New WA Migration Deal To Address Statewide Skills Shortages

SUMMARY:

·        Read this news update if you are an employer in Western Australia.

·        Access to a broader list of skilled occupations.

·        There is no additional charge.

·        Employers must lodge an ‘Endorsement Application.’

·        Employees benefit from a major age concession: under 55 years old.

A new state-wide Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) for Western Australia (WA) is now in effect.

A DAMA is a formal arrangement between the Commonwealth of Australia and a designated area representative, in this instance the State of WA.

A DAMA can access a broader range of overseas workers than is available through the standard skilled visa programs. It does this by allowing a variation to standard occupations and skills lists and/or negotiable concessions to visa requirements.

The WA DAMA, combined with WA’s existing State Nominated Migration Program, will enable up to 10,000 overseas workers to settle in WA annually and help address critical workforce shortages in the state.

WA employers will continue to be able to access the occupations and concessions of DAMAs that are in operation for relevant regions of WA.

These are:

·        The Goldfields – City of Kalgoorlie Boulder.

·        Kimberley – East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

·        Pilbara – Regional Development Australia Pilbara.

·        South West WA – Shire of Dardanup.

The WA DAMA will be the fifth DAMA.

Employers can access an extensive list of occupations and concessions under the new WA DAMA, if:

1.     An occupation is not available on one of the existing regional DAMAs (listed above) or.

2.     An occupation is not available under an existing Home Affairs approved Industry Labour Agreement.

Employers can recruit skilled migrants through three pathways.

o   Temporary Skills Shortage (subclass 482) visa.

o   Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494) visa; or

o   Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) (subclass 186) visa.

Employees can benefit from a major age concession; applicants must be under 55 years old. The skilled migration programme cut off is 45 years.

There is no charge for a business to lodge an endorsement application for the WA DAMA. Usual visa applications charges apply.

For more details of the WA DAMA please contact us and click here