Employer sponsored visas remain the number one issue occupying migration lawyers and advisers across Australia. While the 180-day transition period has created new flexibility, it has also exposed fault lines around occupation choice, role changes, timing and compliance that practitioners confront daily. Take a practical dive into the world of work visas! With enforcement by the Australian Border Force intensifying, sponsorship is no longer a compliance tick-box but an active risk area!
Friday, 12 June 2026
Description
Attend live and online and earn 1 CPD point in category B (OMARASM852)
View the interactive recorded seminar and earn 1 CPD Point in category B (OMARA DN597)
This program is applicable to practitioners from all States & Territories
12.00pm to 1.30pm Employer-Sponsored Visas Masterclass
- When and how to apply, key visa subclasses and requirements, navigating intersecting bridging visas, when visas cease to be in effect, and work rights entitlements
- Focuses on what actually works, helping you identify risk early, manage difficult scenarios with confidence, and turn sponsorship headaches into strategic opportunities through peer discussion and insights
Presented by Sean Loughland, Lead Immigration Lawyer, EPG Migration
Chair:
Julian Hayden, Senior Lawyer, Hayden Lawyers
Presenters
Julian Hayden, Senior Lawyer, Hayden LawyersJulian is a highly experienced immigration lawyer with over 13 years in the industry. Julian begun his career as a registered migration agent before transitioning into legal practice. He now operates his own practice in Melbourne. His qualifications are Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws, and a Graduate Certificate in Migration Law. Julian specialises in complex and high-risk migration matters, with extensive experience representing clients before the Administrative Review Tribunal and Federal Court. Julian has taught immigration law at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels at Deakin University, and administrative law at Macquarie University.
Sean Loughland, Lead Immigration Lawyer, EPG Migration
Sean Loughland is the Lead Immigration Lawyer at EPG Migration, where he oversees the firm’s employer‑sponsored visa practice and provides strategic guidance to a broad portfolio of corporate clients. With over a decade of hands‑on experience in the employer‑sponsored visa landscape, Sean has developed a deep and practical understanding of the complexities that define the 482, 494 and 186 visa programs, as well as related compliance frameworks and policy settings. Throughout his career, Sean has managed high‑volume sponsorship portfolios across a diverse range of industries, including technology, manufacturing, hospitality, and professional services. His extensive involvement in Employment of Record (EOR) arrangements has also positioned him as a specialist in navigating the unique compliance and governance issues that arise within third‑party employment models. This includes risk assessment, monitoring labour market obligations, ensuring sponsor compliance, and advising on operational structures that align with legislative requirements. Sean is known for his practical, solutions‑focused approach, and for translating complex regulatory obligations into clear, commercially grounded guidance. His work emphasises risk management, transparency, and best‑practice processes, helping employers build robust migration frameworks that support workforce planning while meeting statutory requirements. He has previously presented on sponsor compliance, program integrity, and emerging trends in employer‑sponsored migration.
This seminar is part of a series
Immigration Law Series 2026: Avoiding Refusals, Revocations and Cancellations
Across character decisions, cancellation powers beyond s 501 and the ongoing complexities of employer-sponsored visas, you will gain practical guidance on when to act, how to intervene early and how to protect your client’s position from the very first interaction. Led by experienced migration barristers, this lunch series provides clear, structured insight you can apply immediately in practice. Migration agents can earn their Category B CPD points, legal practitioners receive 4.5 CPD points, gaining practical insights from Australia’s leading immigration experts to maintain a compliant and confident practice amid ongoing change.
Description
Attend all sessions. Migration agents can earn all their Category B CPD points, including ethics, while legal practitioners will receive 4.5 CPD points in Substantive Law. 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.
View series listing
