Economic modelling suggests the Goulburn Valley DAMA will result in a $144 million economic boost over its first four years, as well as drive population growth.
Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum launched the scheme at PJ’s Concrete Pumping in Shepparton.
Owner Peter Don said the scheme would end years of struggling to find qualified workers.
“We’ve advertised and can’t get people to apply for jobs so the only way out for our business is to bring them in from overseas,” he said.
“Otherwise, I don’t think we’d be here in two to three years, that’s how bad it was getting in this industry — this is a lifesaver for us.”
Mr Drum said business owners and managers, health services and local government had been involved in the three-year process to set up the DAMA.
“I’d like to personally thank all of them for their work in making this important agreement a reality,” Mr Drum said.
“We have seen in other parts of Australia that the implementation of a DAMA has a significant positive impact on a region’s productivity, and I have no doubt this will be the case for the Goulburn Valley,” he said.
The formal agreement between the Federal Government and the Greater Shepparton, Moira and Campaspe local government areas provides access to more overseas workers than the standard skilled migration program.
“As we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is particularly important to have the workers we need, and while this government’s preference is to always employ locals, in many cases there is a scarcity of Australians to undertake certain skilled work,” Mr Drum said.
“This DAMA will allow local businesses to recruit suitably qualified overseas workers across a variety of occupations to build their workforce to where it needs to be to maximise production.”
Several occupations not available under mainstream visa programs are included in the regional scheme.
City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Kim O’Keeffe said while there was a cost to the council in maintaining the scheme, the benefits would outweigh those costs.
“It brings certainty that we can start filling some of the major gaps; businesses can’t progress without the workers they need,” she said.
“Growth is really important and those businesses can now look at the future more brightly.”
The availability of a permanent residency pathway through a DAMA means overseas workers will be able to contribute positively to the region over the longer-term.
Local businesses can apply individually to access the DAMA from 2022.
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