The Northern Territory has become the first area to have in place the Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) after a lengthy consultation and policy development process with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and other stakeholders.
Australia’s first DAMA in the Northern Territory is now providing Northern Territory businesses with more visa options to sponsor temporary skilled workers from overseas.
What are the benefits of the DAMA?
Employers operating in the Northern Territory can apply to the Northern Territory Government for access to the NT DAMA. Access will be granted upon completion of the NT Government’s assessment process which will verify a number of items including:
- Lawful operation of the business in the Northern Territory
- Compliance with immigration and workplace laws
- Genuine need of a foreign national to fill a vacant position
Employers will be granted access to the DAMA for a specified duration and volume. Limits will be placed on:
-
which occupations they can sponsor
-
what concessions they are seeking for each occupation and
-
the number of overseas workers for each occupation they are seeking over one (1) year
Access to the DAMA may provide employers with certain concessions. Employers must still provide terms and conditions of employment no less favourable than Australians performing similar work in the area.
Are DAMAs available in other states/territories of Australia?
The DAMA is a new program in Australia’s Temporary Skilled Migration Program to supplement the Australian workforce in areas of labour shortage. At this stage, the DAMA is only offered in the Northern Territory.
The principles underpinning DAMAs include providing opportunities for Australians first, maintaining a fair work environment and comprehensive consultation.
–Senator Michaelia Cash, Assistant Minister for Immigration
What alternatives are available to the DAMA?
Alternatives to the DAMA include the subclass 457 visa pathway, skilled regional migration visas, independent and state/territory sponsored migration visas. Speak with our migration agents for expert advice.
How can Universal Migration Advisory Services help? Find out more about our Migration Agent Services.
Occupations on the Northern Territory DAMA
The Northern Territory DAMA is currently in pilot phase (stage 1). Stage 2 of the DAMA is still being finalised.
Stage 1 will run until 10 February 2015 or until the Stage 2 DAMA is finalised.
The following occupations can be nominated under the Northern Territory DAMA:
| Occupation | Qualification and/or experience required | Registration or licencing |
| Child Care Worker | Relevant Australian Qualification Framework (AQF) or equivalent Diploma or higher level qualification with at least one year (20hrs + per week) relevant post qualification experience. | Registration or licencing is required |
| Aged or Disabled Carer | Relevant AQF or equivalent Diploma or higher level qualification with at least one year (20hrs+ per week) relevant post qualification experience. | N/A |
| Bar Attendant (Supervisor) | Relevant AQF or equivalent Certificate IV with at least one year (20hrs+ per week) relevant post qualification experience or At least four years, full time (no less than 38hrs per week) relevant experience. Applicants’ experience must be in line with the attached Senior Bar Attendant job description (see below). |
N/A |
| Hotel Service Manager, Office Manager, Retail Manager | Relevant AQF or equivalent Diploma or higher level qualification with at least one year (20hrs per week +) relevant post qualification experience or At least four years, full time (no less than 38hrs per week) relevant experience. |
N/A |
| Waiter (Supervisor) | Relevant AQF or equivalent Certificate IV with at least one year (20hrs + per week) relevant post qualification experience or At least four years, full time (no less than 38hrs per week) relevant experience. Applicants’ experience must be in line with the attached Food and Beverage Supervisor job description (see below). |
N/A |
| General Clerk, Motor Vehicle Parts Interpreter, Retail Supervisor, (General), Tour Guide | At least a relevant AQF or equivalent Certificate II with three years (20hrs+ per week) relevant post qualification experience or At least a relevant AQF or equivalent Certificate III with two years (20hrs+ per week) relevant post qualification experience or At least four years (no less than 38hrs per week) relevant experience. |
N/A |
| Earthmoving Plant Operator (General), Truck Driver (General) | At least a relevant AQF or equivalent Certificate II with three years (20hrs+ per week) relevant post qualification experience or At least a relevant AQF or equivalent Certificate III with two years (20hrs+ per week) relevant post qualification experience or At least four years (no less than 38hrs per week) relevant experience. |
Licencing is required |
| Store Person | At least a relevant AQF or equivalent Certificate II with three years (20hrs+ per week) relevant post qualification experience or At least a relevant AQF or equivalent Certificate III with two years (20hrs+ per week) relevant post qualification experience or At least four years (no less than 38hrs per week) relevant experience. |
Forklift licence may be required |
| Chef | AQF Associate Degree, Advanced Diploma or Diploma with three years (20hrs+ per week) relevant post qualification experience. | n/a |
| Cook | At least a relevant AQF or equivalent Certificate II with three years (20hrs+ per week) relevant post qualification experience or At least a relevant AQF or equivalent Certificate III with two years (20hrs+ per week) relevant post qualification experience or At least four years (no less than 38hrs per week) relevant experience. |
n/a |
Source: NT Government