Attracting and retaining skilled workers in regional and remote parts of Australia has long been a challenge, with applicants often citing location as the reason they didn’t accept a role they are qualified for.
For employers in these areas, overseas recruitment is helpful to fill vacant roles, but if a position is not included on the skilled occupations list or the applicant is not eligible for employer sponsored skilled work visa, it becomes difficult to access visas for workers. Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs) have been introduced to overcome this problem. The introduction of DAMAs allows regional areas to access skills that are not currently listed for immigration. Regional areas can be very specific about which skills their area requires – and at what level they are needed.
DAMAs are formal agreements between the federal government and regional, state or territory authorities. Similar to a labour agreement, they allow approved employers in designated regional areas to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers and fill positions.
Unlike the standard employer sponsored visas, which have a set list of eligible occupations, DAMAs offer access to sponsored visas for additional occupations not otherwise eligible for a skilled visa. In some cases, they may also include concessions related to skill level, age, English language requirements and salary thresholds and PR (permanent residency) pathways.
How DAMAs work in practice
A DAMA can be a lifeline If your business struggles with persistent skills shortages, but there are steps to work through.
The process is managed by a Designated Area Representative (DAR), such as a local council or regional body. The Migration Agency are uniquely positioned to assist organisations to identify the skills required, apply for endorsement through the DAR and lodging a 5 year labour agreement with the Department of Home Affairs..
Assessment criteria includes showing the genuine need for overseas workers, your organisation’s efforts to recruit locally and your ability to meet sponsorship obligations.
Once the labour agreement is approved, you can nominate workers to apply for a visa and come to Australia.
DAMA eligible locations in Australia
There are currently more than a dozen DAMAs in effect across Australia, covering regions in the Northern Territory, South Australia, Western Australia, Victoria, Queensland and New South Wales. Each DAMA is tailored to the specific labour market conditions of its region and includes a unique list of eligible occupations and concessions.
For example, the Northern Territory DAMA supports a wide range of roles from childcare workers to motor mechanics, while the South Australian DAMA targets sectors such as agribusiness, aged care and hospitality.
The town of Kalgoorlie in WA has a Goldfields DAMA, which lists occupations including baristas, cooks, delivery drivers and hotel managers, among others.
While the current government has indicated they are not issuing new DAMA’s, they have agreed to vary and extend the geographic scope of existing DAMAs, where additional postcodes can be included in a current active DAMA.. An example of this is the Orana (Central Western NSW) DAMA where regions such as the Riverina, Murray, and Southern Inland have been able to access international talent to help their region.
Explore DAMAs with TMA
The Migration Agency (TMA) works closely with employers and Designated Area Representatives to help businesses access the benefits of Designated Area Migration Agreements and other labour agreements. From initial eligibility assessments to preparing agreement requests and managing visa applications, we apply a tailored, strategic approach to guide your business through the entire process.
We understand every business and region is different, which is why we take the time to align each application with the specific requirements of DAMAs in your location. Our team will also help you navigate the compliance and reporting obligations included with a labour agreement, helping to reduce risk and create a smooth, efficient experience for you and your employees.
We’ve supported clients in multiple regions to access talent through this framework, helping them connect with overseas applicants and bring them to Australia with a valid work visa.
Explore your eligibility to sponsor overseas employees through a Designated Area Migration Agreement. Reach out to The Migration Agency today.
