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.

IELTS Band
Standard TSS/SESR
Concessions
ENS
Concessions
Overall Medium term stream - 5.0
Short term stream - 5.0
5.0 5.0
Speaking Medium term stream - 5.0
Short term stream - 4.5
4.0 4.5
Listening Medium term stream - 5.0
Short term stream - 4.5
4.0 4.5
Reading Medium term stream - 5.0
Short term stream - 4.5
4.0 4.5
Writing Medium term stream - 5.0
Short term stream - 4.5
4.0 4.5


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:

4234111 Aged or Disabled Carer 4
721111 Agriculture and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operator 4
121312 Beef Cattle Farmer 1
421111 Child Care Worker 3
421112 Family Day Care Educator 4
831211 Meat Boner and Slicer 4
423312 Nursing Support Worker 4
423313 Personal Care Assistant 4
361211 Shearer 3
831212 Slaughterer 4

ANZSCO Code
Occupation ANZSCO Skill Level

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:

I

Benefits support the living costs of the overseas worker, and

II

Overseas worker would have incurred that cost had it not been provided by the approved sponsor, and

III

Benefits are quantifiable, and

IV

Benefits are consistent with terms and conditions provided to existing Australians employed in a similar position, and

V

Benefits are guaranteed in the employment contract, and

VI

Benefits exclude contingent payments such as overtime (other than guaranteed overtime), bonuses and commissions.

 

Labour Market Testing

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

  • when applying for Designated Area Representative (DAR) endorsement,
  • requesting a DAMA labour agreement, and
  • at the Nomination stage.

From 1 September 2021, this evidence must demonstrate at least 2 genuine attempts (advertising) to recruit qualified and experienced Australians. The same LMT evidence can be used at each of the above stages, however the advertising must have occurred within the last 12 months before lodging the nomination application.

The Department will now also accept more flexible evidence of LMT from businesses in Category 3 regions.

Acceptable evidence will include one advertisement with national reach, for example: Seek, Jobactive or an Australian industry website. The other advertisement may be local, for example: a business’ website or local media online, print or radio. For businesses in Category 3 regions, Jobactive advertising is still encouraged as an option but is not a prescribed requirement.

More information on Labour Market Testing can be found here

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.

Table 1: Specified medical occupations on the combined eligible list of skilled occupations
ANZSCO Code Occupation ANZSCO Skill Level
272311 Clinical Psychologist 1
252312 Dentist 1
253912 Emergency Medicine Specialist 1
253111 General Medical Practitioner 1
134211 Medical Administrator 1
253999 Medical Practitioners (nec) 1
251312 Occupational Health and Safety Adviser 1
252411 Occupational Therapist 1
251411 Optometrist 1
251912 Orthotists or Prosthetist 1
252511 Physiotherapist 1
272399 Psychologists nec 1
272499 Social Professionals (e.g. Linguist) 1
253399 Specialist Physicians (nec) 1
252712 Speech Pathologist 1
253511 Surgeon (General) 1

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.
Table 2: Other occupations on the combined eligible list of skilled occupations
ANZSCO Code Occupation ANZSCO Skill Level
221111 Accountant (General) 1
234112 Agricultural Scientist 1
321111 Automotive Electrician 3
121312 Beef Cattle Farmer 1
331212 Carpenter 3
331211 Carpenter and Joiner 3
351311 Chef 2
233111 Chemical Engineer 1
399211 Chemical Plant Operator 3
234211 Chemist (Industrial) 1
311411 Chemistry Technician 2
111111 Chief Executive or Managing Director 1
134111 Child Care Centre Manager 1
421111 Child Care Worker 3
233211 Civil Engineer 1
312211 Civil Engineering Draftsperson 2
312212 Civil Engineering Technician 2
411711 Community Worker 2
149212 Customer Service Manager 2
321212 Diesel Motor Mechanic 3
411712 Disabilites Services Officer 2
241111 Early Childhood (Pre-Primary School) Teacher 1
311412 Earth Science Technician 2
233311 Electrical Engineer 1
312312 Electrical Engineers Technician 2
341111 Electrician (General) 3
341112 Electrician (Special Class) 3
342315 Electronic Instrument Trades Worker (Special Class)
[Precision Farming Specialist]
3
441211 Emergency Service Worker 3
133211 Engineers Manager 1
233914 Engineers Technologist 1
234312 Environmental Consultant 1
251311 Environmental Health Officer 1
411713 Family Support Worker 2
222311 Financial Investment Advisor (Financial Planner) 1
149112 Fitness Centre Manager 2
323211 Fitter (General) 3
323212 Fitter and Turner 3
323213 Fitter-Welder 3
234411 Geologist 1
234412 Geophysicist 1
233212 Geotechnical Engineer 1
362311 Greenkeeper 3
391111 Hairdresser 3
313112 ICT Customer Support Officer 2
313199 ICT Support Technician nec 2
139913 Laboratory Manager 1
323313 Locksmith 3
221112 Management Accountant 1
133411 Manufacturer 1
233512 Mechanical Engineers Technician 2
322311 Metal Fabricator 3
323214 Metal Machinist (First Class) 3
312512 Metallurgical or Materials Technician 2
312912 Mining Engineer (exclusing Petroleum) 1
121411 Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmer 1
512111 Office Manager (General) 2
241213 Primary School Teacher 1
133512 Production Manager (Manufacturing) 1
233513 Production or Plant Engineer 1
511112 Program or Project Administrator 2
131114 Public Relations Manager  
313211 Radio Communications Technician 2
223112 Recruitment Consultant 1
251513 Retail Pharmacist 1
312611 Safety Inspector 2
131112 Sales and Marketing Manager 1
311499 Science Technician 2
241411 Secondary School Teacher 1
272511 Social Worker 1
251214 Sonographer 1
399516 Sound Technician 3
452321 Sports Development Officer 3
233214 Structural Engineer 1
133611 Supply and Distribution Manager 1
2322212 Surveyor (Mine Surveyor) 1
263311 Telecommunications Engineer 1
313212 Telecommunications Field Engineer 2
263312 Telecommunications Network Engineer 1
313213 Telecommunications Network Planner 2
313214 Telecommunications Technical Officer or Technologist 2
232611 Urban and Regional Planner [Town Planner] 1
324211 Vehicle Body Builder 3
322313 Welder (First Class) 3
272613 Welfare Worker 1
411716 Youth Worker 2

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 (AQFqualification 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.

Table 3: ANZSCO Skill Level 1-3 Occupations not on the eligible skilled occupation list

ANZSCO Code

Occupation

ANZSCO Skill Level

070499

Asphalt Technician

3

399513

Light Technician

3

521111

Personal Assistant

3

361211

Shearer

3

070499

Sound and Light Technician

3

Specified ANZSCO Skill Level 2 Occupations (not on eligible skills lists)
The following skills requirements are to be met for the following skill level 2 specified occupation, not included in the eligible list of skilled occupations, as outlined in Table 4. The TSS or SESR visa applicant must:
  • undergo skills assessment conducted by the relevant Skills Assessing Authority (as specified in the Labour Agreement)
AND MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING GROUPS OF REQUIREMENTS
  • meet the qualification level as defined in ANZSCO in business administration or in a field highly relevant to the retail setting being managed, and
  • have at least one year post qualification experience (20 hours plus per week) completed within the last five years.
OR
  • meet the qualification level as defined in ANZSCO in any field of study other than mentioned above, and
  • have at least one year post qualification experience (38 hours plus per week) completed within the last five years.
OR
  • meet the qualification level as defined in ANZSCO in any field of study, and
  • have at least four years’ work experience (20 hours plus per week) if undertaken prior to completion of the qualification.
ANZSCO Indicative Skill Level: AQF Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma.

Table 4: Specified ANZSCO Skill Level 2 Occupations

ANZSCO Code

Occupation

ANZSCO Skill Level

  None specified in current Goldfields DAMA  
Specified ANZSCO Skill Level 3 Occupations (not on eligible skills lists)
For occupations listed in Table 5 the following skill and experience requirements apply. The TSS or SESR visa applicant must:
  • undergo a skills assessment conducted by the relevant Skills Assessing Authority (as specified in the Labour Agreement)
AND
  • have at least a relevant AQF Certificate III or equivalent or higher level qualification, and
  • have at least one year (20 hours plus per week) relevant post qualification experience.
ANZSCO Indicative Skill Level: AQF Certificate III 

Table 5: Specified ANZSCO Skill Level 3 Occupations

ANZSCO Code

Occupation

ANZSCO Skill Level

421111 Child Care Worker 3
Specified occupation and other ANZSCO Skill Level 4 Occupations (not on eligible skills lists)
For occupations listed not in ANZSCO and other skill level 4 occupations requested under this Agreement as listed in Table 6 the following skill and experience requirements apply. The TSS or SESR visa applicant must:
  • undergo a skills assessment conducted by the relevant Skills Assessing Authority (as specified in the Labour Agreement)
AND MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING GROUPS OF REQUIREMENTS
  • have at least a relevant AQF Certificate II or equivalent or higher level qualification, and
  • have at least one and a half years (20 hours plus per week) relevant post qualification experience.
OR
  • have at least a relevant Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF) Certificate III or equivalent or higher level qualification, and
  • have at least one year (20 hours plus per week) relevant post qualification experience).
OR
  • have at least one year (38 hours plus per week) relevant experience.
ANZSCO Indicative Skill Level: AQF Certificate II or III 

Table 6: Specified other ANZSCO Skill Level 4 Occupations

ANZSCO Code

Occupation

ANZSCO Skill Level

423111

Aged or Disabled Carer

4

721111

Agriculture and Horticulture Mobile Plant Operator

4

712914

Concrete Batching Plant Operators

4

423211

Dental Assistant

4

712211

Driller

4

421112

Family Day Care Educator

4

711211

Industrial Spray Painter

4

831211

Meat Boner and Slicer

4

721999

Mobile Plant Operator (nec)

4

423312

Nursing Support Worker

4

423313

Personal Care Assistant

4

070499

Process Technician

4

721915

Road Roller Operator

4

070499

Rope Access Technician

4

711516

Rubber Production Machine Operator (Belt Splicer)

4

831212

Slaughterer

4

ANZSCO Skill Level 5 Occupations (not on eligible skills lists)
For skill level 5 occupations requested under this Agreement as listed in Table 7 below, the following skill and experience requirements apply. The TSS visa applicant must:
  • undergo skills assessment conducted by the relevant Skills Assessing Authority (as specified in the Labour Agreement)
AND MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING GROUPS OF REQUIREMENTS
  • have at least a relevant AQF Certificate I or equivalent or higher level qualification, and
  • have at least six months (20 hours plus per week) relevant post qualification experience.
OR
  • have at least one year (38 hours plus per week) relevant experience.
ANZSCO Indicative Skill Level: Certificate I or compulsory secondary education

Table 7: Specified ANZSCO Skill Level 3 Occupations

ANZSCO Code

Occupation

ANZSCO Skill Level

821912

Driller's Assistant

5

Permanent Residence Pathways

A permanent residence pathway for Overseas Workers may be available through the Employer Sponsored Scheme 186 visa program for all Skill level 1- 4 occupations, after three years of working in the Designated Area (Goldfields DAMA Region) and holding a 457 or TSS 482 visa.

A permanent residence pathway for Overseas Workers may be available outside the DAMA through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) 191 visa for all Skill level 1- 4 occupations after three years holding a DAMA SESR 494 visa.

Full details of the Permanent Residence Pathway conditions will be outlined in the nominating business's individual Goldfields DAMA Labour Agreement. 

DAMA Concessions Brochure