The visa information workshops, hosted by the councils and supported by the Department of Home Affairs, will provide employers with detailed information on employing migrants.
Greater Shepparton City Council acting director sustainable development Colin Kalms said the workshops aimed to support local businesses by providing up-to-date information regarding visa options.
“The workshops will include industry-specific discussions in relation to the DAMA,” he said.
“It is critical for council — before progressing with the next stage of the DAMA process — to receive commitment from industry that a DAMA is going to be of assistance to them, and that they will make use of a DAMA if it is available within the Goulburn Valley.”
A Designated Area Migrant Agreement sees a certain number of migrants able to work full-time in the region for a certain period, with the ability to apply for permanent residency after four years, at the earliest.
The first workshop in Shepparton will be held in Function Room 1 at Parklake, 481 Wyndham St, from 9.30 am on Friday, March 13.
It will focus on health, transport, manufacturing and other industry, and will be followed by a 12.30 pm session on the same day, focused on horticulture and the broader agriculture industry.
The agriculture session will also feature information on the new Horticulture Industry Labour Agreement recently introduced by the Federal Government.
Other workshops will be held jointly by Campaspe and Moira shire councils in partnership with DHA in Cobram on Thursday, March 12.
They will be held at the Cobram Civic Centre in Punt Rd at 12.30 pm for health, transport, manufacturing and other industry, and at 7 pm for horticulture and other agriculture industries.
Registrations are essential for these workshops, as places are limited.
Register for the Shepparton workshops by March 10 on Eventbrite.
Register for the Cobram workshops by March 9 on Eventbrite.
For more information about the Cobram workshops, phone Moira Shire economic development officer Karen Abberfield on 5871 9222.
