Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA)

Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) Regions in Australia

The Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a tailored migration program that allows employers in specific regional areas of Australia to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers for positions that are not covered by the standard skilled migration programs. DAMAs provide concessions on standard visa requirements, such as English proficiency, salary thresholds, and occupation lists, helping to address regional labor shortages.

DAMA regions are negotiated between the Australian Government and regional authorities to meet the unique needs of local businesses in areas where attracting skilled labor is challenging.

Key Features of a DAMA

  • Regional Sponsorship: DAMAs are designed for specific geographic regions facing critical skill shortages.
  • Broader Occupation List: DAMAs often include a wider range of occupations, including semi-skilled jobs that are not on the standard skilled occupation lists.
  • Concessions on Visa Requirements: Employers may benefit from concessions on English language proficiency, skills assessments, salary thresholds, and age limits.
  • Pathway to Permanent Residency: Some DAMAs offer a pathway to permanent residency through the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191) or similar visas.

Current DAMA Regions in Australia

There are several DAMA regions in Australia, each tailored to the specific needs of the local economy. Here is a list of the current DAMA regions:

  1. Northern Territory DAMA

The Northern Territory DAMA covers the entire Northern Territory and is designed to address skill shortages in sectors such as agriculture, tourism, hospitality, and health care. The agreement provides concessions on English language requirements, age limits, and salary thresholds for certain occupations.

  • Occupation Focus: The Northern Territory DAMA covers a wide range of skilled and semi-skilled occupations, including chefs, aged care workers, truck drivers, agricultural workers, and hospitality staff.
  • Pathway to Permanent Residency: Offers a pathway to permanent residency through skilled migration visas.

  1. Far North Queensland DAMA

The Far North Queensland DAMA covers the Cairns region and aims to address skill shortages in key industries like tourism, agriculture, construction, and health care. The region’s economy relies heavily on tourism, and this agreement helps fill roles that are difficult to staff locally.

  • Occupation Focus: Tourism and hospitality occupations, agriculture, trades such as carpenters and electricians, and health care professionals like registered nurses.
  • Concessions: Includes concessions on English language proficiency, salary levels, and age limits for certain occupations.

  1. South Australia DAMA

The South Australia DAMA covers the entire state of South Australia and focuses on filling labor shortages in agriculture, construction, hospitality, tourism, and other regional industries. There are two streams in South Australia:

  • Adelaide City Technology and Innovation DAMA: Focuses on skilled occupations in the technology and innovation sectors, such as software development, data science, and artificial intelligence.
  • Regional South Australia DAMA: Covers the regional areas of South Australia and focuses on agriculture, health care, aged care, and hospitality roles.
  • Occupation Focus: Health care, aged care, agriculture, construction, and technology sectors.
  • Pathway to Permanent Residency: Available for certain occupations after meeting specific residency and work requirements.

  1. Orana DAMA (New South Wales)

The Orana DAMA covers the Orana region of New South Wales, which includes towns like Dubbo. This DAMA aims to support industries such as agriculture, construction, and hospitality by offering concessions on visa requirements to attract workers to the region.

  • Occupation Focus: Includes roles in agriculture (farmhands, livestock workers), hospitality (chefs, waitstaff), construction (builders, tradespeople), and health care.
  • Concessions: Provides concessions on English language, salary levels, and age requirements for semi-skilled occupations.

  1. Goldfields DAMA (Western Australia)

The Goldfields DAMA covers the Goldfields region in Western Australia, an area known for its mining and resources industry. The agreement helps address critical shortages in mining, engineering, construction, and other trades.

  • Occupation Focus: Primarily mining and resources-related roles, including heavy machinery operators, engineers, and trades such as electricians and mechanics.
  • Pathway to Permanent Residency: Available for certain skilled workers after fulfilling regional work and residency conditions.

  1. Great South Coast DAMA (Victoria)

The Great South Coast DAMA covers the Great South Coast region of Victoria, which includes areas like Warrnambool and surrounding rural communities. This DAMA focuses on filling labor shortages in agriculture, particularly in dairy farming, and other essential regional services like health care.

  • Occupation Focus: Agriculture (dairy workers, farm managers), construction, and health care workers (registered nurses, aged care workers).
  • Concessions: Offers concessions on English proficiency, age limits, and salary requirements.

  1. Goulburn Valley DAMA (Victoria)

The Goulburn Valley DAMA covers the Goulburn Valley region in Victoria, an agricultural hub known for its fruit production, dairy farming, and food processing industries. The agreement helps address shortages in these critical industries by allowing employers to sponsor semi-skilled workers.

  • Occupation Focus: Agriculture (farmhands, packers, harvesters), food processing, health care, and construction trades.
  • Pathway to Permanent Residency: Available after meeting specific work and residency conditions.

  1. Pilbara DAMA (Western Australia)

The Pilbara DAMA covers the Pilbara region, known for its resource and mining industries. The DAMA is designed to help fill skilled labor shortages in engineering, construction, and heavy industry roles that are critical to the mining sector.

  • Occupation Focus: Mining and resource sectors, engineering, and skilled trades such as welders, electricians, and heavy vehicle mechanics.
  • Concessions: Offers salary and English language concessions, making it easier for employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers.

Benefits of the DAMA Program

  1. Address Regional Skill Shortages: DAMAs are designed to help employers in regional areas fill positions that cannot be filled by local Australian workers, ensuring the continued growth of regional economies.
  2. Tailored to Regional Needs: DAMAs are customized for specific regions, meaning employers have access to a wider range of occupations and may benefit from relaxed visa conditions.
  3. Concessions on Visa Requirements: Employers and workers may benefit from concessions on standard visa requirements, such as lower English language proficiency levels, reduced salary thresholds, and age limit extensions.
  4. Pathway to Permanent Residency: Many DAMAs offer a pathway to permanent residency through skilled migration programs, helping retain workers in regional Australia.

How We Can Help

At A Square Migration Services, we offer expert guidance on applying for visas under a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA). Our services include:

  • Eligibility Assessment: We assess whether your business or occupation qualifies for a DAMA in your region.
  • Sponsorship and Nomination Support: We help employers apply for Standard Business Sponsorship and nominate overseas workers under the DAMA framework.
  • Visa Application Support: We assist workers in preparing and lodging their visa applications under the DAMA program.
  • Ongoing Compliance: We provide ongoing support to ensure employers and employees comply with the visa conditions and regional requirements.

Contribute to Regional Australia with a DAMA

The Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) offers employers in regional Australia the flexibility to fill labor shortages with skilled overseas workers. At A Square Migration Services, we help both employers and employees navigate the DAMA process, ensuring a smooth application and compliance with all visa conditions.

Contact us today to learn how the DAMA program can benefit your business or help you achieve your migration goals in regional Australia!