BBV Responsive Lawyer and Migration Agent Awards
Nomination and Award Process
Step 1: Nomination
People living with BBVs, community organisations, lawyers and migration agents can nominate a trusted professional via a short and simple online form.
Step 2: Nominee Submission
Nominated lawyers and migration agents receive an email with a secure link to complete their submission. They are asked to complete a 3-5 page application, including:
Professional background and experience
Languages spoken
Practising certificate or migration agent registration
3-5 brief practice examples demonstrating BBV-responsive work*
Consent to be assessed and listed as an Awardee if recognised
Details of any regulator complaints or findings (if applicable)
Contact details for two referees who can attest to their professional practice and BBV-responsive approach
*Nominees are provided with the Award Criteria and Scoring Framework to help shape their submission, along with clear guidance and sample approaches for preparing examples (which may include redacted materials or anonymised testimonials).
Step 3: Review
The Awards panel reviews the submission, considering both the nomination and the nominee’s submission.
The panel is made up of:
One community representative with lived experience
One recognised practitioner (lawyer or migration agent)
One rotating reviewer with expertise in BBV and legal/migration practice
Step 4: Outcome
There are three possible outcomes for nominees:
Awarded
Lawyers or migration agents who demonstrate strong and consistent alignment with the principles of BBV-responsive practice are recognised with an Award.Awarded (conditional)
An Award may be granted alongside targeted professional development. In these cases, nominees are required to complete our online learning module, ‘Supporting clients with blood-borne viruses: legal-health literacy for lawyers and migration agents’. Based on current research and best-practice guidance, the module was devised in collaboration with specialist BBV-responsive lawyers and migration agents, and affected community members. It takes around 75 minutes to complete, and is recommended professional development for all practitioners working with BBV-affected communities.Not awarded at this time
Where the criteria are not yet met, nominees are encouraged to strengthen their practice and may be reconsidered in the future.
Step 5: Announcement and Publication
Successful Awardees are publicly announced.
Awardees receive:
A listing on the public Awards website
A digital badge for their own website
Recognition is ongoing and remains subject to eligibility, including no upheld serious complaints.
Feedback and Complaints
Community feedback on Awardees is welcomed at any time. Any serious complaints about current Awardees trigger a rapid review and the possible suspension or removal of the individual’s Award.
For feedback or complaints, please contact healthpluslaw@unsw.edu.au