Unit rationale, description and aim

Introduction to Australian Migration Law will equip students with the skills to navigate and interpret complex Migration legislation. This unit contributes to the overall course objectives by providing students with a brief history of Migration law in Australia as well as the background knowledge and understanding of the relationship between Migration legislation, case law and policy. Students will undertake studies that focus on the Migration Act 1958 (Cth) and other relevant legislation using Legendcom. In addition, the course will introduce students to administrative legal skills that include file notes, taking instructions and legal writing which in turn will enable students to understand and communicate complex legal issues with clients and stakeholders. Completion of this unit will enable students to develop legal reasoning skills in analysing, interpreting and applying Migration Law in their professional practice.

2025 10

Campus offering

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  • Term Mode
  • Semester 1Online Scheduled
  • Semester 2Online Scheduled

Prerequisites

Nil

Learning outcomes

To successfully complete this unit you will be able to demonstrate you have achieved the learning outcomes (LO) detailed in the below table.

Each outcome is informed by a number of graduate capabilities (GC) to ensure your work in this, and every unit, is part of a larger goal of graduating from ACU with the attributes of insight, empathy, imagination and impact.

Explore the graduate capabilities.

Locate, navigate and interpret Migration legislati...

Learning Outcome 01

Locate, navigate and interpret Migration legislation and identify the role of policy
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC1, GC7

Demonstrate understanding of the Australian visa s...

Learning Outcome 02

Demonstrate understanding of the Australian visa system, the roles of Courts and Tribunals in Migration Law and articulate the principles of statutory interpretation
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC7, GC11

In the context of Australian Migration law, critic...

Learning Outcome 03

In the context of Australian Migration law, critically evaluate the history of immigration, sovereignty and multiculturalism and their effects on the Australian legal system and development of the Department of Home Affairs
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC7, GC11

Research, formulate and implement appropriate stra...

Learning Outcome 04

Research, formulate and implement appropriate strategies for providing effective advice to clients
Relevant Graduate Capabilities: GC2, GC11

Content

Topics will include: 

 

  • Foundation of Australia’s Legal System 
  • History of Migration Law in Australia 
  • Decision making in Australia’s migration system 
  • Structure and role of Department of Home Affairs 
  • Sovereignty 
  • Multiculturalism 
  • Developments and Trends in Migration 
  • Australian legal system – primary functions; separation of powers 
  • Courts Tribunals – jurisdiction, hierarchy and role 
  • Analyse and interpret legislation and policy and respective roles played by both in migration law context 
  • Recent trends in law and policy 
  • Australian citizenship 
  • Statutory interpretation 
  • Legal research 
  • Legal citation 
  • Oral and written communication skills 
  • Administrative legal skills – taking file notes; taking instructions from clients 

Assessment strategy and rationale

This graduate course is the prescribed qualification for registration with OMARA to provide migration advice. On completion of all units, students who wish to apply for registration will also sit an independent entry examination regulated by OMARA. 

 The assessment tasks for this unit are designed to demonstrate achievement of each of the learning outcomes listed. Occupational Competency Standards have been produced by the Department of Home Affairs and have guided our assessment as the underpinning knowledge and skills required by a migration law practitioner. 

To pass the unit, students must achieve at least 50% of the total marks, including all three assessment items.

Overview of assessments

Assessment task 1: Reflective journal and en...

Assessment task 1: Reflective journal and engagement in designated online activities. This assessment involves participation in weekly discussion forum activities & submission of a reflection on learning during the unit.  

Purpose - This task contributes specifically to the development of students’ understanding of unit material and assesses Learning Outcomes 1-4.  

Assessment criteria - Specific assessment Rubric will be provided 

Weighting

20%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Graduate Capabilities GC2, GC7, GC11

Assessment task 2: Research Assignment and applie...

Assessment task 2: Research Assignment and applied problem solving. This assessment requires students to demonstrate their ability to identify and interpret relevant Migration legislation, basic aspects of the visa system and migration policy. 

Format - 1,500 words  

Purpose - Assessment to assist students to contextualise their learning and use theoretical knowledge in a practical and real-life situation. Students are asked to use critical thinking and reasoning to suggest a solution to a factual problem. This task requires students to critically analyse an element of Australian Migration Law and provide conclusions informed by legislation and policy and assesses learning outcomes 1-3.  

Assessment criteria - Specific assessment Rubric will be provided 

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC11

Assessment task 3: Written assessment This ...

Assessment task 3: Written assessment

This assessment requires students to demonstrate their ability to identify and interpret relevant Migration legislation, basic aspects of the visa system and migration policy. 

Purpose - Assessment to assist students to contextualise their learning and use theoretical knowledge in a practical and real-life situation. Students are asked to use critical thinking and reasoning to suggest a solution to a factual problem. This task requires students to critically analyse an element of Australian Migration Law and provide conclusions informed by legislation and policy and assesses learning outcomes 1-3.  

Assessment criteria - Specific assessment Rubric will be provided 

Weighting

40%

Learning Outcomes LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Graduate Capabilities GC1, GC2, GC7, GC11

Learning and teaching strategy and rationale

This is the foundation unit in the Graduate Diploma in Australian Migration Law and Practice. It is the prescribed qualification for initial registration with the Office of Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA) as per s289A of the Migration Act 1958 (Cth).   

 

Our strategy is to introduce students to migration law theory and to develop within them, research skills and knowledge that will carry them through this unit, into subsequent units and then into their practice. For this reason, it is a pre-requisite subject for those students who do not have a background in legal practice. 

 

This subject will be delivered in online mode to provide accessibility and flexibility to our post graduate students and a student focused approach that increases depth of learning and engagement through actively utilising Canvas.   

Representative texts and references

Representative texts and references

Austlii http://www.austlii.edu.au  

Legendcom http:// http://www.border.gov.au/Trav/Visa/LEGE  

Australian Guide to Legal Citations

Acts Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) 

Legislative Instruments Act 2003 (Cth) 

Migration Act 1958 (Cth) 

Migration Regulations 1994 

Department of Home Affairs Procedural Instructions and Policy Strengthening Multiculturalism - https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Strengthening_Multiculturalism/Multiculturalism/Final_Report 

Treaty Making and Australia:  Globalisation Versus Sovereignty Australian, Australian National University Centre for International and Public Law, edited by Alston, Philp et al 

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