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Post by aussieinusa on Nov 19, 2013 9:51:07 GMT 7
There are members of this group whose stories really ought to be known by the public, to let them know what's really going on when the government talks about 'saving money', or the 'excessive' number of people on DSP, or whatever they're trying to do to us this time.
I'd like to have a central place where we keep track of those stories, so that when we're ready to start telling these stories more via a new web site, twitter, fb etc., we don't have to dig too much to find them.
NOTE: I would never EVER 'out' anyone without their permission. We can keep stories completely anonymous, or at least make it very hard for even CL to figure out who spoke out, but still tell the stories that matter.
So those stories that need to be told, please post them here.
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Post by aussieinusa on Nov 19, 2013 9:54:04 GMT 7
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Post by aussieinusa on Nov 19, 2013 9:57:31 GMT 7
I was also talking with lynnebali and hypoman a while ago, because they both have stories that really need to be told. If they're still willing to let us, of course! We weren't quite ready, as a group, to take anyone's story public back then... but hopefully soon...
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Post by Denis-NFA on Nov 22, 2013 22:15:10 GMT 7
thanks aussieinusai am glad you have given me this opportunity to tell my story and i understand there is some angst from some people about 'history' and 'herstory' but this is mystory " i presented myself for newstart registration to a suburban Centrelink office in Perth in September 2010 and was subsequently granted DSP. i went overseas for the first time in my life in may 2011. when i called in to the darwin office in may 2012 i was declared non resident and partnered. in august 2012 i was declared resident and not partnered. in april 2013 i was interviewed for eligibility for DSP and Unlimited Portability. in july 2013 i was granted Unlimited Portability. the fact is... I know more about the system than any of you...
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Post by hypoman on Jan 12, 2014 6:34:32 GMT 7
my story should be told right now as last week my wife was ramdomly attacked and my 86yr old mother whom I care for fractured her shoulder. She's pretty crook and I really need to reach out and get some advice (again). we are both in the Philippines.
My minds pretty hazy on dates but basically this is it: granted DSP around 2004 (previously employed as a farm manager on a stud cattle property) My mate asked if I would like to write to his wifes sister as a penpal, so I did and was entrigued by the prospect of going abroad and experiencing a different cuklture with good food and a healthier lifestyle. 6 months later travelled with my friends assistance to the Philippines and met the lovely lady. We soon formed a solid relationship and finally I had met the one for me. I have never had kids before and never been married before. I had a hard time adjusting but eventually settled down into a routine spending maybe 60% of my time abroad, never overstaying the 3 months and handling the frequent trips. After 3 years my Dad was getting sick with cancer and was going to die.I went to see centrelink and asked if getting married would affect my pension in any way. I was told no it wouldnt (under some certain section as my prospective wife was poor)so i proudly told dad I was getting married and he was so pleased. a month later he sadly passed away with mum and i by his side. after this I posted on many forums and wrote to many ministers etc regarding being allowed to just live aboard permanently and complaining at a later date about the new changes that were proposed.nothing positive was ever recieved back, just links to legsligation.
anyway mum was ok living by herself whilst I was abroad but dearly wanted to meet my wife and son (he is 6yrs old now). We also have an (unofficially) adopted daughter, my wifes sister, who has been with us for 7yrs (shes 14 now). we rescued her from a situation where she was being severely abused.
Mum travelled to the philippines nearly a year ago. She loves it here and has only been back to aus once for a month or so. she spent her 86th birthday here with us last year. She has a lovely room and my wife is looking after her well despite her illnesses common to an elderly lady. She has been accepted as one of the family and is loved whereever she goes. She loves the frequent meet ups with other x-pats here and the food and climate is perfect for her.
last Sunday my wife was randomly attacked with a hit in the head with an object by another foreigners wife. It was a totally unexpected and uncalled for attack that required hospilization and a wound to be stitched. After investigations it was found that this particular couple had been in all kinds of strife in the past and we were just another page in their book. The police dont do much in these cases here (especially to rich foreigners who are getting away with these sick acts),so were now seeing a lawyer on Monday regarding the attack and having the woman charged. Part of the process is first going to the police and creating a 'blotter' (a description of events), then going to the barangay captain to ask for a summonds to be seved so we can all get together and work it out without furter police action. they wouldnt avccept the summonds. so now we need to have them charged through the police and an attorney. (in australia this would have all been done by the police).
Afew days later my mother slipped while sleep walking and fractured her shoulder. The hospital gave her some very heavy opiates that slowed her breathing drastically and after 2 days out of hospital still cannot sit upright unassisted and is in immense pain. Shes a heavy person and needs my strength to bet her onto a commode and to move her around. luckily just yesterday an xpat american male nurse helped out with advice and checked her viatals. the local doctors really dont have any after hospilizartion advice so he has been a true God send. He has offered to drop in daily to help out but is on a limited budget and cannot help permanently. Now we will need permanent livein help from a trained nurse. this will be for the rest of her life im guessing but will be fine as she loves to have a chat and needs constant companionship.
Im really at my wits end as mum and I were diue to travel back to Australia on the 15th Jan and stay there for 3 months before returning to the PI. now she definately cannot travel. I definately cannot leave her side and definately need to help wiyth her care.
after the 15th my pension will stop and after an additional 6 weeks it will be cut totally. I really need the funds to keep coming in so we can keep paying rent and get some professional medical help here 24hrs a day for mum. a live in carer is cheap but I also have a family to support and airfares that Ill have to rebuy as changing our tickets will be dearer than buying a new one way ticket.
Man am I in a fix. My family just went through a devastating earthquake, I quickly rushed back then 2 weeks later the typhoon, and now all this. what is our world coming to?
Im writing to international services to see if they will continue my payments but doubt ill have much luch. there services are down over the weekend and im due to fly out on wed. I just cant do it - and for the sake of my mother just wont be able to go back just yet.
A solution to this would be just come back to Aus and bring my family. My wife would be on a carers pension for mum & my som would get govt paymennts, I would get the married rate for dsp. unfortunately I cannot include wy wifes sister (our daughter really), as shes not under my family name so she would have to be left behoind with no one to care for her. (her mother died and father is as poor as they come).
these changes are a human tragety that is badly affecting my families well being, my sanity and are just making the airlines richer. I feel so lost but am glad I have you guys to reach out to.
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Post by Banjo on Jan 12, 2014 7:17:16 GMT 7
It never rains but it pours. Returning to Australia seems to be your best option but the problem of the other child has to be addressed. I know someone who was in a similar situation, although their child was born in Australia but the original plan was to adopt a niece which turned out to be incredibly difficult. Governments prefer to err on the side of protecting the child's interests which when you consider a few years ago they were virtually giving orphans away to foreigners it's one extreme to the other.
I'll watch for this guy on Skype tonight, I know the adoption plan was abandoned but it was more to do with family issues than legal.
Good luck, our thoughts are with you.
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Post by reddingo on Jan 12, 2014 7:18:57 GMT 7
Very sorry to hear your story hypoman, I wish I could help at least financally but unfortunatly I am in dire straits myself but hopefully others on here who are better off might help you out a bit. All the best and don't worry, things will come good. Adrian
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Post by anotherdsp on Jan 12, 2014 7:33:46 GMT 7
to hypo, isnt one of the clauses about travelling o/s is to vist sick family,so i was thinking that if u return to aust andthen ring c/l int about what can be done about your travelling back to be with your mum,i hope this helps? and i amsorry to hear about your situation mate.
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Post by hypoman on Jan 12, 2014 7:39:37 GMT 7
thanks guys. Im definately not asking for handouts, just the aussie govt to continue with my payments until I can get mum sorted out. I have my motorcycle I can sell here in a hurry to keep things flowing and mum gets paid again in 5 days or so, so at least we can get someone in to help with the nursing side. it cost just over $1100 for a fractured shoulder with half of that being dr's costs (3 doctors). it was in a very good private hospital with one night spent in a nice room with a/c and flat screen tv and ensuite. She wasnt allowed to be left alone so i brought a folding bed in and my wife and I stayed with her.
thank God she didnt brake a hip! that can be real expensive with the chance of total recovery nil.
I could bring my wife and son to Aus if I sold all I had (but even then I dont know if the aussie govt would let them in if I dont have any funds in the bank). I could round up enough for the visa fees and air tickets but only just. Mum would obviously return with us, and we wpuld live with her.
As for Enday, our 14yr old, My wife could put in for a relative visa and she could get to come over but even then this would be an additional cost and dont know how long it would take. not only that but she doesnt really have anyone to look after her. her brothers house was destroyed in the earthquake and they are still living under tarps without a toilet (2 rooms are still livable so theyre just getting by)...
In an ideal world with a compasionate government my family, who are now in danger after the violent attack, (especially if we proceed with criminal charges), could apply for some kind of asylum to Australia as thier lives are in danger.
does anyone think an email to welfare rights would help? or someone in human rights circles?
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Post by hypoman on Jan 12, 2014 8:23:43 GMT 7
yes anotherdsp, there is a thing about sick family members in hospital i remember reading about.
either way I will not be heading back on wed, but will contact international services on monday soon as they have thier contact thing back in order. I guess Ill have to send drs reports etc and maybe a letter from a doctor. only thing is they dont trust us alot as drs here can be swayed to write anything. but mum is definately VERY sick and can hardly even talk let alone function normally.
another clause is if you have an onging criminal case where you are the complainant. like if your robbed or attacked or something you could stay longer. I think this applies only to the actual dsp recipient though so I dont know about when it was my wife. shes really having problems sleeping now and we have to lock the gate at all times when before it was unlocked during the day. the woman that attacked her was barred for pulling a handgun out of her purse in a local restaurant. they were home invaded some time ago, 4 of the five robbers were caught but one got away with the loot. the other 4 wouldnt give him up but soon after that the 5th guy was shot and killed.
This Canadian national and his wife are bad people and we are worried. He was charged with sexual assault in Cebu in 2005 and paid 4,000 US as an out of court settlement. They have been barred from alot of local establishments and have bullet holes in thier gate witha huge fence with electric fence on top of it. I always wondered what the people in that house were hiding from, now I know.
nasty characters...
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Post by Denis-NFA on Jan 12, 2014 9:14:38 GMT 7
hypoman, all the best mate. Your surly having a run of it. Unjust and all that it is but with all that you have going on I'd caution about taking the situation any further re the assault on your wife. The process might be more punishment for you and your family than it's worth.
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Post by Banjo on Jan 12, 2014 9:34:31 GMT 7
I wonder if the embassy would repatriate your mother? She's an aged pensioner who has had an accident while on holidays overseas, might be worth a try....
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Post by chris on Jan 13, 2014 8:46:19 GMT 7
yes anotherdsp, there is a thing about sick family members in hospital i remember reading about. either way I will not be heading back on wed, but will contact international services on monday soon as they have thier contact thing back in order. I guess Ill have to send drs reports etc and maybe a letter from a doctor. only thing is they dont trust us alot as drs here can be swayed to write anything. but mum is definately VERY sick and can hardly even talk let alone function normally. another clause is if you have an onging criminal case where you are the complainant. like if your robbed or attacked or something you could stay longer. I think this applies only to the actual dsp recipient though so I dont know about when it was my wife. shes really having problems sleeping now and we have to lock the gate at all times when before it was unlocked during the day. the woman that attacked her was barred for pulling a handgun out of her purse in a local restaurant. they were home invaded some time ago, 4 of the five robbers were caught but one got away with the loot. the other 4 wouldnt give him up but soon after that the 5th guy was shot and killed. This Canadian national and his wife are bad people and we are worried. He was charged with sexual assault in Cebu in 2005 and paid 4,000 US as an out of court settlement. They have been barred from alot of local establishments and have bullet holes in thier gate witha huge fence with electric fence on top of it. I always wondered what the people in that house were hiding from, now I know. nasty characters... Hypo. I read it all as quickly as possible (I live in Phils and naturally we have family issues, but not like yours) Mate. You have to leave your mother there in good hands and go home, aiming to get back as soon as possible. As has been pointed out above, you can get permission for an emergency exit, but it's usually for 7 days max. But I believe you can work on that initially, maybe talking to Welfare Services about the situation. But imo you need to be home to protect your DSP. It's true Mum might pass on, and she might not do as well without you there, but on the other hand she is 86 and can't go on indefinitely. Now she must be receiving her OAP, right? Do you have control of that? By ATM card? I would try to get a Power of Attorney written and witnessed there in Phils, so you have complete control of her accounts. She will have death benefits, insurance? Or at least she will have her pension.
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Post by Deleted on Jan 31, 2014 9:08:40 GMT 7
Hi Hypoman, Sad story indeed, one of many received on this forum. I had intended to live in Phils in a few years time, but your story makes me scratch my head and wonder whether it is a safe location. Ihave been there 5 times mainly Angeles, dont see it much different to Pattaya Thailand but very much 3rd world infra structure. I never stop being amazed at the total lack of interest by Asian police forces in doing their job - as I have said many times, they remind me of poker machines, only work if you put money in them. Wish you good luck with your battle, I am having one with portability myself with C/link and this form has made me realise just how stacked that is and not in our favour.
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Post by Banjo on Jan 31, 2014 9:45:30 GMT 7
I never have any trouble with the Thai police, indeed I count one of the local officers among my closest Thai friends. The problem with huge tourist areas, particularly those involving the sex industry, is that corruption becomes endemic among poorly paid police and other public servants.
Once you're away from that it's more like Australia in the 50s, sure they accept gifts and discounts from local businesses but law and order is maintained, often at the cost of "going by the book".
To be honest I cannot see why anyone on a pension would want to live in places like Angeles City and Pattaya, the whole concept of a cheaper lifestyle goes out the door and the crime rate is many times that in rural areas and provincial towns.
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