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REFORM:
OUTCOMES OF THE REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS
Increasing knowledge requirements
A number of recommendations were made to increase the knowledge level of people entering the profession, including a higher level of qualification for entry to the profession and introducing supervised practice. Options to take these recommendations forward have been considered by the Office of the MARA in consultation with the advisory board.
In May 2010 a project was commenced to review entry level requirements and the prescribed course framework for entry into the migration advice profession. A set of competency standards was proposed which describes functional skills, attributes and knowledge which prospective agents need to demonstrate before being registered. The Office of the MARA and key stakeholders will work in consultation to finalise the set of competency standards and these will underpin curriculum development for the prescribed course. They will also be integrated into CPD activities.
Supervised practice
Another recommendation for improving the knowledge of registered migration agents was to introduce supervised practice for new migration agents. The Office of the MARA has explored options for implementing a form of supervised practice within the current legislative framework.
Alternative strategies, which take into account the resource intensive nature of supervised practice, as well as limitations on the availability of supervision, are being developed.
One strategy is for small group coaching which could operate as a pilot scheme. The Office of the MARA will work closely with providers to develop more training programs which achieve ‘practice-ready’ outcomes.
Client monies
The review recommended more stringent controls over client monies by requiring that registered migration agents hold funds in trust accounts that are managed according to trust accounting standards. Due to complexities in implementing this recommendation for non-lawyer agents, advice has been sought from the Institute of Chartered Accountants and other options are being explored.
In the meantime, agents who have client accounts are required to submit a sample of transactions for auditing at the time they apply for re-registration. Any anomalies are then followed up with the agent before the application for re-registration is finalised.
