Immigration law firm Agape Henry Crux has confirmed that the Goldfields Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) will close at midnight on 30 June 2026, with employers shifting to the broader Western Australia DAMA from 1 July. The regional pact—first signed in 2019 to help Kalgoorlie-Boulder plug chronic skills shortages—has been one of Australia’s busiest labour-agreement pathways for mining, hospitality and health employers. Its sunset clause was reached after federal and state authorities decided to simplify the patchwork of regional concessions. Key transition dates are already in play. The City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder stopped issuing new endorsement letters on 5 June, while the state-level Department of Training and Workforce Development began accepting Goldfields applications on 8 June. From July it will also take over as Designated Area Representative (DAR), centralising assessment and monitoring. Occupations and concessions—such as English-language or age waivers—will now mirror the state-wide list, so employers must cross-check that existing roles are still covered. For businesses, the change removes the administrative burden of dealing with two different endorsement bodies.
![Goldfields regional visa scheme to fold into new Western Australia DAMA on 1 July]()
VisaHQ’s dedicated Australia team can help employers and sponsored workers navigate the Western Australia DAMA transition smoothly. Through its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/australia/), VisaHQ provides real-time updates on occupation lists, automates document collection, and offers personalised guidance, reducing processing errors and saving valuable time.
However, it also means the state government will have a stronger hand in rejecting requests that do not align with its workforce priorities. Migration advisers expect higher evidentiary thresholds for labour-market testing and potentially tighter ceilings on lower-skilled roles historically popular in Kalgoorlie’s hospitality sector. Current DAMA visa holders (subclass 482 or 494) are unaffected but should note that any nomination variations lodged after 1 July must reference the Western Australia DAMA. Permanent-residency pathways under the Regional Employer Sponsored or Skills in Demand visas remain intact, although cut-off dates for transitional concessions may be brought forward. Employers seeking fresh endorsements are advised to assemble documentation—business case, recruitment evidence, financials—well before the new portal opens. With the Goldfields mining boom forecast to accelerate through 2027, demand for sponsored chefs, diesel mechanics and geologists is expected to remain high, but competition for state-allocated quota places will intensify.
VisaHQ’s dedicated Australia team can help employers and sponsored workers navigate the Western Australia DAMA transition smoothly. Through its online platform (https://www.visahq.com/australia/), VisaHQ provides real-time updates on occupation lists, automates document collection, and offers personalised guidance, reducing processing errors and saving valuable time.
However, it also means the state government will have a stronger hand in rejecting requests that do not align with its workforce priorities. Migration advisers expect higher evidentiary thresholds for labour-market testing and potentially tighter ceilings on lower-skilled roles historically popular in Kalgoorlie’s hospitality sector. Current DAMA visa holders (subclass 482 or 494) are unaffected but should note that any nomination variations lodged after 1 July must reference the Western Australia DAMA. Permanent-residency pathways under the Regional Employer Sponsored or Skills in Demand visas remain intact, although cut-off dates for transitional concessions may be brought forward. Employers seeking fresh endorsements are advised to assemble documentation—business case, recruitment evidence, financials—well before the new portal opens. With the Goldfields mining boom forecast to accelerate through 2027, demand for sponsored chefs, diesel mechanics and geologists is expected to remain high, but competition for state-allocated quota places will intensify.
