CoCA Celebrant News - Elected Officials - January 2015

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	News January 2015
	Hello Visitor, CoCA Celebrant News for Elected Officials aims to send you regular information related to the Marriage Act 1961, the Marriage Regulations, the Commonwealth Marriage Celebrant Program and more. TOPIC: Training in marriage law for ALL marriage celebrants to address concerns about child and forced marriage concerns It is over half a century since the Marriage Act brought together the various states and territories marriage laws in 1961. Australian society has changed greatly in that time. Australians also have more access to media information about the customs and marriage laws in other countries. This can result in confusion about the legal requirements for and the nature of marriage in Australia for the general public and untrained celebrants alike. Therefore it is essential that all marriage celebrants are properly trained in the legal requirements for marriage in Australia. The Attorney-General's Department approves the marriage law units that are required for those seeking registration as a Subdivision C marriage celebrant (independent civil and religious). These marriage law training units are available nationally, through face to face or online delivery and are affordable - being units of a Certificate IV or Diploma. The Attorney-General’s Department also determines the content of the annual compulsory legal unit that all Subdivision C celebrants must undertake to maintain their appointments. The training requirements on marriage law mandated for Commonwealth marriage celebrants do not apply to the state appointmented 700 registry office staff or the 23,000 religious celebrants from the 128 Recognised religions. What can Government do to address this? It is time to consider a common standard of Marriage Law training for all Marriage Celebrants. There are also changes to the Marriage Act that could be made to reduce the risk of child and forced marriage. Read more about what governments can do . . . More about CoCA What is CoCA? Child - Forced Marriage and the Australian Marriage Act Legal clarification of Section 39 CoCA liaises with the Attorney-General's Department in Canberra on issues relating to Marriage Law and the Marriage Celebrancy Sector. If you need more information about this issue or information about our profession, please contact the CoCA Secretary. Kind regards CoCA Secretary secretary@coalitionofcelebrantassociations.org.au Published by: Coalition of Celebrant Associations (CoCA) Incorporated ABN: 60 306 885 313 www.coalitionofcelebrantassociations.org.au
	The Coalition of Celebrant Associations (CoCA) Inc is the peak body for celebrants in Australia. CoCA is an association of celebrant associations spanning the nation. One of CoCA's key roles is to represent Commonwealth marriage celebrants concerns, needs and suggestions to the Attorney-General and the Attorney-General's Department and through its Protocol with the Department to provide advice on the development, implementation and review of the Commonwealth Marriage Celebrant Program. CoCA values transparency, freedom of speech and information in its operations.
	Disclaimer: This e-News is a publication under the auspices of the CoCA Inc. The ideas presented are not necessarily those of the editors nor of the CoCA Inc. delegates. The statements and opinions expressed in this publication are made in good faith for the development of civil celebrancy, and the CoCA Inc, editors, volunteers and contributors do not take any responsibility for those statements or opinions, any inferences that may be drawn from them, or actions or charges which may result from them. The Editor reserves the right not to print any item that is defamatory, or that is anonymously sent, and to edit any contributions as required.


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