Key Points
- A Lifetime in Australia: Allysha, who arrived in Australia as a baby in 2010, considers herself Australian in every sense, yet she remains without a permanent visa as she finishes her final year of high school.
- Legal Roadblocks: The core of the struggle lies in her 2008 private adoption; because the process did not go through official state authorities, the Australian government has repeatedly refused to recognise her as a citizen or permanent resident.
- An Uncertain Future: Despite her father, Andrew Locke, and family's persistent efforts, including multiple visa applications and appeals for ministerial intervention, Allysha’s dream of becoming a veterinary nurse is now on hold as they await the outcome of a final appeal.
I don't know, Australia's like my home, like where I belong. 17 years. It definitely affects me and my studies. I try to ignore it... but it's always in the back of my mind.Allysha Locke
For nearly seventeen years, Andrew Locke and his daughter Allysha have navigated a labyrinth of Australian immigration laws, fighting for a citizenship that remains out of reach.
Adopted from the Philippines in 2008 through a private arrangement not recognised by Australian authorities, Allysha has spent her entire life in Australia, yet she faces the constant looming threat of deportation.
Despite numerous visa applications, court petitions, and appeals for ministerial intervention, the family remains trapped in a technical deadlock.
"It’s incredibly stressful to have something that’s so fearful that you’ve got no control over... I tell her that no matter what happens, we’re united. If we get a bad decision, whatever happens, we’ll find a way," Andrew said.
The mounting pressure has taken a significant toll on their family life, turning their private struggle into a public plea for compassion as Allysha completes her final year of high school with the dream of becoming a veterinarian in the only country she calls home.
A spokesperson for the Department of Home Affairs told SBS Filipino that the department cannot comment on individual cases.
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