Join us in Adelaide!
8:30 am
Registrations Open
9:00 am
National President’s Welcome and Acknowledgment of Country Julie Williams FMIA, National President, MIA
9:10 am
Keynote Speaker: Mark McCrindle
To engage with people and connect with communities, we need to understand the data and the demographics. Population analysis tells a fascinating story of Australia today and reveals clear trend lines. In this session, Mark uses the latest demographic data to give a snapshot of the changes, the trends, the challenges and the opportunities for your brand, organisation and sector. He will look at the emerging trends redefining Australia, from population forecasts, the new baby boom which is breaking all previous records, unprecedented growth of our major cities, to the rise of the regions. This session will deliver an analysis of the changes and future forecasts on what the decade ahead will hold.
9:55 am
Department of Home Affairs Update Chair: Constantine Paxinos MMIA
Presenter: - Servet Brennan, Business, Industry and Regional Outreach and Engagement, Immigration Outreach and Engagement Branch, Department of Home Affair
10:55 am
Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority
Chair: Constantine Paxinos MMIA Presenter: - Emily Winch, Senior Director, Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority
Emily Winch, Senior Director of the OMARA, will provide an update on current OMARA priorities and programs, including progress with the early resolution model and feedback on its operation. An overview of the OMARA’s increased capabilities and strengthened relationship with the ABF and other intelligence agencies in investigating serious breaches and unlawful behaviour will also be provided.
11:05 am
Morning Tea
11:25 am
A New Proposal for Immigration Protections for Migrant Workers Taking Action Against Exploitative Employees Chair: Ashwin Tyagi MMIA Presenter: - Associate Professor Laurie Berg, Faculty of Law, University of Technology Sydney
In 2023, a national coalition of over 40 legal service providers, unions, ethnic community peak bodies, churches, and national organisations called for urgent visa reforms to bring migrant worker exploitation out of the shadows. Led by the Migrant Justice Institute and Human Rights Law Centre, the Breaking the Silence proposal urges the Federal government to establish whistleblower protections that would enable migrant workers to report exploitation without risking their visa. This presentation discusses the two key elements of this proposed reform:
12:00 pm
Meeting Australia's skills needs for the future and the role of Migration Chair: Ashwin Tyagi MMIA Presenters: - Andrew McKellar, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) - Jenny Lambert, Policy and Research Advisor, Accommodation Australia
Business and Industry associations are at the cutting edge of dealing with their members’ economic issues including developing future workforces, the supply of skilled and semi skilled labour, legislative industrial relations changes and future modes of work. Our panel will discuss these and other issues impacting their sectors in this interview style session.
12:45 pm
Lunch
Building a world where displaced people can safely migrate for work and study - can Australia lead the way?
Chair: Ahmad Shady MMIA
Presenters: - Sally Baker, Associate Professor of Migration and Education, Centre for Social Research and Methods, Australian National University - Steph Cousins, Global CEO, Talent Beyond Boundaries
This presentation will share the latest in innovative practice and research examining complementary skills based pathways for refugees in Australia. Complementary pathways provide additional and regulated avenues for refugees to move to safe third countries, often utilising established migration pathways (such as family reunion, skilled and student visas), in a way that complements refugee resettlement programs.
Talent Beyond Boundaries is at the forefront of building refugee labour mobility programs globally, and is partnering with the Department of Home Affairs to implement Australia's Skilled Refugee Pilot, a visa program specifically for employer-sponsored refugees. Over the next two years the pilot program will grow to help 500 skilled refugees and their families migrate to Australia in a wide range of sectors - from healthcare and aged care to IT, skilled trades and engineering. Steph Cousins, Global CEO of Talent Beyond Boundaries, will share how the pilot is working to help refugees overcome the barriers that normally prevent them from applying for skilled visas.
Assessments for Migration - Best Practice Principles and Standards Chair: Ahmad Shady MMIA Presenter: - Amanda Schenk, Assistant Director, Quality Assurance DEWR
With critical skills shortages persisting across the labour market, skilled migrants remain a vital source of skilled labour to supplement Australia’s domestic workforce. Increased global competition for skilled labour post-pandemic has resulted in a greater focus on making sure all elements of the skilled migration system, including skills assessments, are operating effectively. As a result, Government is seeking to support assessing authorities to raise the integrity, quality and timeliness of skills assessments and improve outcomes for migrants, employers, and industry. The Assessing Authority Policy and Assurance (AAPA) team has responsibility for government oversight of 39 appointed assessing authorities and is currently reviewing the requirements and assurance framework for the assessing authority sector. A discussion paper is currently open for public consultation. It is testing individuals’ and organisations’ views on draft principles and standards upon which assessing authorities will be expected to deliver skills assessments. It is also seeking feedback on some ideas for reform. This presentation will explain AAPA’s remit, the draft Best Practice Principles and Standards, and opportunities for continual improvement for both assessing authorities and government.
3:15 pm
Afternoon Tea
3:45 pm
The Parkinson Review: A Migration System for Australia's Future Chair: Julie Williams FMIA Presenter: - Associate Professor Anna Boucher
4:15 pm
Laws of International Surrogacy in Australia Chair: Julie Williams FMIA Presenter: - Sarah Bevan, Sarah Bevan Family Lawyers, Principal Join us for an informative session on Australian laws on international surrogacy and visa pathways for bringing surrogate children to Australia. The recent case of the Greek fertility clinic and Australian surrogate children highlights some of the pitfalls of overseas surrogacy, particularly where neither parent has provided their own genetic material for the creation of the child. With the ever-increasing number of overseas surrogacies occurring, this is a hot topic for migration professionals.
5:00 pm
CEO Closing Remarks Helen Duncan, Interim Chief Executive Officer, MIA
9:30 am
National Building Review Chair: Reuben Saul, WA State President MIA Presenter: - Dr Anne Webster, Deputy Chair of Joint Standing Committee on Migration
10:00 am
Expert Evidence in the Migration and Refugee Division of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal
Chair: Reuben Saul, WA State President MIA Presenters: - Dr Bridget Cullen, Senior Member of AAT, Migration and Refugee Division - Katie Malyon, Member of AAT Presenting a strong case before the Tribunal requires careful preparation and a thorough understanding of the latest procedural requirements. From organising evidence to structuring arguments, this panel discussion welcomes questions from attendees on about ways to ensure a smooth and efficient hearing process. Whether you are a seasoned agent or lawyer or new to Tribunal proceedings, this session will provide you with valuable guidance on how to enhance your case presentation skills and effectively navigate Practice Directions.
10:50 am
More than Software. The Business of People in a Law Tech World Chair: Anke Nagel, MMIA Presenter: - Christian Bell, Migration Manager
Migration Manager is more than program on your desktop. It is a team of dedicated, passionate people who have your back when you get quizzed about the stability and security of your processes. Find out how we go to great lengths to help your people help more people.
11:35 am
A Brave New (Post-Pandemic) World: A Principles-based Approach to Regulating Temporary Labour Migration Chair: Helen Duncan LMMIA, Interim Chief Executive Officer, MIA Presenter: -Professor Joanna Howe, Professor of Law at University of Adelaide
The Covid-19 pandemic exposed the fragility of the alleged 'triple win' of temporary labour migration in Australia. Employers, arguably the main beneficiary of temporary labour migration, was able to shed temporary migrant labour quickly and to cut pay with a minimum of formality and expense. The Australian government told temporary migrant workers to return to their home countries, excluding this group from additional social security benefits during the pandemic and workers raced to access a limited pool of flights to return home in a world of closed borders. Of the trio who supposedly benefit from temporary labour migration, it was the fragility of temporary migrant workers' place in Australia which was exposed during this time. Employers too, faced significant labour shortages. The end of the pandemic and the advent of open borders has produced an opposite response from the Australian government towards temporary migrants, now redoubling its efforts on making Australia an attractive destination once more.
The Migration Review, of which the author was a part, provided a strategy to government about how to reform the migration system for Australia's future. This review points to the continuing quest for an Australian migration program which can simultaneously respond to the need of both social partners: addressing labour market demands and ameliorating working vulnerability.
12:20 pm
Delivery of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme
Chair: Leanne Stevens FMIA Presenter: -Jason Stott, First Assistant Secretary, Pacific Labour Operations, Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
The presentation on the ‘Delivery of the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) Scheme’ will provide an overview of the PALM scheme. Join Jason and a panel for an interactive session on the PALM scheme, highlighting the work underway to enhance the scheme, touching on the Australian government’s reforms to the scheme and the work and role of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations in protecting and supporting migrant workers.
Australian Citizenship: What you need to know Chair: Chris Johnston, Lawyer, Work Visa Lawyers Presenter: - David Prince, Principal Solicitor, Kinslor Prince Lawyers
Each year the Federal Circuit and Family Court, the Federal Court and High Court of Australia make thousands of decisions concerning visa applications and visa cancellations which together operate to give real guidance on the proper meaning and operation of the Migration Act 1958 and the Migration Regulations 1994. In contrast, only a handful of cases concerning the operation of the Australian Citizenship Act 2007 are appealed to these same courts in any year which means that there are very real uncertainties about the acquisition and loss of citizenship.
In this session David Prince will investigate some important recent decisions of the courts concerning Australian citizenship and also explore a range of ''hot topics'' that you all should be aware of.
Advising Employers (and Employees): Compliance Monitoring and New Legislation
Chair: Leanne Stevens FMIA Presenter: -Phillip Yip FMIA, Principal Director - Accredited Specialist (Immigration Law)
As practitioners, our standard advice to employers has been consistent according to the provisions of s. 245AA to 245AY of Migration Act 1958 (''Act''). However, in the back of our minds we have noted that s. 235 of the Act creates a criminal offence for a visa holder to working in breach of a work related visa condition or for an unlawful non citizen to work at all. So for those practitioners advising employees, the ability of workers to have recourse to their rights has been severely undermined. That's about to change if the Migration Amendment (Strengthening Employer Compliance) Bill is passed in the Senate.
Advocacy in the general division of the AAT
Chair: Chris Johnston, Lawyer, Work Visa Lawyers Presenter: - Nicholas Poynder, Barrister, Frederick Jordan Chambers
2:50 pm 3:20 pm
Jobs and Skills Australia: The Next Step
Presenter: - Cliff Bingham, Assistant Secretary of Jobs and Skills Australia's Labour Market and Migration Branch
3:50 pm
Closing Keynote: Jordan Nguyen
4:35 pm
Closing Remarks Incoming National President
*This program is subject to change.