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First year RMAs face risk of deregistration
The Migration Alliance recently received a complaint from a first-year RMA facing the dilemma of losing registration because of the inability to meet the PRP-CPD requirement due to the lack of alternative providers.
First year RMAs are required to attend a Practice Ready Program (PRP) in their first year of registration in order for them to renew their registration. However, the OMARA has only approved 2 providers, MIA and Fragomen. Strangely, Fragomen offers the PRP in-house only thus leaving MIA with a monopoly. For some reason the MIA seems unable to keep up with the demand for the course suggesting perhaps that it is oblivious to the growth of the industry or incapable of supporting the growth. This is certainly another issue for current review of the OMARA to consider.
In a desperate plea for an additional grace period, the RMA has written to the OMARA stating:
“I have been trying for a while now to book for a PRP course which is a prerequisite for the first year registrants to renew their registration. Unfortunately, I was told that there is only one PRP provider in Sydney, which is MIA. All MIA PRP courses have been booked out for a while. They said that they can only have a limited number of students, and so they are not able to offer me a place before next year. My MARA registration is due for renewal [in early] 2015… If I am not able to complete this PRP on time for my registration renewal, may I request to kindly grant me reprieve until the first PRP course is available in the new year”
The OMARA website warns that, “Class sizes [for the PRP] are small to maximise learning. We recommend you contact an approved provider to discuss your enrolment options as soon as you become an agent. Early enrolment will ensure you have a place in a workshop before your registration expiry date. You will not be able to renew your registration without completing the PRP."
Perhaps the phrase 'an approved provider' should be replaced with "MIA". And while they are doing that, also correct the phone number for the CPD helpline on the OMARA website from 1300 660 029 which seems to be that of private business.
Some RMAs have reported that the OMARA has advised them that while it may look at applications for renewals from applicants who have not done their PRP on the merits and consider a grace period, the OMARA maintains the stern warning that the obligation remains and a failure to meet it may result in a deregistration.
Clearly then, the first thing you do in your first year of practice is book a PRP given the inability of the OMARA and the MIA to properly support new RMAs.
Comments
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Tuesday, 07 October 2014MIA, Bloody hopeless lot!!
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Tuesday, 07 October 2014
Has Migration Alliance attempted to gain approval? I think we should!
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Tuesday, 07 October 2014
Hi everyone. I think MARA should provide the same licence to other CPD providers, e.g. Migration Alliance, Legal Training Australia and Mckker's Training to run the same PRP course for new registered migration agents. This professional approach will be the best solution, in my view, to meet the needs of all new migration agents.
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Wednesday, 08 October 2014
I'm facing the same problem. I went to MIA office in Sydney yesterday to 'beg' to be enrolled for end of November course which has already been booked out. I might end up going to Brisbane to do it. The next one in Sydney is in February 2015 (staggered) How ridiculous??
Maybe having only one provider explains why this course is so expensive! -
Saturday, 29 November 2014
Dear Bartlomiej,
I have got the same problem. My rego expires end of Jan 2015, no chance for me to do any PRP until Feb 2015. What can i do now? Very desparate!!! Pls share with me your experience and your advice is welcome! Many thanks!!! -
Saturday, 29 November 2014
Hi Yimin,
I was really lucky as they put me on the waiting list and the class has been created. I have just finished the course (still waiting for marks).
I'm afraid that your only option might be going to another city to do it.
I know it's pathetic to have PRP program organised like that but there is not much we can do about it. -
Thursday, 09 October 2014
New Migration agents should make a petition to the Minister to handle this important issue. IN the petition all of them should ask for more PRP providers.
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Monday, 19 January 2015
First of all, I don't understand why new RMAs should have to do this program at all. How was the Migration Law course able to better prepare previous RMAs than those graduating now? What part of the Migration course is failing to meet industry standards, that has warranted the introduction of further study, just to re-register? Where is the support for first year RMAs? This is putting more of us out of business than supporting us.
For those of us overseas, our only option is to enroll in the course offered by ANU. If done as part of the Master's program, you can enroll in the second semester, provided you have completed the two prerequisites. If you enroll for the stand alone course, I'm assuming the prerequisites are not required...for some reason.
Money making scam? I'm starting to wonder...
Nicole -
Monday, 22 January 2018
1 To be taught about business and ethics standards, accounting management, etc. after 12 months of running RMA business is RIDICULOUS.
2 I have completed MBA and instead of being offered the option to enrol in a proper migration law-related course I/we have to sit 5 days in a course which is irrelevant. The topics covered should have been covered in Migration Law studies. Actually, some of them were... so why we are repeating it?
3 To be put on a MIA waiting list HOPING you get enrolled before your membership expires...
I think that we should make a MARA members claim about how the whole CPD is handled by MARA ...
Immigration blog
This is a problem - I think if a company is going to be licenced by OMARA to offer the PRP, there should be a requirement that places in these courses not be unreasonably restricted unless there is clear and convincing evidence that there are already sufficient course places for everyone who is required to take this course from the other providers. There should be a collective requirement that those organisations offering the PRP must offer sufficient course places to accommodate all agents needing to take the course with a reasonable amount of notice (6 months would seem reasonable).
Another option would be to require any licenced course provider to also provide distance learning options for the course to accommodate students who cannot travel to a course location on the date(s) the course is offered. Universities are offering entire degrees in this mode, so there's no reason that this course cannot be delivered in this way.
Given the apparent shortage of places that this complaint evidences, and the current virtual monopoly on publicly available PRP places that the MIA enjoys, maybe it's time that some special requirements be created to ensure that everyone who needs to take this course is provided the opportunity to do so with reasonable notice, and under reasonable circumstances - especially given the work schedules and distance concerns that are involved.