Sydney13 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Having applied for a company sponsored457 visa the DIAC have came back to say my son who is 3 and disabled does not meet the health requirement criteria and have said the company will have to underwrite costs of $118,000 which is $106,000 Special Education Services and $12,000 early intervention. I can't get my head round the "special education services" as he will not be at school for at least 2-3 years in AU. Has anyone else came up against this and knows the definition?? The embassy have been slow in responding to advise the breakdown and how they came to these costs. Many Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronan20 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 I have a son with DS, he had to do a medical and aptitude test (he was 3 at the time). Because he had no big medical issues (touching a lot of wood) he got through. What special needs does your son have?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydney13 Posted July 12, 2013 Author Share Posted July 12, 2013 He has a condition called Williams Syndrome which causes developmental delays but every child is different in spectrum in that he may be able to go to mainstream school or he may need a mixture of mainstream with assistance but he won't be going for 2-3 years so the costs seem high until they can break them down we are only guessing. He had heart surgery at 1 years old and is on medicine but this doesn't seem to be the issue it seems to come around the education side. They have said they would grant the visa if the company underwrite these potential costs but are not forthcoming with the response to break them down for the company so they can assess the potential risk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickled Pink Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 What you must understand is that you are not going to be migrants, not on a 457 visa. You will be temporary residents, therefore are only entitled to limited services, spanning from medical, through schooling. I suspect that DIAC are firmly covering possible eventualities.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydney13 Posted July 12, 2013 Author Share Posted July 12, 2013 ok I may be misunderstanding then so on a 457 visa from the UK would we not be entitled to reciprocal healthcare? I know that this is limited and for additional medical services have in place the private healthcare for additional costs. The issue doesn't seem to be with medical but the educational side and not sure how they come to the conclusion that this would cost $106,000 when over the 4 years he would be at school for 2 years at an absolute maximum......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronan20 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 We were told that if he was considered to be drain on the health services he might not get on my 457 visa, but he is healthy so we got lucky. I had a quick google. I would have though that DS would be a more serious condition (I may well be wrong). We may also have been lucky with our CO. Good luck with your application Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydney13 Posted July 12, 2013 Author Share Posted July 12, 2013 I think the problem with WS is that they are guessing almost on worst case scenario but until they clarify I can not allay the companies worries that the risk is not too great. Glad things worked out for you and hopefully they will for us too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ronan20 Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 ok I may be misunderstanding then so on a 457 visa from the UK would we not be entitled to reciprocal healthcare? I know that this is limited and for additional medical services have in place the private healthcare for additional costs. The issue doesn't seem to be with medical but the educational side and not sure how they come to the conclusion that this would cost $106,000 when over the 4 years he would be at school for 2 years at an absolute maximum......... Of course you would. We're on a 457 and we used the reciprocal healthcare agreement before we got out proper health cover sorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickled Pink Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 You would get reciprocal healthcare, but it is more limited to what a PR or citizens get. Depending on what state you go to school fees are payable by temp residents, but if you little one needed additional help at kindy then that would have to be paid for. School wise, I guess that may be what they are referring to. E.g. an annual wage for a 2 year contract for a teaching assistant would be 53,000, which sounds about right wage wise. You can't definitively say he won't need help, so they are asking for some assurance in case he does, so the Government doesn't have to pick up the tab I suspect. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydney13 Posted July 12, 2013 Author Share Posted July 12, 2013 Thank you both for your help, this makes more sense now and if the DIAC can confrim with regards to the schooling asisstant it would then make sense and down to the company and I to agree how we proceed or don't...... Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VERYSTORMY Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 You would get reciprocal healthcare, but it is more limited to what a PR or citizens get. Depending on what state you go to school fees are payable by temp residents, but if you little one needed additional help at kindy then that would have to be paid for. School wise, I guess that may be what they are referring to. E.g. an annual wage for a 2 year contract for a teaching assistant would be 53,000, which sounds about right wage wise. You can't definitively say he won't need help, so they are asking for some assurance in case he does, so the Government doesn't have to pick up the tab I suspect. I didnt come across any differences in medicare between when i was on a 457 and pr. Even had surgery and a range of things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rosiew Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 ok I may be misunderstanding then so on a 457 visa from the UK would we not be entitled to reciprocal healthcare? I know that this is limited and for additional medical services have in place the private healthcare for additional costs. The issue doesn't seem to be with medical but the educational side and not sure how they come to the conclusion that this would cost $106,000 when over the 4 years he would be at school for 2 years at an absolute maximum......... If he needs a full time aide at school for two years that will cost in excess of $106,000. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickled Pink Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 I didnt come across any differences in medicare between when i was on a 457 and pr. Even had surgery and a range of things There are certain differences, especially in terms of choices, I looked into it all when we recently got PR and had to change our cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydney13 Posted July 12, 2013 Author Share Posted July 12, 2013 If he needs a full time aide at school for two years that will cost in excess of $106,000. So really what the DIAC are saying is this is potentially worst case scenario, would anyone know if this would be different if we were to private school??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickled Pink Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 I think you need to seek clarification from DIAC, people on here can only guess/ offer an opinion. DIAC will know what the are actually basing it on, and whether the criteria sticks whatever. To be honest, I can't see the private school option changing their minds of wanting an assurance, you could pull your child out of private after one term, put them in state... you prob see where I'm going with this... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydney13 Posted July 12, 2013 Author Share Posted July 12, 2013 I think you need to seek clarification from DIAC, people on here can only guess/ offer an opinion. DIAC will know what the are actually basing it on, and whether the criteria sticks whatever. To be honest, I can't see the private school option changing their minds of wanting an assurance, you could pull your child out of private after one term, put them in state... you prob see where I'm going with this... Yes I understand what you are saying, was just wanting to see if anyone else had come across this issue as I know other people who have kids with WS and not had this problem......I will wait to see if the DIAC actually come back with clarification as to what they are basing it on and if it is worst case scenario and take it from there. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tickled Pink Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Good luck though Syd, let us know how you get on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lebourvellec Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 Did the company use an agent to help lodge application?? An agent that is often recommended with medical issues is George Lombard, they should be able to give better explanation on the reasons behind the costs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted July 12, 2013 Share Posted July 12, 2013 I agree, most children with disabilities access some kind of early intervention services and chances are the bulk of that will be for specialist teacher, aide and ancillary therapy support. Reciprocity through Medicare is, as we have seen on here recently, a bit of a grey area as it covers "necessary" medical treatment so if, for example your child needed an operation which might be considered elective ie not in response to an acute episode, then Medicare might not foot the bill but you might have to pay or wait until you leave the country. If OTOH he broke an arm in the playground (heaven forbid), of course that would be covered. if your intention is to apply for PR then I suggest you talk with some of the agents who specialise in medical conditions to see what your chances might be (not great on the face of their current decision) - Peter Bollard or George Lombard usually considered the most experienced in this area. Good luck, it's a very expensive proposition I fear. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydney13 Posted July 13, 2013 Author Share Posted July 13, 2013 Did the company use an agent to help lodge application?? An agent that is often recommended with medical issues is George Lombard, they should be able to give better explanation on the reasons behind the costs. The company lodged the application on there own with no agency help, is it too late to contact someone like George Lombard now and are the agents quite costly?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 It might not be too late. Yes, it could get pricey as your case is unusual and the agents need to go into quite a lot of detail to answer your case. They can also advise you on if you have any chance of getting a permanent visa later on if that is your plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydney13 Posted July 13, 2013 Author Share Posted July 13, 2013 It might not be too late. Yes, it could get pricey as your case is unusual and the agents need to go into quite a lot of detail to answer your case. They can also advise you on if you have any chance of getting a permanent visa later on if that is your plan. Looks like for now I will hve to cross my fingers and say a prayer that our dream still comes off. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sammy1 Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 I do worry when I read posts like this and whilst it is important to have dreams, it is also advisable to fully research everything when children are in the equation. The support systems that are place for children with special needs and disabilities are nowhere near as good in Australia as they are in the UK. It is a lot more limited here and funding is much smaller. Are you really sure it is worth it for a temporary 457 visa? Good luck anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sydney13 Posted July 13, 2013 Author Share Posted July 13, 2013 I do worry when I read posts like this and whilst it is important to have dreams, it is also advisable to fully research everything when children are in the equation. The support systems that are place for children with special needs and disabilities are nowhere near as good in Australia as they are in the UK. It is a lot more limited here and funding is much smaller. Are you really sure it is worth it for a temporary 457 visa? Good luck anyway. We have researched it and if you knew my child he actually thrives more in the outdoor than he does being stuck indoors in thee rain in Scotland, I am aware of the system being different but as he gets older intervention is getting less and less, both my sister in law and father in law are Australian citizens so our long term plan is for perm residency not just a couple of years and we have to try while we are young enough, you only regret if you don't give things a go and if it means my son thrives for the next few years then it will be worth every penny. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blossom Posted July 13, 2013 Share Posted July 13, 2013 In that case you NEED to contact an agent, as even if you are granted a 457 visa, the criteria for permanency is even tougher. It would be a shame to move your whole life here, love it, but then have no option to leave. Personally I wouldn't take the risk of a 457 and would wait and take the time to go for a permanent visa straight off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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