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OPERATIONAL REPORTS
Professional Development
2009–2010 in brief
- 47 providers with 626 approved CPD activities as at 30 June 2010.
- 68 CPD evaluations were completed by the Office of the MARA, to ensure that the CPD activities improve the professionalism and knowledge of registered migration agents.
- 45 per cent of registered migration agents claimed more than the minimum CPD points required.
Performance standards for professional development
- Finalise and decide on complete CPD activity applications within six weeks.
- Publish approved CPD activity applications in the next available Office of the MARA Notice.
Performance against standards
The section processed and published all CPD activity applications within service standards.
Continuing professional development requirements
Registered migration agents must complete CPD activities each year as part of re-registration requirements. CPD assists registered migration agents to upgrade their skills and knowledge, as well as to keep up to date with migration legislation changes.
For re-registration, agents have to complete 10 points of CPD, which in most cases is equivalent to 15 hours of training. Of the 10 points, at least six need to be core activities. Core activities relate to migration law or policy and procedure. There are also mandatory core activities which must be completed each year.
Agents in their first year after registration must complete all four mandatory subjects – Business Management, Accounts Management, File Management and Ethics and Professional Practice. Thereafter registered migration agents have to undertake only one mandatory CPD activity per year.
Practising lawyers or accountants are able to claim four elective points from professional development undertaken within their own profession. Elective activities relate to topics of a legal or business nature relevant to a migration agent’s practice. They are exempt from the mandatory requirements.
Continuing professional development activities
The Office of the MARA approves CPD activities. The Office of the MARA also assesses the learning outcomes and content for each activity, checking that they will improve the professionalism and knowledge of registered migration agents.
By far the most popular form of CPD activities were seminars, conferences, workshops and lectures, comprising 76.5 per cent of the total points claimed during 2009–10. This was followed by private study of audio, video or written material (10.3 per cent).
During 2009–10, CPD activities were offered by 21 of the 47 providers. Six of these CPD providers delivered 75 per cent of the activities. Two new organisations started delivering activities in this period.
Measures were put in place to strengthen the standard of CPD activities, including robust evaluation to make sure training is of a requisite standard. More rigour has been introduced into private study activities by increasing assessment requirements, with additional questions and a higher pass mark.
To ensure that appropriate quality assurance controls are in place, the Office of the MARA commenced a program of visits to CPD providers. A total of 20 provider visits were undertaken to 18 providers.
In addition, Office of the MARA staff have attended CPD activities to evaluate the quality of the material and presentation and also the level of interaction and involvement with attending agents. Staff evaluated 55 seminars and 13 private study activities in 2009–10. The quality of seminars varied among providers but was generally satisfactory. Following each evaluation, detailed feedback was offered to CPD providers and, where relevant, improvements were suggested.
Pro bono work
Registered migration agents can earn up to four elective CPD points during the year by providing pro bono advice (no fee charged) through an authorised voluntary organisation. Three hours of voluntary service are worth one CPD point.
Continuing professional development activities
Type of activity |
Number of |
Number |
Percentage |
Seminar, workshop, conference or lecture |
368 |
34 197 |
76.5% |
Private study |
77 |
4 623 |
10.3% |
Miscellaneous activities* |
28 |
4 427 |
9.9% |
Preparation or presentation of material |
14 |
1 277 |
2.9% |
Pro bono |
26 |
140 |
0.3% |
Program of education |
17 |
60 |
0.1% |
Authorship and publication of articles |
96 |
0 |
0.0% |
Total |
626 |
44 724 |
100.0% |