Migration 2009 Conference

Conference Program - Thursday 8th October

• 4:00pm Annual General Meeting
  The MIA Annual General Meeting is open for all MIA members to attend.
• 6:00pm Conference Opening
  Marsha Thomson MLC, Parliamentary Secretary for Industry and Trade and the Member for Footscray will officially open the Migration 2009 Conference. We invite all delegates to join us for the welcome drinks and canapés in the Element Room of The Sebel. Enjoy the exclusive sunken bar and opportunity to meet MIA Directors, staff, conference sponsors and fellow RMAs.

Conference Program - Friday 9th October

• 9:00am Maurene Horder - Chief Executive Officer, Migration Institute of Australia
  OPENING ADDRESS: The Institute and its Future Direction
• 9:30am Senator Chris Evans, Minister for Immigration and Citizenship, represented by the Honourable Laurie Ferguson, Parliamentary Secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services
  KEYNOTE ADDRESS: The Migration 2009-10 Program
• 10:00am Huw McKay - Director and Senior International Economist, Westpac
  KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Forecast for Australia’s economy in 2010 ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Mr McKay is a leading expert on pan-Asian economic and market issues. He has recently completed a secondment to the Federal Treasury as Principal Advisor Financial Markets.
• 10:45am Morning Tea
  
• 11:15am Dr Millsom Henry-Waring - Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Melbourne
  KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Social Cohesion - The Everyday Reality for Visible Migrants within Australia. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Dr Henry-Waring is the joint chief investigator on the University of Melbourne's project on resettling visible migrants and refugees in rural and regional Australia. Her research and teaching explores notions of difference and otherness, specifically in the areas of identity, intimacy, popular culture, new technologies, nationalism, and multiculturalism.
• 12:00pm Dr James Jupp - Director of the Centre for Immigration and Multicultural Studies, Australian National University (ANU)
  KEYNOTE ADDRESS: The Future of Immigration ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Dr James Jupp was awarded membership of the Order of Australia (AM) in 2004 for services to immigration and multicultural studies. Dr Jupp has published widely on immigration and multicultural affairs. His most recent work “Australia’s Immigration Revolution” is programmed for release in October 2009.
• 12:30pm Lunch
  Proudly supported by LiveInVictoria.vic.gov.au
• 1:30pm HUMANITARIAN STREAM: Charlie Powles - Senior Policy Officer, Refugee & Immigration Legal Centre (RILC) and John Gibson - President, Refugee Council of Australia
  TOPIC: Current Issues in Refugee Law: Recent jurisprudence, amendments to the law in relation to immigration detention and refugee status assessments on Christmas Island.
• 1:30pm SKILLED STREAM: Maria Jockel - Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law, Russell Kennedy Lawyers and Lily Ong - Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law, Lily Ong Business Lawyers and Migration Consultants
  Subclass 457 visas, the new Temporary Business Entry framework and worker protection. What does this mean for you and your clients?
• 2:45pm Afternoon Tea
  Proudly supported by tradesrecognition.com
• 3:15pm Professor Deborah Cobb-Clark - Professor of Economics, Australian National University (ANU)
  KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Australia's options to meet economic goals through immigration. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Professor Cobb-Clark’s research centres on the effect of social policy on labour market outcomes. She is also former co-editor of the Journal of Population Economics and published author of numerous academic articles on immigration.
• 4:00pm Roundtable sessions with industry experts
  Conference delegates break into small groups for round table discussion with conference presenters, DIAC officials, industry service providers and experienced practitioners. These sessions give unprecedented access to leading players in the migration profession and allow for extended discussion and feedback with experts. ROUNDTABLE PARTICIPANTS include: numerous DIAC representatives - CEO, Migration Institute of Australia - CEO, Office of the MARA - Live In Victoria - Director, tradesrecognition.com - former MRT Member - Senior Policy Officer, RILC - President, Refugee Council of Australia. TOPICS include Refugee Law, changes to health requirements, managing electronic files, regional pathways and sponsorship requirements, practicals tips for conducting and appeal at the MRT. TO REGISTER: On arrival at the conference venue, delegates will be asked to select three preferred sessions and positions will be assigned on a first in, first served basis.
• 5:30pm Networking Cocktail Hour
  Join us for the Cocktail Hour to network with your fellow professionals and see the latest products and services from exhibitors that can enhance your practice.
• 7:00pm Gala Dinner and Awards Evening
  This event is the highlight of the social calendar for the migration advice profession. Enjoy a three course meal and unwind with colleagues as we acknowledge those who excel in practice and service to the community. Invited guests include Consul-General of China - Mr Weilian Shen; Consul-General of Lebanon - Mr Henri Castoun; Acting Consul-General of Japan - Mr Yasufumi Kotake and Consul for Information, Social and Cultural Affairs of Indonesia - Mr Hadi Sapto Pambrastoro. The MIA Awards recognise excellence in practice, service to Australian immigration and contribution to the Institute.

Conference Program - Saturday 10th October

• 9:00am Peter Mares - Presenter of The National Interest, ABC Radio National
  KEYNOTE ADDRESS: The Migration Two Step: policy challenges posed by Australia’s rapid shift towards temporary migration. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Peter Mares is a writer and broadcaster with a strong interest in migration issues. Mr Mares presents the weekly public policy discussion program The National Interest and is also an adjunct fellow at the Institute of Social Research at Swinbourne University of Technology and has published numerous book chapters and journal articles on migration issues.
• 9:45am Waleed Aly - Lecturer in Politics, Monash University
  KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Immigration and Globalisation - Australia’s Challenges. ABOUT THE SPEAKER: Waleed Aly is a Lecturer in Politics at Monash University’s Global Terrorism Research Centre. Previously, he worked as a commercial lawyer, with experience in human rights and family law. His prominence as a young, articulate spokesperson for the Australian Muslim community is due to his considered commentary on human rights and multiculturalism within Australian society.
• 10:15am Morning Tea
  Proudly supported by Bundanoon Estate, Inverell
• 10:45am PANEL DEBATE: Should a minimum standard of English be required for the profession?
  The English language level of those working in professional services is under increasing scrutiny. This debate explores the reasoning behind the proposed requirements for the migration profession from key industry stakeholders and reveals arguments for and against. MODERATOR: Andrew Cope - Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law and Victoria University Lecturer. PANEL MEMBERS: Michael Fay - co-founder and Managing Director of Insearch Language Centre, UTS. Michael Northcott - former Member of the MRT and Registrar of the Family Court. Gunter Eitzinger - RMA, Chartered Accountant and member of Victoria State Executive. Dr Chris White - RMA, Financial Planner and member of QLD State Executive.
• 12:15pm Lunch
  
• 1:15pm Christine Sykes - Chief Executive Officer, Office of the MARA
  KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Issues and plans for regulation of the migration advice profession in Australia
• 2:00pm Michael Clothier and Karyn Anderson - Accredited Specialists in Immigration Law, Clothier Anderson & Associates
  ADDRESS: Ethics and professional practice for Registered Migration Agents. ABOUT THE SPEAKERS: Michael Clothier has more than 30 years experience as an immigration law specialist. He served for five years as the Senior Member of the Australian Government’s Immigration Review Tribunal (1989 to 1994). Michael is the past Chairman of the Law Institute of Victoria’s Immigration Law Committee and has served for 17 years on the Law Institute’s Immigration Law Specialisation Committee, which sets the examinations for lawyers wanting to be accredited as specialists. Karyn Anderson has served on the Law Institute’s Immigration Law Specialisation Committee. She recently co-authored the Refugee Law Chapter for the Lawyers Practice Manual of Victoria, a practical guide for lawyers on this important and ever changing area of the law.
• 2:45pm Afternoon Tea
  Proudly supported by tradesrecognition.com
• 3:15pm The Pros and Cons of Being a Refugee
  Dr Kim Huynh - Lecturer in Political Science and International Relations, Australian National University (ANU), author "Where the Sea Takes Us" and refugee

Conference Program - Sunday 11th October

• 9:00am CPD Stream 1: Skills Assessment Authorities
  Presented by: Mark Braybrook, Professional Officer (International Section) ANMC, and Kevin Quach, Senior Qualifications Advisor, CPA Australia
• 9:00am CPD Stream 2: Family Migration Forum
  Partner Visas and Domestic Violence Provisions. Presented by: Sonia Caton, Director, RAILS and Brian Kelleher, Professional Development Manager, MIA
• 9:00am CPD Stream 3: Mentoring and Practical Skills for new agents
  Legend Training (basic). Presented by: Leon Hawkins Assistant Director - eVisa & LEGENDcom (DIAC)
• 10:30am Morning Tea
  
• 11:00am CPD Stream 1: Skills Assessment Authorities
  Presented by Michele Kingi, Executive Officer, Australian Pharmacy Council and Gareth Jones, Manager (Migration Skills), Engineers Australia
• 11:00am CPD Stream 2: Family Migration Forum
  Remaining Relative, Child and Carer Visas. Presented by: Helen Duncan, RMA and Lecturer, ANU
• 11:00am CPD Stream 3: Mentoring and Practical Skills for new agents
  Submission Writing - 'The Essentials'. Presented by Brian Kelleher, Professional Development Manager, MIA and Kevin Lane, Professional Support Manager, MIA.
• 12:30pm Lunch
  
• 1:30pm CPD Stream 2: Family Migration Forum
  Parent and Contributory Parents Visas. Presented by Dr Etienne Hugo, Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law
• 1:30pm CPD Stream 1: Skills Assessment Authorities
  Presented by: Rosemary Woodger, Manager (Qualifications Assessment), VETASSESS and Vanessa Paull, Skills Assessment Manager, ACS.
• 3:00pm Afternoon Tea
  
• 3:30pm Recent Changes to Employer Sponsored and Skilled Migration
  Closing Address: Peter Speldewinde, Assistant Secretary Labour Market Branch Migration and Visa Policy DIAC. (one CPD point)

Suggested Accommodation - within 10min walk