South Australia announces new occupations for sponsored visas

The South Australia Government has entered into a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) with the Federal Government.

DAMAs will assist businesses and employers find skilled overseas workers for occupations which are facing shortages in the State. In a joint media release by The Hon David Coleman MP Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs along with the South Australian Premier Steven Marshall MP announced the DAMA on 21 March 2019 in a joint press release.

Minister Coleman said the Federal Government is working to address the skills needs of regional Australia. He said, “The Morrison Government is working to support the growth of regions and match our migration program with labour market needs, particularly in regional Australia,” Mr. Coleman said.

“Our first priority is always to fill jobs with Australians, but the immigration system can play an important role in helping to address regional skills gaps.

“These agreements with South Australia follow the success of the Northern Territory DAMA and reaffirms the Government’s commitment to supporting skill needs across Australia where Australian workers are not available to fill those jobs.”

Premier Steven Marshall said he is delighted the Morrison Government is backing South Australia’s population growth agenda through two new tailored DAMAs aimed at addressing skills shortages across the state.

He said, “These new DAMA arrangements provide a springboard for businesses to access the skills they need to meet their specific workforce requirements, and try and minimise where possible any critical shortages,” said Premier Marshall.

“Importantly, they give our growing regional industries support to attract skilled workers and boost the population of regional areas, creating more local jobs and a thriving economy.”

South Australia will have two DAMAs. An Adelaide Metropolitan Region one and a South Australian Workforce Agreement. They will have 60 and 114 occupation respectively.

The complete list can be found here.

The South Australian Workforce Agreement covers the entire State and will according to Migration SA assist employers in key regional growth industries of agribusiness, health and aged care, hospitality and tourism, mining and construction sectors with the ability to access and retain a skilled workforce.

This DAMA follows on from the Northern Territory DAMAs which has already come into effect. Details can be found here.

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact Glenn Ferguson AM, Accredited Specialist in Immigration law and Registered Migration Agent here.