Kathryn hasn’t left Australia since arriving 55 years ago. Not having a passport hasn’t been an issue for her… until now
A woman who moved Down Under more than half a century ago never worried about having an Australian passport or Australian citizenship – until now, when it could cost her a dream job.
Kathryn Brewin, 59, who has worked as a cleaner at Campbelltown Hospital for the past 21 years, wants to pursue her love of cooking and run the Botany Docks canteen in Sydney’s south.
The aspiring chef’s potential new role requires her to obtain a maritime security permit, which requires her to be an Australian citizen.
Ms Brewin moved to Australia from England as a four-year-old in 1969 with her parents as one of thousands of ‘ten pound poms’.
She hasn’t left Australian shores since.
Kathryn Brewin (pictured) wants to pursue her love of cooking after working as a hospital cleaner for more than 20 years
‘I appeared on my parents’ passports when I was four years old. My father was an engineer, so we all flew away. I have been here ever since,” she told A A current issue.
“When you’ve been here so long you think you’re nothing but Australian.”
Despite working hard, paying taxes, voting and getting her driver’s license, the 59-year-old was told she needed a passport to apply for citizenship.
Ms Brewin, who has not left Australia since arriving, cannot obtain a passport because she is considered a permanent resident.
She became emotional at the prospect of not being able to pursue her dream job.
‘Now I feel like I’m trapped. “I didn’t realize I had nowhere to go until now,” she said.
‘And that is a great realization. I really have nowhere to go and nowhere to belong. I’m stuck now.’
Ms Brewin has spent months trying to figure out what she can do to avoid missing out on her dream job, including contacting the Home Office, her local MP and the British Embassy.
But she says she was told no one could help her.
Kathryn Brewin (pictured as a child) arrived in Australia at the age of four and has never left the country since
The aspiring chef has been trying to get help with her passport dilemma for months, including contacting the Home Office and her local MP (stock image)
“There must be more people than me going through this,” she said.
‘You have to recognize that you need human contact. It can’t all be like this.’
Making the situation even more frustrating is the fact that Ms. Brewin purchased $15,000 worth of items for her new venture, including trays, containers and cutlery.
“I wanted to do this and see if I could fulfill my dream of serving and cooking good food and doing what I love,” she said.
‘I’ll continue. Cleaning is a difficult game. Especially in a hospital.’
The Ministry of Internal Affairs told the program it does not comment on individual cases.
The Department did cite the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 (the Act), which sets out what is required to apply for citizenship without a passport.
“Permanent residents who do not have a current or expired passport or other travel documents, or who have not traveled in or out of Australia since July 1990, will be required to use a paper form to apply for Australian citizenship,” the report said .
According to A Current Affair, the department contacted Ms Brewin on Tuesday afternoon and ‘promised to resolve the issue’.
Kathryn (pictured) hasn’t given up on getting her dream job