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Key Points
- Advocates say some migrants are putting off HIV testing for fear it could jeopardise their visa applications.
- Data shows migrants are more likely to receive a late HIV diagnosis.
- Immigration Minister says Australia’s migration health requirements don’t meet community expectations.
“I see this almost every week in the personal decisions I make to intervene in the visa system via Ministerial Intervention.”
“Since coming to Government, I have been engaging on this issue with industry experts and listening to those with lived experience, including at a recent meeting of the HIV Taskforce led by [Health] Minister Mark Butler,” he said.
Migrants and HIV stigma
Born in sub-Saharan Africa, she came to Australia in 2009 to work in an area of critical skills shortage – as a registered nurse in a hospital in regional Australia.
“I was shocked. I hadn’t expected to receive a positive diagnosis for HIV,” she said.
Osie’s journey to permanent residency
“I felt unwanted. The timing [of the notification] itself was also a blow. I felt devalued to be told of the outcome on 24 December, just before Christmas. Our Christmas was ruined.”
“We are investigating as to why the letters were not auto sent to your migration agent.”
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Visa barriers for people living with HIV
An alternative to overcoming the health criteria condition is seeking a health waiver, which can be sought for a limited number of visa sub-categories. These include close family, humanitarian and business visas.
“A very quick solution could be an amendment to the significant cost threshold so that people living with HIV could still obtain the visa. If, for example, that significant cost threshold was raised to, say, $180,000, then all people living with HIV would be able to obtain permanent residency,” she said.
Advocates call for change of visa rules for migrants with HIV
Caveats and exemptions allow the immigration policy to continue.
Fear stopping people from getting tested
“There are issues in the system that we are still advocating for with the Australian government to make it absolutely clear for anyone who is in Australia that they can test for HIV – and that it won’t be an impediment to permanent residency applications.”
“We need to ensure timely testing and accessible testing. So this might mean things like self-testing. It might mean modifying services to make them culturally appropriate. It also might mean further funding of sexual health services where it is quite challenging to get an appointment at the moment.”