State and territory engagement
The department’s State and Territory Offices consult with representatives from a wide-ranging client base. They draw on members of the educational and business sectors, legal representatives and migration agents, and community organisations.
Our State and Territory Offices’ consultations are grouped into two (2) major categories, Client Reference Groups (CRGs) and specific purpose or practitioner based groups. Specific purpose groups relate to a specific part of the departments business. They may be ongoing or set up to address a particular priority. Examples of engagements with specific purpose groups include:
- Migration Institute of Australia - regular meetings and dialogue on a range of issues.
- Onshore Protection Practitioners Meeting - wide representation from across the community organisations and lawyers involved in Protection Visa processes.
- Quarterly Local Migration Review Tribunal /Refugee Review Tribunal liaison meetings.
- Settlement Planning Committee - wide representation from Federal, State and Local government and community organisations.
- Regular seminars and workshops of international student organisations and agent providers.
- Regular seminars and workshops on visa processing for agents.
Client Reference Groups are an important element of the department’s Client Service Improvement Programme and demonstrate our commitment to providing a forum for constructive discussion, comment and an exchange of ideas on the delivery of our services. CRGs contribute to the development of more effective and responsive delivery practices.
The CRGs meet approximately every three (3) months and exist in all States and the Australian Capital Territory. In the Northern Territory a small number of programme and/or client focussed groups have been established which between them cover the same scope.