Terms of Reference
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Terms of references for the College of Immigration Oversight Group are as follow.
1.0 Establishment
1.1 The 'purpose' of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship is:
Enriching Australia through the well managed entry and settlement of people.
At the heart of this purpose, the department holds that 'People are our Business' and has three key strategic themes:
- an open and accountable organisation
- fair and reasonable dealings with clients
- well trained and supported staff.
1.2 The DIAC College of Immigration ('the College') is the framework for ensuring that realistic and robust learning and development is provided for operational roles in the fulfilment of the purpose and the strategic theme of well trained and supported staff.
1.3 Specifically, the College is to focus on the development of individuals for key roles which by their nature require knowledge, skills and judgment that must be attained before the powers pertaining to that role are exercised. The key roles are to be nominated by the Secretary of the department ('the Secretary').
1.4 The College is to ensure that the learning and development provided for these key roles is subject to external validation and, where appropriate, accreditation and/or internal certification. The College is also to ensure that individuals undergo a process of assessment (both off and on the job) which provides assurance that they can satisfactorily perform the roles they have been assigned.
1.5 The College of Immigration Advisory Board ('the Oversight Group') will provide oversight in relation to the establishment and operation of the College, and the Learning and Development Strategy of the department. The College Oversight Group will also provide advice to the Secretary on the Learning and Development priorities for the College.
2.0 Reporting
2.1 The Oversight Group shall report to the Secretary and shall provide minutes of meetings, and reports as required. The Chair of the Oversight Group shall meet regularly with the Secretary to discuss the activities and forward work plans of the Oversight Group.
3.0 Role
3.1 The College of Immigration Oversight Group will provide high level advice to the Secretary in relation to the oversight of the College’s development. The Oversight Group will:
- provide oversight, and manage the risks associated with the College Alliance;
- ensure the DIAC College meets its objectives;
- oversee the scope and quality of the training provided by the College ensuring programmes meet the business needs of the department and address recommendations made in the Palmer and Comrie reports; and
- set the priorities for the College curricula development and delivery.
3.2 The Oversight Group will provide advice on management and leadership programme needs and opportunities, as identified and on other areas as the curricula of the College is further developed.
4.0 Composition of the Oversight Group
4.1 The Chair of the Board is Oversight Group is Ms Carmel McGregor, Deputy Secretary Client and Corporate Services.
Other members of the Board are:
4.2 External members
- Ms Sue Tongue, College of Law, Australian National University
- Chief Superintendent Greg Moore, Director, Foundational Studies, NSW Police College.
4.3 DIAC
- First Assistant Secretary, Compliance Policy and Case Management
- First Assistant Secretary, Border Security
- First Assistant Secretary, Detention and Offshore Services
- First Assistant Secretary, Migration and Temporary Entry
- First Assistant Secretary, Citizenship, Settlement and Multicultural Affairs
- First Assistant Secretary, People Services, Values and Training
- State and Territory Director, NSW, Gavin McCairns
4.4 The Oversight Groups’s Secretary will be the Assistant Secretary Training.
5.0 Relationship to other committees
5.1 The Oversight Group shall be regularly briefed on, and have regard to, the work of the other key departmental committees. In particular, the People Management Committee and the Values and Standards Committee are chaired by Deputy Secretary Carmel McGregor who has line responsibility for the People Services, National Training and Value and Standards Branches. Both of these committees are formally part of the department’s Business Operating Model which takes into account a clear service focus for policy, program and delivery aspects of the organisation and that the appropriate governance framework is in place to effectively and efficiently meet our clients’ needs. These two committees provide the link between strategy and delivery in the DIAC people arena and report to the Executive Management Committee.
5.1.1 The People Management Committee's role is to:
- provide advice to the Secretary and the Executive Management Committee to ensure that planning on human resources issues is consistent with Government objectives and the department's business directions
- guide the development and implementation of human resources policies in the department
- strengthen the department's understanding of the impact of strategic human resources management on achieving high performance outcomes and on becoming an employer of choice
- provide leadership and guidance on strategic people management issues.
5.1.2 Values and Standards Committee.
- The Values and Standards Committee assists the department in:
- providing advice and influencing the leadership role on values consistent with the APS values and code of conduct
- enhancing a positive and client focussed culture
- creating and maintaining a culture that supports our strategic value statement: people our business
- ensuring training activities are aligned with the APS values, and reinforce these values and our strong client focus.
6.0 Additional members
6.1 The Chair may invite additional members to particular meetings as required. Members invited under this provision shall have rights of audience and participation in discussions.
7.0 Servicing
7.1 The secretariat support for the Oversight Group will be provided by the National Training Branch.
8.0 Scheduling of meetings and other activities
8.1 The Oversight Group will convene bi-monthly.
9.0 Values and standards
9.1 The Oversight Group shall observe the highest ethical standards in its deliberations including the declaration and management of conflicts of interest.
10.0 Additional provisions
10.1 External members who are not Commonwealth employees shall be paid a daily fee set at Category 3 Determination of the Remuneration Tribunal fee for Part Time Office Holders (see Determination 2006/12 for current rate).
10.2 Membership of the Oversight Group will be reviewed by the Secretary as required but at least every two years.
10.3 The nature of the Oversight Group, its terms of reference and its activities will be reviewed by the Secretary, in consultation with the Oversight Group, as required but a formal review will be conducted after the first 12 months of operation.
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