1416744 (Migration)

[2015] AATA 3882

1416744 (Migration) [2015] AATA 3882 (17 December 2015)

DECISION RECORD

DIVISION:Migration & Refugee Division

APPLICANT:  Mr Rana Muhammad Qasim

CASE NUMBER:  1416744

DIBP REFERENCE(S):  CLF2014/104753

MEMBER:David Dobell

DATE:17 December 2015

PLACE OF DECISION:  Sydney

DECISION:The Tribunal affirms the decision of the Department to not grant the visa applicant a Distinguished Talent (Residence) (Class BX) Subclass 858 visa

Statement made on 17 December 2015 at 9:21am

STATEMENT OF DECISION AND REASONS

APPLICATION FOR REVIEW

1. This is an application for review of a decision made by a delegate of the Minister for Immigration on 26 September 2014 to refuse to grant the visa applicant a Distinguished Talent (Residence) (Class BX) Subclass 858 visa under s.65 of the Migration Act 1958 (the Act).

2. The visa applicant applied for the visa on 30 July 2014. The delegate refused to grant the visa on the basis that cl.858.212 was not satisfied.

3. The applicant appeared before the Tribunal on 26 November 2015 at a hearing to give evidence and present arguments.   

4. For the following reasons, the Tribunal has concluded that the decision under review should be affirmed.

   CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE

5. On the Department file is the Form 47SV visa application and a Nomination Form 1000, dated 15 July 2014 and signed by Rajeev Arora.

6. As to his qualifications, awards and references (Q.77)  the applicant stated as follows:

   ·Qualification/award/reference: FIA/ACCA/EDEXCEL completed more than 60 professional units within 2.5 years at youngest age of 19

   ·Institution/name of referee: SQA (Scottish qualification authority), BIMS, Edexcel

   ·From: 8/2010 to 08/2013

   ·Qualification/award/reference: Edexcel post graduation level award and Exemptions in ICAEW also known as Mother of Accounting

   ·Institution/name of referee: BIMS, ACCA (Association of chartered certified accounts), ICAEW (Institute of CA England and Wales)

   ·From: 8/2010 to 06/2014

   ·Qualification/award/reference: Youngest accountant eligible for PhD research program (in Business and finance in age of 19 under IQN

   ·Institution/name of referee: IQN ( international qualification network), NUML University,

   ·From: [unstated]  to 06/2014

   ·Qualification/award/reference: Honoured of 35 months of internship awarded which is then approved by ACCA/recently awarded honors covered by international media group

   ·Institution/name of referee: Pakistan observer newspaper, [unstated] to 06/2014

7. The applicant attached the following statement of purpose to the visa application:

   (SOP) Statement of purpose
   As already detailed I am Rana Muhammad Qasim just not only a youngest qualified accountant with age of 19 but also one who achieved many milestones on extra ordinary performance in my profession till now age of 19.

   I am applying for 858 distinguish talent visa which itself an honour if approved, with all option in front of me including skilled points migration, I preferred to go for 858 visa due to my distinguish achievements and passion towards my profession and other factor as in Australia in my case to be eligible for points system residence I have to wait 6 year till 25 to get enough age points.

   My extraordinary performance and love towards my profession made me eligible enough to apply for 858 visa which gave me strengthened and confidence to apply my skills in practical terms in order to get my dreams true by serving Australian community. Its always a valid point what makes me distinguish talent? And this is the only reason I decided to write that statement of purpose to explain myself what I achieve in my young age, which makes me distinguish.

   With esteem and respect I would explain almost my whole life tenure that is just 19 years in which I have worked really hard to get my dreams true.

   •I finished my school on 4 august 2010 with A+. As soon I finished school it took only few days to realise my passion and love towards Accountancy. I always wanted to register with ACCA a professional British accountancy body but the standard and difficulty level of ACCA and my age 16 at that time was a conflict.

   •Although on 15 August 2010 ACCA approved my conditional registration and I had to complete FIA (Foundation) ACCA exams to got admission in ACCA. With courage and a feeling of to do in that young age of 16 gives me strength and I pass my first exam of FIA in only 3 months and then passed all subject of FIA with in 6 months and I was youngest qualified in my whole state with age of 17. My college and few district level media really appreciate my achievement but I knew it was just start.

   •So I started my professional career in accountancy in just age of 16/17 and was on the way with determination. My day and night study research and struggle start giving return and I completed my 9 papers of ACCA in very first attempt and it was itself a record to be listed in the whole world who passed ACCA exams in just age of 18.

   •As accountancy studies was my passion and even though if called my life would not be wrong so I moved to big city in age of 17 on government State scholarship to explore my skill and I got registered with world wide accountancy bodies EDEXCEL, BIMS and SQA (Scottish qualification authority) these all professional accountancy British bodies acceptable all over the world.

   •I started my studies and day night research and thirst of knowledge and my mind of to do always gave me hope and courage and I worked day and night which in return makes me, my family proud in completion of SQA, BIMS and Edexcel qualification with in 1.5 years in only age of 18. In just two years I got graduation level certification from British council, postgraduate level certification from SQA (Scottish qualification authority) and Edexcel Pearson.

   •I completed 20 units under Edexcel, 14 units under BIMS and 17 units of SQA and 14 units under ACCA. I have a distinguish record to pass more then 60 units of professional qualification in just 2.5 years of time in just age of 19. I was awarded 7 state and colleges level prize awards and 1 capital state level award including free scholarship with in two year of career.

   •On March 2013 I was awarded with youngest honoured and I was awarded exemption with ICAEW (Institute of Chartered accountancy England and Wales) and I can used ICAEW with me as it's was one of the biggest mile stone I achieved as ICAEW is known as Mother of Accountancy. On the prize distribution ceremony on the base of my achievement Habib bank awarded me with 35 months of working internship program as honour. I was offered to join bank as Manager and I was supposed to be youngest Branch manager, but my thirst of education and with mind of directorship with dreams bigger than those offers I decided to continue my work over my profession.

   Australia my personal Choice

   •No doubt I was really appreciated by my colleges even my state and I was offered from many firms and banks to join them but my dreams were bigger than those offers. Australia has always been my best choice as country and my love towards Australia has always with me since I was 15, I had always been really passionate towards Australia so I started research about Australia culture, economy and history and I found Australia one the best and peaceful country. When I expand my research to my profession I found Australia has strongest accountancy system so I decided to step forward and deicide to come Australia last year.

   •From the start of career after school Australia has always been my favourite country due to its well recognition so last year I decided to apply for Australia student visa and I got admission with in days in Masters of accountancy with only verbally confirmation from Kaplan I was one of the youngest students enrolled in age of 18 in Master of Accounting program which I already had done with as mentioned. It took only few days to realise that the master level qualification, which I am studying, i already have completed in my studies, so I step forward and took few online modules and started preparation of Edexcel Pearson IQN (International Qualification network) exams assessment and with 3 months preparation I took Assessment exam on 20 march 2014 in Abbey College Australia, George St, Sydney, NSW 2000. And I passed with 75%, which confirms my registration with IQN, as I was restricted to change my course due to international student in Australia that is why I did not apply directly for Australian accountancy membership but as Australia accountancy bodies has mutual recognition with British bodies so as soon I am done with IQN I am member of AQF.

   •I have most recent honour and which is best cheerful moment for me that On 2 June 2014 recently I have got confirmation from IQN (International qualification network) of my eligibility of my PHD (Business and Finance) under SQA (Scottish qualification framework), AQF and NZQF.

   •Last honour and distinguish achievement which confirmed my mind to go for 858 visa so to start explore myself in practical terms and to devote myself for some big reasons for Australian Community as on 9 June 2014 recently institute of business and finance and IQN announced 150,000 PKR cheque price and few medal, collected by my father which was covered by media named Observer internationally recognised newspaper all over the world.

8. The applicant also gave the following additional detailed answers to those questions in the visa application form under Part L - Distinguished Talent:

   Q76. Give a brief description of the profession, the arts, sport or research and academia in which you are involved.

   As mentioned I am Rana Muhammad Qasim with current age of 19, Accountant with profession.

   My excellence and enthusiasm toward my profession has honoured me to be listed in one of the youngest recognised accountants all over the world. I have achieved many milestones in my just age of 19 salient features of my achievement are as follow,

   •Successfully passed and completed more then 60 units under British examination system in just 2.5 year which itself a world wide record.

   •Honoured to be eligible for youngest PHD (Business and Finance) under IQN (International Qualification network).

   •Awarded postgraduate level qualifications at just age of 19 and one of the biggest honoured to be awarded 8 exemptions in ICAEW (Institute of chartered accountant England and wales) also known as mother of accounting at the age of 18.

   •Awarded 35 months of working internship as honoured same year which was then approved by Association of chartered certified accountant.

   •Awarded several prizes including free scholarships upon worldwide recognition, which is covered by Media and recently on PHD eligibility honoured to be an inspiring student of 2014.

   Q78: Are you still prominent in this field?

   Certainly I and my achievements are the crystal clear evidence of it .Here are some considerable achievements.

   •I am working over approved projects proposal that is Liquidation of companies and till now I have written more then 43 pages and I would complete that project with in 150 pages for presentation. On base of my knowledge over international accounting standards and my research I strongly believe on approval as it can help to save any liquidated company to the maximum extent. My other interest which is Guiney my personal interest that is about offshore banking which can boast any company turnover with in months and if sharply worked over It can save expense 5%- 10% and with less capital investment.

   •I also want to mention that I am also active in a Facebook page with name of CA reloaded which is purely based on accountancy and all students post quires and I and few senior admins of page reply to them with our best knowledge and it is very popular page among accountants and this year 2014 I have been placed for 3 articles to be written for student blog for Asia Accountants under CA reloaded.

   These all my extracurricular prove my passion with prominence in my field. It's because, I don't take my field and work as just a duty but also as a love and passion that's why I always proved my excellence towards my profession.

   Q.79  How would your settlement in Australia be an asset to the Australian community?

   Although economy and accountancy are separate fields but I can guarantee a purely accountant mind which I am struggling with and also have succeed to some distinct extent can change the whole economy of any state.

   My opportunities to explore my skill in job sectors, which has never been issue for me including Accountancy firms, Forex industry (Already have full employment letter) or banks sector.

   But as i always have studied professional qualification since my school and I can state fully confident since my 1 year explorer in Australia Accountancy market what I found I can boom the Australian Accountancy market by implementation of my detailed ideas and plan which would always help Australian community in long term especially young talent of Australia. My plan with in next year is to start my institution by investing my own overseas Assets in Australia and to start a CENTRALISED QUALFICATION just like British council and IQN in which students would not only learn accountancy but they would be taught practical terms which would be directly governed by CPA, IPA or ICAA professional bodies of Australia. This is the only way, which can boom Australian accountancy market when students would start learning practical terms of Accountancy and that would be long term Asset for Australian economy. I want to devote of my coming whole life for some big reasons, including becoming a world best accountant with my own framework to serve the young talent of Australian community.

   Q80.  Provide evidence that you and your family members will not be financially dependent on the Australian community

   As mentioned, since my last 1-year stay in Australia I only worked approx. 6 months as permanent part time and I paid 4326 as Pre-tax to Australian Government. My further plan, which is to bring my overseas investment in Australia to start my own centralised qualification, would help to boom Australian financial stability rather to make me financial dependent to Australia. I have worked really hard to achieve myself at this stage in just age of 19 and now my plan and determination is to live with big causes and to serve Australian economy with my recognised expertise and definitely i firmly believe to work with self-esteem and determination when i started my study here my family assisted me and still they are assisting me either it is financially, or economically they support me all the way in my academic career .I am energetic and hold my financial and academic issues very smartly with the background of my sound and well off family.

9. The applicant also attached a number of documents setting out his educational achievements, honours and relevant supporting documents, Australian employment (RS Intertrade Pty Ltd, since August 2013) and future employment documents, and a business plan.

10. The nominator attached the following documents to support his nomination of the applicant, going to his national reputation, for the purposes of Q.25 of the form:

    • Training/workplace etc, teaching subjects
    • Presented papers at forums
    • Certificate IV training and assessment
    • South Coast trainers and Assessors network, 22 February 2013
    • Kaplan Business School Tutorials, 2010
    • CQU, part time tutor, Faculty of Applied Science- IT Stream, 1995
    • UTS, senior tutor, Network theory, School of Electrical Engineering, 1995
    • UWS, Inferential Statistics, Faculty of Commerce, 1995
    • London Business School, paper on quality management, for conference, 1996
    • UTS IV in Assessment & Workplace training, 2005
    • Advancing Workplace Assessment, Assessors network, Certificate of Attendance, 2008
    • Institution of Engineers, 1989

11. Prior to the hearing the applicant provided the Tribunal with the following new relevant documentary evidence:

    ·A submission in which he addressed the delegate’s decision

    ·IQN, Award, Qualified Internal Auditor, 1 December 2014, letter and transcripts

12. At the hearing, the applicant provided the Tribunal with the following new relevant documentary evidence:

    ·A revised submission

    ·Google searches on his name and ‘youngest accountant’

    ·Pakistan Observer online article on him being youngest accountant, 14 June 2014, Unique Pakistan online article on him being youngest accountant, 9 July 2014, and another written article

    ·Educational information, including national recognition information from the UK, and ACCA education recognition status, ICAEW information, exemption information and emails, Kaplan recognition of prior learning information and application

13. At the hearing, the applicant said that he finished high school in 2010 at age 16, and that he then began his accountancy study. The Tribunal asked him what courses he had completed. He said that he studied a Foundation in Accounting with the British Council in 2010, and then did 14 papers towards ACCA. He said he was unable to get full ACCA membership because he needed 3-4 years of professional experience.

14. Later, he said that he had a Higher Diploma in Accounting through BIMS, and a Higher Diploma in Accountancy through SQA- the Scottish accounting authority.  He also referred to his Level 5 and level 7 Pearson studies.

15. He said he then decided to come to Australia, which he did on 6 July 2013, to study a Masters of Accountancy at Kaplan Business College.

16. As to whether he completed this study, he eventually confirmed that he did not complete it. He referred to the recognition of prior learning he was offered, and eventually said that he stopped studying there in August/ September 2013 because he could not get sufficient exemptions.

17. As to what he is studying now, he said he did his audit studies. He also referred to a PhD, but he is not studying that at present.  He eventually said he is not studying at all at present.

18. As to his employment he said he is working 10-15-20 hours a week at present. The business is in foreign exchange and has 6 branches in Sydney and a few in Brisbane and Melbourne.  Their head office is in George St, and the 3 bosses are there. He is the only accountant there. This has been his only accounting job here in Australia.

19. As to whether he is a member of any Australian accountancy bodies, he said no, just the ACCA.

20. As to his nominator, the Tribunal asked whether he was a qualified and practising accountant. He said that he is a teacher at Kaplan Business College, teaching in the Masters of Accounting. The Tribunal said this did not satisfy it of the above. The documentary evidence suggested that he may have had engineering qualifications.

21. The Tribunal then referred to the issue that it must decide on. It noted that the applicant may be good at accounting studies, given his age, but that he has only recently commenced work experience, and hence has had little practice in the field. 

22. Such a person who may meet this criteria, might, in the Tribunal’s view, be someone who is qualified in the field as well as having had long and significant experience in the field, and may be a director of an accounting body, and would also be recognised by his peers as being exceptional.

23. The Tribunal asked him why he chose this visa pathway, rather than others. He said for a subclass 189 visa he needed to be over 25 to get points, and that there were limited options under the subclass 457 visa program, as there were few jobs available.

24. He thought the subclass 858 visa was the best direction for him to go in, so he could get a visa and then get proper accounting work experience. As to whether he sought migration agent advice before proceeding down this path, he said he relied mainly on on-line information but did discuss this with migration agents who were prepared to take on his case. However, he did not rely on them.

1. The Tribunal then discussed his qualifications. It noted that he was enrolled to do a Masters, and had a subclass 573 visa. This suggested that all of his overseas qualifications would be seen to be equivalent to a degree course here. He suggested it would be the equivalent of a 4 year degree course here in Australia.

   CONSIDERATION OF CLAIMS AND EVIDENCE

2. The issue in the present case is whether the applicant, at the time of visa application, had an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in a profession, being accounting. The relevant law is set out in Attachment A.

3. The Tribunal notes Department policy relating to this provision, which it uses as a guide. The relevant policy is set out in Attachment B.

4. The Tribunal turned first to the applicant’s record in the relevant area: ‘a profession’. The Tribunal notes the decision of Zhang v Minister for Immigration & Anor [2007] FMCA 664, where it was found that a record is an aggregation or a list, not necessarily a large aggregation or a long list. The court was of the view that the applicant in that case clearly had a ‘record’ of some sort and the question was whether it amounted to one which was internationally recognised and of exceptional and outstanding quality.

5. There are a number of indicators of the applicant’s ‘record’ in this case:

   ·His educational achievements and professional membership

   ·Press reports of his achievements

   ·His employment as an accountant

   ·The nominator’s view

6. As to his overseas educational achievements, the Tribunal attempted to place these in relation to the Australian Qualifications Framework. The Tribunal accepts from the applicant’s evidence at hearing that his overseas qualifications in accounting, at the time of visa application, would have been the equivalent of a bachelor degree, or a bachelor honours degree, here in Australia. This finding is supported by the fact that he was enrolled to study at the next level, in a Masters of Accounting, here at Kaplan.

7. However, the Tribunal finds from the applicant’s evidence that he did not complete the Masters degree here, and nor has he completed a Ph.D

8. As to his professional association membership, the applicant’s evidence is that he is not a member of any local Australian accounting body, but has provisional membership of ACCA, which is a world-wide accounting qualification/membership body (see Error! Hyperlink reference not valid. accessed 16 December  2015). His evidence is that he does not have full membership at present because he does not have the required practical experience, and the Tribunal accepts this.

9. As to press reports, the Pakistan Press reports provided support for the applicant’s claim that he became the youngest ever accountant to qualify through the British Council. The Tribunal accepts this claim.

10. The applicant has made much of his young age in obtaining his accounting qualifications, suggesting that this must mean he has an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in the profession of accounting.

11. The Tribunal applauds him for his achievements. However, it is considering his overall educational/professional achievements as a record, rather than considering those achievements in relation to his young age. 

12. As to his employment, the Tribunal accepts the applicant’s evidence that he has been working as the sole part-time accountant for a money exchange business in Sydney since August 2013, and as at the time of visa application he had been there one year. Further, the Tribunal finds that this is his first paid employment in the profession of accounting.

13. As to the nominator, the applicant explained that this person was someone who taught him at Kaplan. In terms of their view of the applicant, the Tribunal was not satisfied that the nominator was someone who has a national reputation as an accountant. Indeed, no evidence was provided to show that this person has any accounting qualifications, or has worked as an accountant here, or has qualification/membership of a professional accountancy body recognised in Australia.

14. Having found that the nominator does not have a national reputation in the same area as his nominee, being the profession of accounting, the Tribunal puts little weight on his views of the applicant in terms of the applicant’s record as an accountant.

15. Given the Tribunal’s findings above in relation to the applicant’s record, it turns to consider whether that record is such that it is satisfied that he had an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in the profession of accounting at the time of visa application.

16. The Tribunal considers that the use of the phrase ‘exceptional and outstanding’ creates a very high bar. The term is not defined in the Act or Regulations, and the Tribunal takes its ordinary or dictionary meaning. The Tribunal considers that the two words are being used as synonyms here, to suggest other synonyms, such as out of the ordinary, or unusual or uncommon, or rare (see Oxford Dictionary:    accessed 16 December 2015). The Tribunal considers that the phrase or individual terms cannot be further ‘defined’ beyond these alternative terms.

17. The Tribunal is not satisfied that the applicant has an internationally recognised record of achievement in the profession of accounting that is exceptional and outstanding. The documentary evidence before it does not support such a finding. 

18. Whilst he has formal qualifications in accounting, he has had very little experience in the accounting profession. As the Tribunal stated to the applicant at the hearing, it would expect someone fulfilling this criteria to have had, amongst other things, many years working as a professional accountant. Further, he is not a full member of any recognised accounting body (here the ACCA) as one might expect.

19. Whilst there is an element of international recognition of his achievement, this is in relation to his obtaining his qualifications only, and is of interest because of his young age. However, there is no evidence before the Tribunal from, say, internationally renowned accountants, or international accountancy bodies, attesting that he has an internationally recognised record of achievement in the profession of accounting that is exceptional and outstanding. 

20. Indeed, there is not even appropriate attestation from nationally renowned accountants, or national accounting bodies, given the Tribunal’s finding in relation to the nominator, who it found does not have a national reputation in the profession of accounting in Australia.

21. Thus the Tribunal concludes that the applicant did not have, at the time of visa application, an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in an area, being the profession of accounting, in terms of cl.857.212(2)(a)(i).

22. The Tribunal also considered the applicant’s record under the area listed at cl.857.212(2)(a)(iv): academia and research. However, the Tribunal would expect someone meeting this requirement to have, amongst other things, a higher degree, such as a Masters  degree, or more likely a Ph.D, and many years of employment as an academic or researcher, which, from his evidence, the applicant does not have.

23. There is no suggestion that the applicant meets any of the other areas under cl.857.212(2)(a). Hence he does not meet cl.857.212(2) as a whole. Further, there is no suggestion that the requirements of cl.857.212(4) have been satisfied.

24. Thus cl.858.212 is not satisfied as a whole. This means that the decision under review must be affirmed.

    DECISION

25. The Tribunal affirms the decision of the Department to not grant the visa applicant a Distinguished Talent (Residence) (Class BX) Subclass 858 visa.

    David Dobell
    Member

    ATTACHMENT A

    cl.858.212

    (1)      The applicant meets the requirements of subclause (2) or (4).

    (2)      The applicant:

    (a)      has an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in one of the following areas:

    (i)      a profession;
    (ii)      a sport;
    (iii)      the arts;
    (iv)      academia and research; and

    (b)      is still prominent in the area; and

    (c)      would be an asset to the Australian community; and

    (d)      would have no difficulty in obtaining employment, or in becoming established independently, in Australia in the area; and

    (e)      produces a completed approved form 1000; and

    Note      An approved form 1000 requires the applicant’s record of achievement in an area (as mentioned in paragraph (a)) to be attested to by:

    (a)      an Australian citizen; or
    (b)      an Australian permanent resident; or
    (c)      an eligible New Zealand citizen; or
    (d)      an Australian organisation;

    who has a national reputation in relation to the area.

    (f)      if the applicant has not turned 18, or is at least 55 years old, at the time of application — would be of exceptional benefit to the Australian community.

    [(3) omitted by SR 2003, 239 with effect from 01/11/2003 - LEGEND note]

    (4)      The applicant meets the requirements of this subclause if, in the opinion of the Minister, acting on the advice of:

    (a)      the Minister responsible for an intelligence or security agency within the meaning of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979; or

    (b)      the Director-General of Security;

    the applicant has provided specialised assistance to the Australian Government in matters of security.

    ATTACHMENT  B

    Department Policy

    ELIGIBILITY - INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNISED ACHIEVEMENT

    6    Eligibility - International achievement
    6.1    Requirements

    This eligibility stream (858.212(2)), covers persons with an internationally recognised record of exceptional and outstanding achievement in a profession, a sport, the arts or academia and research.

    6.2    What is exceptional

    For 858.212(2)(a), applicants should be very eminent in the top echelons of their field. They should demonstrate extraordinary and remarkable abilities and be superior to others in their field.

    ‘Internationally recognised’ in this context means that a person’s achievements have or would be acclaimed as exceptional and outstanding in any country where the relevant field is practiced.

    ‘Exceptional’ and ‘outstanding’ should be accorded ordinary dictionary meaning within context.

    6.3    Policy requirements

    Claims of an “excellent” level of performance in a job, particularly where the benefits of such performance may only be realised locally, would not be regarded as exceptional and outstanding achievement.

    A single achievement by the applicant, particularly where it appears to be the only significant achievement, would not be regarded as ‘exceptional and outstanding’ achievement. It is anticipated that an applicant would have a record of sustained achievement that is unlikely to diminish in the future.

    An achievement that may attract national acclaim would not be considered as ‘international recognised’ unless that achievement is in a field practised in other countries (including Australia) and has or would attract similar acclaim in those countries.

    Given the ordinary dictionary meanings, in order to have a ‘record of exceptional and outstanding achievement’ an applicant would be expected to have achievements remarkable in relation to that field and in relation to other participants in that field. An applicant should be at the very top of their field.

    6.4    Assessing this criterion

    In assessing the applicant’s record of achievement, officers may take into account information such as, but not necessarily limited to:

    •    information provided by the nominator, who should provide a full account of why they believe the applicant has an exceptional and outstanding record of achievement

    •    supporting statement and material provided by the applicant detailing relevant aspects of their background including their qualifications, achievements and positions held. This should include information relating to any achievements in Australia

    •    awards or higher qualifications received from internationally recognised institutions or organisations

    •    details and supporting material on sporting achievements including national and international rankings, results in competitions or tournaments, statements from international sporting bodies, sporting scholarships received and newspaper and magazine articles attesting to achievements

    •    details and supporting material on achievements in the arts including books published, national and internationals sales achieved, awards and commissions received, galleries in which works are displayed, scale and audience of displays held, recognition by peers, statements from international artistic bodies and newspaper and magazine articles attesting to achievements

    •     details and supporting material on academic and research achievements including reports commissioned, books published, articles appearing in professional journals, magazines and newspapers, awards received, recognition by peers and statements of achievement from government, professional, scientific or other relevant bodies.

    The internet is an important source of additional material and a method of confirming the accuracy of any claims made. Any adverse or conflicting information obtained from this source should be put to the applicant for comment.

    6.5    International recognition required

    Achievement in a profession, a sport, the arts or academia and research that has not or would not be recognised at an international level would not be regarded as exceptional and outstanding.

    It is expected that an applicant’s achievements have or would be acclaimed as exceptional and outstanding in any country where the relevant field is practised. The field would also need to have recognition and acceptance in Australia as well as international standing. In determining the international standing of the applicant, officers should consider:

    •    the international standing of the country, where the applicant’s achievements were realised, in respect of the particular field

    •    the standing of the achievement in relation to Australian standards and

    •    the standing of the achievement in relation to international standards.

    For example, an applicant rated at or near the top of their field in their home country would be expected to have an international record of exceptional and outstanding achievement if the:

    •    field is undertaken and recognised in a number of countries including Australia and

    •    achievement would be similarly recognised in relation to international and Australian standards for that field.