New Designated Area Migration Agreement for Western Australia
Starting from 1 July 2024, Western Australia will introduce a new state-wide Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA).
This WA DAMA, along with the existing State Nominated Migration Program, will allow up to 10,000 overseas workers to move to WA each year, helping to fill critical workforce gaps.
WA employers will still have access to the occupations and concessions offered by regional DAMAs currently in place. Plus, with the new WA DAMA, they'll be able to access a wider range of occupations and concessions across the state.
What is Designated Area Migration Agreement?
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a special deal between the Australian Government's Department of Home Affairs and a regional, state, or territory authority. It allows more overseas workers to come to Australia than the usual skilled migration programs. DAMAs are flexible, letting regions address their specific economic and job market needs. To use a DAMA, businesses need approval from an authorised Designated Area Representative (DAR).
What is a Designated Area Representative (DAR)
Authorised by Home Affairs, a Designated Area Representative (DAR) manages and oversees a DAMA program for a specific area. Responsibilities include:
- endorsing businesses to access Labour Agreements and hire Skilled Migrants;
- monitoring labour market trends in the DAMA region;
- guiding the application process for a DAMA Labour Agreement;
- endorsing businesses to Home Affairs.
What is a Labour Agreement?
To sponsor skilled workers through a specific visa type and pathway, businesses need to have negotiated an individual labour agreement with Home Affairs, which is:
- generally in effect for five years; and
- uses the subclass 482 Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS), subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional), and subclass 186 Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) visa programs.
Businesses must seek and gain endorsement from the relevant DAR to access the terms and concessions available through the applicable DAMA, before they can seek to enter into an individual DAMA labour agreement with Home Affairs under one of the approved WA DAMAs
What DAMAs are available in WA?
Currently, there are four regional DAMAs in place that have been tailored to meet the unique labour demands of their respective regions, providing local businesses with specific concessions to attract skilled migrants.
- The Goldfields - City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder
- Kimberley - East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry (EKCCI)
- Pilbara - Regional Development Australia Pilbara
- South West WA - Shire of Dardanup
What is the WA DAMA?
Western Australian businesses seeking to build their workforce through an individual Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) must first seek, and gain endorsement from an authorised Designated Area Representative (DAR).
The Department of Training and Workforce Development through Migration Services (Migration Services) is the authorised DAR for the WA DAMA.
The WA DAMA enables eligible businesses in Western Australia, who are unable to recruit appropriately qualified Australians, to supplement their workforce with skilled migrant(s) through three (3) visa pathways:
- Temporary Skills Shortage (subclass 482) visa;
- Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494) visa; or
- Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) (subclass 186) visa
Eligibility Requirements
- Business is legally established and currently operating in Western Australia
- Business is actively operating for more than 12 months and is financially viable
- Business has had no previous adverse findings, including investigation, convictions, finding of non-compliance, administrative actions or legal proceedings relating to a Federal, State or Territory law
- Business is a verified employer accessing the WA Skilled Migration Employment Register (SMER)
- Business must demonstrate that there is a genuine need for additional skilled migrants and the need is based on current workforce structure and future economic activity
- Details of each position being requested for Endorsement
- Evidence the terms and conditions of employment for the nominated positions are/will be no less favourable than those provided to an Australian citizen or permanent resident undertaking the same (or similar) position in the same location
- Evidence there are no Australian citizens or permanent residents able to fill the position in the location specified by undertaking sufficient Labour market testing (LMT) (only required if seeking endorsement under a 482 and 494 visa pathway)
Unlock New Talent for Your Business with the WA DAMA!
Take advantage of the WA Designated Area Migration Agreement to fill critical roles in your workforce. Get started today and secure the skilled workers your business needs. Contact us now to learn how to apply!
