New Orana migration agreement extends positions that can be filled from overseas
LOOKING for staff and simply can’t find them locally?
In good news for businesses in the bush, more than 60 per cent of regional NSW is now covered under a newly-approved Orana Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) Variation, which is set to alleviate workforce shortages in businesses across the region. The new agreement also radically expands the number of positions that can be filled by skilled migrants under the scheme.
The Orana DAMA is an agreement between RDA Orana and the Australian Government to enable employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers, for positions that they are unable to fill with local workers.
DAMAS play a crucial role in facilitating skilled migration by tailoring a specialised skilled occupation list and providing employers with concessions on age limits, English proficiency tests, and salary criteria.
The Orana DAMA represents a partnership between Regional Development – Riverina RDA Orana and the Australian Government, allowing employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers for positions they struggle to fill locally. Initially covering Central Northern NSW, including Dubbo, the Orana DAMA has now expanded to include the Riverina region.
The Orana DAMA is an agreement between RDA Orana and the Australian Government to enable employers to sponsor skilled overseas
workers, for positions that they are unable to fill with local workers.
Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana CEO Justine Campbell said the Orana DAMA variation had been approved with an expansion of a further 41 local government areas throughout NSW and an increase to 129 occupations within the agreement.
Ms Campbell said after months of lobbying, the Minister for Immigration,
Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles, signed-off on an approved variation request for the Orana DAMA to include four new RDA regions, more occupations and numerous concessions.
“The Orana DAMA exists to provide businesses in the regions covered, with an avenue to address current workforce shortages and to support future workforce planning,” she said.
“It is a priority for RDA Orana and the Australian Government to always promote jobs for Australians first, however a DAMA allows employers who are unable to find suitably qualified Australians to supplement their workforce with overseas workers.”
The Orana DAMA Variation includes a geographical boundary extension to include the RDA regions of Central West, Murray, Riverina and Southern Inland.