Australian immigration laws - disabled child?

[fychan97]

Hi there all,

I wondered if anyone out there has a knowledge of the Australian immigration laws?

In brief, my brother and sister in law are all set to emigrate to Australia within the next year, my sister in law having passed all relevant test based on her teaching qualifications and skills. However, my gorgeous second niece was born just last week and we have now found out she is Down Syndrome.

I've tried really hard to find out if there are any laws with regard to children with disabilities and am struggling to find out if there are any provisos - ie. any health care will need to be personally funded etc etc.

Alas, all I could find was a news article from 2010 stating that Australia still followed an antiquated law set in 1914 seeing those with a disability as a drain on society - which worried me no end.

I truly believe my brothers family can benefit massively from the opportunities they can offer their children by moving and would be very upset to see something so discriminatory stop them from achieving that.

Any serious advice would be appreciated.

[chavivi]

Unfortunately it will almost be impossible now for your brothers family to be approved for a visa. If the child had been born in Australia it would not have made a difference but now that she is here - yes she will be classed as a drain on society.

Remember - immigration is not what is best for you but what is best for the country you are moving to. If allowing you to migrate will result in an increase of X/Y/Z for Australia - you are let in. If it is likely to cost Australia anything you are not. Its not health care, but everything else. Special school, work placement program, supported living etc.

With Downs Syndrome - yes some people can live an almost normal life but they will require additional support for their entire life. In supported living, schooling, work skills etc. And when your brother and wife are deceased, the support will be increased. The other end of the Downs spectrum will require 100% care. You cannot tell until their teen, which end of the spectrum your neice will be. That is too much of a risk for the Australian government to take. A study around 1998 in South Australia, showed that Downs children born then would cost the government over a million dollars more than a "normal" child in extra support throughout their life. Sorry but I cannot see them getting their visa.