Why English language proficiency testing for migration agents is ineffective

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Created on Tuesday, 08 May 2012 17:42

Written by Editorial staff

Migration Alliance has a long and vocal history of objecting to the introduction of mandatory English proficiency testing for the migration agents that it represents.

From January 1 2014, the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) will require all practitioners who are not Australian citizens to hold an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 7 or higher.

Some industry experts have estimated that this will have a detrimental effect on the industry, potentially halving the number of registered migration agents available to service the needs of both commercial clients and residential applicants.

According to research by registered migration agent Michael Suss, the figures presented by the OMARA are inaccurate and potentially misleading, as they are based on two surveys which he said were "seriously flawed".

Mr Suss explained that the authority has accepted the findings that as many as 762 agents will be affected by the changes upon re-registration - but he says he can show this is not the case.

"According to my heavily researched figures, about 3,000 migration agents will be affected by the new English language proficiency requirements, and 2,000 will have no hope of passing," asserted Mr Suss.

The La Trobe University consultant went on to explain that the estimated number of agents facing mandatory deregistration were "extremely conservative" as OMARA will not be in the position to exercise its discretion.

He stated: "The English language proficiency tests are based on British or American English and you have a robust Australian accent, you may well have difficulty with the tests.

"Even living in Australia for 30 years or more will not exempt one from completing an English language test."

The general feeling from a large number of respected professionals is that the requirements placed on registered agents are arbitrary, inflexible and heavily biased along racial and cultural backgrounds.

Migration Alliance is committed to ensuring the fair treatment of all its members and the delivery of quality services to both public and private clients.

Restricting the number of agents who are able to legally provide their services hurts not just this industry, but the country as a whole as fewer migrants are able to access the services they need to ensure the provision of valuable visa services.

For these reasons Migration Alliance urges all registered agents to contact the shadow minister for immigration Scott Morrison to have their voices heard.