Hi Steve, we lodged our application a week ahead of you and both myself and my parents have been in Australia since then. I applied for a student visa to do my master as i am the dependant and my parents staying here with tourist visa. My sisters sponsored us in the application. As far as i know from our lawyer, after we pay for all the VAC fees , we will have to leave the country for about a week in order for the visa to be granted. Doesnt matter if you go all together or separate.