On 1 July 2024, it was announced that a Western Australian Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) had been established.
The Western Australian DAMA is the fifth Designated Area Migration Agreement for Western Australia, operating alongside the Goldfields, Kimberly, Pilbara and the South West DAMAs.
What is a Designated Area Migration Agreement?
A Designated Area Migration Agreement or DAMA is a formal agreement between the Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs (DHA) and a regional, state or territory authority. It provides access to more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration program and provides flexibility for regions to address their unique economic and labour market conditions.
There are currently 13 DAMAs in place. These are:
– Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement, SA
– East Kimberley, WA
– Far North Queensland, QLD
– Goulburn Valley, VIC
– Great South Coast, VIC
– Northern Territory, NT
– Orana, NSW
– Pilbara, WA
– South Australia Regional, SA
– South West, WA
– The Goldfields, WA
– Townsville, QLD
– Western Australia
DAMAs are generally in effect for five years and use the following visa programs:
– Subclass 482 Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS)
– Subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional)
– Subclass 186 Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS)
Prior to lodging a labour agreement request, employers must seek and gain endorsement from the Designated Area Representative (DAR). Once approved, the business will be able to nominate and sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers for certain occupations. Employers must demonstrate a genuine attempt to recruit local talent prior to getting access to a DAMA.
To learn more about the Designated Area Migration Agreements currently available, visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
More About the Western Australian Designated Area Migration Agreement
The Western Australian DAMA was established to address critical skills shortages as well as boost the state’s economy and residential construction industry.
The Western Australia DAMA will provide 5,000 migration places which will be allocated equally between metropolitan and regional employers. This will enable employers to attract and retain skilled workers in key areas of demand including building and construction, health and aged care, tourism and hospitality and agriculture.
Unlike the DAMAs currently in place, the Western Australian DAMA will support the whole state as opposed to select regions.
Western Australia’s Premier, Roger Cook said, ‘We are committed to continuing to create quality local jobs for local people, but to keep our economy strong and build homes we need to bring in skilled workers.’
When combined, the Western Australian DAMA and the State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) will see 10,000 skilled migration places available in Western Australia for 2024/25.
The Western Australian Government is currently taking expressions of interest from businesses wanting to access the Western Australian DAMA.
To learn more about Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) or any other aspect of migration, contact the team of experienced registered migration agents at Visa Solutions Australia.
