The Western Australia Government has reached an agreement with the federal government to secure 10,000 skilled migration places for 2024-25. This move aims to tackle critical skills shortages in the state’s economy and residential construction industries. The migration places will be divided between the State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) and a newly established WA Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA).
Understanding the State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP)
The State Nominated Migration Program (SNMP) allows the state government to nominate eligible migrants for visas such as the Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190) and the Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491). These visas offer a pathway to permanent residency for skilled workers who can fill roles that local workers cannot.
The SNMP is particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized businesses that might struggle with the Commonwealth Government’s employer-sponsored visa requirements.
Photo by Tibor Janas
What is a DAMA and Why is it Significant?
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a type of labour agreement between the federal government and specific regions to address local skills shortages. To date, most DAMAs are between regional authorities , like a chamber of commerce or a council. Its’s rare for an entire state to negotiate a DAMA with the Federal Government.
The WA DAMA is designed to provide 5,000 migration places, split equally between metropolitan and regional employers. The WA DAMA is significant because it addresses strong demands for skilled workers in key industries such as construction, healthcare, tourism, hospitality, and agriculture. This agreement complements state initiatives to grow the local workforce, including providing free and low-fee TAFE courses for Western Australians.
DAMAs enable employers in designated areas to sponsor overseas workers for occupations that are not covered by the standard skilled migration program. Employers can sponsor overseas workers for subclass 482 visas, subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visas, and subclass 186 Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) visas.
The list of occupations created by a particular DAMA can sometimes include concessions on the English language requirements, age and the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT).
Benefits for Sponsoring Employers
For employers in Western Australia, this agreement means greater flexibility and opportunities to fill specific job vacancies that cannot be met locally. The WA DAMA allows employers to attract skilled workers to settle in the regions and effectively addresses local worker shortages.
Western Australia’s agreement with the federal government to secure 10,000 skilled migration places is a strategic move to address critical skills shortages and support the state’s economic growth. By leveraging both the SNMP and the WA DAMA, the state aims to attract skilled migrants, provide more opportunities for businesses, and ensure long-term prosperity.
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