The Department of Home Affairs has quietly extended the Goldfields Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) until 31 December 2026, delaying its merger into the new state-wide Western Australia DAMA by six months. The regional labour-agreement scheme had been due to end on 30 June 2026.
![Goldfields DAMA extended six months, giving WA employers more time to transition]()
While policy-makers adjust timelines, companies and prospective employees may need practical help navigating the visa process. VisaHQ’s online platform can streamline individual or bulk applications, provide real-time status tracking and connect users with migration experts—see for details.
For mining, resources and service companies in Kalgoorlie-Boulder the reprieve means they can continue sponsoring overseas workers under existing concession streams—covering some 500 places a year—without having to renegotiate terms immediately with the state government. Interstaff, the Perth-based migration agency that broke the news, says many occupations already overlap between the Goldfields and WA frameworks, but some concessions (notably English-language and age) are still being finalised. The extension therefore reduces the risk of workforce gaps while new guidance is issued. Employers holding current labour agreements face no change, but those planning fresh applications after 1 January 2027 will need endorsement from WA’s Migration Services branch rather than the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Businesses should start mapping transition timelines and updating internal policy documents now to avoid last-minute compliance issues.
While policy-makers adjust timelines, companies and prospective employees may need practical help navigating the visa process. VisaHQ’s online platform can streamline individual or bulk applications, provide real-time status tracking and connect users with migration experts—see for details.
For mining, resources and service companies in Kalgoorlie-Boulder the reprieve means they can continue sponsoring overseas workers under existing concession streams—covering some 500 places a year—without having to renegotiate terms immediately with the state government. Interstaff, the Perth-based migration agency that broke the news, says many occupations already overlap between the Goldfields and WA frameworks, but some concessions (notably English-language and age) are still being finalised. The extension therefore reduces the risk of workforce gaps while new guidance is issued. Employers holding current labour agreements face no change, but those planning fresh applications after 1 January 2027 will need endorsement from WA’s Migration Services branch rather than the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder. Businesses should start mapping transition timelines and updating internal policy documents now to avoid last-minute compliance issues.
