What Now?
In the past three months, 13 more businesses were sanctioned by the Australian Border Force for sponsorship breaches, bringing the total to over 120 this year. Penalties include cancellations, sanction bars, and fines up to $79,200. Common issues include role mismatches, salary breaches, and false information. Ensure your clients’ sponsored workers meet all obligations and that required Department notifications are made - sponsorship is not a set-and-forget responsibility, so now is the time to act. Meanwhile, delays are causing serious distress for clients, making effective strategies urgent and the intersection of criminal law and immigration has never been more complex, with more clients facing immigration consequences from old or minor matters resurfacing in police checks.
Our 5-part Casual Fridays for Busy Immigration Practitioners – Latest Updates, Timely Insights, Practical Strategies & Real Conversations, covers these issues in depth. Plus, gain authoritative insights on Ministerial Interventions from Dr Jason Donnelly, one of Australia’s leading immigration and public law experts and hear from an experienced barrister on the ethical use of AI in cases.
Description
Attend all sessions to receive a significant discount. Migration agents can earn all their Category B CPD points, including ethics, while legal practitioners will receive 7.5 CPD points, including 1 point in ethics. Gain practical insights from Australia’s leading immigration experts to maintain a compliant and confident practice amid ongoing change.
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
If you register for the full series as a live online product after the date of an individual session, you will be sent the recording for the sessions that have passed. Alternatively, you can register for individual sessions by following the links below.
Skills In Demand Visa Applications in Focus
Friday, 22 August 2025
A new data-sharing program between the Department of Home Affairs and the ATO marks a sharp escalation in compliance enforcement for employer-sponsored visas. Payroll data is now being actively cross-checked against visa conditions to detect breaches - including underpayment, incorrect sponsorship arrangements and unauthorised work. At the same time 482 visa applicants are facing greater scrutiny around occupation suitability and the Genuine Position requirement with refusals becoming more common. Unpack the legal and practical consequences of these developments and the critical steps employers — and their advisers — must take to remain compliant. Drawing on the Employer Guide to SID visas and the Genuine Position test, the session provides clear, up-to-date guidance on navigating obligations, risk areas, and emerging skilled migration pathways.
Description
Attend and earn 1.5 CPD points in Substantive Law for Legal Professionals
Attend and earn 1 CPD point in Category B Seminar (SM) for Migration Agents
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
MARA APPROVAL NUMBERS
SESSION 1: SM815
Chair:
1.00pm to 2.30pm Skills In Demand Visa Applications in Focus
- Employer obligations and the compliance framework
- Sponsor, nomination and visa application checklists that must be done and when
- Choosing the right occupation: issues of suitability and classification
- New and emerging visa pathways: what’s changing, and how to prepare
Presented by Tina Masrour, Principal Lawyer, One Planet Migration Law
Presenters
Tina Masrour, Principal Lawyer, One Planet Migration LawTina Masrour is a passionate immigration advocate with over a decade of expertise in Australian migration law. Born in Australia to parents who were refugees fleeing persecution, Tina grew up witnessing firsthand the resilience and determination of migrants who sought to build new lives in a foreign land. Her parents’ journey of settling in Australia and contributing to the nation's cultural and economic fabric profoundly shaped her worldview. This deeply personal experience fuels her commitment to creating pathways for migrants to not only integrate but to thrive and enrich the diverse social tapestry of Australia. Tina has a proven track record of assisting businesses—from SMEs to Fortune 500 companies—secure visas for their international talent, as well as helping individuals successfully navigate complex immigration processes to achieve their goal of migrating to Australia. With extensive experience in handling visa refusals, cancellations, and finding innovative solutions to complex immigration challenges, she has guided thousands of clients towards securing permanent residency. From the beginning of her legal career, Tina has been driven by a sense of global citizenship and a deep appreciation for human diversity. Admitted as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, she embarked on a mission to foster inclusivity and enrich Australia’s social and cultural landscape through her work in immigration law. Her commitment to social justice extends beyond her professional practice. Tina regularly engages in pro bono initiatives, offering her expertise to those who need it most. Her dedication is reflected in her work with organizations such as Aboriginal Legal Services and Anti-Slavery Australia, and her efforts were recognized when she was named a finalist in the Lawyers Weekly Women in Law awards for her contributions to pro bono law. While Sydney will always be a part of her story, Tina’s journey has taken her across the globe, including work with international NGOs. Now based in Melbourne with her family, Tina continues to make a meaningful impact in the field of immigration law, driven by compassion, dedication, and a belief in the transformative power of migration.
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Strategies for Overcoming Delays or Using Delays to Your Advantage
Friday, 29 August 2025
Are you struggling with longer visa processing times and unsure how to protect your clients as delays keep growing? The debate continues: unprecedented delays in processing, especially with the Subclass 482 Skills in Demand (SID) visa, are creating real challenges for immigration lawyers and agents. But are there strategies you can use right now to improve your clients’ situation and make your work easier?
Description
Attend and earn 1.5 CPD Points in Substantive Law for Legal Professionals
Attend and earn 1 CPD point in Category B Seminar (SM) for Migration Agents
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
MARA APPROVAL NUMBERS
SESSION 2: SM816
Chair:
Kathryn Viegas, Director and Principal Solicitor, Nomos Pty Ltd; Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law; Best Lawyers 2024, Immigration Law; Leading Immigration Lawyer, Doyle’s Guide 2024
1.00pm to 2.30pm Strategies for Overcoming Delays or Using Delays to Your Advantage
- Gain practical steps from Simon Jeans to manage delays effectively
- Gain clear, workable strategies to help you stay one step ahead — and keep your clients protected
Presented by Simon Jeans, Principal, Jeans Lawyers; Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law; Best Lawyers 2025, Immigration Law
Presenters
Simon Jeans, Principal, Jeans LawyersSimon Jeans has been practising law since 1989. He is an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law and listed by Best Lawyers for Australia in Immigration Law. He has worked as an advocate for refugees and migrants with the Jesuit Refugee Service, RACS, Legal Aid (NSW), UNHCR and in his law firm. He was appointed as a member of the Migration Review Tribunal and Refugee Review Tribunal from 2010-2015. He was engaged by the College of Law in 2019-2020 as an assessor and external moderator for the Capstone Migration Agents Assessment.
Kathryn Viegas, Director and Principal Solicitor, Nomos Pty Ltd
Kathryn Viegas is a Director and Principal Solicitor of Nomos Legal, a boutique immigration law firm in Sydney. Kathryn holds degrees in Psychology and Law from the University of New South Wales and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Australian National University. In 2006, she was awarded a Master of Laws degree from the University of Sydney. She has practised immigration law since 2003 and is an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law. Since 2018, she has been included annually on the ‘Best Lawyers’ list for Australia as published in the Australian Financial Review. Kathryn commenced her career at the HIV/AIDS Legal Centre and established her own practice in 2005, which she ran for eight years. In 2016, she co-founded Nomos. Since 2007, she has presented continuing education programmes for lawyers and other professionals through the College of Law, the Law Society of NSW and other professional associations. She currently teaches the Graduate Diploma in Migration Law program at Victoria University. Kathryn is the current President of the Management Committee of the Immigration Advice and Rights Centre, a specialist community legal centre that provides free legal advice and assistance to vulnerable migrants and refugees. She is also the co-founder of The TLR Foundation and a Director of the Centre for Women’s Economic Safety. She sits on the Specialist Accreditation Immigration Law Advisory Committee in NSW and is a member of the UNSW Law & Justice Advisory Council.
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Criminal Charges, Character Concerns & Visa Cancellations: What Every Immigration Practitioner Needs to Know
Friday, 5 September 2025
The intersection between criminal law and immigration has never been more complex - or more critical. More clients are facing immigration consequences from old or minor matters that unexpectedly reappear on police checks. These historical issues, along with new charges or court appearances, can trigger character concerns, visa refusal, cancellation, or delays in citizenship. Together with an accredited specialist in both Criminal Law and Immigration Law, explore what’s actually happening ‘out there’ in practice - where criminal law outcomes, even where no conviction is recorded, may still affect a client’s immigration status. From mental health dismissals to bonds, good behaviour orders and sentencing, the implications can be far-reaching and difficult to reverse. You will gain clarity on how to interpret AFP and ACIC reports, identify key risks early, and understand how Department of Home Affairs policies are being applied in real cases.
Description
Attend and earn 1.5 CPD points in Substantive Law for Legal Professionals
Attend and earn 1 CPD point in Category B Seminar (SM) for Migration Agents
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
MARA APPROVAL NUMBERS
SESSION 3: SM817
Chair:
Nicholas Poynder, Barrister, Rosny Chambers
1.00pm to 2.30pm Criminal Charges, Character Concerns & Visa Cancellations: What Every Immigration Practitioner Needs to Know
- Managing charges, including historical matters appearing on police checks
- Navigating mental health dismissals, findings of guilt, and sentencing outcomes for Visa holders
- Impacts on visas, sponsors, and citizenship eligibility
- Interpreting police paperwork, AFP and ACIC reports
- Impacts on character test, mandatory cancellations and risk-based refusals
- Key DHA policies and how they’re applied in real-world scenarios
Presented by Kim Hunter, Criminal Defence & Immigration Lawyer, Hunter Flood Lawyers; Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law
Presenters
Kim Hunter, Criminal Defence & Immigration Lawyer, Hunter Flood LawyersMs Kim Hunter is a criminal defence and immigration lawyer as well as an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law from Hunter Flood Lawyers in Sydney. Kim has a law degree, 3 first places in law exams (Criminal law, evidence & succession), second place in Constitutional Law and 2 Butterworths Law prizes. Kim Has always had her own private law practice and since becoming an Accredited Specialist in Immigration Law now only practices in criminal defence and complex immigration matters. Kim has formerly lectured in post graduate law at Australian National University and regularly lectures for the Law Society of NSW, Legal Aid and various other professional bodies and organisations including the MIA and Law Council of Australia. Kim is on an expert panel for a research project led by Prof Alison Gerard and funded by the Australian Research Council, being undertaken by leading Professors from Charles Sturt, Flinders and Monash universities in Australia and Oxford University in the UK on the topic of ‘Crimmigration’ – the intersection of criminal and immigration laws in Australia.
Nicholas Poynder, Barrister, Rosny Chambers
Consistently recognised in the Immigration Category of the Australian Financial Review Best Lawyers in Australia from 2012 to 2017, Nick maintains a solid migration law practice. He also practises in the areas of anti-discrimination law and family law. Nick has appeared as junior counsel in notable decisions in the High Court of Australia and provides high quality advice and representation as sole counsel in other courts and tribunals, including the Federal Circuit Court, Federal Court of Australia, and the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (General Division and Migration & Refugee Division). The nature of these matters ranges from legal issues which might arise during the processing or cancellation of visas, to applications for the review of decisions to refuse or cancel a visa. Prior to being called the Bar, Nick practised as a legal adviser to asylum-seekers in Port Hedland (Western Australia), locum practitioner with the Central Australian Aboriginal Legal Aid Service in Alice Springs (Northern Territory) and later co-ordinator of the Refugee Advice and Casework Service in Sydney. He was also a Senior Legal Officer with the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission in Sydney. Nick is the current author of the Judicial Review commentary in the LexisNexis Australian Immigration Law Service. Admitted to the Bar in both Victoria and New South Wales (and maintaining a practice in both jurisdictions), Nick holds a Master of Laws from the University of New South Wales, a Bachelor of Laws (with Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Tasmania. He was one of the first migration agents to be registered in Australia.
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Appeals to the Minister: What Makes a Good Case and How to Win
Friday, 12 September 2025
A must-attend for practitioners seeking to strengthen submissions. Gain an authoritative understanding of Ministerial Interventions with Dr Jason Donnelly - one of Australia’s foremost expert on immigration and public law – and together examine the legal, strategic and doctrinal dimensions of Ministerial intervention under the Migration Act 1958 (Cth).
A must-attend for practitioners seeking to strengthen submissions and navigate this complex area with precision and rigour as you draw on the extensive advocacy and scholarship, including over 285 published decisions and co-authorship of Douglas and Jones’s Administrative Law of Dr Donnelly.
Description
Attend and earn 1.5 CPD points in Substantive Law for Legal Professionals
Attend and earn 1 CPD point in Category B Seminar (SM) for Migration Agents
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
MARA APPROVAL NUMBERS
SESSION 4: SM818
Chair:
1.00pm to 2.30pm Appeals to the Minister: What Makes a Good Case and How to Win
- Explore the evolving boundaries of Ministerial discretion
- Understand the impact of Direction 110
- Navigate the tension between domestic executive power and Australia’s international legal obligations
Presented by Dr Jason Donnelly, Barrister, Lattam Chambers and General Member of the Commonwealth Administrative Review Tribunal
Presenters
Dr Jason Donnelly, Barrister, Lattam Chambers and General Member of the Commonwealth Administrative Review TribunalDr. Jason Donnelly is a leading national barrister and academic (a university lecturer) in the area of migration law in Australia. Dr. Donnelly has advised and appeared in various significant cases in both the Administrative Appeals Tribunal and Federal Court of Australia, published in various leading journal articles, provided expert evidence to the Joint Standing Committee on Migration, been cited extensively in a Commonwealth Parliamentary Report and is the founding author and Course Convenor of the Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law at Western Sydney University (WSU). Dr. Jason Donnelly is a preeminent figure in Australian administrative and migration law. His extensive career encompasses advisory roles, legal appearances, and contributions to parliamentary inquiries. He has 204 published judgments covering: * 95 rigorous legal appeals primarily in the Federal Court of Australia; * 88 trials in various statutory Tribunals, with a focus on the Administrative Appeals Tribunal; * 17 High Court of Australia appeals, including special leave applications and original jurisdiction appeals; * 4 trials in New South Wales state jurisdiction. Dr. Donnelly’s expertise extends to esteemed forums such as Commonwealth Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committees, the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department, Commonwealth Joint Standing Committee on Migration, and inquiries led by figures like The Hon. I.D.F. Callinan AC KC. Beyond the courtroom, his diverse clientele includes high-ranking military officers, celebrities like Lanz Priestley, and international entertainers like Chris Brown, Skepta, and Sticky Fingers, among others Dr. Donnelly’s academic achievements include three university degrees, including a Ph.D. in law. Dr. Donnelly graduated with the prestigious university medal. He began as a university lecturer in law at 23 and became a barrister by 25. He now holds a senior university lecturer position at Western Sydney University, where he’s the Course Convenor and Founding Author of the Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law. He’s also an author and editor of prominent legal publications. His professional history includes roles as the Tipstaff to the Honorable Justice Peter McClellan AM QC, Chief Judge at Common Law, Supreme Court of New South Wales, and Legal Researcher to the Honorable Michael Kirby AC CMG, former Justice of the High Court of Australia. In legal academia, he’s authored numerous publications cited by various courts and Commonwealth Statutory Committees. Dr. Donnelly’s extensive body of work showcases his unwavering dedication and exceptional expertise in administrative and migration law.
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Ethical AI in Immigration Cases
Friday, 19 September 2025
The growing use of artificial intelligence in immigration practice raises important ethical and practical questions. This session explores how migration professionals can ethically integrate AI while maintaining professional responsibility and compliance with immigration law standards.
Chair:
Description
Attend and earn 1.5 CPD points in Ethics and Professional Conduct for Legal Professionals
Attend and earn 1 CPD point in Ethics or the Code of Conduct for Migration Agents
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
MARA APPROVAL NUMBERS
SESSION 5: M1B10060
1.00pm to 2.30pm Ethical AI in Immigration Cases
Presented by Chris Honnery, Barrister, Tenth Floor St James Hall Chambers and Sergio Zanotti Stagliorio, Barrister and Migration Law Lecture
Presenters
Chris Honnery, Barrister, Tenth Floor St James Hall ChambersChris Honnery is a barrister who is experienced representing applicants in administrative law and judicial review proceedings. He passed the England and Wales Bar Transfer Test prior to being called to the NSW Bar and has worked in a number of jurisdictions. Before becoming a barrister, Chris was a solicitor for almost a decade, working at Victoria Legal Aid, the Federal Court of Australia, and representing asylum seekers detained in Nauru. Based in Sydney, Chris also appears interstate and has particular expertise in migration matters and challenging visa-related decisions. Website https://www.chrishonnery.com.au/
Sergio Zanotti Stagliorio, Barrister and Migration Law Lecturer
Sergio practises in Migration and Citizenship Law. Before becoming a barrister, Sergio worked as an immigration solicitor for a number of years and was an RMA prior to this. This past experience places him well to appreciate all facets of migration and citizenship law matters. As an advocate, Sergio has appeared and represented clients on matters before the High Court of Australia, Federal Court of Australia (including Full Court), Federal Circuit Court of Australia, Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia, Migration Review Tribunal, Administrative Appeals Tribunal, Immigration Assessment Authority and the Administrative Review Tribunal. Also, Sergio: - has authored over 1,300 court decision summaries on migration and citizenship law, most of which for his newsletter (https://migrationlawupdates.com.au), and some for LexisNexis (Administrative Law Decisions). - has authored over 1,000 articles and updates on migration and citizenship law, some of which for LexisNexis - is a former assessor at UTS (Graduate Diploma of Australian Migration Law and Practice - GDAMLP) - is a former unit coordinator and lecturer at UWS (GDAMLP) - has been a migration law CPD lecturer since 2019 - is often consulted by barristers, solicitors and RMAs on complex matters - holds a bachelor's degree in engineering
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