Agents Open The Doors For Migrants
The Age
Saturday June 25, 2005
Helping someone gain a visa to enter or stay in Australia can be a path to a very satisfying career. By Trevor Robbins.
REGISTERED migration agent Shannon Wood gets a satisfying buzz from a good outcome when she helps clients wanting to migrate to Australia or remain permanently in the country."The process can go on for a few months or, in the case of those seeking refugee status, some years. You become very engaged with a client," she says. She finds the work very interesting and satisfying, and says no two cases are the same.Ms Wood gained her qualification last year after enrolling in an intensive, six-day Australian immigration course run by Victoria University's law school, and then sitting an examination conducted by the Australian Council for Education Research. The faculty also runs a graduate certificate program.An arts graduate, Ms Wood is one of 10 registered migration agents working in the immigration law group team at Melbourne law firm FCH Legal, contracted by Victoria University a decade ago to run the course. She is one of about 3000 migration agents in Australia accredited by the Migration Agents Registration Authority, charged with regulating the conduct and compliance of registered migration agents.The authority aims to ensure that migration agents have an understanding of Australia's immigration system, a broad perspective of migration, high level of interpersonal and communication skills, and a commitment to professional development.Ms Wood handles visa applications and reviews cases destined for appeal tribunals. She is also involved in cases where students wish to extend visas or seek permanent residence in Australia.Migration agents are able to advise on the most appropriate visa for a client, the documentation needed, and can help fill out and submit visa applications. A registered agent also can advise people on primary immigration and provide assistance in tribunal review applications, but cannot practise in the courts. Victoria University's faculty of business and law says many students who completed courses and passed the exam have started up their own businesses or are now working in the field. Lawyers also sign up for the course because migration law is a subject not traditionally offered at undergraduate law schools. Some universities, however, are starting to offer it as an elective subject.Ms Wood's colleague at FCH Legal, Murray Gerkens, says qualified lawyers do not necessarily know much about migration law. "They do the agents course to upgrade their knowledge more than to pass the examination. Everyone must do the course and pass the examination to be registered as a migration agent," he says.The course attracts organisations wanting to broaden their range of client services, as well as people working in student recruitment, former immigration department employees and companies with overseas branches. "Not everyone does the course to become a migration agent but to use the knowledge in their jobs," he says.Mr Gerkens says it is essential to become a registered migration agent in order to practise. "The Migration Act provides for very draconian sanctions if a person who is not registered gives advice and a fee is charged."The aim of the course is to prepare candidates for the Migration Advice Profession Knowledge Entry examinations. Subjects include introduction to Australian legal principles, code of conduct, migration legislation, general and skilled migration, visa categories, special eligibility, and the appeals process. By the end of the course, students will have an understanding of the law, policy and contemporary issues applying to Australian immigration, as well as a basic working knowledge of legislation and policy. Students will also gain an awareness of the ethics and responsibilities of being a migration agent.Migration agents are used for advice including skilled employment, business, education, tourism and refugee status. To be a viable migration agent calls for sound business and networking skills.Some agents concentrate on specific fields such as business or student visas, or align themselves with an accountant with a migration division, a law firm or a travel or education agency. A client generally pays a migration agent for services on an hourly or flat-fee basis, which, according to the migration authority, must be a reasonable amount.In its latest budget, the Federal Government announced that skilled migration intakes would be increased by 20,000 places in 2005-06 to 97,000. Skilled labour migration is high on the Tasmanian Government's agenda, according to its joint standing committee on migration. The committee says migration brings in people with experience and skills that enhance the Australian workforce and creates a culturally diverse community.Registered agents are required to take part in professional development activities offered by migration authority-approved providers. They then earn points for repeat registration by attending seminars or conferences, doing voluntary work or using self study.Victoria University offers professional development programs, including online self-study modules and personal participation at seminars or education programs. The next Melbourne courses run from September 21-27.For course inquires, phone Cathie Gutierrez, 9602 5207.
© 2005 The Age