertain future.

Lawyer Andrew Whealey is calling for an insurance scheme to cover Mr Vavaki's rent while he re-skills

For four years he worked as a deckhand on trawlers — often the only worker beside the skipper — with dreams of becoming a permanent resident.

But his life changed in February when he was the passenger of a car involved in a serious crash in Toogoolawah, in the Somerset Region of south-east Queensland, that caused the lower part of his body to be paralysed.

He has since spent seven months rehabilitating in Brisbane's Princess Alexandra Hospital.

While he is eligible for the National Injury Insurance Scheme Queensland (NIISQ), which is designed to assist people seriously injured in motor accidents, the scheme will not cover rent until he is well again.

Unable to work and with nowhere to live, Mr Vavaki faces the possibility of being deported after discharge from hospital, which is scheduled for tomorrow.

Facing an inaccessible home and limited access to rehabilitation in the Solomons, he has pleaded with authorities to let him stay in Australia.

A life-changing crash

Mr Vavaki said one of the hardest things about adjusting to life using a wheelchair has been asking for help to be pushed uphill.

"It makes me feel a little bit ... sad. Like, everything changes," he said.

"I just think positive, just think positive every day and do what I can do."

He said when he regained consciousness after the crash, his first thought was about what his injury would mean for his future in Australia.

"My first thought, it's like, 'what am I going to do next?'" he said.

"Am I able to do my career again or not? What's my life going to look like?"

Taxpayer left homeless

Mr Vavaki said while he has family and friends in Brisbane, he cannot live with them as they rent inaccessible housing.

He hopes to live alone while he retrains to work in an accessible role in the fisheries sector.

Lawyer Andrew Whealey has been representing Mr Vavaki.

He said his client is someone who has paid taxes for years and should not be left without shelter by the publicly funded scheme that is designed to protect people in his situation.

"This guy has been here for years working really hard in a field where there's not a whole lot of people who are willing to do this sort of really tough work, and he's done it with a smile on his face," he said.

"I don't think that sits well, that someone who's contributed to this sort of scheme isn't benefiting from it."

Mr Whealey appealed for action from authorities.

"This man has goals, he has ambitions, and he really wants to stay here and be a part of Australia and be a part of the community," he said.

"[He needs] someone to step up to the plate and say, 'OK, this man deserves another shot and he deserves a chance to find a new path for himself'."

SO - PLEASE JOIN ME IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE