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Paul / It stinks: no help for autistic Ryan

Ryan Garner
Four-year-old Ryan Garner… a gorgeous, cheeky little bloke.

QUITE often providing public scrutiny, through talkback radio, on the government and its officials can lead to changes or at least a re-think on issues and decisions.

Marcus Paul.
Marcus Paul.
But not for Amy and Phil Garner. They have called this city home for nearly a decade after moving from NZ. They have two children, Ella, 6, and Ryan 4.

Ryan’s a gorgeous, cheeky little bloke. However, his blond locks and innocent smile mask some serious issues. He has been diagnosed with autism.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), which the Garners – like everyone else – pay for through an increased Medicare levy, initially approved support for him to assist early intervention via speech therapy and other services. However, support was withdrawn when it was noticed his parents are  NZ citizens.

Despite having lived in Australia for 10 years, having paid taxes, rates and a mortgage – they have been left with no Federal Government support. I think it stinks.

Phil, now struggling with three jobs, works as a delivery driver six days a week, and has taken on two part-time gym jobs to support his family – which means he rises each morning around 1am – catching sleep between shifts.

Many have asked why doesn’t the family simply return to NZ and others say the children, including Ryan, will be able to become citizens when they turn 10. However, as anyone with a child on the spectrum knows, early intervention is crucial – and by the time this little boy is eligible for assistance it might be too late. It is tough and it is unfair.

Marcus Paul is the drive announcer on 2CC

 

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11 Responses to Paul / It stinks: no help for autistic Ryan

angelwords74 says: 1 December 2015 at 1:22 pm

To “just go back to New Zealand” is not as easy as it sounds. especially if you have built a life here, and in most cases I know, the kids are settled in school and do not want to move, you would think after 10 years it is obvious to the Federal Government that these people are here to stay. I say this whole visa immigration law needs a serious review, and give kiwis who are proving to be contributing to the Australia tax system and economy some rights in this country.

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Simon Jones says: 1 December 2015 at 2:03 pm

Well said Angelwords.

Imagine an insurance company that collects a premium on a policy that it will never pay out on. That is exactly what the government is doing to this family when it collects the NDIS levy and then refuses to provide them the support their son needs.

Most people including many politicians do not understand the vulnerable position kiwis living in Australia are in. Many (as much as 60% by DIPB estimates) have no pathway to permanent residency or citizenship regardless of how long they live here. The Productivity Commission has twice (2012 & 2015) called on the government for policy changes that would provide kiwis who are long term residents of Australia with a pathway to citizenship. It is the fair & right thing to do.

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Meltone says: 1 December 2015 at 4:31 pm

Actually just so strange and illogical. Almost as if there is a brain snap somewhere in the Australian psyche? Why would any government wish to hurt and hence alienate hundreds of thousands of productive people who have open ended residency in their country and who have made financial commitment to the place and who pay taxes? I just cannot work out the logic.

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Sue Shaw says: 1 December 2015 at 4:36 pm

I know Amy and her beautiful children personally, and a more dedicated citizen you couldn’t hope to meet. Amy gave up her job (and a lot more) in order to look after Ryan, she is one very special lady. I too am a migrant, having arrived from England in 1965, and have been totally perplexed by the number of hoops New Zealand citizens have to go through to live, work and pay taxes here.

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Meltone says: 1 December 2015 at 5:31 pm

Yes, it is inexplicable as to why the Australian government would set out to harm fully contributing residents of this country. Whenever I see comments by government ministers I am struck by how they just do not seem to get the significance of what they are doing. It strikes me that maybe they want all NZ citizens in Australia to leave?

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Vicky says: 1 December 2015 at 5:22 pm

They wont get much more in the way of help if they do move back here. I have a 9 year old daughter who was diagnosed ASD 2 years ago and we have had to fight for every little bit of help we can get her. Our government cares even less about our kids than the Aussie government does.

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Delia. says: 15 December 2015 at 9:37 pm

Not in all instances I live in Nelson and my son has had the best help they can give since age 3, but it is not true of all ASD kids here. The fact a levy is paid by the NZ parents should end the matter. An Australian child in NZ would be treated just the same as the other children.

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Michael says: 1 December 2015 at 7:50 pm

This has been well known about the NDIS for over a year now.
People from other countries (not NZ) were actually even sent back to their original countries as were told the government would not pay for their disabled kid.
Search it. There has been many cases exactly the same.

I’m not saying its right, but a lot isn’t right.
This was / is a very well known clause.
Lucky the family isn’t on a visa. They would have no choice. they would be sent back.
NZ has it lucky compared to many other nations in this regard.

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Shanna says: 1 December 2015 at 10:38 pm

We are in the same situation… Our son was diagnosed with Autism (high functioning) at 5 yrs old & it is so frustrating we haven’t been able to access all the help he requires. Being made to pay the NDIS levy, but having no claim to the assistance it allows others is simply unfair. We were told even if we did apply for citizenship, because of his diagnosis we probably would be denied. He is settled in school here & is doing well. Moving back to NZ would be traumatic & at this stage not in his best interests we believe, this is the only home he knows. Many Australians honestly haven’t had much sympathy for us. Why not exempt us from having to pay the levy, at least then we could use the money to fund some of the support our children need?!

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Blair says: 1 December 2015 at 11:13 pm

Of course there are also the NZ-born school leavers who can’t follow their peers on to university study because they can’t get Hecs loans. The recent legislation which passed in parliament only provided Hecs for those that had lived in Australia for ten continious years.

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