HELP US KEEP OUR FAMILY TOGETHER

Ellie and Alfie have been ordered to leave the country in 35 days. Without the money to appeal this decision our family will be split up on opposite sides of the world for what could be years and Ellie and Alfie will be returning to a country where they have no home, job or security.

A little bit about us

Hi, my name is Ellie, I am a British citizen who moved to Townsville, Australia in 2021 with my family. My family consists of my fiance who is an Australian citizen (we have been together for 6 years), my Daughter (2) who is an Australian citizen, my son (10) who is a British citizen and my stepdaughter (7) who is an Australian Citizen. We left the UK seeking a better life together while reuniting with my partner's daughter. We applied for a partner visa when we got here and started the process.

In the last 21 months that we have been here, we have made a home and built a life, our kids have formed great friendships, I have made some lifelong friends, I've started a great career and we've made wonderful memories. Australia is my home, my children's home, my partner's home, our family's home. We have faced many hardships in our life and fought through some pretty big hurdles to get to where we are today. One of these hurdles was losing my mother (January 2023) who was still back in England whilst I was here. The financial and mental anguish we suffered soon after has put us in extremely difficult hardship that we were now starting to get on top of. Up until 2 days ago we believed that things were starting to turn around for us and that we had finally overcome what felt like a depressing overwhelming stormcloud.

2 days ago...

On the 28th of April 2023, we got the most world-shattering news any family could receive. Our partner visa that we have spent over $10k on had been refused. The reason for the refusal was that the Immigration Department claims we have failed to supply evidence that proves I meet the character requirements in the form of an Australian Federal Police check. We believed we had supplied this alongside our International police checks from the UK - which was all clear and acknowledged by the Immigration department. The department has stated that the decision is final and myself and my son have to leave the country by the 2nd of June 2023, failure to do so will result in us being deported.

In leaving Australia I will be leaving behind my partner, daughter (2) and step-daughter (7). I will be returning to England where, since the passing of my mother, I have no real support network or security. I have no home, job or personal belongings for myself or my son to return to. It will also be taking a mother/step-mother, partner, daughter-in-law, friend and employee away from my community in Australia. It will split up my children for an unknown amount of time.

Even if my partner and daughter were able to obtain a visa and move back to the UK with me, which realistically would not be financially viable for years, it would mean leaving my step-daughter behind without her Dad or either of her siblings.

Currently, our only option is to apply to appeal the decision through a merits review with the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) with a fee of $3,153. This must be paid within the next 17 days. We have no realistic way of making this deadline as all of our financial resources have been exhausted.

If I am unable to attain the funds then my son and I will be facing being taken to an immigration detention centre before being forcibly removed from the country, as I will not be able to fund the trip back either.

The long-term separation of our family will cause potentially irreparable damage to our childrens welfare.

I'm not the type of person to ask for or accept charity usually, however, on this occasion, we are struggling to come up with any alternative.

PLEASE if you can help us by giving anything, even one dollar, it would be greatly appreciated. It would go a long way to save a family from being separated.

Alternatively, if you would like to send an email to the Immigration minister in support of our story:

Andrew Giles - Immigration Minister: [email redacted].au

https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-and-support/departmental-forms/online-forms/contact-the-minister