A Fijian family facing detention and deportation from Australia - even though two of the children are Australian citizens and attend a Seventh-day Adventist school - is gaining national attention.

Eleven-year-old Sally Koroitamana and her brother, Jope 10, are Australian citizens and have been attending MacArthur Adventist School in Macquarie Fields, Sydney, since January 2002. However, the two did not return from school holidays in October, instead they joined their Fijian mother and three other siblings, who have been living at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre for two-and-a-half years.

The Migration Review Tribunal found the children’s mother did not meet the criteria for a bridging visa, which would have allowed her to stay in Australia. The family’s departure from the country could be imminent.

“The school is probably the only stable place they’ve got at the moment—they love their friends, they are secure here, the teachers are very concerned for them,” said MacArthur’s school principal Jill Pearce, who spoke about the students on ABC Radio Australia News on Oct. 15.A Fijian family facing detention and deportation from Australia - even though two of the children are Australian citizens and attend a Seventh-day Adventist school - is gaining national attention. This is partly because students at the school are supportive of the family.

Eleven-year-old Sally Koroitamana and her brother, Jope 10, are Australian citizens and have been attending MacArthur Adventist School in Macquarie Fields, Sydney, since January 2002. However, the two did not return from school holidays in October, instead they joined their Fijian mother and three other siblings, who have been living at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre for two-and-a-half years.

The Migration Review Tribunal found the children’s mother did not meet the criteria for a bridging visa, which would have allowed her to stay in Australia. The family’s departure from the country could be imminent.

“The school is probably the only stable place they’ve got at the moment—they love their friends, they are secure here, the teachers are very concerned for them,” said MacArthur’s school principal, Jill Pearce who spoke about the students on ABC Radio Australia News on Oct. 15.

Pearce, in a letter to the Tribunal promised to waive the children’s school fees and provide transportation to and from the school.

The students have been writing letters to and praying for the Koroitamana family.

Pearce last visited the family on Oct. 16. “Sally and Jope are grateful for the support,” said Pearce. “You should have seen the joy on Sally’s face when she opened one of the letters from the students. Her eyes lit up.”

Pearce, in a letter to the Tribunal, promised to waive the children’s school fees and provide transportation to and from the school.

The students have been writing letters to and praying for the Koroitamana family.

Pearce last visited the family on Oct. 16. “Sally and Jope are grateful for the support,” said Pearce.