A new DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreement) has come into effect on 12 September 2019 in regional Queensland and is now open to skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers in 70 occupations ranging from Tour Guides, Accommodation and Hospitality Managers to Cooks, Child Care Workers and Youth Workers. Please find the full occupation list here. (Link: https://www.cairnschamber.com.au/files/media/original/35d/1c0/536/FNQ-DAMA—Occupation-List-20190909-.pdf). Most of these occupation provides pathway to permanency after 3 years working in the regional location.
This agreement, called the Far North Queensland Designated Area Migration Agreement (FNQ DAMA) is a five-year visa pathway utilizing the labour agreement stream of the Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482). Skilled workers must have a sponsor who operates in the designated region to apply for this visa. Areas covered under this DAMA include Cassowary Coast, the Tablelands, Mareeba, Cairns and the Douglas Shire through the Cairns Chamber of Commerce (link: https://www.cairnschamber.com.au/fnq-dama).
This new agreement will have 200 places made available in the first year and will be greatly welcomed by applicants and employers alike to address regional skills shortages.
If you are an employer or visa applicant requiring assistance in obtaining access to the Labour Agreement, please contact our Migration Agent Melbourne.
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