DAMA Overview

The Goldfields DAMA is a five-year labour agreement between the Federal Government, the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and the Shires of Coolgardie, Dundas, Esperance, Leonora, Menzies and Ravensthorpe, which commenced in July 2019. The area is collectively referred to as the "Goldfields DAMA Region". It aims to attract skilled migrants to work and live in the Goldfields DAMA Region, allowing Goldfields employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers in specified industries that are currently experiencing critical skill and labour shortages. We always advocate that employment should be offered to Australians first. Where there is a skills shortage, we believe skilled migrants are critical to supplement the local workforce.

How does the DAMA work?

The Goldfields DAMA utilises the labour agreement stream of the Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482), the Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186) and/or the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494) . Businesses enter into a labour agreement with the Australian Government, and workers are then granted a TSS Subclass 482, ENS Subclass 186 or SESR Subclass 494 visa.
 
The Goldfields DAMA is an employer-sponsored visa program and individual workers cannot apply for a visa independently.
 

Key elements of Goldfields DAMA

It will provide pathways to permanent residency for Goldfields DAMA visa holders (including transitional arrangements for existing visa holders).
It caters for a broad range of occupations that reflect skilled and semi-skilled shortages in the Goldfields.
It offers English language concessions for some occupations.
It offers salary concessions that reflect Goldfields market rates, ensuring that worker terms and conditions of employment are not eroded, and Goldfields businesses and consumers are not subjected to inflationary costs.
It incorporates a range of risk and integrity actions to ensure that the rights of both employees and employers are protected.
It is a five-year agreement.

 

Users of the Goldfields DAMA

Businesses can access the Goldfields DAMA if they are actively operating in the Goldfields DAMA Region and:
  • are financially 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.
Labour hire organisations cannot utilise the Goldfields DAMA program. It can only be accessed by direct employers. A labour agreement specific to labour hire organisations (“On-Hire”) can be found on the Department of Home Affairs website. 

Occupations Included in the Agreement

This year the Goldfields DAMA program has around 125 occupations eligible for sponsorship.

You can find a full list of occupations included in the Goldfields DAMA here.

Goldfields DAMA Members

The Goldfields DAMA covers the following local government areas:

The Kalgoorlie-Boulder Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Chamber of Minerals and Energy WA and Regional Development Australia (Goldfields Esperance) are also members of the Goldfields DAMA. 

Quick Links

DAMA Brochure

DAMA Definitions

Occupations Included in the DAMA

Skilling Assessment Authority Abbreviation

Apply Now

Living in the Goldfields DAMA Region

Department of Home Affairs - Labour Agreements

Department of Home Affairs - Labour Market Testing

TSMIT Guide for Goldfields DAMA