Goldfields DAMA Extended to 31 December 2026: What It Means for Kalgoorlie-Boulder Employers
The Goldfields DAMA now runs to 31 December 2026. How Kalgoorlie-Boulder employers can get City endorsement and sponsor overseas workers. For employers across the region, that keeps open one of the few migration pathways built around the reality of hiring 600 kilometres from Perth.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder is home to roughly 31,000 people, according to the latest ABS estimate. Back in 2017 the City set a target of 40,000 residents by 2030, and it is still well short. Yet the local economy has rarely been busier. Gold and exploration activity are at highs, the airport is among the busiest in regional WA, and the fly-in fly-out workforce is large enough that local leaders argue the census undercounts it.
That gap between a small resident base and a large economic footprint is the workforce problem. Housing is tight, and the debate over the 800-bed Northern Star camp approved in 2025 showed how much pressure sits on water, roads and rentals. A business that cannot recruit locally cannot simply wait for a bigger labour pool to arrive.
What the DAMA offers
A DAMA is a labour agreement between the Commonwealth and a region. For eligible Goldfields employers, it allows them to:
sponsor overseas workers for genuine shortages where suitably qualified Australians are not available
access a broader range of occupations than standard skilled migration programs allow
use concessions available under the agreement, subject to eligibility
support attraction and retention across the region's key industries
It is not a shortcut. Local recruitment efforts must come first, and the agreement is designed for genuine shortages.
The Commonwealth's recent migration reset is tightening several parts of the system, while giving more weight to sectors such as construction and resources. For regional employers, agreements like the Goldfields DAMA are becoming more important, not less, as the general skilled intake comes under more pressure.
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