An has been created to provide an opportunity for the members of one Indonesian family, who have lived in Australia for more than 10 years, to become permanent residents. It has received more than 30,000 signatures since being set up.
Dr Yuli Rindyawati brought her husband and three children to live in Australia while she was undertaking a PhD in economics at the University of Canberra (UC). After graduating, Yuli has worked as a part-time tutor at UC and also a full-time manager at an Asian Provision shop.
About four years ago Yuli applied for a permanent residency through the skills stream. One of the requirements for submitting this application is a medical test.
"When we did the health assessment, four of us passed," Yuli tells SBS Indonesian. "Dimas, my youngest child, was declared to have failed because of the condition of autism.
"It was stated that this autistic condition would have a significant cost impact on the Australian community, especially in the fields of health and public services."
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Dr Yuli Rindyawati: Dimas' petition
With the help of an immigration lawyer Yuli continued the fight to settle in Australia, appealing to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) where she was asked to submit documents relating to her son Dimas' medical progress, including reports from schools and therapists.
Yuli says so far the family has paid for doctors and therapy expenses through their private health insurance. Therefore, when she received the PR rejection on the grounds of "costs", she says she wanted to find out how much expense taxpayers would actually incur if Dimas became a permanent resident.
"Centrelink calculated the estimated cost, and it turned out that my child was only getting about $50 per week," she says. "I said if it was said to be significant, the government's assistance was only $50. So where is the significance?"
Yuli says that when she conveyed this matter to the Tribunal, its members were also somewhat shocked.
"It turned out that members of the Tribunal did not have the data [as to what number was categorised as significant]," she says.
The Australian Department of Home Affairs' website states that in assessing the feasibility of a person to become an Australian permanent or temporary resident, a designated Medical Officer of the Commonwealth (MOC) estimates what one's condition will cost the community over the course of one's remaining life expectancy, if the person has a permanent or ongoing condition with a reasonably predictable course.
The department will not grant someone a visa if the person does not meet health requirements when their condition is likely to incur a significant cost.
Yuli says that while it was supported by reports that Dimas' autism condition had improved, AAT decided to reject the family's residency application at the end of May.
Now, their last hope is Ministerial Intervention.
The family's Bridging Visa E will expire on July 7, but Yuli says that they are still waiting for the minister's decision.
"According to the information from the Immigration Department, if there is no decision from the minister until 7 July, then Mrs Yuli needs to submit an extension request until there is a decision from the minister," she says quoting the department.
Muhammad Dimas Tri Wibowo is currently 14 years old in year nine at school. He was first diagnosed with autism when he was five and set to enrol in school in Australia. Yuli says that with regular therapies and visits to a paediatrician, Dimas' condition was this year changed to 'moderate' after previously being 'severe'.
Dimas had learnt to ride a bike when he was attending Malkara (Special) School. Source: Supplied
Yuli adds that since 2017 Dimas has no longer needed to be examined by a paediatrician, although he still does an adaptive behaviour therapy twice a week.
"The doctor said this child was ready to start a 'higher' level in life, as in, to work. And he can already take the bus by himself," she says.
Yuli also says that Dimas had been offered a job as a shop assistant in 2021, after he graduates year 10.
Yuli says she has seen a lot of progress in her son in Australia, and that wider opportunities for children with special needs are available in this country.
"I see how he has advanced, how he gets the opportunity to work here," says Yuli. "Facilities and opportunities for school and work for autistic children in Indonesia are still rather difficult... I see this is what we have to fight for."
Despite saying that adapting to life in Indonesia would be a very difficult thing for Dimas if they were repatriated, Yuli says she would accept the fate if that is the decision of the Immigration Minister.
Swimming is now one of Dimas' hobbies. Source: Supplied
"We asked [the] Honorable Minister of Immigration David Coleman to give us a chance, especially for Dimas, the opportunity to be allowed to stay in Australia," says Yuli.
"And we want to prove that children with disability can have potential and are not always a burden to the country, to the Australian community.
"Moreover, Dimas has received a job offer because of the potential he has, and the progress he has gained during his schools and therapies in Australia.
"So we just want, allow us to stay here and we want to prove that Dimas will never be a burden to the Australian community."
