City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA)

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Legislative Framework

A designated area migration agreement (DAMA) is an overarching labour agreement in place for a particular region of Australia. The process largely sits outside of a legislative framework, with most requirements outlined under policy only. It is a formal agreement between the Australian Government and a regional, state or territory authority.

Migration Act 1958 (the Act) and Migration Regulations 1994 (the Regulations) and associated administrative processes.

The Regulations do, however, set out the requirements that are required to be met where TSS, ENS or SESR nomination or visa applications are lodged under a labour agreement.

In addition, there are provisions in the Act and Regulations that define the terms ‘Work Agreement’ (WA) and ‘Labour Agreement’. The Regulations also include limited provisions regarding requirements for entering into a WA.

As outlined in Regulation 2.76, a Work Agreement is a type of LA. It must:

  • be between:
    • the Commonwealth, as represented by the Minister, or by the Minister and one or more other Ministers; and
    • a person*, an unincorporated association or a partnership; and
  • be a LA that authorises the recruitment, employment, or engagement of services of a person who is intended to be employed or engaged as a holder of a TSS visa; and
  • be in effect (i.e. signed by all parties).

It provides access to more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration program. DAMAs operate under an agreement-based framework, providing flexibility for regions to respond to their unique economic and labour market conditions.

Individual DAMA labour agreements are between the Australian Government and endorsed employers/businesses operating within the relevant designated region. They:

  • are generally in effect for five years, and
  • use the subclass 482 Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS), subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional), and subclass 186 Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) visa programs.

Application process and how to apply for the Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement.

About the Goldfields DAMA

The Goldfields DAMA exists to provide Goldfield’s employers with an additional pathway to bring in skilled and semi-skilled workers to the Goldfields through three different visa streams. It is a labour agreement between the Federal Government and the eight local government authorities that make up the Goldfields DAMA. The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder is the Designated Area Representative (DAR) for the Goldfields DAMA, and employs a full-time migration agreement officer to process DAMA labour agreement and Deed of Variation endorsement applications, and respond to inquiries from employers. The initial five-year Goldfields DAMA started in March 2019. In 2024 the Goldfields DAMA was extended until April 2025, and the Goldfields DAMA now has another 12-month extension, until 4 April 2026.

The Goldfields DAMA utilises the labour agreement stream of three visa categories:

  • Skills in Demand visa (SID subclass 482),
  • Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS subclass 186), and/or
  • Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (SESR subclass 494).

Please note: On 7 December 2024 the SID visa replaced the previous Temporary Skills Shortage visa (TSS subclass 482).

Who can use the DAMA?

The Goldfields DAMA is an employer-nominated scheme accessible to all employers operating in the eight local government authorities that make up the DAMA. Individual jobseekers cannot apply to the DAMA.

DAMA local government authorities:

City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder | Shire of Coolgardie | Shire of Dundas | Shire of Esperance |Shire of Laverton | Shire of Leonora | Shire of Menzies | Shire of Ravensthorpe

DAMA Concessions

Specific concessions for some occupations have been negotiated and put in place for the Goldfields DAMA. A table of DAMA occupations and concessions can be found here

Additional Occupation Concessions

The Goldfields DAMA provides access to six 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
  • Bar Attendant Supervisor
  • Waiter Supervisor

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

Qualifications, Skills and Experience Concessions

The following skills, qualifications, experience and employment background requirements apply to the occupations listed in the tables below in relation to the SID and SESR visas and where eligible, under the permanent residence pathway and ENS visa.

Goldfields DAMA Occupations List

The Goldfields DAMA program has about 145 occupations eligible for sponsorship. You can find a full list of occupations listed in the Goldfields DAMA here.

The occupations include 20 new occupations added to the Goldfields DAMA in April 2024. The new occupations are:

Bar attendant (supervisor, equivalent to ANZSCO Skill Level 4), barista, cook, delivery driver, earth moving plant operator, enrolled nurse, hotel or motel manager, hotel service manager, loader operator, mixed crop farmer, motor mechanic (general), pastrycook, registered nurse (aged care), registered nurse (medical), retail manager (general), retail supervisor, scaffolder, truck driver (general), waiter, and waiter (supervisor, Equivalent to ANZSCO Skill Level 4).

The occupation list shows the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO) level of the occupation, and which occupations are eligible for the English language concession, Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT) concession, and Permanent Residence pathway age concession provided by the Goldfields DAMA for some occupations.