Federal Government announces updates to Townsville’s Designated Area Migration Agreement

For the owner Townsville’s iconic ice-creamery Juliettes Gary Bromham, an expansion of an agreement between the Federal Government and Townsville Enterprise means he can fill vacant positions he has had trouble filling.

Labor candidate for Herbert Edwina Andrew, Senator Nita Green, chief executive of Townsville Enterprise Claudia Brumme-Smith and owner of Juliettes Gary Bromham. Picture: Nikita McGuire

For the owner Townsville’s iconic ice-creamery Juliettes Gary Bromham, an expansion of an agreement between the Federal Government and Townsville Enterprise means he can fill vacant positions he has had trouble filling.

Senator Nita Green has announced significant upgrades to the existing Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA), which covers Townsville and North Queensland region which covers, Townsville, Charters Towers, the Burdekin, Hinchinbrook, Flinders, Richmond, McKinlay, Cloncurry and Mount Isa.

The DAMA offers employers who have been unable to find workers in the local market to a “streamlined pathway” to access skilled migrant workers.

It it only accessible for businesses who have shown there is a skills shortage in their industry and have given priority to Australian jobseekers first, with no avail.

There are currently 13 DAMA’s across the country and only two in the state, with the Far North having their own agreement through the Cairns Chamber of Commerce.

Labor candidate for Herbert Edwina Andrew, Senator Nita Green, chief executive of Townsville Enterprise Claudia Brumme-Smith and owner of Juliettes Gary Bromham. Picture: Nikita McGuire

Townsville’s DAMA was secured by Townsville Enterprise prior to the 2022 Federal Election and since then the agreement has brought 480 skilled workers to the city and great North Queensland area.

Fourteen new occupations were added to the list of jobs in the agreement and adjustments to income thresholds and age and English language concessions for positions that are in high-demand.

New occupations added for international workers include beauty therapists, retail supervisor, airconditioning and refrigeration mechanic, tyre fitter and nurse manager, among others.

Existing jobs, including aged or disability care workers, cooks, commercial cleaners, bar attendants, childcare workers, delivery drivers and more, have seen an expansion of concessions for requirements including age, English language and income thresholds.

Struggling to fill wait staff roles at his businesses along The Strand, Mr Bromham said the announcement would make a difference for business owners in the region.

“The hospitality industry in Townsville and the wider region has struggled for a lot of years now,” he said.

“This is a game-changer for us.”

With up to 70 per cent of his workforce at any one time made up on international workers, Mr Bromham said having an available pool of ready-to-go workers was crucial to the industry.

“The DAMA’s pathway to permanent residency makes it an even more attractive option for skilled migrants looking to build their future here,” he said.

Townsville Enterprise CEO Claudia Brumme-Smith said the changes were announced following challenges from businesses in the region in attracting and retaining workers.

“It’s critical that we attract a workforce to this region, our economy is absolutely booming,” she said.

“We know we need about 20,000 additional workers over the next five years and we also know that we cannot fill them all with local and regional skills.”

Senator Green said the agreement was part of a broader piece the government was working on to get more skilled workers in the region.

“A big part of that has been our fee-free TAFE to make sure that we can have local trained workers in the future,” she said.

“We need to attract skilled migration workers here and give business owners like Gary access to those skills, but we also need to be training the next generation of kids that are coming out of school to give them the opportunity to take on job and work here in the local community.”

For more information about the DAMA requirements and how businesses can benefit visit the Townsville Enterprise website.

Originally published as Federal Government announces updates to Townsville’s Designated Area Migration Agreement