The federal government announced on Monday that it is updating the Northern Territory Designated Migration Area Agreement (NT DAMA), an employer-sponsored visa program.
The key include a more flexible permanent resident pathway; 24 new occupations including some lower-skilled occupations in the agriculture, aquaculture and meat industries; more flexible skills and work experience requirements for overseas workers; a higher age threshold for sponsored overseas workers; and a lower English language threshold for trade occupations.
Highlights:
- Updates to the NT DAMA provide additional concessions to standard visa applicants and increase the number of occupations eligible
- A further 200 nomination places have been allocated on top of the 500 Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) places already allocated in 2021-22
- Australian government extends support to the NT's businesses for filling critical skill shortages
The changes would further allow businesses to nominate workers under the new five-year Skilled Employer-Sponsored Regional visa Subclass 494.
The Territory government said, “it prioritises jobs for Territorians, therefore overseas workers are only sought if employers provide evidence they are unable to attract Territorian or Australian workers to fill their vacancies.”
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alex Hawke said, "Training and skilling Australians has always been a top priority, but there is a need for additional migrant workers to supplement the workforce, particularly in regional Australia."
"DAMAs are part of a suite of initiatives that allow regional Australia to recruit skilled workers where Australian workers are not available, facilitating the growth of regional businesses and the economy," he said.
Minister for Immigration Alex Hawke at a recently held press conference in Canberra. Source: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
The updates to the NT DAMA increase the number of eligible occupations and provide additional concessions to standard visa eligibility, the minister added.
Northern Territory Minister for Jobs and Training, Paul Kirby said the refreshed DAMA agreement delivers huge benefits to Territorians, local businesses and industry.
"The Northern Territory DAMA makes it possible for local businesses to gain skilled and semi-skilled workers from overseas, where they haven’t been able to fill vacancies locally," Mr Kirby said.
"Our local businesses must have the capacity to get the people that will get the job done and the NT DAMA now provides Territory employers with access to 124 skilled and semi-skilled occupations identified to be in critical skill shortage"
Australian government is supporting Northern Territory businesses to fill critical skill shortages (Representative image). Source: AAP Image/Grenville Turner
"Since the implementation of the NT DAMA II in 2019, 274 applications from Territory businesses have been endorsed to fill 925 vacant positions with overseas workers," Mr Kirby added.
The federal government said that it will also increase the allocation of Territory-nominated skilled migration program places for the remainder of the 2021-22 year.
"A further 200 nomination places have been allocated on top of the 500 Skilled Work Regional (Subclass 491) places the Territory had already been allocated in 2021-22," Mr Hawke said.
Melbourne-based migration expert Preeti Kaur has dubbed the government's decision as ‘a great initiative’.
"Some states have closed their state nominations, or there are candidates who do not qualify for PR as of now. So this move may open up an option for them to migrate here," Ms Kaur told SBS Hindi.
“This news comes as a breath of fresh air to many who are also unsure about options to choose from or have fewer options,” she said, adding that “it will also promote the Northern Territory region."
Darshit Devaliya, 29, is a temporary resident and has been working in Alice Springs for the last 10 months.
He told SBS Hindi that he has been informed by his migration agent that immigration rules are now eased in the Territory which may help his permanent residency application.
Darshit Devaliya, 29, has been living in Northern Territory for last 10 months. Source: Supplied by Darshit Devaliya
"It's a good decision from all aspects - for employers as well as job seekers. It will fill up the jobs in the NT and also help applicants to build their points for PR applications," Mr Devaliya said.
