ABOUT THE OFFICE OF THE MARA

 

The Office of the MARA contributes to the well-managed movement and settlement of people through its regulation of migration agents under Part 3 of the Migration Act 1958 (the Migration Act).

It was established on 1 July 2009 as a result of the 2007–08 Review of Statutory Self-Regulation of the Migration Advice Profession. Since this date it has continued to operate as a discrete office attached to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.

The objectives of the Office of the MARA are to ensure that:

  • consumers understand their rights and agents understand their obligations under the regulatory framework
  • only suitable persons are registered as migration agents and unsuitable persons are refused registration or re-registration
  • registered agents maintain appropriate knowledge to enable them to provide accurate advice to consumers
  • all complaints about the services of registered or formerly registered migration agents are appropriately addressed
  • issues associated with previous regulatory arrangements are addressed.

On 30 June 2011, there were 4465 registered migration agents who provided immigration assistance (as defined in section 276 of the Migration Act) to visa applicants, nominators, sponsors, review applicants and/or applicants for ministerial intervention. This compares with 4482 on 30 June 2010, a nominal decrease of 0.4 per cent in 12 months.

 

Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chief Executive Officer
Chief Executive Officer, Ms Christine Sykes and
Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Mr Stephen Wood