Liliana Calin has worked with some of the most traumatised and underprivileged children in Western Australia but is now facing deportation to Romania pending an application for permanent residency.
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Ms Calin came to Australia on a 457 visa in December 2011 and settled in the mining town of Port Hedland, working in disability and aged care, then as a residential carer at the WA Department for Child Protection.
She worked predominantly with Aboriginal children, many of whom were victims of sexual and physical abuse and had fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
Former colleague Katie Priest told AAP Ms Calin was dedicated to Australia and helping her community.
"She's not the type of person who should be kicked out ... she's the type of person Australia should be extending its opportunities to," Ms Priest said.
Ms Calin, 37, met her Australian partner Adam Ford in January 2015 and they plan to marry and have children.
Their partner visa application in April was ruled invalid because she previously had a visa cancelled when her ex-partner, who she claims was abusive, reported her to the Immigration Department which told her she no longer met the conditions of her visa.
Ms Calin has started paperwork to become a permanent resident but is currently on a bridging visa which expires on August 23.
Without ministerial intervention, she will have to leave the country until her application is processed, which could take up to two years.
Mr Ford told AAP it was not realistic for him to move overseas with Ms Calin, given his work and family commitments.
He said he could not understand why federal authorities would want to deport someone who had done such important work.
Ms Calin, who stopped working for the DCP last year, had dreamed of becoming a field worker but her hopes have now been dashed.
A senior DCP worker who did not want to be named told AAP Ms Calin's role involved helping at risk children who needed 24-hour care.
The worker said it had always been difficult to recruit and retain staff for such stressful roles in rural areas but Ms Calin worked tirelessly.
They also said Ms Calin's treatment by the federal government was a huge injustice.
"I'm just disgusted that the DCP hasn't done enough to support her," the worker said.
"She would make a fantastic Australian ... it should have been an open and shut case."
Department of Communities executive director of people and facilities Sam Ciminata said because Ms Calin was no longer an employee, the department had no involvement in her residency application.
Banjima Aboriginal elder and former DCP residential child care officer Janice Derschow said Ms Calin worked well with children of all cultures, even taking them fishing and camping.
"She gets along very well with the Aboriginal children, even the rowdy ones - she talks to them and calms them down."
Senators Pat Dodson and Dean Smith have written letters to the minister, despite not yet meeting Ms Calin.
Senator Smith said it would be disappointing for the people of Port Hedland to lose a passionate advocate for their community.
"When I previously raised migration matters with the minister I have always been very confident that he's given them careful and sincere attention, recognising of course that he must uphold the law," he told AAP.
Immigration Minister Peter Dutton referred AAP's questions to the Home Affairs Department.
A spokesperson said the case had been "comprehensively assessed" by the department, the Australian Appeals Tribunal, the Federal Circuit Court and the assistant minister.
"People whose requests for intervention have been unsuccessful and who do not have other matters before the department are expected to depart Australia."
Australian Associated Press
