Goldfields DAMA extended another year

Published on Friday, 10 May 2024 at 11:46:00 AM

The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is excited to announce that the Goldfields Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) has been extended for another year.

The Shire of Laverton and another 20 occupations have also been added to the employer-sponsored visa program. The expanded Goldfields DAMA will now run until April 2025.

Mayor Glenn Wilson said the announcement from the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, the Hon Andrew Giles MP, of the expansion of the Goldfields DAMA was great news for Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the broader Goldfields region.

“We want to thank Minister Giles for his support and the continuation of our Goldfields DAMA. This gives our employers certainty and means they can continue having confidence in what has become a vital program in our region.

“The DAMA is an important program which brings skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers to the Goldfields, and we’re thrilled employers can count on continued support in this area, and now access a broader range of workers.”

The Goldfields DAMA commenced in July 2019 as a five-year labour agreement between the Federal Government, the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Shires of Coolgardie, Dundas, Esperance, Leonora, Menzies and Ravensthorpe.

The City is the Designated Area Representative (DAR) for the Goldfields DAMA and employs a full-time Migration Agreement Officer to process applications for endorsement from employers.

Eligible, approved employers can then use the DAR letter of endorsement to apply for a labour agreement with the Department of Home Affairs (DOHA) to bring in overseas workers through the TSS 482, ENS 186 or SESR 494 visa subclasses for occupations which have critical skills shortages.

Mayor Wilson said the inclusion of Laverton and additional occupations in the Goldfields DAMA was a great boost for the region and a significant milestone that would open new opportunities for skilled workers, businesses, and their local community and assist with ongoing growth and development in the Goldfields.

“Employers in remote regions throughout the Goldfields face additional complexities finding the staff they need but contribute significantly to the social fabric of their communities and to our regional, State, and national economies. It’s great to be able to expand the Goldfields DAMA and help our business community.”

Informed by industry feedback, the City had requested another 22 specific occupations be added to the Goldfields DAMA, which already had 125 occupations eligible for sponsorship.

The new occupations added to the Goldfields DAMA include barista, cook, waiter, motor mechanic (general), scaffolder, loader operator, truck driver (general), enrolled nurse, and registered nurse (aged care or medical).

Two level five occupations of kitchenhand and hospitality worker NEC (not elsewhere classified), such as cellar hand or uniform room attendant, were not approved for inclusion.

Additional concessions have also been added for some occupations, work experience concessions simplified, and a two-year Permanent Residence pathway provided for some overseas workers.

Childcare Group Leader (skill level 2) and Childcare Worker (skill level 3) have been differentiated in the new agreement, to clarify which occupation is eligible for concessions. Childcare Centre Manager (level 1) remains.

A request for an additional 5% concession on the 10% Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) concession that already applies to some Goldfields DAMA occupations was declined. The TSMIT is currently set at $70,000 and can be reduced to $63,000 for some occupations in the Goldfields DAMA. These ceilings will remain.

Mayor Wilson said the City would continue conversations with Minister Giles and DOHA about the future of the DAMA after its new 2025 expiry date. Chief Executive Officer Andrew Brien and Deputy Mayor Kirsty Dellar met with Minister Giles during a visit to Canberra earlier this year.

“Regional Australia is deserving of continued support from the Federal Government to address the particular needs of remote and regional regions, and we are grateful for the existence of the DAMA and the support of Minister Giles and DOHA,” Mayor Wilson said.

“We will continue to keep our community informed about the future of the DAMA, but in the meantime encourage Goldfields’ employers to make use of the program in its current form.”

The City’s Migration Agreement Officer can assist with enquiries and can be contacted by calling (08) 9021 9600 or emailing [email protected]

Goldfields DAMA Overview

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