Yes, it will be counted. As long as your mother and your step-father is in a married or in a de facto relationship, then the children of your step-father will be the step-children of your mother and included in the balance of family test.

What does it mean by ‘settled’?

“Settled’ is defined to means lawfully resident in Australia for a reasonable period. The Department policy state reasonable period is generally 2 years. However, that period is not set in stone. Case laws state there can be other factors that can be relevant to the question of whether a person has been a resident in Australia for a reasonable time (Naika v MIMA [2002] FCA 888).

What would it be appropriate to apply for the Subclass 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa?

The easiest way to answer this question is just think as a two stage Partner visa. The first being the Subclass 173 Contributory Parent (Temporary) visa and then applying the subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa within 2 years after the arriving in Australia. The practical benefit is that it allows you to split the payment of the high 2nd visa application charge of the subclass 143 Contributory Parent visa to two instalments. The first portion of the charges payable immediately before the subclass 173 visa grant and the second portion is payable immediately before the subclass 143 visa grant.

The requirement to give Assurance of Support is also deferred to shortly before the subclass 143 visa grant.