Australian Immigration Daily News

I can also see that the OMARA have not created a survey which prevents the following types of 'survey offenders' from participating:

1. “The Daydreamer” - this respondent does not read the questions or stay focused enough to understand what is being asked.  Known Accomplices: “The Woolgatherer,” “The Aloof,” “Mr. or Ms. Elsewhere”

2. “The Imposter” - this respondent provides false data to a) bias survey results or b) fraud data to qualify for a survey with an incentive being offered.  Known Accomplices: “The Survey Swindler,” “The Con,” “The Pretender”

3. “The Speeder” - this respondent races through the survey in record time, click after click after click, leaving a trail of data integrity destruction in his/her path.  Known Accomplices: “The Express,” “The Research Runner,” “The Straightliner”

Given that this is a government body conducting a survey of RMAs regarding an approved CPD provider I would consider it best that you pull these surveys and start again.  I have had a good lok at the survey and cannot see that the OMARA have done due diligence on any of the following before conducting these surveys:

• 1: Find a trustworthy sample house.  A lot of the imposters can be eliminated through filtering of sample.
• 2: Add a hidden variable for TTC (time to complete) the survey.  Set a parameter during the data collection process.  Plan to remove the first 2% or 5% of outliers who completed the survey in the least amount of time.  Or you can review the TTC variable manually; if the tested survey takes 12 minutes to complete and you have respondents who completed it in under 5, you have identified your speeders.
• 3: Take a demographic question you asked in the beginning of the survey and repeat it at the end (age, zip code, number of people in household).  If the answers do not match, you’ve singled out the 3 offenders.
• 4: Work in a trap or verification question – ask the respondent to select #4 below or type ABC in the box below.   Another option is to list a product/service/company that does not exist and place it in the grid with others.   If they do not select or answer correctly or rate something that doesn’t exist, disqualify them from the survey.  Some companies use opposite wording or double negatives for this.  I argue against it as it confuses respondents and often frustrates them to a point of dropping out.

I would argue that any data OMARA has received to date on any of the CPD providers is flawed and cannot be relied upon.  The survey access is not limited to RMAs and can be done without a MARN.  The links have also been sent to persons who have not completed the CPD including two persons in my office. 

For these reasons I would like to request that you stop requesting that agents who are completing LTA's CPDs complete the online survey until OMARA has a valid survey with restricted access for agents who have actually completed the CPD in question.  

Finally I note that the emails being sent out to agents are not from a particular officer within the OMARA and there is no position number identified either.  It is a requirement that all DIBP officers properly identify themselves.  Could you please also fix the communication from your office as agents have a right to know who communication is coming from. 

Thank you.

Liana Allan

LTA

COPY OF THE OMARA EMAIL BEING SENT OUT TO AGENTS COMPLETING CPD:

From: Helen Fisher [mailto:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ]

Dear Registered Migration Agent,

I am writing to you because you have been reported by the Legal Training Australia as having undertaken their distance learning (private study) CPD activities between January and March 2014.

The Authority undertakes regular CPD reviews to ensure that the provision of CPD activities for registered migration agents remains relevant and of a high standard.  One of the ways we do this is to ask agents about their experience with specific CPD activities.  Accordingly, we invite you to provide us with your feedback about the abovementioned activities through a short survey.

Please be assured that all information will be treated with the strictest of confidence. Prior permission will be sought in the instance where use of any of this information might breach anonymity.

If you wish to participate in this survey, please click on the following link:  CPD Participant Feedback – Distance Learning.

Note:  Please disregard or select “Not Applicable” for those activities listed in the feedback form that you did not undertake.

We will be seeking feedback on these CPD activities until close of business on Friday, 9 May 2014.

Yours sincerely,

Professional Development| Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority

Level 10, 111 Elizabeth Street, Sydney NSW 2000 | M PO Box Q1551, QVB NSW 1230

P 1300 226 272 | F +612 9078 3591 |

E This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. | W  www.mara.gov.au