I am a 29 year old British Citizen. I came to Australia in January 2015 on a Subclass 417 Working Holiday Visa to reunite with my father and brother, both of whom are Australian citizens, serving in the Australian Regular Army. My father is a proud Australian War Veteran.

Throughout this time I have had continuous employment and multiple offers of sponsorship from employers, which are undoubtedly a positive reflection of my capabilities and work ethic. It also indicates that there is a demand for my skills, knowledge and experience which are not available locally. Unfortunately, due to current migration law, more specifically the skilled occupations list, none of my employers were able to sponsor me, regardless of their strong desire to do so.

I commenced study in February 2017 at the Canberra Institute of Technology on a Subclass 500 Student Visa, completing a Certificate III in Business, Certificate III in Accounts Administration and a Certificate IV in Accounting. This decision has allowed me to invest further in my future, by achieving qualifications that are recognized within Australia.

In June 2018, I submitted a request for Ministerial Intervention, asking the minister to grant me permanent residency so I could remain in Australia with my family. This request was declined by Minister David Coleman on the 28 February 2019, almost 8 months later. The letter received simply cited 'that it would not be in the public interest to intervene'.

I am now in a position where I will have to leave my life here in Australia and am asking for support from the Australian public by signing this petition. It goes without saying that each individual signature is incredibly valuable and cherished.

My story will be aired on A Current Affair in the following few weeks and I will keep everyone updated along the way.

Love to you all x