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» Information phone line launched after boat explosion

An information phone line has been established by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) following the Ashmore boat explosion. People who may have known someone on board or are trying to contact friends injured in the explosion on April 16 should phone the information line 1300 735 683. DIAC established the phone line in a bid to help connect those whos...

» DIAC information line

An information phone line has been established by the department following the Ashmore boat explosion. People who may have known someone on board or are trying to contact friends injured in the explosion on April 16 should phone the information line 1300 735 683. All calls will be treated confidentially and information provided may help identify those who are injured and ...

» DIAC welcomes Victorian public affairs officer

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has appointed a public affairs officer, Steve Pivetta, to its Victorian state office. Mr Pivetta is a former chief sub-editor, state political reporter, editorial writer, columnist, Walkley Awards finalist and accredited foreign photo-journalist. He has 23 years' experience as a senior journalist on Australia's two ...

» DIAC welcomes New South Wales public affairs officer

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) has appointed a public affairs officer, Lancia Jordana to its New South Wales state office. Ms Jordana has more than 20 years’ experience as a journalist and corporate communications specialist. She was a radio and television reporter with the ABC and SBS in Sydney, Darwin and the federal press gallery and worked ...

» Stronger English capability combats exploitation

The language requirement for all subclass 457 trades and chef applicants has been raised, effective today, in response to concerns about the exploitation of workers from non-English speaking countries. A Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) spokesman said increasing the existing language requirement from International English Language Testing System (IELTS) 4....

» Immigration officers to visit Whyalla

Officers from the Adelaide office of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will visit Whyalla next Thursday (April 16). The visit is part of DIAC’s regional visit program, where departmental officers bring services normally only available in Adelaide to regional towns and cities. People from the Whyalla area with immigration or citizenship matters they...

» Winning DIAC duo

<img src='http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/photos/9d59/56bb/9d5956bb-e323-4c59-a85f-989ef9639c56-275x270.jpg' /><br>(left to right) DIAC staff members Sam Underdown and Oner Aktas will represent Australia in the Global Management Challenge world final.

» Winning DIAC duo

<img src='http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/photos/c871/97f9/c87197f9-d8a4-438d-ac81-49084beb91dc-275x270.jpg' /><br>(left to right) DIAC staff members Oner Aktas and Sam Underdown will represent Australia in the Global Management Challenge world final.

» DIAC duo wins Australian Global Management Challenge final

Two Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) staff members have proven their world-class business acumen, without earning a single cent. Sam Underdown and Oner Aktas are the winners of the Global Management Challenge Australian final, an international competition focused on business strategies. Competitors aim to get the highest share price for their company on a...

» Townsville Intercultural Centre

<img src='http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/videos/76-275x270-0_0.jpg' /><br>Some 13 500 people will enter Australia this program year under the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's refugee and humanitarian program. They will join more than 700 000 people who have escaped from war torn and troubled nations and resettled in Australia since World War II. To help celebrate National Youth Week, DIAC met with the Townsville Intercultural Cent...

» National Youth Week

<img src='http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/videos/75-275x270-0_0.jpg' /><br>Some 13 500 people will enter Australia this program year under the Department of Immigration and Citizenship's refugee and humanitarian program. They will join more than 700 000 people who have escaped from war torn and troubled nations and resettled in Australia since World War II. To help celebrate National Youth Week, DIAC caught up with two people who arrived in A...

» Joint document examination workshop with Philippines

In a wide-reaching example of regional cooperation on border security, participants from more than 20 countries will attend a document examination workshop in Manila this week. Co-chaired by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) and the Philippines Bureau of Immigration (PBI), the April 1-3 workshop, Document Examination at the Border, will be attended by a...

» Immigration detention services preferred tenderer announced

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) today announced Serco Australia Pty Ltd has been selected as the preferred tenderer for the new contract for the provision of a range of immigration detention services at immigration detention centres around Australia. Serco Australia and its international parent company currently deliver immigration detention, resident...

» DIAC apologises to former immigration detainees

The Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will apologise to a group of former Villawood Immigration Detention Centre detainees about arrangements it made for their identification interviews in the centre in 2005. In May and June 2005, the department arranged for Chinese government officials to interview the 68 Chinese nationals to establish their identity. ...

» Letter to the Editor, The Kalgoorlie Miner

Letter to the Editor The Kalgoorlie Miner Dear Sir/Madam It is unfortunate the Department of Immigration and Citizenship is being wrongly blamed for the Giants’ visa issues (Giants to miss Haney, 14/03/09). Your journalist neglects to point out Basketball Australia lodges all sponsorship applications on behalf of clubs or that Michael Haney's application was rec...

» DIAC switches off for Earth Hour

Staff at the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) will again take part in the global movement to conserve energy and help protect the planet by switching off lights for Earth Hour this year. All non-essential lights and electronic equipment will be turned off at DIAC’s Belconnen headquarters and offices across Australia at 8.30pm on March 28. DIAC’s e...

» National meatworkers operation in Wagga Wagga

<img src='http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/videos/50-275x270-42_8.jpg' /><br>As part of a multi-state compliance operation on March 11, immigration officers visit a residence in Wagga Wagga, NSW. The operation cracked an alleged labour hire and identity fraud racket targeting the meat industry.

» Wagga Wagga Immigration compliance operation

<img src='http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/photos/eda0/806c/eda0806c-56dc-446f-8e62-6cae98085cbb-275x270.jpg' /><br>A person of interest in Wagga Wagga has his personal details verified by a DIAC officer during the multi-state operation on March 11.

» Wagga Wagga Immigration compliance operation

<img src='http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/photos/3dec/2a54/3dec2a54-0b09-4a98-a9c1-eefa510e46d2-275x270.jpg' /><br>Officers consult maps and photos of the residential locations to be visited in Wagga Wagga as part of the national operation on March 11.

» Wagga Wagga Immigration compliance operation

<img src='http://www.newsroom.immi.gov.au/photos/171e/1f12/171e1f12-890a-47ab-9551-57895384ca6d-275x270.jpg' /><br>DIAC and NSW Police officers are briefed before an immigration compliance operation in Wagga Wagga early on March 11. Warrants executed in Wagga Wagga formed part of a multi-state investigation into a fraud racket targeting the meat industry.