FNQ DAMA Overview

SUBSCRIBE FOR FNQ DAMA UPDATES

About the FNQ DAMA

The FNQ DAMA is a skilled migration program that is tailored to the needs of our Far North Queensland region (FNQ). The FNQ DAMA differs in many ways from standard skilled migration pathways, providing more flexibility and certainty for both employers and workers. The key differences are*:

• An FNQ DAMA Occupation & Concessions List designed for our region, with a greater range of occupations not linked to standard occupation lists, and with no caveats;
• The ability to have occupations added (or removed) as local demands determine;
• Semi-skilled as well as skilled occupations (Skill Levels 1-5 instead of Skill Levels 1-3);
• The facility to design and include unique local occupations not in ANZSCO (the standard classification of occupations);
• Access to clearly-defined permanent visa pathways for all occupations in Skill Levels 1-5;
• Access to age concessions of 55 or 50 (depending on occupation) rather than the general age limit of 45 applying to standard skilled migration pathways;
• The option of two visa pathways – TSS 482 to ENS 186, or SESR 494 to 191 (*the 191 comes into effect in Nov 2022) 
• Concessions to many skills, qualifications, and experience requirements, compared to those in standard skilled migration pathways;
• Salary concessions for lower skilled occupations that reflect FNQ market rates, ensuring that worker terms and conditions of employment are not eroded;
• English language concessions for numerous occupations;
• More lenient Labour Market Testing requirements than standard requirements;
• Priority processing times.

The FNQ DAMA operates under a Labour Agreement framework. This means that employers can seek one occupation/position or multiple occupations and positions in a single agreement. It also means that prospective workers do not necessarily need to have been identified at time of applying, allowing for future planning. Individuals can then be nominated against the occupations and numbers of positions in the Labour Agreement. A Labour Agreement is generally valid for five years and can be varied at any time (such as adding further occupations/positions).

As with all skilled migration, the priority is employment for Australians first. However, the FNQ DAMA provides a tailored and accessible option for employers seeking to fill one or multiple occupations and positions where they are genuinely unable to fill the position from the Australian labour market.

For full details and how to access the program, click here.

Which employers can access the FNQ DAMA?

To access a FNQ DAMA Labour Agreement, employers must first be endorsed by the Cairns Chamber of Commerce as the Designated Area Representative (DAR). Employers can access the FNQ DAMA if they*:

• are operating within the FNQ DAMA Designated Area which includes the Cairns, Douglas, Mareeba, Tablelands, Cook, or Cassowary Coast local government areas, or the Torres Shire Council local government area, or the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council local government area, or the Weipa Town Authority area (postcodes 4852, 4854-4856, 4858-4861, 4865, 4868-4876, 4877-4883, 4885-4886 and 4895);
• are viable and have been operating for at least 12 months unless there are exceptional circumstances;
• have no history of not meeting obligations to employees;
• are looking to employ Overseas Workers to fill full-time positions with duties that align with one or more of the occupations on the FNQ DAMA occupation list;
• can demonstrate they cannot fill the position locally with Australian citizens or permanent residents;
• can provide terms and conditions of employment to overseas workers that are in accordance with those offered to Australian workers employed in the region.

For full details and how to access the program, click here.

All enquiries about the FNQ DAMA may be directed to email/dama)(cairnschamber.com.au 

Note: * This is a summary only - do not make business decisions based on this summary. 

SUBSCRIBE FOR FNQ DAMA UPDATES IN YOUR MAILBOX!

Recent updates

Minister approves FNQ DAMA variations - effective 30 March 2022 - (posted 31 March 2022)   

On 30 March 2022 the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs, Alex Hawke, signed a Deed of Variation giving effect to a range of variations that serve to enhance the FNQ DAMA, ensuring it remains fit for purpose in the changing economic climate. The variations included:

• removal of some unused occupations and replacing them with additional occupations identified as subject of skill shortages;
• removal* of some non-ANZSCO and obsolete occupations resulting from a government ANZSCO review, and replacing them with the new equivalents;
• an increase in the age concession, accessible for all occupations;
• greater flexibility with the English language concession for those occupations that are eligible;
• reduced experience concessions for some occupations where the Overseas Worker's qualification was obtained in Australia;
• removal of postcode limitations that previously applied to some occupations;
• extension of the permanent residence pathway to all occupations (conditional for Skill Level 5);
• addition of the Northern Peninsula Area Regional Council (NPARC) to the FNQ DAMA Designated Area.

*The variations include transitional arrangements to ensure Overseas Workers in any occupations removed will remain eligible for a permanent visa pathway under the FNQ DAMA.    

A new FNQ DAMA Occupation and Concessions List and FNQ DAMA Information Guide have been uploaded in the Accessing the FNQ DAMA page of this website.

The Minister and the Federal Member for Leichhardt the Hon Warren Entsch MP issued a joint media release on 31 March 2022 announcing the FNQ DAMA variations. 

FNQ DAMA Request for Endorsement fee change from 1 May 2022 - (posted 1 March 2022)   

On 1 May 2022 there will be an increase in the Request for Endorsement fee to $885 for Cairns Chamber of Commerce members, and $985 for non-members. This fee continues to be per position sought. The change has been necessary due to the high costs of managing the FNQ DAMA including labour market analyses and variations due to the ever-changing labour market. The results of the latest Deed of Variation are expected shortly, that will see further enhancements to the FNQ DAMA. 

FNQ DAMA Deed of Variation request - (7 February 2022)   

On Monday 7 February the Cairns Chamber of Commerce submitted a Deed of Variation request to the Department of Home Affairs for consideration by the Minister for Immigration. The request seeks updates to the occupation list in response to a January 2022 labour market survey and analysis, as well as some enhancements to existing concessions. The outcome of the variation request will be posted on this page. If you wish to be informed automatically, please subscribe for FNQ DAMA updates. 

FNQ DAMA Media Release - (19 January 2022)*   

Click here for the latest FNQ DAMA Media Release.

FNQ DAMA important update - (1 September 2021)*   

As of 1 September 2021, more lenient Labour Market Testing requirements apply to the FNQ DAMA than to non-DAMA programs, at time of requesting the Labour Agreement and also when lodging any nominations associated with that Labour Agreement. These more lenient requirements are detailed here. These will be reflected in all FNQ DAMA Labour Agreements signed on or after 1 September 2021, regardless of when the Labour Agreement was requested from the Department of Home Affairs. As with any FNQ DAMA updates, holders of existing FNQ DAMA Labour Agreements can request that these changes be varied in their existing agreement.   

FNQ DAMA important update - (11 August 2021)*   

An additional variation has been added to the FNQ DAMA as of 11 August 2021. An age concession is now available for the SESR 494 pathway, in addition to the existing age concession for the TSS482/ENS186 pathway. For details, refer to the FNQ DAMA Occupation List and the FNQ DAMA Information Guide in the next page.

Note: * These updates are a summary only - do not make business decisions based on these summaries.