Notice of approved activities (continuing professional development) under section 290A of the Migration Act 1958 and clause 3 of Schedule 1 of the Migration Agents Regulations 1998 Omara 11/001 (Cth)

Australian Government

Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority

Migration Act 1958

Migration Agents Regulations 1998

Notice of approved activities (continuing professional development) under section 290A of the Migration Act 1958 and clause 3 of Schedule 1 of the Migration Agents Regulations 1998

I, Christine Sykes, Chief Executive Officer of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority, acting under clause 3 of Schedule 1 to the Migration Agents Regulations 1998 (“the Regulations”) hereby:

1. REVOKE ALL previous notices made under clause 3 of schedule 1 of the Regulations; AND

1. SPECIFY that, for the purposes of clause 3 to Schedule 1 of the Regulations, the activities that appear in Schedule 1 of this Notice are approved activities.

This Instrument, number OMARA 11/001, commences on 15 July 2011.

Dated:   8 July 2011

Christine Sykes

Chief Executive Officer

Position Number:  00003347

[Note 1: Subsection 6(1) of the Regulations provides that for section 290A of the Migration Act 1958, the requirements for continuing professional development of registered migration agents are set out in schedule 1.]

[Note 2: Section 290A of the Migration Act 1958 provides that if the applicant has been registered at some time in the 12 months before making the application, he or she must not be registered if the Migration Agents registration Authority is satisfied that the applicant has not met, within the prescribed periods, the requirements prescribed by the regulations for continuing professional development of registered migration agents.] Subclause (3)(1) of Schedule 1 to the Regulations provides that the Authority may specify approved activities by notice published on its web site.]

SCHEDULE 1

Column 1

Column 2

CLASS

ACTIVITY ITEM NUMBER RANGE

Program of Education
These activities require a minimum of 26 hours of tuition in Australian migration law and successful completion of an assessment.  They are conducted by a Registered Training Organisation, higher education provider or Australian University

10000 – 19999

Distance Learning without a facilitator (Private Study)

Private study activities include reading prepared written materials or structured e-learning (without a facilitator) such as completing a short course online.  The participant undertaking the private study is working alone. Private study activities must include the successful completion of an assessment.

20000 – 23999

Distance Learning without a facilitator (Additional Assessment)
Additional assessments are optional activities that are completed by a participant working individually after having undertaken the associated approved face-to-face seminar or workshop.

24000 – 24999

Distance Learning with a facilitator
Distance learning with a facilitator includes web-based seminars, live streaming, video-conferencing and any form of online learning where participants are learning with a facilitator, moderator or presenter who is in a different physical location. The maximum number of participants per session is 45.

25000 – 29999

Seminar
Seminars are designed as face to face activities and participants must be physically present with the facilitator.  They must include a presentation blended with discussion and the exchange of ideas between participants. The maximum number of participants per session is 45.

30000 – 39999

Conference
Conferences are face to face activities where participants are physically present in the same location.  They are designed for networking opportunities, sharing information on topics relating to Australian migration law and practice and offer a range of speakers.  There is no limit to the number of participants.

40000 – 49999

Workshop
Workshops are designed as face to face activities for intensive learning of specific subject matter in an interactive way.  They must provide interactive content and enable intensive and detailed discussion on the subject matter that is challenging for participants.  The maximum number of participants per session is 25.

50000 – 59999

Miscellaneous

These include:

·     Continuing legal education for legal practitioners

·     Continuing professional education for accountants

·     Immigration law specialist accreditation

·     Authorship and publication of an article or book

·     Completion of an approved mentoring agreement

·     Development or presentation of an approved activity

60000 – 69999

Pro Bono
These activities recognise the provision of immigration assistance without charge under the direction of an approved voluntary organisation.

70000 – 79999

Detail:

The details of the specific activities within each class are published by notice on the website of the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority.