The Great South Coast region’s Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) was announced by the Commonwealth Government on December 10, 2018.

The announcement by Member for Wannon Dan Tehan and the Minister for Home Affairs David Coleman can be viewed at this link:

https://minister.homeaffairs.gov.au/davidcoleman/Pages/new-agreement-to-help-victoria-great-south-coast-region.aspx

The DAMA will provide opportunity for our region’s businesses to apply for individual labour agreements under which they can sponsor skilled workers.

For some time Great South Coast employers and municipalities have recognised more people are needed to grow the region’s economy by increasing production and exports.

The DAMA will:

  • assist key agriculture, hospitality and other businesses on the Great South Coast to fill critical employment gaps by providing access to a broader range of overseas workers than is available through the standard skilled migration programs;
  • be accessible to employers in Glenelg, Moyne, Warrnambool, Corangamite, Colac Otway and Southern Grampians municipalities;
  • not supplant locally available workers. For a DAMA to be approved by the Commonwealth, regions must demonstrate efforts to recruit Australians first and clearly identify labour market conditions and gaps. They must also demonstrate local support available to migrant workers; and,
  • ensure the terms and conditions of employment are consistent with local remuneration practices for that occupation and meet Australian workplace laws.

More than 20 eligible occupations will be available under the Great South Coast DAMA with the full list to be posted in the first quarter of 2019.

A range of concessions may be available to both employers and visa nominees under the terms and conditions of the DAMA and these will be indicated for each specific occupation.

In the interim please note that Warrnambool City is not accepting CVs or resumes from applicants, nor will specific detail on the occupations and concessions be provided to migration agents.

Please watch this page for further updates.