Vani says goodbye to VCE and hello to uni following fight to keep family in Australia
Just months ago Vanisre Rajasegeran’s family was facing deportation, until Australia wrapped its arms around her. Today Warrnambool’s favourite daughter is a step closer to her dreams after receiving her VCE results.
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Four months ago, Warrnambool student Vanisre Rajasegeran was fighting for her family to stay in Australia.
Today, Vani is celebrating the completion of her VCE and hopeful of a spot studying medicine at Monash University.
A captain of Brauer College, a high achiever and talented singer, her family was facing deportation weeks out from her VCE exams because of her father’s illness which was seen as a potential burden on taxpayers.
Ms Rajasegeran, who is mature beyond her years, started a Change.org petition which went on to garner more than 90,000 signatures.
This morning she was on her way to Tullamarine Airport to collect her grandparents, who live in Singapore and she hasn’t seen for four years, when she accessed her results.
“I am very relieved. It could have been worse and I am glad it is not,” she said.
After widespread community support, including the backing of her local Federal member and Education Minister Dan Tehan, the family won a reprieve.
Ms Rajasegeran said she has applied for Monash and was hoping to get into the course.
Living in Warrnambool, she was aware of the need for more medical services for people in the country.
“I see my neighbours who have to travel to see a specialist and I would love to train as a doctor and work in the country,” she said.
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Ms Rajasegeran said she applied for consideration under the special entry access scheme which she hoped would consider the difficult time experienced this year, fighting on behalf of her family to stay in Australia.
Originally from Singapore, the family moved to Melbourne in 2013 and on to Warrnambool in 2015 to take up new jobs.