Warrnambool City Council has signed a Designated Area Migration Agreement, or DAMA with the Commonwealth for the next five years. DAMAs utilise the existing Temporary Skilled Shortage (or the subclass 457) visa framework to enable overseas nationals to work for specific approved employers within the DAMA-approved geographic region. However, unlike the TSS program, variations to the standard requirements of this program are available. These variations typically include:
- Concessions to the level of English Language of the overseas national;
- A greater number of occupations than what is permissible under the TSS program; and
- In some situations, an ability to offer a salary under what is required under the TSS program is also available.
A new DAMA (“DAMA II”) has also been agreed between the Northern Territory and the Commonwealth. DAMA II is set to replace the original DAMA for the Territory which expires on 31 December 2018. Like the previous incarnation, DAMA II will also offer a pathway to permanent residency for the skilled and semi-skilled occupations that have been approved under it. Given occupations on the Short-Term Skilled Occupation List no longer have a pathway to Permanent Residency, further details are required to determine what settlement options are available to visa holders issued through the Warrnambool DAMA, particularly for any occupations which are not otherwise available under the TSS Visa program.
If you are an employer in the Northern Territory or on Victoria’s Great Southern Coast Region and what to know more about the DAMA and how it may assist with your recruitment difficulties, please do not hesitate to contact us directly here or on the details below.