Skills & Migration

Currently, Townsville has 3000 unfilled positions alone advertised on Seek. Other regional areas such as Cairns, have been successful in filling skills shortages through the DAMA application process. Based on the consultation with our members, it was made clear that one of the biggest challenges they face is workforce availability.

Local businesses can apply individually to access the Townsville DAMA from 1 July 2022.

The Townsville DAMA covers 195 occupations across a broad range of sectors including areas of focus for future growth such as manufacturing, health care and social assistance, transport, postal and warehousing, professional, scientific and technical services. You can see the list below.

Townsville Enterprise will administer the process of accessing the Townsville DAMA which will open to businesses operating in any of the 9 Local Government Areas covered by the agreement - City of Townsville, Hinchinbrook Shire, Charters Towers Regional Council, Burdekin Shire, City of Mount Isa, Shire of Cloncurry, Shire of McKinlay, Shire of Richmond and Shire of Flinders.

DAMA’s ensure employers recruit Australian citizens and permanent residents as a first priority. Among other things, employers must demonstrate a genuine attempt to recruit Australians prior to getting access to a DAMA labour agreement

No. A business can seek endorsement to access the DAMA and be approved for a Townsville DAMA Labour Agreement without having identified any prospective worker/s in advance. This is because the endorsement and Labour Agreement are about the business need to address skills shortages. Nominating individuals comes next once a Labour Agreement with pre-approved occupation/s and position/s are in place. This helps with planning and makes the business a more attractive proposition to prospective skilled or semi-skilled overseas workers where the business cannot fill those positions from the Australian labour market.

The structure of the DAMA agreement means that when workers come here, they can look at bringing their immediate families, and they will have avenues to permanent residency provided they stay in our region. Their kids will go to schools, they’ll join community and sporting clubs, and participate in the social fabric of the regions. More families mean more funding for schools and hospitals. This means we are going to be growing our communities at the same time as we are growing our economies, and that is the best outcome for North Queensland.

Businesses that apply for an employee will need to ensure housing is available.

The terms of the Townsville DAMA require that all employees employed through the DAMA must be paid the applicable award wages.