Marriage Celebrants E-bulletin June 2006
Welcome to the June 2006 issue of the e-bulletin for marriage celebrants.
Failure to fulfil ongoing professional development obligations
Disciplinary measures have commenced against those marriage celebrants registered by the Commonwealth who did not undertake any ongoing professional development (OPD) during the registration years 2003-2004 and 2004-2005.
As you would all be aware the completion of five hours OPD each registration year is an obligation for all marriage celebrants registered by the Commonwealth.
The Department is aware that for marriage celebrants appointed prior to the start of the Marriage Celebrants Program on
The Department has analysed the annual returns submitted by marriage celebrants from the first two registration years of the Program – 2003-2004 and 2004-2005.
This analysis reveals an increase in the number of marriage celebrants who completed their OPD obligations in the second year over the first. This indicates that the majority of marriage celebrants did adjust to the new obligations.
However the analysis also reveals that there are a large number who have not attempted any OPD during the first two registration years since the Marriage Celebrants Program began on
This is a significant percentage. I have decided that two years is ample time for marriage celebrants to adjust to their new obligations and it is necessary to respond to those marriage celebrants who have failed to attempt any OPD in the past two registration years.
I have decided to impose disciplinary measures under section 39I of the Marriage Act 1961 in relation to those marriage celebrants who, based on the Department’s records, have not attempted any OPD in the first two registration years.
What disciplinary measures are being taken?
Marriage celebrants who have not attempted any OPD for the registration years 2003-2004 and 2004-2005 will be required to do the following:
- Complete a special questionnaire containing questions on the topics covered in the compulsory OPD for those two years, and
- Undertake three additional activities from a list to be supplied to them
These marriage celebrants must also complete and return a special form to the Department outlining their completion of these obligations.
All of these additional obligations must be completed by
Full details of these additional obligations and information on how to complete them is being mailed to those marriage celebrants who are affected.
These measures are in addition to the completion of the required five hours of OPD for 2005-2006 and the required five hours of OPD for 2006-2007.
How will the affected marriage celebrants know they have to complete these additional tasks?
A special letter has been sent to the marriage celebrants affected by these disciplinary measures explaining their obligations. The letter attaches the required questionnaire to be completed and also the form that must be returned. The information being sent to them also includes information on how to complete the additional obligations.
What about marriage celebrants who did not complete OPD in 2003-2004 only? What happens to them?
Marriage celebrants who completed OPD in 2004-2005 but did not do so in the first year have been excused from this disciplinary measure. Their failure to complete all their OPD obligations will be considered during the course of their performance review. They will be notified when this is to take place.
What about marriage celebrants who did some OPD but not all the required hours? What happens to them?
These marriage celebrants have also been excused from this disciplinary measure. Their failure to complete all their OPD obligations will be considered during the course of their performance review. They will be notified when this is to take place.
What if there are exceptional circumstances?
If marriage celebrants affected by these measures feel that there are exceptional circumstances applying in their case they must set these out, in writing, in a letter addressed to the Registrar of Marriage Celebrants. Only the most extreme circumstances will be considered. Any such letters will be considered on an individual basis. In the letter the marriage celebrant will need to explain why it was not possible to complete any OPD at all by any means (including mail and online) over the two years and why they did not apply for an exemption.
Ongoing professional development obligations for 2006-2007
Some advance warning!! There will be two (2) compulsory OPD activities for 2006-2007. Both will be of 1 hour’s duration. One activity consists of a questionnaire that will be mailed to all marriage celebrants in September 2006 with the usual annual mailout.
The second compulsory activity will cover legal matters. It is also one hour in duration.
Both these activities will be explained in full in the September mailout package and marriage celebrants should ensure they read the material carefully.
This means that the required five (5) hours of OPD for 2006-2007 will consist of two (2) hours of compulsory activities and three (3) hours of activities chosen by the marriage celebrant from the approved list.