Western Australia’s Goldfields region is set to receive an economic boost with the Morrison Government signing a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) with the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
The new arrangements will assist a range of industries including mining, engineering, construction, childcare and health among others helping to drive economic growth and fill critical employment gaps.
Covering 72 occupations, up to 500 people per year will be able to be sponsored over the five-year agreement through the Kalgoorlie-Boulder DAMA.
In a statement from chief executive officer Cam Dumesny he said many of the WRF members of the Goldfields area had been struggling to attract and retain skilled staff from drivers to heavy vehicle mechanics needed to drive regional growth.
” Note the intent of DAMA’s is to help improve regional migration outcomes. Specifically, a DAMA is a 5-year agreement between a regional or state/territory authority and the Department of Home Affairs.
DAMAs provide opportunities for employers in designated areas to sponsor a wider range of skilled and semi-skilled workers for positions which are not available under the standard employer sponsored visa programs.”
Businesses can access the Goldfields DAMA if they are actively operating in the Goldfields region and:
- are viable and have been operating for at least 12 months
- have no history of not meeting its obligations to employees
- are looking to employ overseas workers to fill full-time positions with duties that align with one of the occupations on the Goldfields DAMA list
- can demonstrate they cannot fill the position locally with Australian citizens or permanent residents
- can provide terms and conditions of employment to overseas workers that are in accordance with those offered to Australian workers employed in the region.
Note: The Goldfields DAMA is an employer-sponsored visa program and individual workers cannot apply for a visa independently.
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