Guide Dogs Queensland Manager receives OAM - June 09

Guide Dogs Queensland’s Rehabilitation Services Manager Bashir Ebrahim’s 22 years of service to the nation’s blind and vision impaired community was recognised with an Order of Australia Medal, yesterday (Monday, June 8).

Mr Ebrahim joined the Queen’s Birthday Honour Roll, for service to people with a vision impairment through his many advocacy roles.

“It’s a humbling and flattering experience to be recognised for the work that you love to do,” Mr Ebrahim said.

“Being able to use your skills and knowledge to teach and improve others lives delivers enormous rewards. And working with my highly skilled and compassionate team of instructors and staff, is an honour – so the OAM is an exciting extra.”

Mr Ebrahim began his career in Rehabilitation Services with Guide Dogs Victoria, before joining Guide Dogs Queensland in 1991. Initially based in Townsville, Mr Ebrahim has been particularly instrumental in growing services to Queensland’s blind and vision impaired, in metropolitan, regional and rural communities.

His dedication and hard work saw Mr Ebrahim become Manager of Rehabilitation Services in 2001, and help Guide Dogs Queensland become an internationally recognised leader in the field, particularly Orientation and Mobility; and electronic travel aid training.

It is his work as an advocate for the blind and vision impaired community beyond GDQ which contributed to the OAM. He is a member of the Queensland Vision Initiative; chairman of QLD’s Vision Impairment Agencies network; consults on a wide range of state, local and corporate projects and works with a number of vision impairment agencies on low vision clinics and workshops. He also enjoys tandem cycling for the blind and vision impaired on a social and competitive basis.

“It’s the work we do with our clients that is the real advocacy work. We improve lives through better mobility, skills and confidence and in doing so help to raise awareness and better inform the general community – it’s a true pleasure to be a part of,” Mr Ebrahim said.