Qualified plumbers are consistently hard to find in regional WA. Construction projects, hotels, resorts, and residential developments across Broome, Kununurra and the Kimberley all need licensed plumbers — and the local workforce can’t keep up with demand. Visa sponsorship and the Kimberley DAMA give regional WA employers a real pathway to hire skilled overseas plumbers, and we manage the entire process from candidate to commencement.
What we do
Industries We Work With in the East Kimberley
We work with employers across the Shire of Wyndham-East Kimberley including hotels, resorts and accommodation providers, restaurants, cafes and hospitality venues, mechanical and automotive workshops, construction and civil contractors, childcare and early learning centres, NDIS providers and support coordinators, and agricultural and farming operations.
If you’re based in Kununurra, Wyndham, or anywhere in the surrounding region, get in touch.
You Don’t Need to Be a Big Company to sponsor.
You don’t need a HR department or a legal team to sponsor an overseas worker. Small local businesses in Kununurra do it. The 482 visa is accessible for businesses of most sizes, including family-run operations, as long as the role is on the eligible occupations list and you can demonstrate genuine need.
We’ll tell you upfront whether your situation qualifies — before you spend any time or money on it.
Why We Don’t Stop at the Visa and recruitment
In a remote location like Kununurra or Wyndham, retention is everything. A worker who leaves after two months costs you more than not hiring them at all. The main reason people leave regional placements early isn’t the role, it’s that they feel unprepared and unsupported when they arrive.
We put real effort into the settlement piece. That means preparing workers properly before they get on the plane, and being a genuine point of contact for the first months after they arrive. It’s not complicated, it just requires someone to actually do it.
How We Work
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Step 1 – Tell us what you need
A quick call or email is all it takes to get started. Tell us about the role, your business, and what you’ve already tried. We’ll ask a few straightforward questions and let you know honestly whether visa sponsorship is likely to work for your situation.
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Step 2 – We find the right person
Once we understand what you’re looking for, we go out and find candidates who actually fit, the right skills, the right attitude, and someone who’s genuinely ready to relocate to regional WA. We screen them so you’re only talking to people worth your time.
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Step 3 – We sort the visa
When you’ve found someone you want to hire, we manage the visa application with the Department of Home Affairs. The visa processes involve a fair bit of paperwork and back-and-forth, we handle all of it. You stay across what’s happening but you’re not drowning in it.
FAQs
Can I sponsor an overseas plumber in regional WA?
Yes. Plumbers are an eligible occupation under visa sponsorship pathways available to regional WA employers. The Kimberley DAMA may provide additional concessions for businesses in the region. Melting Pot will confirm your eligibility and the best pathway before you spend any time or money on it.
How remote is too remote for visa sponsorship? Kununurra and Wyndham are both recognised as regional areas under Australian immigration law, which actually works in your favour. Being classified as regional makes some visa pathways more accessible and can speed up processing. The remoteness isn’t a barrier — in some ways it’s an advantage.
What if my new hire can’t find somewhere to live in Kununurra?
This is a real issue in the East Kimberley and we take it seriously. Part of what we do is help workers sort accommodation before they arrive, not after. We won’t send someone to Kununurra and leave them to figure it out on the tarmac. Getting the housing sorted early is a big part of why our placements tend to stick.
How long can someone stay on a 482 visa?
Up to four years. After that, if the worker wants to stay permanently and you want to keep them, the 186 Employer Nomination Scheme visa is the natural next step. We can help with that too when the time comes.
What industries do you work with in Kununurra?
Hotels, resorts, restaurants, mechanical workshops, childcare, NDIS, construction, and farming. If your industry isn’t on that list, give us a call anyway — there may still be a pathway depending on the specific role.
When do I pay Melting Pot?
When the worker starts. Not before. We only invoice once a successful placement has been made.
What if the visa gets rejected?
Rejections do happen, usually because the role doesn’t meet the criteria or the application was incomplete. We work to reduce that risk significantly by being thorough before we ever lodge an application. If a rejection does occur we’ll talk you through what it means and whether there’s another pathway worth trying.
What is the 482 visa?
The Temporary Skills Shortage visa. It lets an Australian employer bring in an overseas worker for up to four years to fill a role they genuinely can’t fill locally. The employer sponsors the worker, covers the visa costs, and agrees to pay them at least the market salary for the position.
Why is regional WA different from sponsoring someone in Perth?
A few reasons. The eligible occupations list is broader for regional employers, which means some roles that don’t qualify in metro areas do qualify in regional WA. The government wants skilled workers in regional areas and the visa system reflects that. Making the case that you can’t find staff locally is also a lot more straightforward when you’re in a town of 15,000 people than when you’re in Perth.
What regions does Melting Pot work in? Primarily the Kimberley, including Broome, Kununurra, and Wyndham. We also work with employers in other parts of regional WA including the Pilbara, Gascoyne, Goldfields, and Wheatbelt. If you’re not sure whether we cover your area, just ask.
What occupations can be sponsored?
The list is long and changes periodically. In regional WA it commonly includes hospitality roles, chefs, mechanics, childcare workers, disability support workers, construction trades, and agricultural workers. The best way to check is to call us, we can look up your specific role in a few minutes.
Do I have to employ the worker directly?
Yes. In the model we work with, you are the employer. The worker goes on your books, you pay their wages, super, and entitlements, and you take on the responsibilities of a sponsoring employer. We’re not a labour hire company, we introduce the right person to you and you hire them directly.
What are my obligations as a sponsoring employer?
You need to pay the worker at least the market salary for their role, maintain the employment as agreed, meet Australian workplace laws, and notify the Department of Home Affairs if certain things change, like if the worker’s employment ends. We’ll walk you through all of this before you commit.
How much does it cost?
Two costs to know about. First, the government’s visa application fees, which are set by the Department of Home Affairs and are your responsibility as the sponsor. Second, our referral fee, which is only charged when a placement is made. We’ll be transparent about both in our first conversation.
How long does the whole process take from first call to someone starting work?
It depends on the visa pathway, the occupation, and the individual’s circumstances. Realistically, anywhere from six weeks to a few months. We’ll give you an honest estimate once we know your specific situation.
What happens if it doesn’t work out?
We have a replacement policy for placements that don’t stick. We’ll be clear about what that looks like when we start working together. And because we put real effort into finding the right person and supporting them through settlement, the drop-off rate is lower than most people expect.
