'Mother's Day this year is so meaningful to me': Mother's struggle for her family to stay in Australia paid off

She struggled for more than four years to make her family's dream come true: to be a permanent resident in Australia. Having to look after her three children - one of whom has autism - and juggle between her PhD study and work, how does this Canberran mother strive?

Dr Yuli Rindyawati with her children Adela (L), Ferdi (R) and Dimas. Source: Supplied

For more than four years, Dr Yuli Rindyawati struggled so that her family could stay as permanent resident in Australia.

Mrs. Rindyawati says that her family, especially her youngest son Dimas, would have a much better quality of life if they settled in this country.

Dimas, now 15 and is in year 10 at Woden School, was first diagnosed with autism when he was five years old and about to be enrolled in a school in Australia. At that time Mrs. Rindyawati was undergoing her PhD in economics at the University of Canberra, where she later became a part-time lecturer up until currently.

The family's permanent residence application was rejected a number of times compelled them to appeal to the Ministerial Intervention level, which finally granted Mrs Rindyawati and her family the PR status on 3 December 2019.

The struggle did not stop there. Now when the coronavirus crisis hits, Mrs. Rindyawati's husband - who previously worked at the housekeeping department of a hotel in Canberra which was impacted by the crisis - is now laid off.

In the midst of all the ups and downs faced, Mrs. Rindyawati considers this year's Mother's Day to be a very meaningful one.

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