RDAGW Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) Business Community Attitudes Survey
Background
Interest in Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA’s) follows on from challenges in regional business, especially SME, in acquiring domestic national workforce for job positions in the region. The Greater Whitsundays region has for many years had more jobs than people and to date has not been strongly successful in acquiring the needed domestic workforce to the region.
RDA Greater Whitsundays along with stakeholders from Local Government and Chambers of Commerce and Peak Bodies are exploring how the region can establish a DAMA to support the skilled workers’ needs of employers in the region.
A DAMA is a formal multi-year agreement between the Australian Government and a regional, state or territory authority. 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.
As part of its considerations, RDA GW and stakeholders seek to understand the level of interest and support of employers in the region for a DAMA . RDA GW and stakeholders in late 2022 developed an online survey to test these matters, which was emailed to around 200 members of some of the region’s businesses and peak industry bodies. This survey delivered 35 completed survey responses. While the response was favourable, RDA GW and its stakeholders want a larger survey sample (~n=250) to provide more credible data in support or otherwise of this DAMA initiative. RDA and stakeholders are now seeking the help of a professional, independent market research firm to conduct the survey to secure a credible survey result.
In early 2023 RDA GW and stakeholders’ members agreed to contract the services of Enterprise Marketing and Research Services (EMRS) to complete a credible telephone survey process.
Action
RDA GW has reached out to various businesses with an interest toward the use of a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) Labour Agreement Visa program to complete a survey.
It is hoped that by completing a coordinated pre-mailing campaign to targeted business in the region that business involvement and responses in the survey will be increased.
Survey process
This is a standard research assignment for EMRS, and they are well positioned to deliver a successful outcome. EMRS has extensive, direct experience in working in the Whitsundays region (with Mackay, Whitsundays and Isaac Councils respectively) for the past eight years, as well as voter polling in the region and experience in working with RDA’s.
The survey will be supported by a coordinated pre-mailing campaign by RDA GW and DAMA stakeholders to targeted businesses via communications completed by peak bodies and stakeholder groups in the region. It is desired that each business entity will in turn promote and make known to its staff and others business you engage with about the DAMA development opportunity and the upcoming telephone survey and possible contact to you own and other businesses by EMRS.
RDA GW and the DAMA interest Stakeholders have compiled a list of 1500 business contacts found throughout the region and provided this list and contacts to EMRS. EMRS will also utilise other data base contacts for regional business to increase the sample size as well. In total it is envisaged that some 2500 business across the Greater Whitsundays region will be contacted and surveyed about DAMA process.
Business respondents will be asked by EMRS to read background information about DAMA prior to answering the survey . Thus, the process will see EMRS mail-out information on DAMA prior to completing a telephone survey with a business representatives who have read the material first – this is known as a deliberative poll, as it is a highly regarded research method by Australian governments when it comes to major issues such as DAMA.
To achieve better survey completion rates in the shortest time possible, EMRS propose conducting the survey by CATI (Computer Aided Telephone Interviewing) approach using their highly skilled and experienced telephone interview team. EMRS propose a tiered approach starting with ‘spontaneous’ interviewing (i.e., the respondent agrees to participate in the survey at the time of the call), followed by a ‘scheduled’ interview (i.e., arrange a call-back at a time convenient to the respondent). Where neither approach will work, EMRS will offer the respondent an online survey option, but it is known that this so called ‘recruit to online’ has a very low completion rate.
What is a DAMA?
A DAMA is an agreement between the Commonwealth and a state/territory or regional body that provides:
A flexible, tailored response to a designated region’s local unique economic and labour market needs and conditions.
Solutions for Australian business where there are skills gaps and shortages that can’t be met by the Australian market.
Access to a broader range of overseas workers than available through the standard skilled visa programs.
Various negotiable concessions to the standard skilled visa requirements; and
Pathways to permanent residence as a major incentive to attract and retain overseas workers.
There are currently 12 DAMAs in place in Australia. For information on where and how they operate, as well as detailed information on DAMA’s, please visit the Department of Home Affairs website.
Key Principles for DAMA’s
| Australians First | - Build Capacity of Australian Workers - Provide training and employment opportunities - Transfer skills and knowledge from skilled migrant workers |
|---|---|
| Shared responsibilities and governance | - Cooperative arrangements at all levels |
| Support Overseas Workers | - Terms and conditions no less favourable than an Australian Worker - Consistent with local remuneration for occupations - Meet Australian Workplace laws - Contribute to successful settlement in the community |
| Consultation | - Understanding the impacts and views of stakeholders in the region - Maintain the focus of Australians First - Ensure recruitment of overseas workers in the local and national interest |
Key Benefits of DAMA’s
| Regionally specific occupations | - Tailored to your region |
|---|---|
| More occupations | - Across the range of ANZSCO Skill levels, including semi-skilled occupations - Greater choice of occupations than the standard skilled migration programs |
| Visa Duration | - Temporary (TSS) Visa up to 4 years for all occupations, or - Provisional (494) visa for 5 years for all occupations |
| Concessions to standard visa requirements | - Recognise regional diversity - Greater flexibility to attract a broader range of applicants |
| Pathway to permanent residency | - Available for more occupations - Enable regions to attract and retain workers - Less staff turnover for regional employers |
Roles and Responsibilities
Designated Area Representative (DAR)
Engagement and consultation with the Department of Home Affairs, employers and stakeholders as required
Create and submit a business case to request a DAMA for their region
Assessing and endorsing employers who want to sponsor overseas workers under the established DAMA
Monitor activity and report on issues to the Department of Home Affairs
Manage ongoing governance of DAMA including variations, reports and evaluations
Employers (or appointed migration agent)
Seek endorsement from the DAR to sponsor overseas workers under the DAMA
Enter into individual DAMA labour agreements with the Department of Home Affairs
Lodge nominations to fill vacancies
Pay all applicable fees and levies upfront at time of nomination
Lodge annual request for subsequent ceiling approvals under the DAMA Labour Agreement
Which Business area likely to access the Greater Whitsunday (GW) DAMA?
To access a GW DAMA Labour Agreement, employers must first be endorsed by the Designated Area Representative (DAR). While still in development it is expected that employers could access the GW DAMA if they:
Are operating within the GW DAMA Designated Area which includes the Mackay , Whitsundays, and Isaac area
Are viable and have been operating for at least 12 months unless there are exceptional circumstances.
Have no history of not meeting obligations to employees.
Are looking to employ Overseas Workers to fill full-time positions with duties that align with one or more of the occupations on the Greater Whitsunday DAMA occupation list;
Can demonstrate they cannot fill the position locally with Australian citizens or permanent residents.
Can provide terms and conditions of employment to overseas workers that are in accordance with those offered to Australian workers employed in the region.
Costs associated with DAMA and VISA Applications
To support a viable DAMA program, the entity managing and administering the DAMA will need to have business and services viability. Other DAMA programs across the country achieve this by charging a fee to businesses seeking to utilize (called endorsement) of the DAMA, where charges are costed on a per Visa employment position basis, while these services fees vary from DAMA to DAMA, they are generally in the ballpark of $1,000- $1,500 per position per business. This cost is in addition to the visa processing costs paid to the Department of Home Affairs.
Visa processing costs vary depending on visa type and arrangements – See link to Visa application costs https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/fees-and-charges . However, some example costs are provided below for Visa that align with DAMA Labour Visa Agreements
Temporary Skill Shortage Visa Subclass 482) – Labour Agreement Stream – single primary applicant is outside Australia when application is lodged - $2,770.00.
Temporary Skill Shortage Visa Subclass 482) – Labour Agreement Stream – single primary applicant + partner (over 18 years of age) both outside Australian when application is lodged - $5,540.00.
Temporary Skill Shortage Visa Subclass 482) – Labour Agreement Stream – single primary applicant + partner (over 18 years of age) + 2 children (under 18years of age) all are outside Australia when application is lodged - $6,930.00.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa 494) – Employer Sponsored Stream - – single primary applicant is outside Australia when application is lodged - $4,240.00.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa 494) – Employer Sponsored Stream -– single primary applicant + partner (over 18 years of age) both are outside Australia when application is lodged - $6,360.00.
Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) Visa 494) – Employer Sponsored Stream -– single primary applicant + partner (over 18 years of age) + 2 children (under 18 years of age, all are outside Australia when application is lodged - $6,360.00
In addition to the above Visa cost there is also a need for the employers to pay a Skilling Australians Fund (SFA) Levy – See link to cost of sponsoring on department website https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/employing-and-sponsoring-someone/sponsoring-workers/learn-about-sponsoring/cost-of-sponsoring
| Business size | TSS visa | ENS/ RSMS and SESR visas |
|---|---|---|
| Small (annual turnover less than $10 million) | AUD$1200 per year or part thereof | AUD$3000 one-off |
| Other business (annual turnover of $10 million or more) | AUD$1800 per year or part thereof | AUD$5000 one-off |
The above costs exclude any other costs attributed to migrant work employment such as use of immigrant agent, travel relocation, accommodation, and other oncosts that a business may incur and provide.
Businesses need to be prepared to pay a DAMA Service user fee plus other direct employer costs to support DAMA establishment and operations - understanding the DAMA administration fee would be between $1,000 - $1,500 per position and this is a cost on top of visa processing and skilling fund levy and other costs.
DAMA Application Process for employers
Further queries
Should you or your business require further information regarding the Greater Whitsundays Designated Area Migration Agreement Program please contact Nic Willis, RDA GW Project Manager:
E: projectmanager@rdagw.org.au
M: 0487 895 796
lINKS AND RESOURCES
Labour Agreement enquiries, factsheets, FAQs, etc.
Search ANZSCO occupations & skills requirements
Nomination and Visa information