Community Engagement Newsletter

Community Engagement Newsletter – 18 September 2026

Dear community representatives,

Thank you for your ongoing support and contributions to the community. The Community Engagement Network has collated this newsletter of important information from across the Australian Government that may be of interest to yourself and members of your community.

Please feel free to share content from this newsletter with members of your community, but in the interests of ensuring the information remains accurate, please do not make any alterations to the content.

In this fortnight’s edition, you can find information on the following:

News & Updates

Australian Citizenship Day – 17 September
Get your visa application right the first time – Check twice submit once
Partner Visa – Frequently Asked Questions
Protecting Migrant Workers – Updated website
Libraries as Social Cohesion Hubs initiative
Fair Work Ombudsman Recovers $453 Million for Workers
Consultation on strengthening Australia’s Modern Slavery Laws – Submissions close 16 October 2026
Have your say on NSW anti-discrimination laws
Do I need to register under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme?

Upcoming Events

Immigration Status Resolution Service – National Outreach and Engagement – 21-28 September

Other Information

Useful information in your language
Contact Us
Other useful links

Australian Citizenship Day – 17 September

Australian Citizenship Day - 17 September

The Department has produced two videos to mark Australian Citizenship Day, which is celebrated each year on 17 September. In these videos, this year’s Local Hero Award recipients welcome new citizens and share their experiences, highlighting the importance and benefits of being active citizens. The Local Hero Award recognises Australians who make an outstanding contribution to their local communities.

On Australian Citizenship Day, we reflect on the meaning and significance of Australian citizenship, including the rights, privileges, and responsibilities that come with it. Australian citizenship contributes to our success as a multicultural society. Every new citizen strengthens our communities, secures a prosperous future and helps uphold our shared Australian values.

Eligible permanent residents are encouraged to apply for Australian citizenship and embrace the opportunities and responsibilities that it provides.

Get your visa application right the first time – Check twice submit once

When applying for an Australian visa, check your application twice before you hit submit.

An incomplete application can also cost you time and money if it leads to your visa being refused. Follow these tips to help get a quicker outcome:

Submit all required documents and correct information.
Check that your name is spelt correctly and matches your passport.
Provide English translations for any documents not in English.
Check your ImmiAccount inbox regularly for updates or requests for more information.

As a visa applicant, you must provide genuine, verifiable and unaltered documents and information. This includes photographs, videos or audio files you provide with your application. Do not modify or create documents using digital editing tools, artificial intelligence (AI), or any other method. Providing bogus documents or information that is false and misleading may lead to refusal of your application, cancellation of your visa, restrictions on future applications, and possible legal action.

Submit a complete and accurate application so you can get a visa decision sooner.

Find out more at Check twice, submit once, and Providing accurate information.

Partner Visa – Frequently Asked Questions

Did you know the Department has a dedicated Partner Visa Frequently Asked Questions webpage? This page includes information on what to do before and after you submit your application, what to do if your circumstances change, and many more topics, including:

Processing times

Applicants seeking information about the progress of their application are encouraged to check the Department’s published processing times, which are updated monthly.

While we are unable to report on the progress of individual applications, you can check the status of your application through ImmiAccount.

If an application is outside the published processing times, or there is a need to provide more information about an application, applicants can submit an enquiry via the Partner Processing Enquiry Form.

Priority processing

The Department has recently updated its Factsheet – Partner visas requests for priority processing.

Requests for priority processing are very common, and it is the nature of the Partner visa program that a large number of applications have a compassionate or compelling element. Therefore, to receive priority over other applicants who applied before you, your circumstances must be an exception to the circumstances faced by the majority of Partner visa applicants.

Please refer to the factsheet for more information.

Protecting Migrant Workers – Updated website

The Department has recently updated the migrant worker protections website which now includes a range of products that educate workers and employers about migrant worker protections, including:

· Information for migrant workers

· Information for employers and labour hire organisations

· Help, reporting protections and the Workplace Justice visa

· Resources and translated material

Through these pages, you can also learn about the different types of migrant worker exploitation, which are all illegal in Australia, and how to get help.

For more information about your rights and reporting protections, please visit Workers rights and visa reporting protections, including resources to support victims of human trafficking and modern slavery.

These pages are translated into over 13 language via the On Demand Web Translation tool at the top of the page.

Libraries as Social Cohesion Hubs initiative

The Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and the Office for Social Cohesion are continuing their successful partnership for a second year through the Libraries as Social Cohesion Hubs initiative, following a successful national pilot in 2025-26.

As part of Phase Two, from 1 September 2026 to 16 April 2027, 120 public library services across Australia will deliver 382 workshops and 66 full-day events designed to strengthen social cohesion, inclusion and community resilience. The program focuses on:

· Building connections across cultural, faith and social groups.

· Increasing civic participation and leadership among young people and diverse communities.

· Enhancing resilience against misinformation, division and conflict.

· Strengthening the capacity of community leaders, organisations and frontline workers.

· Connecting new and established communities through local initiatives.

· Improving trust and collaboration between communities and institutions.

· Promoting inclusive volunteering and civic engagement.

· Celebrating diversity while fostering a shared sense of belonging.

For more information about the outcomes and impact of Phase One, please see Libraries as Social Cohesion Hubs 2025-26 Report. To learn more about the program and view a map of participating libraries across Australia, visit Libraries as Social Cohesion Hubs 2026-27

Fair Work Ombudsman Recovers $453 Million for Workers

The Fair Work Ombudsman has recovered $453 million in unpaid wages and entitlements for more than 181,000 workers in 2025-26, an increase of 27 per cent on the previous year. Over the past six financial years, almost $2.5 billion has been recovered for Australian workers.

The national workplace regulator also increased its proactive investigations, with a strong focus on sectors where workers may face higher risks of underpayment and non-compliance, including building and construction and disability support services.

Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth said the recoveries help ensure workers receive their lawful entitlements while supporting a fair and level playing field for businesses that comply with workplace laws.

For more information, here is a link to the Media release Fair Work Ombudsman recovers $453 million for workers, as Booth urges compliance common ground – Fair Work Ombudsman.

Workers and employers can also access free information and support about workplace rights and obligations on the Fair Work Ombudsman website or by calling the Fair Work Infoline on 13 13 94. A free interpreter service is also available on 13 14 50 and workplace concerns can be reported anonymously, including in languages other than English.

Consultation on strengthening Australia’s Modern Slavery Laws – Submissions close 16 October 2026

The Australian Government has launched a consultation on proposed reforms to strengthen Australia’s response to modern slavery in supply chains. Announced on 16 July 2026, the reforms include a proposed new criminal offence for failing to prevent modern slavery, along with potential enforcement measures such as Deferred Prosecution Agreements (DPAs) and improved pathways for victim remedies.

The proposed changes aim to enhance corporate accountability, better protect workers vulnerable to exploitation, and support businesses already taking action to identify and address modern slavery risks in their operations and supply chains.

The consultation is open to businesses, industry bodies, legal experts, academics, unions, civil society organisations, and individuals with lived experience. Feedback will help shape practical, effective and proportionate reforms.

For more information and to have your say, visit the Attorney-General’s Department consultation page. Submissions are open to all interested stakeholders and members of the public.

Have your say on NSW anti-discrimination laws

Have Your Save

Do I need to register under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme?

Do I need to register under the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme

Image credit: Attorney-General’s Department

The Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme (FITS) requires people and organisations to publicly register foreign influence activities that are targeted at Australia’s federal political and government processes. You can find registered activities on the FITS Public Register. This helps the public, politicians and government officials to know when foreign interests seek to influence our politics and government.

What activities are registrable?

You may need to register if you do registrable activities on behalf of a foreign principal. This could include lobbying, communications or funding activities that try to influence Australia’s federal politics, federal government, or try to influence the community in relation to federal politics and government.

More information about the FITS, available in 11 different languages, can be found here.

The FITS does not require you to change, stop or seek approval for your activities.

You can still work with foreign principals and do foreign influence activities in Australia – as long as you do it in a way that is open, transparent and respectful of our people, society and democratic system.

Registration shows your organisation’s commitment to supporting Australia’s democracy.

Register now!

Register for free in 5-10 minutes through the FITS Registrant Portal. There is no penalty for registering if it is later found that there were no registration obligations. However, not registering, when you are required to do so, is a criminal offence.

If you have any questions about obligations under the scheme, please contact foreigninfluence@ag.gov.au or call (02) 6141 3222.

Immigration Status Resolution Service – National Outreach and Engagement – 21-28 September

The Department of Home Affairs invites you and your communities to come meet with the SA, ACT and QLD Community Status Resolution teams, in collaboration with Status Resolution Network Engagement. We will be present for outreach events in Salisbury, SA, Canberra, ACT and Bundaberg, QLD so we are inviting you and your communities to come in and have a chat with us about any of the following:

The role of the Immigration Status Resolution Service
Bridging Visa E grants
Assistance with voluntary departures
Connecting individuals to services that can provide financial assistance, counselling, or logistical support
Why the support of community leaders is so important
Seek valuable input and feedback from you on how best to effectively engage with your communities

The Immigration Status Resolution Service helps individuals in Australia who do not have a valid visa or who hold a Bridging Visa E. The service ensures that individuals can remain in Australia lawfully while they await the outcome of a substantive visa application or make plans to depart Australia.

We will host a virtual presentation for Community Leaders and the following in-person client outreach events:

The online presentation will be delivered via Microsoft Teams:

Virtual presentation

Monday 21^st September 2026 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM (AEST).