Australian Immigration Daily News

The following email has been received by Migration Alliance:

Today the Administrative Appeals Tribunal merged with the Migration Review Tribunal (MRT), Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) and Social Security Appeals Tribunal (SSAT).

Decisions that could be reviewed in the former MRT-RRT are now reviewed in the AAT’s Migration & Refugee Division. Decisions that could be reviewed in the former SSAT are now reviewed in the AAT’s Social Services & Child Support Division. The AAT’s other jurisdictions are dealt with in one of the AAT’s six other Divisions which are the General Division, Freedom of Information Division, National Disability Insurance Scheme Division, Security Division, Taxation & Commercial Division and Veterans’ Appeals Division.

The Governor-General has made the following appointments to the tribunals with effect from 30 June:            

            David Barker               

            Ian Garnham               

            Karen Synon

            Nicole Burns               

            Geraldine Hoeben (FT)               

            Kate Timbs (FT)

            Christine Cody               

            Linda Holub               

            Susan Trotter

            Timothy Connellan               

            Penelope Hunter               

            Rachel Westaway

            Denise Connolly (FT)               

            Christine Kannis               

            Robert Wilson (FT)

            Michael Cooke (FT)*               

            Fiona Meagher               

            Paul Windsor (FT)

            Brendan Darcy (FT)               

            Paul Millar               

            Tigiilagi Eteuati (FT)               

            Amanda Paxton (FT)               

            Nicola Findson               

            Roslyn Smidt               

            Tania Flood               

            Alexandra Strang (FT)            

* Michael Cooke moves from part-time to full-time. In addition Rachel Homan has moved from part-time to part-time for the balance of her current term.
    
All appointments are for 5 years.

Migration Alliance wishes Brendan all the best.

Migration Alliance is in receipt of the following email from Kay Ransome:

Dear Community Liaison Network

As you are aware, tomorrow the Migration Review Tribunal (MRT) and the Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT) will become the Migration and Refugee Division of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT). As a result of these changes, today will be my last day as the Principal Member of the MRT-RRT.

At Bupa we understand that the end of financial year can be a stressful time for Migration Agents.  Everyone reacts to stress differently however, there are things you can do to help you cope with stress, and lower your risk of developing stress-related health problems. Here are 5 quick tips on how to manage stress and maintain wellbeing during this busy time of year.

1) Maintain balance
It’s important not to let stress and anxiety consume you.  Balance between activities and not over-committing to work related activities provides an opportunity for relaxation and ‘down time’.   

Educational Testing Service (ETS), creator of the TOEFL iBT® test, welcomes the revised English-language registration standards announced by the Australian Health Practitioner Registration Agency (AHPRA).

From 1 July 2015, regulated health practitioners in Australia will be able to use their TOEFL® test scores to demonstrate English-language proficiency required for initial registration.

The professions covered by AHPRA under the revised English language requirements are: