Concessions Available

The Goldfields DAMA provides eligible businesses access to occupations which are not available through the standard stream of the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) (subclass 482), the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) (subclass 186) or the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (SESR) (subclass 494) visas. 

Additional Occupations not in ANZSCO

The Goldfields DAMA provides access to four occupations not included in the Australia and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupation (ANZSCO).

These are:

• Asphalt Technician
• Process Technician
• Rope Access Technician
• Sound and Light Technician

For the purposes of the Goldfields DAMA, these occupations have been given the code 070499.

For these occupations, applicants need to demonstrate that their skills, qualifications and experience align to the following sample position descriptions:

English Language Concession

Currently, 44 occupations listed under the Goldfields DAMA include English language concessions that may be available to overseas workers applying for a temporary TSS visa, SESR visa and/or those transitioning to Australian permanent residency through the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) labour agreement pathway (unless registration or licensing requires a higher level of English).

IELTS means the International English Language Testing System or the equivalent in another accepted English language test.

Other accepted English language tests are:

• Occupational English Test (OET);
• Test of English as a Foreign Language internet-based test (TOEFL iBT);
• Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic test; or
• Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE) test.

Some applicants may be exempt to undertake an English test. For further information go to the Department of Home Affairs website.

Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold Concession

All workers employed under the Goldfields DAMA must be employed under Australian employment conditions and receive no less than what an Australian would to undertake the same job in the same location.

Many employer-sponsored visa programs, including the standard TSS, SESR and ENS programs, have a minimum salary threshold that can be paid. The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) is now $70,000.

The Goldfields DAMA includes ten TSMIT concessions which may be available for employers across ten occupations. The occupations table indicates which occupations have access to a TSMIT concession:

TSMIT Concessions Available for Employers

Employers may be eligible for some concessions on the Temporary Skilled Migration Income threshold.

The Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) is now $70,000.

Concession type 1 - up to a 10% concession to the TSMIT

Businesses must demonstrate the annual monetary earnings provided will be no less than 90% of the TSMIT, i.e. no less than $63,000

Concession type 2 - up to a 10% concession to the TSMIT, and the inclusion of non-monetary earnings (other)

Businesses must demonstrate that the annual earnings provided will be no less than 90% of the TSMIT, i.e. no less than $63,000.
These annual earnings can be comprised of 'non-monetary earnings (other)' to the value of up to $6,300 annually (i.e. capped at 10% of the reduced TSMIT). Non-monetary earnings (other) refer to benefits such as phone, vehicle, food and board.

Important:
Employers that seek concessions based on non-monetary benefits provided to overseas workers must ensure the:

Labour Market Testing

Employers seeking overseas workers under a DAMA must provide evidence of LMT:

Qualifications and Experience

The following skills, qualifications, experience and employment background requirements apply to the occupations listed in the tables below in relation to the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS), Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) and/or Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visas, where applicable. The requirements for Driller's Assistants relate to TSS visas only.

Specified Medical Occupations on the Combined Eligible List of Skilled Occupations

For the occupations in Table 1 below, which are on the eligible lists of skilled occupations (the Short-term Skilled Occupation List, Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List or Regional Occupation List), any nomination for these occupations or any application for a TSS, SESR or ENS visa connected with these occupations must satisfy the skills, qualifications, experience and employment background required under the standard TSS and ENS visa programs.

Other Occupations on the Combined Eligible List of Skilled Occupations

For the occupations in Table 2 below, which are on the eligible lists of skilled occupations (the Short-term Skilled Occupation List, Medium and Long-term Strategic Skills List or Regional Occupation List), any nomination for these occupations or any application for a TSS, SESR or ENS visa connected with these occupations must satisfy the skills, qualification and employment background required under the standard TSS, SESR and ENS visa programs.

A concession to the work experience requirement is provided whereby visa applicants must have:

• at least one (1) year of full-time work experience (38 hours plus per week) if applying for a TSS or SESR visa.

Work experience can include:

• work undertaken as part-time (equivalent to one year full-time).
• work experience counted towards being skilled (ANZSCO) also counts towards the work experience requirement.
• must be in the nominated occupation, or a related occupation at the same skill level.

Other Occupations Not on Eligible Skills Lists

For occupations which are not on the combined eligible list of skilled occupations, the skills, qualifications, experience and employment background criteria will be included in the Labour Agreements associated with this Agreement.

Qualifications are to be assessed by the relevant Skills Assessing Authority (as specified in the Labour Agreement) as being at least equivalent to the relevant Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) qualification detailed for the relevant tables below, in order to assist the Minister's decision as to whether the visa applicant has the necessary qualifications for the position.

The Minister may require a person to demonstrate that he or she has the skills that are necessary to perform the tasks of the nominated occupation by undertaking a skills assessment conducted by the relevant Skills Assessing Authority (as specified in the Labour Agreement). Any skills assessment must be certified as being in accordance with the arrangements agreed to with the Commonwealth. A skills assessment is required for applications lodged for the occupations listed in Tables 3 to 7.

Experience must be certified by the Goldfields DAR as being genuine and relevant to the nominated occupation/position, in order to assist the Minister's decision as to whether the visa applicant has the necessary employment background for the position.

ANZSCO Skill Level 1 - 3 Occupations (not on eligible skills lists)

The occupations outlined in Table 3 must meet the following requirements:

• If required to do so by the Minister, a visa applicant must undergo a skills assessment by the relevant Skills Assessing Authority (as specified in the Labour Agreement), and
• Meet the skill level requirements as defined in ANZSCO, and
• Have at least one year of full-time post qualification work experience (38 hours plus per week) if applying for the TSS or SESR visa

Work experience can include:

• work undertaken as part-time (equivalent to one year full-time)
• work experience counted towards being skilled (ANZSCO) also counts towards the work experience requirement.
• must be in the nominated occupation, or a related occupation at the same skill level.