- Start Date: 18 November 2026 - 10:30:00
- End date: 18 November 2026 - 12:00:00
National Migration Conference: Home Affairs and OMARA updates (CN220)
CONFERENCE OPENS 10:30 AM
10:30 AM Welcome - Allianz Partners
10:35 AM - 2026 migration law and policy update - Immigration Lawyer, Arnela Tolic
Topics to include:
. Ministerial Direction 117
. Ministerial Direction 121 and 122
. Ministerial Direction 123 (coming into effect on 31/10/2026)
. Migration (Arrangements for Maritime Crew Visa Applications) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/025), which will commence on 1 November 2026
. The Migration (Complying Entrepreneur Activity - Funding Entities) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/055) commenced on 25 September 2026.
. Migration (Visas that Preclude a Person from Lodging a Student Visa Application in Australia) Instrument 2026
. Migration (Designated Areas) Instrument 2026 registered
. Education Services for Overseas Students (Specified Classes of Courses for Automatic Suspension and Cancellation) Instrument 2026
.The Australian Government has introduced the Migration (Specification of Commonwealth Priorities for Subclass 202 (Global Special Humanitarian) Visas) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/036)
. Migration (Annual Applicant Limits for Subclass 202 (Global Special Humanitarian) Visas) Instrument 2026
. Migration (Nil VAC Arrangements and Other Matters) Amendment (Rugby League World Cup 2026) Instrument 2026
. Migration (Arrangements for Subclass 462 (Work and Holiday) Visa) Instrument 2026
. Migration (Arrangements for Subclass 417 (Working Holiday) Visa) Instrument 2026
. Home Affairs Legislation Amendment (2026 Measures No. 1) Regulations 2026 - Key Changes from 1 July 2026
. Migration (Daily Maintenance Amount for Persons in Detention) Determination 2026
. The Australian Government has registered the Migration (Arrangements for Visitor (Class FA) Visa Applications) Amendment Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/060)
. ART application fees increasing from 1 July 2026
. The Migration Legislation Amendment (Arrangements for Child Visa Applications) Instrument 2026 (LIN 26/100) has been registered.
. Migration Amendment (Realigning the Community Support Program) Regulations 2026
. Migration (Granting of Contributory Parent Visas, Parent Visas and Other Family Visas During Financial Year 2025-26) Instrument 2026
. Migration Legislation Amendment (Arrangements for Work and Holiday Visas - Luxembourg) Instrument 2026
. Migration (Visa Application) Charge Act 1997, the Contributory Parent Visa Composite Index
. Migration (Arrangements for Parent Visa Applications) Instrument 2026
. Migration Amendment (Combatting Migrant Exploitation) Act 2026 - Key Update
. Migration Update: Change to Assessing Authority for Surveyor Occupation
. Migration Legislation Amendment (Annual Market Salary Rate) Instrument 2026
. Australian Citizenship (Special Residence Requirement) Amendment (Measures No. 1) Instrument 2026
. Migration Amendment (Training Visas-Sponsorship Requirements) Regulations 2026
. Criminal Code (Prohibited Hate Group - Hizb ut-Tahrir) Regulations 2026
. Migration Amendment (Temporary Graduate Visa Application Charge) Regulations 2026
. Migration Agents Regulations 2026
. Migration (Temporary Visa Subclasses for PIC 4005 and 4007) Instrument 2026
. Migration Amendment (Student Visa Reform) Regulations 2026
. Classes of persons who must apply for a Student visa offshore (LIN 26/012)
. Classes of persons who may apply for a Student visa onshore or as secondary applicants (LIN 26/087 amending LIN 20/158)
11:00 AM - Immigration update - Camm Gibson, Assistant Director, Business, Industry and Regional Outreach – QLD/NT, Department of Home Affairs
Topics to include:
. Important role Registered Migration Agents play in Australia’s migration system.
. Recently announced migration reforms.
. Actions the department is taking to tackle unlawful immigration assistance and worker exploitation.
. Processing times and decision ready applications
. Channels for contacting the department
11:30AM - Regulator update - Kimberley Turner, Director, OMARA Governance and Coordination, Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA), Immigration Compliance Operations Division | Immigration Compliance Group, Department of Home Affairs
Topics to include:
. Snapshot of the migration agent profession
. Overview of OMARA’s new monitoring function
. What agents can expect if selected for monitoring.
. Developments on the horizon, including the Occupational Competency Standards (OCS) update and changes to the Code of Conduct
CONFERENCE CLOSES 12:00 PM
Further Information
