Monthly Archives: September 2023

A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a type of Labour Agreement. Labour Agreements are work agreements that enable approved employers to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers for positions they are unable to fill with local workers and in response to identified market shortages.  These agreements are negotiated between the Department and employers or industrial associations. Other types of labour agreements also include: Company-specific labour agreements, Project agreements, Global Talent Scheme (GST) agreements and Industry labour agreements.

DAMAs are labour agreements between a Designated Area Representative (DAR) and the Australian Government and provide access to additional occupations and concessions to standard migration programs under the:

• Temporary Skill Shortage visa (Subclass 482)
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (Subclass 494)
• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)

Once a DAMA is in place, local businesses can apply for endorsement and enter into individual labour agreements under the conditions of the relevant DAMA.

Our services at Falcon Migration do not stop when you get a visa. With our staff based in different parts of Australia, we have team with a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience of settling in Australia. We have put together some useful links for you to look at for various settlement aspects.

Registering for Medicare

Medicare is Australia’s universal health scheme. It is an Australian government program that guarantees all citizens (and some overseas visitors) access to a wide range of health services at little or no cost.

To view which visas allow Medicare, refer to this link: www.servicesaustralia.gov.au

Health insurance options

If you are unable to access Medicare under your visa scheme, you can register for private health insurance.

You can compare private health insurance at the following websites:

• www.privatehealth.gov.au

• www.iselect.com.au

• https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/help-support/ meeting-our-requirements/health/adequatehealth-insurance

Finding a home Temporary accommodation

The following websites include serviced apartments, houses, hotels, and caravan parks :

• www.tripadvisor.com.au

• www.airbnb.com.au

• www.stayz.com.au

• www.booking.com

• www.wotif.com

Renting or purchasing a property

The following websites include properties available for rent and to buy:

www.realestate.com.au

www.domain.com.au

Australia, known for its diverse landscapes and vibrant cities, has long been a coveted destination for immigrants. While major cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane are often in the spotlight, it’s essential to recognize that numerous regional areas across the country are equally appealing for migrants seeking new opportunities and a high quality of life. In this article, we explore Australia’s designated regional areas for migration purposes, shedding light on the benefits, postcodes, and exceptions that prospective immigrants should be aware of.

Understanding Designated Regional Areas

The Australian government classifies regions outside major cities as designated regional areas for migration purposes. These areas are further divided into two categories:

1. Cities and Major Regional Centres: This category encompasses cities like Perth, Adelaide, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle/Lake Macquarie, Wollongong/Illawarra, Geelong, and Hobart. Migrants choosing these locations can enjoy various regional incentives, including priority processing of regional visas, access to the Regional Occupations List (offering more job opportunities compared to non-regional lists), and an attractive offer for international graduates who have completed a bachelor’s or higher qualification from a regional campus of a registered institution – an additional year in Australia on a post-study work visa.
2. Regional Centres and Other Regional Areas: In this category, migrants can access dedicated 11,200 regional places, priority processing of regional visas, and the Regional Occupations List. International graduates with a bachelor’s or higher qualification from a regional campus of a registered institution can enjoy an even more extended stay in Australia, with an additional 2 years on a post-study work visa. This category also provides priority in negotiating region-specific Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs).

Navigating Designated Regional Areas: Postcode List

A list of postcodes specifying designated regional areas is available and applies to various visa categories, including:

1. Regional Visas:
   • Skilled Work Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 491)
   • Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 494)
   • Skilled Regional (Provisional) visa (subclass 489) – designated regional areas apply to visa holders nominated by a State and Territory government agency whose visa was granted after 16 November 2019.
2. Skilled Visas:
   • Skilled Independent visa (subclass 189)
   • Skilled Nominated visa (subclass 190)
3. Employer Sponsored Visas:
   • Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187) – the Temporary Residence Transition stream remains open to transitional 457 or Temporary Skill Shortage (subclass 482) workers.
   • Employer Nomination Scheme visa (subclass 186) – If the position is located in regional Australia, the nomination fee is waived.
   • Temporary Skill Shortage visa (subclass 482) – If using an occupation on the Regional Occupation List for this subclass.
4. Temporary Graduate Visa:
   • Second Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485)
5. Business Investment Visas:
   • Business Innovation and Investment (Permanent) visa (subclass 888)
   • State/Territory Sponsored Business Owner visa (subclass 892)

Additional Points and Exceptions

• Nomination to live and work in designated regional Australia can earn migrants an additional 5 points (from 10 to 15) under the Skilled Migration Points Test.
• If your studies were completed in a designated regional area and meet the Australian Study Requirement, you can claim an additional 5 points.

Exceptions to Regional Designation

While most visas emphasize geographical regions, some visas focus on specific industries. For instance, the Pacific Australian Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme allows work in certain industries rather than specific areas.

The Working Holiday Maker program offers a second and third-year visa option for individuals who have worked in a regional area and within eligible industries, with a different list of designated regional areas.

Safe Haven Enterprise Visa (SHEV)

The SHEV is a temporary protection visa for those engaging Australia’s protection obligations. Regional areas designated for SHEV arrangements differ from the list of designated regional areas for migration purposes. For specific details on SHEV requirements and SHEV regional area postcodes, consult the Safe Haven Enterprise visa pathway.

Australia’s regional areas offer a wealth of opportunities for skilled migrants, students, and entrepreneurs. Understanding the nuances of regional designations, postcodes, and exceptions is crucial for those considering a move to the land Down Under. With its diverse landscapes, strong economy, and welcoming communities, Australia’s designated regional areas beckon with promise and possibility.

The Department of Home Affairs in Australia has achieved a significant milestone by successfully clearing a large portion of the temporary visa backlog and delivering an exceptional Migration Program outcome for the year 2022-23.

In the financial year 2022-23, the department finalized an astounding 8.3 million visas, which is a staggering 190 percent more than the previous fiscal year (2021-22).

The Department’s efforts have led to a remarkable decrease in the backlog of temporary visa applications. On June 30, 2022, there were more than 600,000 on-hand temporary visa applications. Fast forward to June 30, 2023, and this number has plummeted by an impressive 73 percent to just over 161,000. This reduction has been observed across various visa categories, such as:

• Visitor visas decreased by a substantial 76 percent.
• Temporary Skill Shortage visas saw a significant 47 percent decrease.
• Student visas declined by an impressive 66 percent.
• Working Holiday Maker visas decreased by 58 percent.

This substantial decrease in the backlog signifies the department’s commitment to addressing the concerns of temporary visa applicants and streamlining the application process.

Total on-hand applications, including permanent visas subject to migration program planning levels, have also experienced a significant decline. In June 2022, there were nearly a million on-hand applications, but by June 2023, this number had reduced by almost 40 percent. Despite this remarkable reduction, the department continues to see a rise in the volume of new visa applications, with almost 7.9 million applications lodged in 2022-23. This represents a striking 152 percent increase compared to the 3.13 million applications lodged in 2021-22.

Another noteworthy aspect of the department’s achievements is that application lodgements in certain programs have surpassed pre-COVID levels. This is a testament to the resilience and adaptability of Australia’s immigration system. Programs such as Student, Working Holiday Maker, and Temporary and Permanent Skilled visas have witnessed a resurgence in applications, indicating a growing interest in Australia as a destination for education, work, and skilled migration.

In 2022-23, the department received 224,000 applications, surpassing the previous record set in 2016-17 by a substantial 26.8 percent. This surge in skilled migration interest is a testament to Australia’s strong economy and the appeal of its immigration programs for skilled professionals.