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Message: <blockquote data-quote="KadawathaKolla" data-source="post: 29339681" data-attributes="member: 461732"><img src="https://img-s-msn-com.akamaized.net/tenant/amp/entityid/AA1jm1k0.img?w=768&h=432&m=6&x=792&y=286&s=560&d=495" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="width: 425px" /><h4>Uncertain journey</h4>The Para family fled Sri Lanka during the civil war in 2008, with their two young daughters Nivash and Kartie. Sugaa was eight months pregnant with third daughter Nive when they travelled by boat to Australia in 2012.The family spent time in a detention centre in Darwin, then community detention, before being released on a bridging visa in September 2013, when they moved to Ballarat.Neil was able to work while on a bridging visa for four months, until their application for protection was rejected and their visa was revoked.The family relied on generous community members to pay their rent and cover bills for almost 10 years, while they lodged appeals against the rejection and applications for ministerial intervention.It was their last application for ministerial intervention that was successful, lodged after Mr Para embarked on his advocacy walk. Following the news, a government spokesperson said it would not comment on the Para family's case specifically, but the minister had discretion to intervene on compelling and compassionate grounds. "We were stuck, our pathways were closed, we didn't have any certainty, we couldn't plan for our future."As parents, we couldn't keep the pathways clear for our children. They are all clear now and we have freedom, we have a plan, we have certainty. That is a good feeling." <h4>Looking to the future </h4>Mr Para is now working at Ballarat manufacturing company Laminex and Ms Neil has taken a job with Ballarat property maintenance business Handy Girl. "For me, it is my first time working. I am very excited for that," Ms Neil says.The couple volunteered while they were not able to work — Mr Para with the State Emergency Service and Ms Neil in aged care. Mr Para will continue with the SES, while Ms Neil says it is her dream to start a career in aged care.She's now been able to sign up to study a one-year course to achieve a Certificate III in individual support — the first step to making her dream a reality. Nivash, Kartie and Nive are also relishing the feeling of knowing they can follow their dreams for their future — to become a cardiac surgeon, psychologist, and lawyer. She says she is feeling more relaxed about her children's health too.Without access to Medicare, Ms Neil used to ban her children from climbing trees, jumping on the bed and riding bikes, in fear of them getting hurt and being unable to pay the doctors' bills."As a mum, I feel really relaxed that if they get sick they can see the doctor now," Ms Neil says. While the Para family is celebrating the changes in their lives, Mr Para says there are constant reminders of the years they will never get back. "My eldest is 15, she has been in uncertainty and vulnerable since she was four years old. They have grandparents, they couldn't see them, they couldn't visit us."These things we can't get back, the time."<h4>Caring for others  </h4>Mr Para plans to continue his advocacy work for other refugees. About 12,500 people have lived in Australia for more than a decade but are ineligible to apply for permanent residency under the new <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-02-12/refugees-visa-temporary-protection-labor-election-promise/101963764" target="_blank">Resolution of Status visa</a>. About 2,500 have no visa at all. Almost 20,000 people signed a petition Mr Para presented to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's office in September, calling for a pathway to residency for refugees living in limbo. "Christmas is coming and I am thinking about other refugees at this time."This is a new worry for me. While I am enjoying my life, I am thinking about other people and that they should also be able to live this life."Nivash, Kartie and Nive want to help others too. For years they have planned to start their own family charity, to cover the costs for other children at their school who cannot afford to go on excursions or camps. It's one way they would like to say thank you for the support the community provided them. Ballarat residents celebrated the family during a civic reception hosted by City of Ballarat in October.</blockquote>

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