Can you really not move to Australia with Autism?

[sandygrapes]

Just that really.

I follow a midwife on there from the UK. She is open and honest, and is paid so much better with amazing working conditions. That's just one example of a profession

Is it really true families who have someone who's autistic cannot move out there or is it far more complex than that?

This is just out of interest.

I have family in NZ and know they're quite strict there

All countries discriminate who they let in at the border. If they didn't then there wouldn't be borders.

The first factor they discriminate based on is citizenship.

Well, it's too bad, because Australia aren't going to be paying out thousands in autism and other disability funds from government money to people who have just arrived in their country!

They want people to work and contribute to the country, and that child will grow up and be an adult who needs funding from the state, so he/she will always be a drain on their resources.

If only the UK was more selective with who pitches up on our shores!

That's why Australians are wealthy because their government looks after it's own citizens, and doesn't dole out money, help, and housing to everyone else who arrives!

The word discriminate means to pick out and choose something over something else. We tend to use it only in a negative sense.

Australia, as is their right, discriminate one type of person with various characteristics over another.

Of course those European countries in the Schengen zone don't have a border, so there is no need to be "let in".....so you can go - but no way would France/The Netherlands/Luxembourg/Austria etc. just let you stay and have recourse to public funds. They won't pay for foreigners....unlike the UK who does so to the detriment of its own people!

The number of people with autism who can work to support themselves throughout adulthood are few.

Because parents won't live forever. At some point the autistic DC will grow into an autistic adult and most likely won't be able to work to support themselves.

Aye? How many years ago are you talking about? I was let in 57 years ago, and there were certainly immigrants from many cultures coming in to grow and build Australia.

This surprises me, because as a UK GP I have seen many many immigrants over the years from various EU and non-EU countries, coming in and staying here. In fact, just last week a polish woman who has lived in the UK for about 5 years brought over her elderly parents to live with her, who have significant ongoing medical problems and disabilities. The first thing they did was make an appointment with me to be referred to multiple different specialists , all on the NHS. Then they needed a letter from me to support their PIP applications.

I agree.
And it baffles me that on MN the UK is seen as a nasty racist nation, whilst Australia is supposedly wonderful.

I think using the terms “Australia is protecting itself” is a tad dramatic. We are not under famine or war - we are one of the wealthiest countries in the world.

If Australia naturally replaced the population it needed instead of needing immigration, we would have ended up with a lot more people with disabilities, because there is always a certain percentage of people who are born with a disability through the play of genes etc. it would have managed to cater to their disabilities using its infrastructure, as do other countries.

Legal immigrants on the whole are younger, more educated, healthier and pay more tax than the resident populations. So countries like Australia are already much better off than naturally replacing the population in that regard. Considerable tax dollars are saved from a doctor’s education alone. So letting in the odd autistic child of highly qualified professional is not going to send the country to the brink.

Let’s call a spade a spade. Australia skims the crème de la crème because it can, with supply and demand forces at work. If skilled immigrants became much harder to acquire because they were all going to the US or Canada, you bet they would apply more nuance to the health criteria and let in an otherwise ideal family who had a child with a disability.

The immigration system does work outside of the values that we claim to have here in society in Australia.

The UK must spend a huge amount on healthcare for non UK nationals - I know some people have no access to public funds but in my area we have NHS teams who deal with asylum seekers/refugees and help to get them to see GP's, dentists, access schooling,assist other agencies to provide shelter etc. Of course people need help, I'm not disputing that but Australia are more selective. I'm not sure they are in the wrong. Different if a child is born here and needs public funds or assistance but very different if they emigrate to the UK and the country is then responsible for the significant and complex health needs for that individuals whole life. Like a PP above, I also see this on a regular basis through work, children arriving with significant disability/illness and then requiring huge amounts of support including adapted housing, special needs schooling, even continence products for life must be costly. But if the shoe was on the other foot & my child needed such help and my own country was unable to provide it I would absolutely look for a country who would.

It’s literally designed to discriminate!?

Stop with the ridiculous discrimination talk!

The reasoning is that we have generous (but imperfect) disability supports & it's to stop people moving here to take advantage.

Our National Disability Insurance Scheme is blowing out massively & cuts, including my DS' autism, will be cut shortly. If more people move here to access it, more will get cut. There's no endless pot of money, our public medical services are groaning as it is & we have to protect the services we have.

If you don't protect your way of life, then you lose it.

This isn’t true.
I live in Australia. I was a MARA registered immigration lawyer up until 18 months ago.
You can move here with disabilities and criminal records and whatnot. HTH

@MermaidMummy06

do you not understand that many autistic people offer a huge massive incredible benefit to society - sometimes without any adjustments but often with adjustments which are simple and not expensive (not hiring thick neurotypicals for example)

Do you not understand that autistic people have given the world incredible inventions and discovery without modern life would be pretty much unrecognisable by now.

i don’t Understand the rationale of excluding us??

but my observation is that often average intelligence neurotypcals often don’t understand the nuance of different types of intelligence and what that can give to society. Their loss.

Wind your neck in. I have 2 autistic children and I have received nothing but support, understanding and guidance on here. Don’t sit on the end of whatever device you’re using and preach at me, let alone make wild assumptions about someone you don’t know. Just so you’re clear, I have NO respect for anyone who has posted what you have above not knowing the posters background.

Phew, @Olivegardenishome someone who truly knows the Australian immigration laws!

So can you please give us an accurate answer to the OP’s original question- are people with autism unable to immigrate to Australia? Or if they wish to bring a family member (such as a child) who has autism?

Or is it more nuanced than that?

I think that the general acceptance of ND diagnoses has lost sight of the implication of receiving a diagnosis including not only immigration but also access to certain careers. I had one Dr advise it might not being a wise course of action with a child who like yours is very much able to live independently albeit with some challenges.

Well, I really wish I'd never heard about this. Christ.

Having autism does not automatically disqualify individuals from immigrating to Australia. The key determinant is whether the individual meets the criteria outlined by the Australian immigration authorities. This is why it’s pretty crucial if you’re in this position to seek professional advice. A migration lawyer will be able to put forward a case to immi determining if the person with autism will be a burden on Australia’s resources.

I had adults who had an autism diagnosis be able to hold down long term professional jobs (teachers, nurses) they were granted visas. On the other hand I’ve had families who’ve had a toddler who had an autism or similar diagnosis, and those children were declined a PR visa.

But in answer to OP’s question, no it isn’t true that somebody will automatically get declined a visa just because they have autism.

Im not angry in the slightest but I won’t be preached at by someone making assumptions and accusing me of disrespect when all I did was point out there was no ‘autism bashing’ on this thread. Which is what YOU said.

I’ll remind you what you said in your quote to me

the fact you can’t see the pejorative and negative tone speaks volumes as to how little you understand autism and how little respect you have for autistic people

You also assumed I knew nothing about autism, therefore I enlightened you. Perhaps be sure of who you’re replying to or quoting if you don’t want to be challenged on what you post?

Exactly. If I decided I wanted to move to the UK for the rest of my life they wouldn't just welcome me with open arms. All countries have some sort of restrictions on who can immigrate - and they can put in place whatever criteria they wish. Some people seem to be very naive about how immirgration works.