04/07/2024
NEW - Western Australian DAMA Agreement
We are delighted to advise that the WA State Government has negotiated a Statewide Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) with the Federal Government.
The WA DAMA can offer significant benefits to WA hospitals and medical/allied health practices by providing pathways to permanent residence for experienced overseas healthcare professionals up to the age of 55 years. Medical professionals can already access age exemptions, so it’s probably more useful for nursing and allied health.
The DAMA program uses the following visa types:
Temporary Skills Shortage (subclass 482) visa
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (subclass 494) visa
Employer Nominated Scheme (ENS) (subclass 186) visa
The WA DAMA Occupations List includes a wide range of medical, nursing and allied health occupations. It’s an extensive list.
This groundbreaking initiative by the WA government will enable regional hospitals and medical/allied health practices to recruit and sponsor experienced healthcare professionals who would typically be ineligible for permanent residence due to their age. For many migrants, it will open doors to permanent residence that were previously closed.
The application process involves two key initial steps. First, a business must obtain endorsement from a body called an authorised Designated Area Representative (DAR). Once endorsed, the business can enter into an individual labour agreement with Home Affairs and once the labour agreement is approved, sponsorship can follow.
This initiative aims to assist a wide range of regional businesses (and not just in healthcare!!) to address their current skill shortages. Given the benefits, we expect significant interest in this program.
If you require further information about the DAMA or the application process and the wonderful opportunities this new visa program presents, please visit https://migration.wa.gov.au/our-services-support/designated-area-migration-agreement or contact us.
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal agreement between the Australian Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs (Home Affairs) and a regional, state or territory authority. It provides access to more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration programs. DAMAs operate under...
