MinterEllison is the only top-tier law firm in Australia with a dedicated migration law practice. I lead a team that offers a full-service approach, from assisting clients with workforce mobilisation strategies to managing the operational aspects of visa applications and dealing with compliance issues.

Career highlights

• Advising various State and Local government departments on use of the migration program to attract and retain workers.
• Advising on migration law aspects of numerous large-scale mergers and acquisitions.
• Acting for numerous meat industry companies to respond to sponsorship monitoring exercises and Australian Border Force investigations.
• Negotiating Labour Agreements (including company, industry specific and GTES) for public and private sector entities.
• Managing visa programs for employers across all sectors including bulk and complex applications.
• Delivering in house training sessions on migration compliance and defensible processes.
• Acting for numerous employers and individual applicants with regards to review applications to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
• ProBono work with the Refugee and Immigration Legal Services, Basic Rights Queensland and many more.

Awards and recognition

• Recognised by Doyle's as a leading migration lawyer 21, 22 and 23
• Chair of the QLS Migration Law Committee

• COVID-19 Migration Update – Travel to Australia for temporary visa holders
  

  As Australia starts to open up to international travel, temporary visa holders should be aware of the Government's current travel advice, including travel bans, restrictions on entry and self-isolation guidelines.

• Temporary Visa Holders travelling to Australia: Guide for fully vaccinated international arrivals aged 18 and over from 21 February 2022
  

  The below information is guide for international arrivals to Australia aged 18 and over who are fully vaccinated. Different rules apply to children and people who are not fully vaccinated or medically exempt.

• Migration alert: Upcoming critical dates for strategic workforce planning
  

  The Prime Minister announced that Australia's international border will fully reopen to those who are double vaccinated on 21 February 2022. We have outlined the critical dates and requirements for strategic workforce planning.

• Australia's new Migration Strategy
  

  The Minister for Home Affairs has just released the federal Government's new Migration Strategy, aimed at overhauling Australia's migration program.

• Improving access to permanent residency for current 457 and Temporary Skills Shortage visa holders.
  

  A new legislative instrument has been issued which provides a pathway to permanent residence for previously ineligible temporary workers holding Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS visas) in the Short Term stream.

• Business Innovation and Investment Program update: changes to investment framework
  

  The Australian government has announced significant changes to the Business Innovation and Investment Program (BIIP).

• Jobs and Skills Summit: Proposed migration changes to address skills shortages
  

  The government has announced changes to Australia's migration program at the Jobs and Skills Summit. What do the immediate and future changes look like?

• Major changes to Australia's migration program
  

  The government has publicly released the Review of the Migration System Final Report, and a draft outline for a new migration strategy for Australia.

• Upcoming expiration of transitional arrangements for temporary visa holders
  

  The Australian Government introduced significant changes to the employer sponsored visa program in 2017 and 2018, which effectively limited the ability of many sponsored visa holders to access a permanent residence pathway.

• Designated Area Migration Agreements for overseas workers in regional areas
  

  Skill shortages and the use of the migration program was a key topic of discussion at the federal Jobs and Skills Summit. How can the DAMA program help?

• Migration update: employing international students and graduates
  

  The Government made several announcements regarding Australia's Migration Program on Wednesday, 22 February 2023. We explore the details and what they mean for employers.

• Latest workplace reforms in the Protecting Worker Entitlements Bill have passed
  

  The Federal Government's second round of workplace reforms in the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Protecting Worker Entitlements) Bill 2023 has passed.

• Federal Budget 2022/23: Workplace and migration Implications
  

  A number of measures announced in the Federal Budget will impact on Australian workplaces, migration and global mobility. We explore them and their implications.

• Mobilising overseas workers during Australia's skill shortage
  

  With many Australian industries facing a skills shortage and migration levels still low after the Australian border reopening, how can employers manage their workforce planning? Our migration team explores some of the options.

• Migration Strategy: spotlight on international education
  

  The International Education sector is a key area of focus of the Government's new Migration Strategy. We explore the main themes of the reforms announced and changes to come.

• Migration update: Employment White Paper
  

  The Federal Government has released the Employment White Paper, outlining the Government’s vision for a dynamic and inclusive labour market.

• 2021-22 Federal Budget: Migration Update
  

  The COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact and shape Australia's migration program. The 2021-22 Australian Federal Budget sees the government continuing its efforts to strike a balance between addressing skill shortages and the needs of Australian business, and securing and protecting public health.
  The MinterEllison Migration team considers what the budget means for business and workforce planning.

• Federal Government announces new skilled visa allocations
  

  The Federal Government recently announced increased visa allocations for regional areas. This involves changes mainly to the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme and the Subclass 489 Skilled – Regional (Provisional) visas. Our migration team provides an update on what these changes entail and the impact that this may have on employers.