Downlaod Submission CoCA-Regulations-Letter-201820.pdf Senator John WilliamsChair Senate Regulations and Ordinances Committee PO Box 6100 Parliament House Canberra ACT 2600 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.   20th March 2018 Re:   Marriage Regulations 2017 Dear Senator Williams I am writing to you on behalf of the Coalition of Celebrant Association (CoCA) Incorporated. CoCA was established on 16 October 2008 and is recognised by the Commonwealth Attorney-General as the peak representative body for all Commonwealth-registered marriage celebrants. CoCA is comprised of 11 professional associations of marriage celebrants, and is the only association of celebrant associations in Australia. CoCA notes that the Committee on Regulations and Ordinances…

November 2017 - Commonwealth Celebrants to branch out into makeup, photography, dress hire, flowers .... Elected Officers News - discontinued until the issue of Marriage Equality resolved. December 2015 -   Marriage education for all Australians November 2015 - Topic: Summary of issues raised with MPs and Senators in 2015 October 2015 - Law Allows Unauthorised Ministers to 'Pretend' to Marry Couples September 2015 - What are your concerns about Marriage Law in Australia August 2015 - VET Marriage Celebrant Education for Child and Forced Marriage July 2015 - Is Hon Ruddock MP proposing to take marriage away from all…

TOPIC:  What 3 things make the Australian Marriage Act 1961 so special?  Australia’s unique independent authorised civil marriage celebrants provide professional, personalised and meaningful marriage ceremonies on behalf of the Government, anywhere in Australia 24/7 – 365 days a year, where couples can choose the celebrant that will suit their style, values and family needs. Upholding marriage as a monogamous and respectful relationship, applying the same civilised conditions equally to males and females, and requiring a free and informed decision by each party to enter this legally binding relationship. Our Government granting major religions and independent religious celebrants, the right…

TOPIC: Child and Forced Marriage in AustraliaHow can anyone agree be married in Australia without giving free and informed consent? Couples married by Ministers of the 120+ Recognised Religions (Subdivision A) are not required to give consent to marry in the marriage ceremony of that religion, unless consent is a part of the religious marriage rite. (Section 45) In some Recognised Religions' wedding ceremonies, couples are not required to give consent, and the language used is not required to be understood by the couple. (Section 45) Religious celebrants of both Recognised Religions (Subdivision A) and independent religious celebrants (part of…

At the last meeting on the 28th April 2015, there was a presentation from the Director of the Firearms and Crimes Against the Person Section on the updates from the Department in relation to forced marriage including an information pack for distribution to all celebrants.CoCA congratulates the Department for the steps taken to increase the penalties for child, forced, servile and sham marriages from four years to seven years and for continuing to highlight issues in this area.  To strengthen this initiative, the Marriage Act needs to be changed for greater consistency in order for the general public to be able to…

Topic: Child and Forced Marriage prompts the need to update the Marriage Act for legal consistency in wedding ceremonies At the last meeting on the 28th April 2015, there was a presentation from the Director of the Firearms and Crimes Against the Person Section on the updates from the Department in relation to forced marriage including an information pack for distribution to all celebrants.CoCA congratulates the Department for the steps taken to increase the penalties for arranged, servile and sham marriages from four years to seven years and for continuing to highlight issues in this area.  To strengthen this initiative, the Marriage…

The Community Services and Health Industry Skills Council is currently reviewing the training qualifications for Commonwealth Marriage Celebrants.However there is no training in marriage law for the 23,000 religious celebrants from the 128 Recognised religions.Over half a century has gone by since the Marriage Act brought together the various states and terriories marriage laws in 1961.Australia has changed greatly in that time. Also Australians have access to information via the media to other countries and their marriage laws.These different laws and customs can confuse the general public and celebrants who have not been trained in Australian marriage law about the…

TOPIC: Better training for independent celebrants for all ceremonies VET qualifications change all the time to adapt to new environmental and social conditions. Sometimes in response, legislation needs to change if the Regulations related to that sector are not "current industry standards".An expert group of celebrant practitioners is recommending a Diploma in Celebrancy (an undergraduate VET qualification) in response to the changing needs of society.The internet savvy younger generation as well as the seniors want less traditional yet meaningful ceremonies and rites of passage - life celebrations, funerals, memorials and more. Our concerns Currently Marriage Regulations require a Certificate IV…

TOPIC: National Vocational Education and Training Reforms March 2015 saw the last of the national consultations for VET reforms where Commonwealth and State Ministers at the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Industry and Skills Council agreed to six objectives for reform to be led by industry.  During these consultations, Hon Senator Simon Birmingham, Assistant Minister for Education and Training, highlighted the need for the reforms to have equal requirements of jobs, quality and status.   The CoCA celebrant practitioners of the VET Subject Matter Expert Group (SMEG) recommends a Diploma in Celebrancy upgrading from the current Certificate IV in Celebrancy.This…

5. Funding the regulatory support for all religious and civil marriage services by a Marriage Licence Fee on all marrying couples (via stamp purchased through Australia Post) or charging all authorised marriage celebrants an annual regulation fee  to provide regulatory support for all both religious and civil marriage services. Under the Marriage Act 1961 Only 30% of authorised Marriage Celebrants (i.e. Commonwealth Subdivision C and D celebrants) are required to have: pre-appointment training in marriage law continuing professional development in marriage law a Code of Practiceand pay an annual registration fee to cover the cost of their ongoing regulation.This fee…