Soon to be reunited, father Sheersh Srivastava is making plans to travel to India to collect his two-and-half-year old son Kiyan and bring him back to Australia.
"I feel very much relieved because now there is hope that we will be able to all meet up soon."
That action is only being made possible after the federal government expanded its list of exemptions for travel to include accompanying a child back home to Australia.
The decision, announced a week ago, relaxes the restrictions imposed by the National Cabinet on 22 April when travel was banned to India on the basis that "travel to high-risk COVID-19 countries presents a serious health risk to the Australian community".
Mr Srivastava's applications for an exemption were rejected three times before he was successful on the fourth attempt.
But the situation gained a new sense of urgency when Mr Srivastava's mother - and his son's primary carer - shared the news of her cancer diagnosis on 21 May.
The circumstances were such that Kiyan had to accompany Mr Srivastava's mother to the hospital as she received her chemotherapy treatment.
Two-and-a-half year-old Kiyan is being brought back to Australia by his father, after an exemption was granted. Source: Supplied
"It has been a double blow for me because I am very upset about my mum's health and also now I have to bring Kiyan back as soon as possible," Mr Srivastava said.
Tickets with Qatar Airways have been booked, but the cap on international arrivals in Australia mean that Mr Srivastava's wife, Shilpa Bhatnagar, is hoping there are no last-minute cancellations.
"I'm happy but also stressed. Until my son is back, I don't think I will be happy wholeheartedly.
"I really hope that everything will be back normal - and my family will be back together as soon as possible."'
Father Dinesh Dhanraj is also hoping to be reunited with his child - 10-year-old Advaiith Dinesh - after being granted an exemption.
Plans to have Advaiith return to Australia in May 2020 were disrupted by travel restrictions put in place in March 2020.
Mr Dhanraj's mother will be accompanying Advaiith to Australia.
Mr Dhanraj said finalising the flight details has been nerve-wracking, after the tickets on a repatriation flight sold out in 10 minutes.
"I was unfortunately driving when that email came through. So I didn’t see it until 10 or 15 minutes after. And I wasn’t able to book my seats right away because I kept seeing these error messages saying they were already booked out."
He then spent two hours refreshing his computer screen before securing two seats for 22 June.
"It was a traumatic experience trying to book those seats...
He said better communication between government departments and the airlines involved in the repatriation flights would ease anxiety levels.
"If you’re saying that these children are to be given priority, why not just restrict the emails to go to people who have gone through your process - and you’ve established that they are vulnerable, they have someone accompanying them, and they have got approved exemptions and visas. That process still needs clarity and co-ordination."
Mr Dhanraj said while he is jubilant at the imminent reunion with his son after two years apart, he has concerns.
"It has been a very torrid last two years. Everyone has their own COVID story. I am glad I was able to get my mum and son on a flight. And I hope that they are able to get safe passage to Delhi – and get on board these flights – and get back home soon. I’m looking forward to that."
He said he shares the distress of other parents trying to also bring their kids in India home.
Dinesh Dhanraj has been parted from his son, Advaiith Dinesh, for two years now. Source: Supplied
"And my heart goes out to numerous other Australians. I am part of these different groups where we support each other, update each other on what is the best way to go about these restrictions. And I know there are heaps of parents waiting for some form of support from the government.
"And there is no clarity on whether there is going to be more repatriation flights in July and beyond. I hope the government keeps doing what they’re doing. And hopefully we'll get these children back safely."
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said the seats on Qantas repatriation flights are offered to Australians registered with the department based on the level of vulnerability.
A woman in Australia who is helping parents bring their children home from India said families in need are missing out on seats - including a family with a stranded four-year-old.
"The flight [for 22 June] was sold in the first few minutes that many tried to book," Neha Sandu told SBS News.
On 3 June, in that the number of Australian children stuck in India has increased to 209 from a total of 10,994 Australians in India wishing to return home. The group also includes 1,024 people who are classified as vulnerable.
Eight repatriation flights have helped return some 1,500 Australians from India since the India travel ban ended last month.
