The South-West region of Australia, known for its picturesque landscapes and vibrant communities, has faced significant skills shortages that have impacted local businesses. To address these challenges, the region has introduced a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) with the Australian Government.
South-West DAMA
A specialized agreement between the South-West region and the Commonwealth Government designed to help local businesses overcome skill shortages. Signed in December 2021 and taking effect from January 2022, this agreement allows businesses within the designated area to recruit overseas workers for positions that are hard to fill with local talent. It offers access to a wider range of occupations and provides certain concessions that are not available through standard skilled visa programs. With 31% of Western Australian businesses citing skilled labour shortages as a growth barrier, the DAMA helps bridge workforce gaps and supports long-term staffing needs.
To benefit from the South-West DAMA, businesses must operate within one (1) of the following local government areas:
City of Bunbury
City of Busselton
Shire of Augusta Margaret River
Shire of Boyup Brook
Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes
Shire of Capel
Shire of Collie
Shire of Dardanup
Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup
Shire of Harvey
Shire of Manjimup
Shire of Nannup
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Application Process
Interested employers must first apply for endorsement through the Shire of Dardanup, the designated Designated Area Representative (DAR) for the DAMA.
Upon receiving a positive endorsement, businesses can then apply for a Labour Agreement with the Department of Home Affairs. This Labour Agreement enables them to sponsor overseas workers under the DAMA provisions.
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Concessions and Protections
Under the South-West DAMA, employers benefit from concessions on certain visa requirements that are typically stringent under standard skilled visa programs. These concessions include:
English Language Requirements: Some positions may have relaxed English language proficiency requirements.
Skilled Migration Thresholds: The DAMA allows for lower TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold) levels for specific roles.
Age Limit: There is a concession for the age limit, with the potential for older applicants to be considered.
Additionally, the DAMA ensures that overseas workers are provided terms and conditions of employment that are no less favorable than those offered to Australian workers. This provision helps protect both the employees and the employers.
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Criteria for Assessment
The Designated Area Representative (DAR) and the Department of Home Affairs evaluate several factors to determine eligibility for the South-West DAMA:
Business Location and Worker Residency: The business must be located within the South-West region, and the applicant must live and work in the same area.
Occupation and Concessions: The business must demonstrate how the nominated occupations and any applicable concessions under the South-West DAMA align with its needs.
Recruitment Efforts: The business must show a genuine effort to recruit Australian citizens or permanent residents for the position and prove that these roles could not be filled locally.
Employment Conditions: The terms and conditions of employment for the overseas applicant must be equivalent to those offered to Australian workers, and the salary must meet the current Australian Market Salary Rate.
Concession Justification: If applying for concessions on TSMIT (Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold) or English language requirements, the business must provide a detailed business case supporting these requests.
Employer Integrity: The sponsoring employer must have no adverse information against them or disclose any relevant information to the DAR.
Business History and Viability: The business must have been operational in the South-West region for at least the past 12 months and demonstrate financial viability to support the requested number of workers.
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Fees and Charges
There are several fees and charges associated with the South-West DAMA, and these may vary over time. These include:
Endorsement Application Fee: A fee of $284 per nomination is charged by the Designated Area Representative (Shire of Dardanup) for the endorsement to access the South-West DAMA.
Nomination and Visa Application Fees: These fees are paid directly to the Department of Home Affairs.
Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) Levy: This levy is paid to the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
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Occupations in Demand
The DAMA highlights a variety of professions currently in high demand in the South-West region. These in-demand roles span several fields, including carers, health and welfare workers, and positions within hospitality, accommodation, tourism, and retail, construction and engineering, agricultural, dairy, and mechanical industries. Other areas of high demand include plant operators, technology experts, medical personnel, and roles within the timber industry.
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Please note that immigration regulations may change over time. To ensure you meet the current eligibility criteria and receive personalized guidance, we recommend consulting with Australian Portal Immigration. You can book your appointment here.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
For Local Businesses
Q1: Who is eligible to sponsor workers under the South-West DAMA?
-Â Â Â Established businesses in the South-West region, operating for at least 12 months, can sponsor workers if they demonstrate a need for specific roles within their organization. The DAMA is available to businesses located in the Shires of Augusta-Margaret River, Boyup Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, City of Bunbury, City of Busselton, Shires of Capel, Collie, Dardanup, Donnybrook-Balingup, Harvey, Manjimup, or Nannup.
Q2: Is it necessary to identify prospective employees before applying for a DAMA endorsement?
-Â Â Â No, businesses do not need to identify specific workers prior to applying for DAMA endorsement. The endorsement and Labour Agreement process focus on addressing skills shortages and planning for future business growth.
Q3: Is Labour Market Testing (LMT) required before applying for DAMA endorsement?
-Â Â Yes, businesses must provide evidence of genuine recruitment efforts as part of the LMT requirement. This is necessary to ensure that local candidates are considered for the positions before resorting to sponsorship under the DAMA.
Q4: Can businesses sponsor workers who are currently overseas?
-Â Â Â Â Yes, employers in the South-West can sponsor workers both from within Australia and from overseas through the DAMA.
Q5: Can sponsored workers bring their family members with them?
-Â Â Â Yes, workers can include family members in their visa application, provided they meet the necessary requirements. Family members can include spouses or de facto partners and dependent children.
Q6: What happens after receiving a positive endorsement for the South-West DAMA?
-Â Â Â With a positive endorsement, you can proceed to request a Labour Agreement from the Department of Home Affairs. The subsequent stages, including the Labour Agreement, nomination, and visa application, are managed by the Department of Home Affairs.
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For Prospective Workers
Q1: Can I apply for the DAMA as an individual visa applicant?
-Â The DAMA itself is not a visa subclass; it is an agreement between South-West local governments and the Commonwealth. Visa applicants should seek employment with a DAMA-participating employer in the South-West region.
Q2: Which visas are available through the South-West DAMA?
-Â The DAMA facilitates the Temporary Skills Shortage (subclass 482) visa, the Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa, and provides pathways to permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) visa and the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional - subclass 191) visa.
Q3: Is a skills assessment required for DAMA-related visas?
-Â Â Â Â The need for a skills assessment will be specified in the Labour Agreement with the employer.
Q4: Is there a pathway to permanent residency under the DAMA?
-Â Â Â Â Yes, all visa holders under the DAMA can transition to permanent residency. Subclass 482 visa holders in skill levels 1-4 can apply for the 186 visa after three years, while those in skill level 5 occupations need four years, including at least two years in a skill level 4 role. Subclass 494 visa holders can apply for the 191 visa after three (3) years.
Q5:Â What should I do if I'm not familiar with the application process?
-Â Â Â Â If you're not familiar with the application process seek assistance from Australian Portal Immigration. To ensure a smooth and efficient application experience.
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