DAMA · Western Australia · Established 2019
East Kimberley Designated Area Migration Agreement
The East Kimberley DAMA covers Kununurra, Wyndham, Halls Creek and the surrounding East Kimberley region. The agreement targets the tourism, hospitality and Indigenous-services workforce gaps in one of the most remote parts of Australia.
★Key takeaways
- ✓East Kimberley DAMA was established 2019 and is administered by Kimberley Development Commission (in partnership with the WA State Government).
- ✓Occupation list includes 10+ roles with TSMIT and English concessions not available on standard 482 Core stream.
- ✓Employer geographic trigger: Employer must be located in the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley or Shire of Halls Creek
- ✓PR pathway: 186 Direct Entry stream under the Labour Agreement pathway after 3 years on the 482.
- ✓Cite all DAMA pathway numbers against Kimberley Development Commission (in partnership with the WA State Government)’s current published occupation list – concessions and occupations are reviewed periodically.
At a glance
Agreement holder
Kimberley Development Commission (in partnership with the WA State Government)
Geographic trigger
Employer must be located in the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley or Shire of Halls Creek
PR pathway
186 Direct Entry stream under the Labour Agreement pathway after 3 years on the 482
Occupations covered
10+ across mining, trades, hospitality, care and professional services
Top concession occupations
10 representative occupations
A sample of the 10+ occupations on the East Kimberley DAMA. The full current list is published by the agreement holder and is reviewed periodically.
Concessions summary
What the DAMA actually changes
| Concession | East Kimberley DAMA |
|---|---|
| TSMIT | Up to 10% concession on TSMIT for selected occupations |
| English | IELTS 5.0 each band for skilled occupations; 4.5 for selected semi-skilled |
| Age (PR pathway) | PR pathway: age cap raised to 55 for selected occupations |
| Work experience and skills | Reduced work experience to 2 years for tourism and care occupations |
Concessions are set out in the agreement between the Commonwealth and the agreement holder and can change at agreement renewal. Always confirm against the current published agreement.
In depth
How the East Kimberley DAMA actually works
The East Kimberley is dominated by tourism (Lake Argyle, Purnululu / Bungle Bungle Range), pastoral stations, irrigated agriculture (Ord River scheme) and Indigenous service delivery. Workforce supply has always been thin and the DAMA gives local employers a sponsorship pathway with concessions on salary, English and work experience.
Notable concession occupations include Indigenous arts coordinator – recognising the role of arts centres in remote-community economies – and tour guide. The standard tourism and hospitality occupations are also covered.
East Kimberley is a small-volume DAMA but well-suited to its niche. Employers should expect 4–6 months end-to-end from KDC endorsement to visa grant.
Employer obligations
- Employer must be located within the agreement region (see geographic trigger above).
- Obtain agreement holder endorsement before lodging a Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) application with Home Affairs.
- Demonstrate local labour market testing (LMT) was carried out and a local hire was not available.
- Pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy on nomination: $1,200/year (small business under $10m turnover) or $1,800/year (larger employers).
- Pay at or above the agreement’s salary floor (cannot use DAMA concession to push salary below the agreement minimum).
- Do not recover any sponsorship or migration agent costs from the worker (this is a strict sponsor obligation).
Agreement holder contact
Kimberley Development Commission (in partnership with the WA State Government)
Common questions
East Kimberley DAMA – common questions
Does East Kimberley DAMA cover Broome?
No. Broome is in the West Kimberley (Shire of Broome) which is not currently part of any DAMA. East Kimberley DAMA covers Wyndham-East Kimberley and Halls Creek only.
Can I sponsor a worker for Lake Argyle station?
Lake Argyle is in the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley – so yes, sponsorship is possible under the DAMA for an eligible occupation.
Is there an aged care concession?
Yes. Aged care worker is on the East Kimberley DAMA occupation list with TSMIT and English concessions, supporting the regional aged-care provider workforce in Kununurra and Wyndham.
Are stations / pastoral employers covered?
Yes. Pastoral and agricultural employers in the agreement region can sponsor under the DAMA for eligible occupations (e.g. diesel mechanic, cook, station manager). Skilled occupations on the standard MLTSSL are also available without the DAMA.
Other DAMA regions