South-West DAMA – Apply Now!


Applications for the South-West Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) are now open.

A positive endorsement allows South-West businesses to request a Labour Agreement with the Department of Home Affairs.

Please note than an individual worker cannot apply for a visa independently under the South West DAMA, so potential visa applicants should look for a job with a South-West business who may be willing to sponsor them.

The South-West DAMA uses the following skilled and employer-sponsored visas: Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482), the Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (Subclass 494) all under the Labour Agreement stream.

Please note that a positive endorsement from the DAR does not guarantee a positive outcome for the Labour Agreement, Nomination and Visa Applications stages, these are assessed by the Department of Home Affairs against the current migration legislation.

Flow chart of DAMA process

Image source: Department of Home Affairs

There are several steps to accessing workers under the South-West DAMA:

Step 1 - DAR Endorsement (Shire of Dardanup)

Your business needs to apply to the South West DAMA Designated Area Representative (Shire of Dardanup) for endorsement. To do this, fill out the Endorsement Form (see below) and submit the required supporting documentation. Read the Employers Guide to Accessing a Labour Agreement, and Checklist for Sponsors to understand what supporting documents are required. Make payment for the application for business endorsement through the Shire of Dardanup.

If further documentation is required to assess your application, this will be requested from the DAR (Shire of Dardanup). Once all documentation has been provided, if your application for endorsement is successful, a letter of endorsement and instructions for lodging a Labour Agreement will be sent to the business (or their Registered Migration Agent, if you are using one), the letter of endorsement and any supporting documentation will be sent to the Department of Home Affairs.

If your application is unsuccessful, you will be notified by the DAR.

If you already have a potential applicant for the position, you may want to notify them to start to organise their documentation, to start the English and skills assessments, health assessments and to apply for their police clearances.

Step 2 - Labour Agreement (Department of Home Affairs)

Your business can then request a Labour Agreement with the Department of Home Affairs through ImmiAccount.

The South-West DAR (Shire of Dardanup) will send you an ImmiAccount guide with your positive endorsement which includes details specific to the South-West DAMA to be provided at the Labour Agreement stage.

Step 3 - Nomination (Department of Home Affairs)

Your business submits a nomination application to the Department of Home Affairs via ImmiAccount for every overseas worker you wish to employ under the South-West DAMA.

Step 4 - Visa Application (Department of Home Affairs)

Your overseas worker can apply for a TSS (subclass 482), a SESR (subclass 494) or an ENS (subclass 186) visa under the Labour Agreement stream.

Your business must provide the overseas worker with settlement information (available from the DAR):

  • prior to them starting work with you, or
  • If they are already working for you, prior to them lodging their visa application, unless they have been living and working in the South-West for at least 12 months prior to them lodging their visa application.

Fees and Charges

There are fees and charges which are subject to change over time for the following:

  • Application for endorsement by the South-West DAMA Designated Area Representative (Shire of Dardanup) to access the South-West Designated Area Migration Agreement ($284/nomination)
  • Nomination and visa application charges (to be paid to Department of Home Affairs)
  • The Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy (to be paid to the Department of Education, Skills and Employment)

Criteria Being Assessed

The DAR and the Department of Home Affairs examines the business’ current and future workforce needs to determine:

  • The sponsoring business is located within the participating South-West region, and that the applicant will live and work within the area
  • The occupations and concessions are available under the South-West DAMA, and how these occupations fit within the scope of the business
  • The business has made a genuine effort to recruit Australian citizens or permanent residents in the position requested, and are satisfied that they been unable to fill this role locally
  • The terms and conditions of employment to the applicant is no less favourable to an equivalent Australian worker and that the salary offered aligns with the current Australian Market Salary Rate
  • If concessions to TSMIT or English language have been sought, a business case has been provided to support the request for concession
  • The sponsoring employer has no adverse information against them, or that any relevant information is disclosed to the DAR
  • The business has been operating within the area for at least the last 12 months, and is financially viable and able to support the number of workers requested

Subsequent Year Endorsement Process

Endorsement to access the South-West DAMA is for up to five years, however the application for endorsement in specified occupations and numbers are for the first year only. Businesses seeking to access new overseas workers will need to apply to the DAR for endorsement each subsequent year.

To lodge an application with the South West DAR

Please read ALL of the instructions below before proceeding with your application.  Failure to do so may delay the processing of your application.

  1. Read the terms and conditions outlined in the Employers Guide to Accessing a Labour Agreement
  2. Identify whether you are lodging an application for Endorsement, Amendment, or Variation to an Existing Labour Agreement. You will need to indicate this on the application form
  3. Access and complete the Application Form .  The form is hosted securely by Adobe Acrobat and will guide you to enter the necessary information only.
  4. Before you sign the form please check all details for accuracy/correctness.
  5. Sign the form using the secure signature feature.  This will submit your completed form to us automatically.
  6. Our system will immediately acknowledge receipt of your application by return email.
  7. The acknowledgement email will include the completed form for you to check, print out, and have signed and witnessed by the sponsor. 
  8. Prepare the required documents as listed on the last page of your copy of the application form.   To expedite processing please arrange documents in the recommended order and include an index/summary with page numbers. 
  9. Scan the supporting documents (including the signed/witnessed application form) and send as an attachment (as a single consolidated pdf file) by email to dama@dardanup.wa.gov.au
  10. Provide (in the body of your email or as an attachment) any further explanatory information (especially for amendments and variations) which may assist us in interpreting your requirements eg references to existing Labour Agreements.
  11. To expedite processing of your supporting documents please ensure all communication includes the tracking information provided on your copy of the application form sent to you in 5 above. The required tracking information can be found in the top margin of the first page of your copy of the completed application form.
  12. We will acknowledge receipt of your supporting documents and invoice you for any fees.
  13. We will process your application as soon as practicable and will advise you via email as to the outcome, or if we require further information.
  14. Applications are processed in the order in which they are received hence please allow 15 working days (after lodgement of your supporting documents) before seeking advice on the progress of your application. 
  15. If you need to correct or update an application please let us know by email (using tracking information in Subject line) as soon as practicable. 
  16. It is impossible to expedite applications without delaying applications already in our system.  The best way to have your application expedited is to present your supporting documents in such a way that they are easy to navigate (eg timely, brief, concise, organised, indexed, complete and comprehensive). 
  17. Supporting documents of more than 100 pages total are considered excessive.  Where possible use relevant extracts or links to external information to reduce document size.
  18. Please do not send bank statements, or passport images/information unless specifically asked to do so.

Please use this form for Endorsements, Amendments and Variations.

DAMA Application Form

    For information on the fees and charges for associated with nomination and visa applications, always visit the Department of Home Affairs website for the latest information.

    You may wish to engage a lawyer or Registered Migration Agent (RMA) to manage all or part of the process of sponsoring an overseas worker. If engaging an RMA, please ensure they are registered with the Office of Migration Agents Registration Authority (OMARA), you can search for registered migration agents through OMARA.

    Need help?

    Please contact the DAMA Officer at the Shire of Dardanup by email dama@dardanup.wa.gov.au

    Quick Links

     

    Employers Guide to Accessing a Labour Agreement

    DAMA FAQ

    DAMA Glossary

    Department of Home Affairs – Labour Agreements
    Department of Home Affairs – Labour Market Testing
    Department of Home Affairs – Market Salary and TSMIT