Conference ReportLoretta Baldassar, Donella Caspersz, Farida Fozdar

Update overviewThe second annual WA Migration and Mobilities Update conference welcomed over 120 members of the community, policy makers, representatives of NGOs and academics, who engaged with twenty speakers from all sectors to discuss issues around employment and migration.

It was opened by the Faculty of Arts Dean Professor Krishna Sen. The WA Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, the Honourable Dr Mike Nahan, welcomed participants, focussing on the benefits migrants have brought to Western Australia.

Key themes to emerge from the 2016 Update included: • The increased precarity that temporary migration visas generate: workers can be more easily exploited by

unscrupulous employers as their visas depend on their employment status. • The risk to dependants of visa holders who are at risk if their relationship to the visa holder breaks down

(e.g. in cases of domestic violence) as they are not entitled to services or support.• The important role that local government and community associations play in rural and regional areas to

support migrants to settle and integrate.• The positive initiatives being made by government at all levels, NGOs and communities, to ensure migrant

participation and integration.

Participants acknowledged the important role the annual Migration Update Conference plays in bringing government, community, NGOs, and academics together to examine key issues, share knowledge and respond to policy concerns.

Highlights of the WA MMoB Update

Co-convenor Dr Donella Caspersz highlighted new research, conducted by MMoBresearchers at UWA, into family and domestic violence experienced by temporary visaholders.

The concluding panel explored opportunities for the future, looking at local and stategovernment, and community, initiatives focussing on employment, skills recognition,and the valuing of diversity in the workplace.

WA Minister for Citizenship and Multicultural Interests, the Honourable Dr Mike Nahan,emphasised the need for more research on migration policy and the impact ofmigration, and recognised the important role the Update conference plays indemonstrating the benefits of migration for WA.

Ms Penelope Robinson, Director of Family Policy at the Department ofImmigration and Border Protection’s Humanitarian, Family and CitizenshipPolicy Branch, spoke about the new legislative reform designed to reduce therisk of family and domestic violence for migrant women.

Migration Institute of Australia’s Ms Jacqui Ure highlighted the need toeliminate the exploitation of temporary visa holders by unscrupulousemployers.

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% Update feedback results

The Update addressed the relevant issues.

The Update was good for networking.

Discussion was good at the Update.

Really great, relevant, thought-provoking

Fantastic – really enjoyed the whole day

I learned a lot about this space – thank you!

What YOU said about the Update

Professor Stephen Castles, Chair of Sociology, University of Sydney: ‘Migration, Mobility and Belonging: Employment and Social Transformations’• ‘Migration crises’ and politicisation of migration and asylum may become the ‘new

normal’.• New migration patterns challenge the assumptions of many Australians around

permanent settlement and multiculturalism.• Temporary skilled migration is rising, while ‘mixed flows’ make it hard to distinguish

between refugees and economic migrants.• Growth in temporary migration may lead to new forms of transnational identity and

belonging.• Two key issues for Australia: how to maintain our competitive advantage as an

attractive destination; and how settlement and multicultural policies can be remouldedto respond to the growth of temporary migration.

Dr Shanthi Robertson, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Culture and Society, WesternSydney University: ‘Migration, Mobility and Belonging: Employment and Precarity’• Increases to temporary migration programs cause new ‘staggered migration pathways’.• Individuals experience significant ‘churn’ across temporary visa categories; this

structures their time and impacts on careers, relationships and family lives.• Disruptions are often caused by policy change, labour market shifts and visa

constraints. Current governance of temporary migration in Australia makes transitionsinto adulthood and career transitions more difficult.

• Even after migration and employment security are obtained, the staggered mobility ofthe past continues to impact migrants’ lives.

Mr Ivan Neville, Branch Manager, Labour Market Research and Analysis Branch, Department of Employment: ‘Employment and the Labour Market: issues for Western Australia’• Labour market conditions in WA show that employment growth has slowed

significantly and full time participation rates have declined.• The shift to part-time jobs means that underemployment and underutilisation are on

the rise.• Net overseas migration has fallen and primary 457 grants have declined.• Many skilled migrants are underutilised. Ensuring skilled migrants’ skills and

experience are fully utilised is one part of addressing employers’ needs.

UWA Migration, Mobilities and Belonging InitiativeThe WA Migration and Mobilities Update is hosted by the Migration, Mobilities andBelonging (MMoB) research cluster based in the Faculty of Arts with support fromthe UWA Business School. Formed in 2013, MMoB brings together researchers,postgraduates and students from across UWA who undertake research on migration-related issues.

What the keynotes had to say

MMoB’s vision is to become a leading intellectual and creative resource on issues of mobilities and migration thatserves scholars, students, government and the community. MMoB brings together academics from the disciplinesof sociology, business, anthropology, cultural studies, geography, history, Asian Studies, and health. Members useinterdisciplinary tools to understand and address the implications of migration and mobility for social, cultural,political and economic life. MMoB scholars work collaboratively with other sectors, including government, non-government and community.

New PD accreditation for the WA MMoB Update in 2016The 2016 Update was accredited by the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority for 3 CPD points. This was the first year that the Update has been accredited for RMA professional development.

Supported by

Future Updates The UWA MMoB will host an annual Update to continue the conversation about policy and service delivery, informed by high quality research. Please contact us if you would like to be involved: Loretta.Baldassar@uwa.edu.au Donella.Caspersz@uwa.edu.au Farida.Fozdar@uwa.edu.au