We’ve lived the dream Down Under for nearly a decade – now Australia wants to deport us to the UK for the cruellest of reasons

A British couple who face deportation from Australia say they have been left heartlessly ‘in limbo’ after one of them was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis years after they arrived in he country – and they now face their permanent residency being denied, 

Jessica Mathers, 30, a project manager and DJ, fears she will be sent back to the UK – despite settling in Australia since 2017 – due to the serious medical care she needs.

She and her boyfriend Rob O’Leary, who runs his own successful carpentry and construction firm, told MailOnline they were on the brink of learning at any moment they must pack their bags and quit their Sydney home.

Supporters have been rallying to back an online petition urging Australian officials to approve their visa applications, amid a legal wrangle that has now dragged on for three years. 

Ms Mathers, originally from Macclesfield in Cheshire, expressed frustration at being kept in the dark by the country’s authorities despite their pleas for any information. 

She had received a shock diagnosis in 2020 when doctors informed her she had relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

The chronic condition sees the immune system attack the central nervous system, disrupting the brain’s ability to communicate with the body.

Symptoms include numbness, vision issues, balance and coordination issues, and muscle weakness.

British couple Jessica Mathers and Rob O’Leary have been together in Australia since 2017

The couple applied for permanent residency Down Under – but have faced rejection

Rob O’Leary runs his own carpentry firm while Jessica Mathers works as a project manager

Ms Mathers’ variant – relapsing-remitting MS – can at times be more forgiving than progressive instances of the disease, but means she suffers flare-ups of symptoms followed by periods of partial recovery from the condition.

She said the condition has been ‘well-managed’ so far.

Yet a visa application since her diagnosis meant she had to reveal her condition which was then blamed for her permanent residency bid being rejected.

The potential future cost of Ms Mathers’ condition to the Australian economy formed the basis of the refusal.

She has been receiving her regular MS treatment under Australia and the UK’s Reciprocal Health Care Arrangement. 

That allows British residents to access some of Medicare’s subsidised healthcare services while visiting Australia.

The couple have appealed against the rejection of Ms Mathers’ visa application and are awaiting a ruling from the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. 

Lawyers have told the pair they have very little chance of winning their appeal unless Australia’s immigration minister Tony Burke personally intervenes in their case.

Jessica Mathers, 30, was diagnosed in 2020 with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

Project manager Ms Mathers, from Macclesfield in Cheshire, also works as a DJ

The couple told MailOnline how they fear their dream life Down Under could soon be ended

The couple have now created an online Change.org petition calling for a review of immigration policies that affect people with well-managed health conditions.

The page, which has now attracted more than 4,500 signatures, states: ‘Rob’s carpentry-based skill set and expertise in the construction industry are in demand, yet our future here hangs in the balance due to Jessica’s health condition.’

Ms Mathers has been able to continue working with the condition as well as boosting health awareness with fundraisers for MS Australia – while also DJing at weekends. 

Mr O’Leary, from Chingford in east London, told MailOnline: ‘We’ve lived here for many years. We’ve loved the lifestyle here. We both have good jobs.

‘We know we want t stay in Australia – you can never say “forever”, but certainly for the foreseeable future.

‘I’ve done a lot of qualifications, to give us a good situation for applying. We were sponsored by New South Wales.’

Ms Mathers said: ‘That was when I had the process of having to declare any health conditions – and that’s when we started to have the hurdles.

‘It was 2023 when they first denied my visa. We’ve just been waiting – we’re completely in limbo.’

The British pair, who met at a backpackers’ hostel, currently live in Australian city Sydney

Rob O’Leary, from Chingford in east London, works in the Australian construction industry

The couple say they feel left ‘in limbo’ as their immigration visa wrangle drags on

When asked what they thought could happen next with their case, she replied: ‘No idea. It’s really poor communication.

‘It could be that at any moment we’re told we have just 28 days to leave.’

Their petition states: ‘We ask that the Minister for Home Affairs review our case and make changes to the immigration policies that unfairly target individuals with well-managed health conditions.

‘We believe these decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis, considering the contributions of the individual to the community, economy, and society.

‘We are not asking for special treatment, but for fairness. We love Australia, and we have worked hard to contribute to this country in meaningful ways. All we want is the chance to continue doing so.’

Ms Mathers did say she was ‘doing really well’ with her ongoing medical care, recently undergoing an MRI which suggested there was ‘no progression for the worse’.

She said: ‘That’s been the case for a few years now. I’m really happy. I’m continuing with my treatment.’

Yet they remain frustrated by their potential exile from the country they had made home – while feeling they have plenty to offer, including financially, despite the mooted concerns about her healthcare costs.

Rob O’Leary and Jessica Mathers have set up a Change.org online petition raising their case

The pair’s plea against being deported has attracted thousands of signatures in support

Rob O’Leary moved to Australia on Boxing Day 2015 – Jessica Mathers travelled over in 2017

Mr O’Leary said: ‘One of the reasons we applied for permanent residency, is how big the building industry is now becoming here.

‘It’s really coming together and as a carpenter, I’ve been able to contribute massively.

‘Jess has been able to contribute to the performing arts, the cultural scene.

‘I’ve got friends who’ve moved over from the UK and they agree there’s a great lifestyle, a great culture. 

‘We both love the country. We love the lifestyle and there’s a great attitude.’

They remain in uncertainty, however, with Ms Mathers only able to take temporary jobs and Mr O’Leary struggling to ‘work with banks while on a bridging visa’.

He said: ‘When Jess was going for new jobs as a manager, and getting interviews, it would scare away potential employers. A lot of people agree it’s like discrimination.’

They tell followers on their online petition: ‘We both respect that healthcare costs need to be considered, but we strongly believe that our situation – Jessica’s stable condition and our contributions to the community – should be taken into account.

Ms Mathers says she is ‘doing really well’ with her ongoing medical care for multiple sclerosis, recently undergoing an MRI which suggested there was ‘no progression for the worse’

Their petition asks officials to ‘review our case and make changes to the immigration policies that unfairly target individuals with well-managed health conditions’

They added: ‘We believe these decisions should be made on a case-by-case basis, considering the contributions of the individual to the community, economy, and society’

Ms Mathers has been able to continue working with her medical condition as well as boosting health awareness with fundraisers for MS Australia – while also DJing at weekends

‘We have worked hard and paid taxes since we arrived in Australia in 2016/17. We are committed to continuing our careers here, but the current immigration law doesn’t account for the value we bring to the country.

‘If we were to leave the country, Jessica would be placed on a waiting list to receive this treatment in the UK, which currently has a waiting time of over a year.

‘Jess requires this treatment every six months. This is an exceptional circumstance, and the delay could result in the progression of Jess’s MS, which is deeply upsetting. This is why we need your urgent help.’

MailOnline has contacted Australia’s Department of Home Affairs for comment. 

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