OPERATIONAL REPORTS

Professional Development

2010–2011 in brief

  • There were 51 providers with 471 approved activities5 as at 30 June 2011.
  • 264 new activities were approved.
  • 47 per cent of agents claimed more than the minimum continuing professional development points required.
  • 39 continuing professional development activities were evaluated.

5 As part of transition arrangements to comply with more specific activity definitions under the new framework, the following adjustments were made to the database: 96 journal approvals were removed and replaced with one generic journal activity; 34 activities were added under the category ‘distance learning with facilitator’ (these activities are distance learning versions of previously approved seminars); and 14 ‘preparation and presentation’ activities were replaced with 11 ‘development and presentation’ activities.

Performance standards

Performance standards

The service standards for processing continuing professional development (CPD) activity applications are to:

  • acknowledge receipt of CPD applications within two business days
  • process complete CPD applications within six weeks
  • publish approved CPD activity applications in the next available Office of the MARA Notice.

The section’s target key performance indicator in 2010–11 was to achieve 97 per cent of the service standards.

Performance against standards

Performance against standards

The section met 100 per cent of all service standards throughout the year.

Continuing professional development requirements

Continuing professional development requirements

Continuing professional development (CPD) ensures that the level of professionalism and knowledge of registered migration agents is improved and enhanced on an ongoing basis. Migration legislation is complex and dynamic, and therefore all registered migration agents are required to complete CPD as part of re-registration requirements. Agents have to complete 10 CPD points by undertaking activities approved by the Office of the MARA in the 12 months before they apply for re-registration.

Of the 10 CPD points, at least six must be core activities. Core activities relate to migration law or policy and procedure. In their first year of registration, agents need to complete four mandatory activities—accounts management, business management, file management, and ethics and professional practice. In subsequent years, agents have to complete only one mandatory activity each year.

Agents may also complete elective activities. These relate to a topic of a legal or business nature that is relevant to a registered migration agent’s practice. Most lawyers who hold a current legal practising certificate and accountants can earn four elective CPD points by undertaking development activities within these professions. Agents who provide immigration assistance without charge for an approved voluntary organisation can be awarded four elective points for 12 hours’ work. Accredited specialists in immigration law are not required to undertake any further CPD as recognition is given to CPD they complete to maintain their accreditation.

Enhancements to the CPD framework

Enhancements to the CPD framework

Following a review of the CPD scheme and consultation with key stakeholders, several changes to the existing CPD framework were introduced in February 2011. To increase the learning experience for registered migration agents and to provide greater choice and variety, the changes included:

  • limiting the class size at seminars to 45
  • introducing interactive workshops designed for intensive learning, with participant numbers limited to 25
  • distinguishing conferences as a separate activity type aimed at larger groups and suitable for information sharing and networking
  • introducing mentoring activities to encourage learning and guidance through a structured support relationship with an experienced agent
  • introducing a new category called distance learning that incorporates both private study online and real-time learning online with a facilitator in another location.

To encourage agents to plan their CPD so that it is undertaken regularly throughout the year, a new CPD planning tool has been developed and is available on the Office of the MARA’s website. Agents can use the CPD planner to analyse their development needs and preferred learning styles and to choose suitable CPD activities that best meet their needs.

Continuing professional development activities

Continuing professional development activities

In 2010–11, the most popular type of activity undertaken was seminars. These activities are completed face to face and attract one CPD point for each 1.5 hours of training. They comprised 77 per cent of all activities completed.

This was followed by distance learning activities, comprising 10.9 per cent of all activities completed. Agents can undertake private study with an integrated assessment task, or an additional assessment following attendance at a seminar. The category of distance learning with a facilitator was used for the first time this year to indicate training being undertaken online with a facilitator present in another location. Providers and agents have embraced this new technology and 47 new activities have been approved and delivered to more than 140 agents. This type of activity is of great benefit to agents in remote locations or based overseas.

Other new CPD categories introduced this year were conferences and workshops. Activity numbers in these categories are growing as providers develop new programs and offer greater variety and choice for agents.

Workshops are designed for face-to-face learning and have interactive content. They enable intensive learning and detailed discussion on subject matter that is challenging for participants. Agents can earn more CPD points by attending workshops that encourage learning through individual assessment.

During 2010–11, CPD activities were delivered by 27 of the 51 providers. Table 10 provides a summary of CPD activities approved and points reported in 2010–11.

Table 10: Continuing professional development activities, 2010–11

 

Number of approved activities as at
30 June 2011

Number
of points reported

Percentage
of points
reported

Program of education

21

135

0.3

Distance learning

    without a facilitator (private study)

76

4 411

9.5

    without a facilitator (additional assessment)

13

236

0.5

    with a facilitator

47

425

0.9

Seminars

253

35 712

77.0

Conferences

11

981

2.1

Workshops

3

969

2.1

Pro bono work

28

139

0.3

Miscellaneous activities, including those completed with other professions (legal and accounting)

19

3 397

7.3

Total

471

46 405

100.00
 

Website enhancements

Website enhancements

As part of the changes to the CPD framework, the Office of the MARA’s website was enhanced to provide greater functionality for agents. A new and prominent button within the agent log-in section was introduced to enable agents to search for forthcoming CPD activities. Search categories have been expanded so that agents can search for different types of activities, such as conferences, workshops or distance learning with a facilitator.

Workshops for experienced agents

Workshops for experienced agents

Photo of people in a workshop

One of the reasons for the introduction of the new CPD framework was to better meet the needs of experienced agents. Workshops provide an effective way to do this. Since the framework was changed, a new workshop for experienced agents was approved. Subject matter is covered in an advanced way, enabling high-level discussion of complex, topical issues. A compulsory assessment task ensures that the learning is reinforced and CPD points are earned in less time.

This is what some of the agents who attended the workshop had to say:

‘The course content was broad, and from my perspective, this is one of its strengths. I strongly support CPD activities that are designed for more experienced agents, as they generally attract smaller groups and, it would appear, immigration lawyers and migration agents who are interested in the learning experience, and not just their 10 points. While there are many other more cost-effective options for CPD, the higher cost of this provider’s CPD is well and truly justified, given the amount of time, effort and thought that clearly goes into the preparation and delivery of their course.’

‘The format of the workshop compelled attendees to read and comprehend the papers, as our knowledge was tested at the end of the session, which certainly did focus my attention and learning. I learned many new things of important significance and am able to apply the knowledge I attained to some of my current matters, which provides added value. The prospective changes summarised also made me aware of forthcoming definite and potential changes to migration law.’

From an experienced agent who has been in the profession for over 10 years:

‘This format is the best format I have experienced and is the best way to learn and stay in touch with the endless new developments in migration law. I found the level of debate was at a higher level and more focused with ample opportunity to discuss issues.’

Ethics toolkit

Work commenced on the design and development of an ethics toolkit containing an ethical framework and methodology to underpin decision making by registered migration agents.

This framework provides a model for:

  • identifying and solving ethical problems that arise in everyday work
  • ethical decision making
  • distinguishing between rules-based and values-based approaches to decision making in the workplace
  • understanding what constitutes a quality decision in the context of the migration agents Code of Conduct
  • understanding the effect of good and poor decisions on clients
  • distinguishing between personal values and beliefs and the requirements of the migration agents Code of Conduct
  • acknowledging and supporting cultural, environmental and linguistic diversity
  • appreciating the complexity of ethical issues by using a series of short and long scenarios.

As part of the design and development process, key stakeholders were consulted and given the opportunity to comment. The draft ethics toolkit was released for public comment on 24 June 2011. A set of resources to accompany the toolkit is also being developed for training providers.