From the 1 January 2019, low/semi-skilled migrants with limited English can access a new pathway to permanent residency!
When: From 1st January 2019
Where: Regions currently covered by this new scheme are the entire state of Northern Territory and the Great South Coast region of Victoria (indicated in map below, includes: Warrnambol, Glenelg shire, Colac Otway shire, etc).
The Federal Government is currently in discussions with a range of other regions around the country experiencing skill shortages, including the Pilbara and the Kalgoorlie-Boulder regions in WA, Cairns in Far North Queensland, and the Orana region in central NSW. These agreements are still pending.
What: Recently, both the Northern Territory and Victorian (Great South Coast region only) governments signed new Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs). Limited information is only available for the Victorian DAMA, but the Northern Territory Agreement will have the following 7 features:
1. A New Pathway to PR
Northern Territory’s previous DAMA which expired on the 31st December 2018, didn’t provide workers with a pathway to PR. Both the new Northern Territory and Victorian agreements allows certain migrants to access PR, who may not have been able to otherwise, via the Labour Agreement Stream of the employer-sponsored 482 TSS –> 186 ENS pathway.
2. A Broader Range of Occupations
There are 117 occupations that are eligible for sponsorship under the Northern Territory DAMA. These occupations are listed below.
Of these, 31 occupations are additional occupations not currently on any of the Immigration occupation lists , indicated in bold below. Of these 31 occupations, 3 of the them are not even on ANZSCO! These 3 occupations are in bold and underlined.
This is great news! It means that anyone within these 31 occupations have a NEW pathway to PR.
These 31 occupations range from retail supervisor to motor vehicle parts and accessories fitter – general, forklift driver, hotel or motel receptionist, accounts clerk, bookkeeper and web designer. See full list below.
** The Victorian Great South Coast region government has not published their full occupation list, only mentioning that there are more than 20 occupations available to access the agreement, and that these occupations include those in the childcare, tourism and hospitality areas.
These occupations will be published in the first quarter of this year. Neither migration agents or the public will be advised any earlier. We will keep a close eye on this situation and advise as soon as we know of any updates.
Northern Territory DAMA Occupation List:
ANZSCO Code & Occupation
221111 Accountant – general
551111 Accounts clerk
423111 Aged or disabled carer
721111 Agricultural and horticultural mobile plant operator
231111 Aeroplane pilot^
342111 Airconditioning and refrigeration mechanic^
323111 Aircraft maintenance engineer – avionics^
323112 Aircraft maintenance engineer – mechanical^
121111 Aquaculture farmer
362212 Arborist
321111 Automotive electrician
351111 Baker
070499# Bar attendant – supervisor^
431112 Barista
451111 Beauty therapist
121312 Beef cattle farmer
551211 Bookkeeper
731211 Bus driver^
351211 Butcher or smallgoods maker
394111 Cabinetmaker
342411 Cabler – data and telecommunications
141111 Café or restaurant manager
331212 Carpenter
351311 Chef
111111 Chief executive or managing director
421111 Childcare worker^
134111 Childcare centre manager^
312212 Civil engineering technician
411711 Community worker
149311 Conference and event organiser
351411 Cook
070499# Cook – specialist ethnic cuisine
149212 Customer service manager
442213 Crowd controller^
899211 Deckhand^
423211 Dental assistant
321212 Diesel motor mechanic
411712 Disabilities services officer
399911 Diver
241111 Early childhood (pre-primary school) teacher^
721211 Earthmoving plant operator – general
311412 Earth science technician
342211 Electrical linesworker^
342314 Electronic instrument trades worker – general
721214 Excavator operator
149913 Facilities manager
421112 Family day care worker^
411713 Family support worker
323211 Fitter – general
323212 Fitter and turner
323213 Fitter-welder
332111 Floor finisher
231113 Flying instructor^
721311 Forklift driver
121213 Fruit or nut grower
431311 Gaming worker
142114 Hair or beauty salon manager
391111 Hairdresser
313111 Hardware technician
141311 Hotel or motel manager
542113 Hotel or motel receptionist
431411 Hotel service manager
313112 ICT customer support officer
313199 ICT support technicians nec
272412 Interpreter^
362213 Landscape gardener
141411 Licensed club manager
721912 Linemarker
221112 Management accountant
225113 Marketing specialist
322311 Metal fabricator
121411 Mixed crop and livestock farmer
121216 Mixed crop farmer
121317 Mixed livestock farmer
321211 Motor mechanic – general
899411 Motor vehicle parts and accessories fitter – general
621311 Motor vehicle or caravan salesperson
621312 Motor vehicle parts interpreter
321213 Motorcycle mechanic
423312 Nursing support worker
512111 Office manager
421114 Out of school hours care worker^
324111 Panelbeater
423313 Personal care assistant
311215 Pharmacy technician
334111 Plumber – general^
322312 Pressure welder
511112 Program or project administrator
612112 Property manager
272612 Recreation officer
411715 Residential care worker
142111 Retail manager – general
621511 Retail supervisor
131112 Sales and marketing manager
322211 Sheetmetal trades worker
231212 Ship’s engineer
231213 Ship’s master^
321214 Small engine mechanic
399516 Sound technician
133611 Supply and distribution manager
221113 Taxation accountant
342412 Telecommunications cable jointer
342413 Telecommunications linesworker
342414 Telecommunications technician
423314 Therapy aide
451412 Tour guide
733111 Truck driver – general^
121221 Vegetable grower
324311 Vehicle painter
361311 Veterinary nurse
070499# Waiter supervisor
712921 Waste water or water plant operator
313113 Web administrator
232414 Web designer
322313 Welder – first class
272613 Welfare worker
411716 Youth worker
3. Lower English Requirements
These DAMA agreements have concessions for the level of English required. Where applicants would usually need a minimum of 5.0 overall and 4.5 minimum for each band to apply for the 482 TSS visa, for 68 of the 117 occupations in Northern Territory, you will only need 5.0 overall and 4.0 minimum for listening and speaking, with no minimum requirement for reading and writing.
4. Lower Salary Requirements
These agreements also have concessions for the salary amount to be paid to the applicant. 482 TSS and 186 visas typically require the employer to pay a salary that is at least equal, or higher, than TSMIT (currently at $53,900). For 68 of the occupations, employers may apply to be exempt from this requirement. The employer will need to have a strong business case and prove the lower salary is still equal to what an Australian permanent resident or citizen would be paid in the same position.
5. Time Spent Living and Working in Region
For Northern Territory, you will need to live and work in the region for at least 3 years before you can access permanent residency.
6. Qualification and Work Experience
If your occupation is on any of the TSS/ENS/RSMS Immigration occupation lists, you’ll need to meet the regular qualification and work experience requirements of the respective visas.
If your occupation is not on these lists (i.e. your occupation is one of the 31 occupations highlighted in blue or yellow above), you’ll need to meet these requirements instead:
- Undergo a skills verification by the regional area nominated registered training organisation or the Northern Territory Department of Trade, Business and Innovation;
- Meet the skill level as defined in ANZSCO; and
- Have at least 2 years post-qualification experience.
7. Employer Requirements
Prospective employers must have been actively operating in NT for at least 12 months. Endorsement to access the DAMA will be valid for 5 years, but employers must apply yearly to determine specifically which occupations and concessions may be accessed.
Employers are still required to meet labour market testing requirements as per regular TSS, ENS, RSMS requirements.
Do you qualify for either the NT or Victorian DAMA? Feel like this could help you reach PR? Have a chat with our experienced agents today and confirm whether this is indeed a pathway for you!
Please head here to book in your FREE 30-minute 1-to-1 consultation.
Source:
https://www.warrnambool.vic.gov.au/designated-area-migration-agreement-dama