News & Insights
Understanding Regional Migration Pathways: Subclasses 491, 494 and 191
Australia's regional migration program provides skilled migrants with a pathway from a provisional regional visa to permanent residence. The key visas in this pathway are: Subclass 491 – Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa Subclass 494 – Skilled Employer...
A win against exit trafficking: an overlooked federal crime
Earlier this year, I was approached to act as a pro bono solicitor for Maya*. Maya had been tricked by her husband into leaving Australia for what she believed would be a short family visit to their home country. Once she had departed, he intended to leave her there...
Cases of exit trafficking on the rise
Family, domestic and sexual violence is a major welfare issue in Australia, occurring across all socioeconomic and demographic groups. However, we acknowledge that these issues affect women and children at disproportionate rates. In late 2025, the Australian Federal...
What is visa abuse?
Family and Domestic Violence can happen to anyone. Family violence is both outlined by the Department of Home Affairs and in local state-based legislation. Today, we will review visa abuse, a form of family violence. The use of visa abuse by perpetrators of domestic...
Changes to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) Act and the Migration Act: Student visas and other temporary visas
The Administrative Review Tribunal and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2025 was passed on 5 February 2026 and has now come into effect as on today, 18 May 2026. Who will be impacted? The reform currently only impacts student (subclass 500) visa applicants that...
Domestic Violence Remembrance Day
The first Wednesday in May is Domestic Violence Remembrance Day; a day to honour those who have died, and the ones left behind due to domestic and family violence. Family violence and visa holders Family violence can include many different factors and but can also...