A family from Papua New Guinea, who six months ago faced detention and deportation from Australia, is celebrating a reunion and the chance to remain in Australia.

On April 29, Macarthur Adventist School in Macquarie Fields, Sydney, where two of Sereana Naikelekele's children attended, celebrated the release of Mrs. Naikelekele and three of her young children from the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre.

The family was held at the Centre after the Australian 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 could have been split up if Mrs. Naikelekele had been sent back to Papua New Guinea.

Eleven-year-old Sally Koroitamana and her brother, Jope, 10, are Australian citizens who had been attending Macarthur Adventist School since January 2002. However, the two did not return from school holidays in October 2004. Instead they joined their Papuan mother and three other siblings, who had been living at the Villawood Immigration Detention Centre for nearly four years.

After many prayers and hard work by the school, its students and others in the community, Mrs. Naikelekele was granted a "bridging visa" after her appeal of a deportation order issued Oct. 29, 2004.

Jill Pearce, principal of Macarthur Adventist School, said "The latest news we had was that her appeal had been quashed, so she was as stunned and surprised as we all were to be told she could go."

The bridging visa will allow Mrs. Niakelekele to live in Australia with her children, and the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has pledged to help the family.

"Everyone is absolutely stunned by the power of God working in this situation. When we felt that all was lost, He had been working tirelessly for this family. I know that there were many people from across Australia who were praying for this and will be encouraged by this news," Pearce said.

Students at the school had prayed for her release and also wrote to the Australian Federal Immigration Minister.

"Last year, the Macarthur students went directly to Jesus, petitioning Him on behalf of their fellow students, whose mother and siblings were detained at Villawood Detention Centre," said Kura Makemare, a teacher at the school.

"Although the children were encouraged to accept all outcomes, they were able to see the answer to this special prayer when Mrs. Naikelekele recently visited the school to personally thank them for their prayers," Makemare added.

In her "thank you" speech, Mrs. Naikelekele tearfully praised the students, parents and teachers for their courage, prayers and support.