Community Proposal Pilot

2016-17 Programme Year

2016
Summary

What is the Community Proposal Pilot?

What is AMES Australias role?
How much is the Community Proposal Pilot?
How do I lodge an Expression of Interest?
What is the selection criteria?
Can I lodge another Expression of Interest if I have previously not been
selected for the Community Proposal Pilot?
What is the selection process?
What happens if I am not selected for the Community Proposal Pilot?
What happens if I am selected for the Community Proposal Pilot?
How long will the visa application process take?
Can the visa application still be refused?
What support will visa applicants receive upon arrival to Australia?
Disclaimer

The information provided is a broader explanation of the

Community Proposal Pilot it is NOT Migration Advice
We cannot answer specific questions about individual cases
If community members want migration advice they can engage a
Registered Migration Agent
Registered Migration Agent consumer
guide: https://www.mara.gov.au/using-an-agent/using-a-
registered-migration-agent/.
What is the Community Proposal Pilot?
An alternate refugee and humanitarian entry program being trialled
by the Department of Immigration and Border Protection since July
2013.
500 visa places per year WITHIN the 13 750 minimum
humanitarian places
Applications are prioritised
Significant costs associated 2 x Visa Application Charges, AMES
Australia administration fees, refundable bond, medical checks and
airfares
Practical settlement support is the responsibility of the Australian
family member NOT AMES Australia
Unfunded program
Higher visa grant rate than the Special Humanitarian Program
(SHP)
Currently in the 4th round
What is AMES Australias role?
AMES Australia is an Approved Proposing Organisation (APO)
Formal agreement with the Department of Immigration and Border
Protection
Our role:
- Select suitable people for the pilot
- Lodge visa applications on behalf of these people
- Follow up with visa application process (act as authorised recipient)
- Notify Australian community member of the outcome of the visa application
- Provide limited settlement assistance up to 12 months after the arrival
Not Registered Migration Agents we cannot give migration advice
Arrivals are NOT eligible for Humanitarian Settlement Services
(HSS)
 How much is the Community Proposal
Pilot?
Significant costs associated with the Community Proposal Pilot
APPROXIMATELY $30 000 of non refundable fees for one applicant
APPROXIMATELY $5 000 of non refundable fees for EACH additional
applicant
PLUS $ 5000 refundable bond
Some potential additional costs
E.g. An family of four = approximately $50 000 to successfully go through the
program ($5000 refunded upon successful settlement)
Approved Proposing Organisation administration fee has increased
as we aim to deliver a quality program
Costs are staged
 How do I lodge an Expression of
Interest?
Expressions of Interest are currently open on the CPP website until
Friday 29 July at 5pm: https://cpp-apo.net/eoi-form/
Approved Proposing Organisations only accept Expressions of
Interest through the online process
All the instructions for lodging the Expression of Interest are on the
website
Expressions of Interest should be completed by the person who
wishes to have their family members/community members proposed.
i.e. Migration Agents and Community Leaders can ASSIST people to lodge an
Expression of Interest but SHOULD NOT complete an Expression of Interest on
someone elses behalf
Once you have completed an Expression of Interest you should
receive a confirmation email MAKE SURE YOU ENTER THE
CORRECT EMAIL ADDRESS
What is the selection criteria?
HIGH demand for LIMITED places most Expressions of Interest
will not be accepted into the program
2 primary criteria:
The strength of the humanitarian claim multiple factors
The capacity of the Australian family to provide SUITABLE and ONGOING
settlement assistance multiple factors
IMPORTANT for community members to know that if they cannot
CLEARLY demonstrate that they meet these two criteria, they will
not be accepted into the program
Information must be true and correct and detailed
AMES Australia does not accept Expressions of Interest from its own
employees (EOIs must be lodged to BSL)
People who have participated as Supporting Community Members in
previous years cannot apply again
Can I lodge another Expression of
Interest if I have previously not been
selected for the Community Proposal
Pilot?
YES
BUT, must meet the criteria
What is the selection process?
Manager of the Community Proposal Pilot will shortlist based on the
selection criteria
MERITS-BASED process: we CANNOT meet with organisations or
individuals until after the selection process and ONLY if they have
been selected for the program.
We aim to ensure ethnic diversity within the program
The shortlist is then ANONYMOUSLY presented to a selection panel
to rank EOIs on the shortlist
The panel is made up of three representatives with appropriate
expertise
What is the selection process? (cont.)
The selection process has CHANGED as demand for the program
has significantly INCREASED and we gain a better understanding of
the applications that are more likely to have positive and timely visa
outcomes AND good settlement outcomes still, INCLUSION IN
THE COMMUNITY PROPOSAL PILOT IS NOT A GUARANTEE
THAT A VISA APPLICATION WILL BE SUCCESSFUL
What happens if I am not selected for the
Community Proposal Pilot?
People will be informed of the outcome of their EOI by the end of
August
If unsuccessful, community member will receive an email PLEASE
ENSURE YOU ENTER THE CORRECT EMAIL ADDRESS
Due to the numbers and lack of resources we are unable to provide
detailed, individualised feedback
Many people that appear to meet the criteria will not be included in
the CPP due to high demand and limited places
Decision not to select an EOI is final
What happens if I am selected for the
Community Proposal Pilot?
Person will be contacted via phone to confirm the details provided
Stage A case assessment meeting booked
Required to bring evidence of settlement and financial capacity as
well as DIBP forms and supporting documentation STILL NOT A
GUARANTEED PLACE IN CPP
Stage B if case assessment successful - visa will be lodged
Visa application processing DIBP assesses the visa application,
includes: medical checks, security checks , biometric checks
(enhanced for some cohorts)
Stage C visa outcome EITHER 2nd VAC requested and visa
granted OR visa application refused
Settlement primarily responsibility of family member or Supporting
Community Organisation, limited support from AMES Australia
How long will the visa application
process take?
Varies unable to give timelines as each case is different, each year
is different
Prioritised
Various factors that can affect timelines:
Health issues
Country of residence
Enhanced security checks
Responses to additional information
Can the visa application still be refused?
YES
Much higher grant rate than Special Humanitarian Program
2013-14 19.4% grant rate
AMES Australia:
CPP1 (2013-14) 80% grant rate
CPP2 (2014-15) 80% grant rate
CPP3 (2015-16) currently, 90% grant rate
CPP4 - ?
What support will visa applicants receive
upon arrival to Australia?
Supporting Community Member/Organisation need to provide
practical settlement assistance similar to Humanitarian Settlement
Services (HSS)
Arrivals ARE NOT eligible for HSS
This includes (but is not limited to):
Meeting them at the airport
Providing, clothing, basic household goods, food and
accommodation
Referring to Medicare, Centrelink, banking services, schools for
children
Registering for a general health assessment
Referring to English language training
Assisting them to find a job and permanent housing
AMES Australia will provide some assistance
What support will visa applicants receive
upon arrival to Australia? (cont.)
Bond ($5000) will not be returned until all settlement outcomes are
met and not before 4 months
CAN be used to ensure settlement outcomes are met (has not been
used to date)
SCOs:
Well-established organisations that can provide support to community
members to reach settlement outcomes
Must sign an agreement with an APO
Focus is on providing settlement support after the visa has been granted
Do not receive any fees