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

@SwimmingSnake I’m mostly glad we stayed here but the rain can do one!

I beg your pardon!!!😱

They want people who will be assets to the country, if you have a disability unfortunately that will make you a liability.
If you dont like the rules dont go and live there.

This hasn’t been worded very diplomatically but it’s exactly right. There are a lot of other healthy, fit applicants to select from.

It doesn’t make sense. It’s discrimination!

Most very sensible countries want immigrants who are going to be a net benefit to the country's finances, not a net cost and certainly not a drain. If you arrive with too many dependents or a family member with too many high needs requiring expensive taxpayer-funded solutions, then any advantage to having you there is quickly wiped out. It's not that difficult to understand. And they are not so hard up for willing applicants that they have to compromise, either.

If you were being recruited by a private company to fill a specific role, rather than just applying through the points based system, then there is more flexibility if that company really want you. So for example if you had a child with a serious disability you wouldn't necessarily be barred from going, but you might be expected to fund any support that child needed yourself.

If only the UK adopted a similar approach we might not be in such a pickle. Wheras in the UK a man can move from a very poor country with virtually no state support of any kind, to take up really low paid work, but bring such a large family with him, some of whom might then claim for disabilities, they end up in a large council house (allocated on need, due to the size of the family) and a ton of in-work benefits, DLA payments, child benefit etc, all signed up to the NHS, all needing school places, all for the privilege of having one more minimum wage Deliveroo driver in the country.

But apparently he's 'here to work hard and not just to claim benefits' so that's alright then.

Maybe if we protected our tax payers/NHS in a similar fashion things wouldn’t be quite so dire here…our neighbours son married a Chinese woman. They live in China, but have come back here for the births of two children so far. Travelling pretty late in pregnancy with a toddler in tow, no idea how the Chinese health system is run, but must be worth their while for that
inconvenience.

It’s only shortsighted if, as a result of their policy, they fail to attract sufficient people with the required skills. Australia seems to me to be one of the countries that receives far more applications than the number of skilled people it is missing. The policy appears discriminatory and short sighted when seen from the immigrants perspective, but it makes perfect sense for the country granting visas. And it’s for the countries benefit that these schemes exist, not the potential immigrant. There is no global freedom of movement, so each country is at liberty to set whatever parameters it likes.

Autistic people are just different and have many valuable skills.

Other countries look at people with the desirable qualifications, skills and investigate potential cost to state with a ceiling.

They can do what they like but it’s Australia’s loss.

@EasilyDefined - I think you will find that the probability of THAT child being independent of such supports would have been part of the assessment. Autism is such a HUGE spectrum with some people living independent, functional and happy lives, and others requiring round the clock medical, mental health and or physical care.
Just because your kid has autism, doesn’t mean that they have the same needs as my kid who also has autism.
Also, now you are bringing in ADHD diagnosis (same child or different, I dunno….) This is yet another medical condition that would also need to be assessed. You are correlating two different conditions with entirely different medical/educational and psychosocial needs based on assumption.
Your way of refusing to see the wider picture and shout “discrimination” is frustrating when you can’t seem to grasp that this decision to refuse a visa to that specific family does not relate to you or your family at all. All you really know that you have in common with that particular family is a child with autism. (As I have stated, two kids with autism can be high needs and some require no government resources.)

Not sure why that wouldn't be palatable? Of course the average child is more useful to a country's workforce than my disabled DC. By a long shot

Everyone knows that though, surely? It isn't personal to him and who he is as my child. But he is of no use to a workforce, obviously

Exactly.

Many many autistic people are healthier and fitter than many neurotypical people.

'This is a prime example that as unpopular and unpalatable as it is, some people are more valuable than others'

'...a financial drain on the Taxpayer.'

'...an overall drain on their economy and services'

'Autism is not a favourable trait'

'...if you have a disability unfortunately that will make you a liability'

Fucking hell, some of you are disgraceful. Who drags these people up?

I bet theyd let Elon Musk move there.

I think most people with a British or European passport are used to just being allowed to travel wherever they want to
The concept that they wouldn't be able to live somewhere is strange

Yes, that's of course very understandable and I'd say spot on.

But a previous poster gave an example of a useful working couple having to leave Australia after being there years, because they had a DC born there who turned out disabled

That is what's shocking. The rest I get. It is entirely sensible not to grant my family a place in their country since I would cost ££££ more than I could ever put in

Yep the Aborigines get treated appallingly. I know missing aborigine children don't get the same attention as white Australian children. The white Australians descend from immigrants themselves.

I know (very loosely) of a family who moved here (UK) with two very severely disabled children, non verbal, special school etc. Dad in IT, don't know what the mum does. They have other non disabled children as well. Moved here about two years ago.

Rubbish.

Disgraceful for understanding the reasons Australia has a harsh immigration system towards disabled people?

Would just like to say my son is currently working in Canada for 3 years. I get it’s not permanent however his autism diagnosis bumped his Canadian health insurance up by just a few pounds more. They weren’t interested. He passed his visa medical with flying colours. I’d love to know what his non favourable traits are. His attention to detail and skills would be an asset to any company.

There are plenty of other doctors applying to work in Australia, if the BMA is to be believed at least. So they will get the benefit anyway, but without a child with ASD. It’s harsh, but those are there rules. And at an economic level it makes sense; visas are to allow a country to recruit skills it’s lacking, to enable growth. Doing it in a way that is, effectively, lowest risk/cost makes sense. Many countries have an age limit too - is that discriminatory or sensible when you have many applicants?

Agreed. Truly shocking. My own DC would've cost the state Millions. Yes millions, by the end of his life. But, I have a relative with autism who lives and breathes their profession. One of the best in their area of work. More hard working and dedicated than most usual people as he's dedicated his life to his work due to his autism. Yet it seems he too would be denied a job there