In Short
- The Goldfields DAMA allows businesses to sponsor skilled overseas workers to fill local skills shortages.
- Employers must meet criteria, including local market salary rates and labour market testing, to participate.
- Key concessions for eligible roles include reduced salary thresholds, English language requirements and age limits.
Tips for Businesses
To make the most of the Goldfields DAMA, ensure you meet all eligibility requirements, including labour market testing and salary criteria. Start early with endorsement and nomination processes, as they involve multiple steps. Consider concessions available for certain roles to enhance the appeal of your job offers.
A DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreements) is an agreement between the Australian Government and a local area, typically a state/territory government or a regional authority, created to promote greater access to overseas workers for the designated area. The Goldfields WA DAMA agreement fosters a mutually beneficial initiative, enabling employers in the Goldfields region to address skills shortages while migrant workers secure employment in Australia. The Goldfields DAMA commenced in March 2019, it has been extended for another year and remains active until April 2025. This article explains the operation of the Goldfields, WA DAMA and what your business needs to know.
What are the Visa Categories Available Under This Scheme?
The Goldfields DAMA operates through the Labour Agreement stream for the employer-nominated scheme. Individual job seekers cannot apply under this program.
There are three visa categories available under this scheme:
- Temporary Skill Shortage Visa (Subclass 482 Visa);
- Employer Nominated Scheme Visa (Subclass 186 Visa) and;
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa (Subclass 494 Visa)
Who is Eligible to Apply Under This Scheme?
To participate in this program, the employer must satisfy the following criteria:
- They must be a registered Australian entity actively and lawfully operating within one of the eight local government authorities in the Goldfields DAMA for at least 12 months.
- They must have financial viability.
- They need to provide labour market testing evidence for the nominated position.
- The nominated position must be on the approved Goldfields DAMA occupation list.
- The proposed salary for the overseas worker must be at least equivalent to the local market rate for the occupation.
- There must be compliance with the relevant workplace legislation.
Please note that employers must demonstrate skill shortages and satisfy the eligibility criteria. They must provide sufficient evidence that they could not find an equivalent Australian worker for the position.
Continue reading this article below the formWhat are the Steps in the Goldfields DAMA Pathway?
It is a four-step process that involves the:
- City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder;
- Department of Home Affairs;
- sponsoring employer; and
- overseas worker.
Stages 1, 2 and 3 are applications by the employer, while stage 4 involves the visa applicant.
Stage 1: DAR Endorsement
Employers must secure an endorsement from the DAR. The sponsoring employer must apply to the Goldfields DAR representative (the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder) for endorsement with:
- evidence of labour market testing; and
- a ‘Request for endorsement to access a labour agreement under the Goldfields DAMA’ form.
Stage 2: Labour Agreement
After endorsement is sent to the employer and the Department of Home Affairs, the employer must apply to the Department to obtain a labour agreement. The application is lodged online through ImmiAccount.
Stage 3: Nomination Application
The employer can nominate overseas skilled workers against the occupations listed in the labour agreement within 12 months of the labour agreement approval.
Stage 4: Visa Application
This is an application by the visa applicant. Like any other TSS/482 visa application, nominated individuals must submit a visa application to the department with supporting evidence like police clearance and medical checks.
Sponsoring overseas workers as an Australian business is complicated. Let us simplify it for you with this free employer guide.
What are the Occupations Eligible for Sponsorship Under This Scheme?
Currently, 145 occupations are eligible to qualify for sponsorship under the Goldfields DAMA program. The occupation list identifies:
- the ANZSCO level of the occupation and concessions for English language requirements;
- Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT); and
- age requirements for the Permanent Residence pathway to specific occupations.
Additional Goldfields Occupation Concessions
The Goldfields DAMA list includes six new occupations not included in the ANZSCO Occupation Classification. They are:
- asphalt technician;
- process technician;
- rope access technician;
- sound and light technician;
- bar attendant supervisor;
- waiter supervisor.
English Language Concessions
Certain occupations are eligible for an English language requirement concession. For example, the applicant will need to demonstrate, subject to registration and licensing requirements, an overall IELTS of 5.0 (or equivalent):
- with no minimum band score under the subclass 482 and 494 visas; or
- with no band score lower than IELTS 4.0 for the subclass 186 visa.
Salary/TSMIT Concessions
The Goldfields DAMA provides eligible occupations with:
- a ‘Reduced TSMIT’ (90% of the TSMIT) with guaranteed overtime; and
- TSMIT + Earnings with guaranteed overtime and non-monetary benefits (which must be less than 10% of TSMIT value).
Age Concessions
There is an age concession available for up to 55 years (skill level 1 – 4) or up to 50 years (skill level 5) for certain occupations for the ENS (subclass 186 visa) and SESR (subclass 494 visa) pathways.
The employers seeking concessions must provide a business case to demonstrate their need to access them for each occupation and concession. Please refer to the Goldfields DAMA occupation list for occupation-specific concessions.
Key Takeaways
The Goldfields, WA DAMA is a targeted program designed to address skill shortages in the Goldfields region by allowing employers to sponsor overseas workers for specific occupations. It operates through several visa categories, including the Temporary Skill Shortage and Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visas. Employers must meet specific eligibility criteria, including labour market testing and offering salaries at market rates. The process involves endorsement from the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, a labour agreement with the Department of Home Affairs, and the nomination and visa application for skilled workers. Various concessions, including age, salary, and English language requirements, are available for eligible occupations.
If you want to know more about DAMAs, our experienced immigration lawyers can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on 1300 544 755 or visit our membership page.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Designated Area Representative (DAR) is an official body appointed in specific areas to oversee and facilitate various immigration agreements (DAMAs).
Businesses must show evidence of genuine attempts to hire local skilled workers before they are approved to sponsor foreign workers. LMT involves advertising the job locally and demonstrating that no suitable Australian candidates are available to fill the position. This ensures that Australian workers have priority for employment opportunities.
The ANZSCO occupation list is a comprehensive framework used to collect, publish, and analyse occupation statistics in government and private sectors across Australia and New Zealand with detailed codes and descriptions.
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