The MRT-RRT Communications team has been tasked with developing video content for the tribunals’ website to assist applicants and their representatives to better understand tribunal processes.

As part of the process, the MRT-RRT will be conducting a consultation session with external stakeholders. The consultation session will ensure the video covers relevant content with key messages communicated effectively. 

Ideally, the MRT-RRT would like at least three migration agents from Migration Alliance to help form the external stakeholder group.    Migration Alliance can nominate three migration agents who are willing to participate in the external stakeholder consultation sessions.

The Joint Standing Committee on Migration has commenced an inquiry into the Business Innovation and Investment Programme.  Migration Alliance received an invitation to participate and inform other organisations, groups and individuals. Please find below a copy of the letter we have received:

New-Inquiry-into-the-business-innovation-and-investment-programme.pdf

Below is the submission by Christopher Levingston in his own personal capacity, which you may wish to use as a terms of reference:

Public opinion on Morrison’s axing of the IAAAs funding scheme seems to support the Minister’s decision despite criticism from refugee advocates, according to some opinions posted on the ABC online website. However, the public support is not for reasons stated by Morrison, but rather, the call is for lawyers and agents alike to step-up and offer pro-bono services to people in need.

The Migration Alliance believes that professional advice must be made accessible to all regardless of their ability to afford such services. The MA accepts that it is part of an RMAs moral and professional responsibility to assist those in the community who are unable to obtain legal aid or otherwise afford professional migration advice. The axing of the IAAS funding makes this all the more important.

One of the best ways of encouraging pro bono work is to recognise it. For this reason, the Migration Alliance applied for and has been approved as an Authorised Voluntary Organisation for the purposes of CPD. This is to encourage MA members to provide pro bono services and get due recognition for the time members spend on providing these services."

Under the arrangements with the office of the MARA, MA members are eligible to claim 1 migration CPD point for every 3 hours of Pro Bono work. In the next few weeks Migration Alliance will be launching its first Immigration Clinic in Auburn, NSW at the Auburn Community Centre. Details will be announced soon. RMAs are encouraged to register for this event by contacting us on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The MA is investigating ways it can expand on its pro bono services and invites suggestion from members.

The migration advisory industry is a high-profile industry largely due to the critical role immigration plays, at any level, to swing votes. However, the MA believes it is important that the most vulnerable people are assisted and have access to professional migration advice, regardless of which way the political pendulum on the matter swings.

Dr Caroline Hong is the face of modern Australia.

Malaysian born with Chinese Ancestry, Caroline Hong has lived, worked and built her career in Australia for over three decades.

Armed with several Australian tertiary qualifications, she is well known in Australia for her passion, commitment and advocacy for the SME sector, notably in her role as International Ambassador of the SME Association of Australia, Ambassador of Australia China Business Week and President of China HR.

Over the past 15 years, she has held three CEO roles of leading industry associations in the healthcare and business sectors, and is widely recognised and admired as an Australia-Asia SME Expert.

Cyber-risk management for Migration Alliance has become an important factor for our organisation, especially during this important growth and development phase. 

Last year, as many of you would be aware, Migration Alliance suffered from a serious and sustained hacking attack and multiple cyber-intrusion attempts.  The pointed and targeted attacks on our website were so bad that the Australian goverment Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT) became involved and assisted Migration Alliance over a period of about a month to counter the most severe intrusion attempts we had ever faced.  The CEO of the Office of the MARA was involved, the Data Security team at DIBP in Canberra were involved and the situation soon escalated to nothing short of an online data security 'code red'.

Whilst MA had online data security infrastructure in place at the time, we did not have an effective data-breach incident management plan.  We also did not have a Privacy Officer in place to manage the events as they occurred, in particular events which led to the theft of data.  As such we have spent time looking deeply into the Privacy Act.  We have also looked into Cyber-Risk and mitigation strategies to prevent this occurring into the future.