Staff members of the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) are to be deployed to the regions to work alongside employers and communities in an attempt to deal with skills shortages by attracting skilled migrants.
The Department is to give priority to processing visa applications from skilled migrants wanting to live and work in regional areas.
Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, David Coleman said these initiatives would support regional employers get the skilled workers they needed to grow and develop their businesses.
“Our skilled visa programs are about supporting Australian businesses and creating opportunities for more Australians,” Mr Coleman said.
“There are a number of regions outside Sydney, Melbourne and South East Queensland who are calling out for skilled migrants. These regional initiatives will help these communities and local business to attract migrants where they are needed most.”
He said that where Australian workers were not available, visa settings could be tailored to suit the needs of specific regions through tools such as Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs).
“The Northern Territory recently signed its second DAMA, and Warrnambool on Victoria’s Great South Coast is expected to sign one soon,” Mr Coleman said.
“We are significantly expanding the DAMA program, with officials from the Department of Home Affairs already in discussions with a range of regions that are experiencing labour shortages to see whether a DAMA could be put in place to supplement the local workforce.”
He said DAMAs provided flexibility for regional employers to sponsor migrant workers, as well as incentives for migrants to live and work in regional areas, including by creating a pathway to permanent residence.
