Struggling to find skilled workers in regional Australia? The Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) program is your solution. Designed to address local labour shortages, DAMA offers tailored pathways for employers to sponsor overseas workers with flexible concessions on age, salary, and English requirements.

This guide breaks down the key DAMAs across Australia, from the Northern Territory to regional Victoria, highlighting occupation lists, eligibility, and benefits. Whether you’re in agriculture, healthcare, hospitality, or trades, discover how DAMA can help your business thrive.

Ready to explore your options? Let’s dive in!

PART 1: KEY ELIGIBILITY & REQUIREMENTS FOR EACH DAMA

General DAMA Framework

• A DAMA is a formal arrangement between the Australian Government and a regional authority (the Designated Area Representative, or DAR).
• Employers under a DAMA can sponsor overseas workers for occupations and concessions not usually available under standard skilled programs.
• Each DAMA has its own occupation list,English and salary concessions, and permanent residency pathways.
• Employers first seek endorsement from their region’s DAR, then request a Labour Agreement with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA).
• DAMAs typically offer:
  1. Age concessions (often up to 55 years old, sometimes 50 for lower-skill roles).
  2. English-language concessions (e.g., IELTS overall 5.0, with lower band requirements for certain roles).
  3. Salary (CSIT) concessions (e.g., paying 90% of the usual income threshold if justified).
  4. Skills/experience concessions for certain semi-skilled or niche occupations.

Below is a region-by-region snapshot of key requirements.

1. Great South Coast (Victoria)
   1. Coverage: Warrnambool and surrounding shires.
   2. Occupations: Includes Aged or Disabled Carers, Chefs,Cooks, Early Childhood Teachers, various agricultural roles, and more.
   3. Key Eligibility:
      - Business must be in the GSC DAMA region.
      - Must have operated at least 12 months with no adverse history.
      - Demonstrate genuine need for the occupation and that local recruitment efforts have failed.
   4. Concessions:
      - Salary(CSIT) can be reduced if employers provide guaranteed overtime or certain non-monetary benefits.
      - Age limit can extend to 55 for ENS pathways.
      - Lower English (IELTS 5.0 overall, no minimum band) is possible for 482/494.
2. Northern Territory DAMA
   1. Coverage: Whole NT region, including Darwin.
   2. Occupations: 135+ occupations, ranging from accountants and chefs to baristas, aged/disabled carers, and more.
   3. Key Eligibility:
      - Business must demonstrate it operates in the NT and is financially viable.
      - Occupation must be on NT’s DAMA list.
      - Must conduct Labour Market Testing (LMT) and show no available local workers.
   4. Concessions:
      - Salary: Some occupations may have a CSIT as low as AUD 55,000.
      - English: IELTS 5 overall, no band less than 4 (for some occupations).
      - Age: Up to 55 for skill level 1–4 under ENS/494 pathways.
      - Permanent Residency: As little as 2 years of full-time NT work (for select occupations) can lead to a permanent pathway.
3. Goldfields (Western Australia)
   1. Coverage: City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, and surrounding shires (Coolgardie, Dundas, etc.).
   2. Occupations: Approx. 145 occupations, including some not on standard lists (e.g., Asphalt Technician).
   3. Key Eligibility:
      - Business in the Goldfields region for at least 12 months.
      - Occupation must be on the local list.
      - ValidL MT evidence.
   4. ‍Concessions:
      - English language concessions for ~44 occupations.
      - Salary threshold concessions for ~10 occupations.
      - 1 year of full-time experience needed for certain roles.
4. Townsville (Queensland)
   1. Coverage: Townsville region, north QLD.
   2. Occupations: ~200 occupations covering trades, hospitality, health care, etc.
   3. Key Eligibility:
      • Must operate in Townsville or surrounding LGAs.
      • Musts how genuine need and local recruitment attempts.
   4. Concessions:
      • 1 year of experience for 482 or 2 years for 494 in certain roles.
      • English: IELTS 5.0 overall, no minimum band for 482; slightly higher for ENS.
      • Age limit up to 55 for skill levels 1–4.
      • Salary concessions set at 90% of CSIT if justified.
5. Adelaide City Technology & Innovation Advancement (South Australia)
   1. Coverage: Adelaide metropolitan area focusing on high-tech/innovation roles.
   2. Occupations: Chef, Child Care Worker, Cook, IT, engineering, and more.
   3. Key Eligibility:
      • Business must operate in Adelaide and show local recruitment attempts.
      • Must meet relevant skill/qualification criteria for the occupation.
   4. Concessions: Age up to 55, salary and English language concessions for select roles.
6. East Kimberley (WA)
   1. Coverage: East Kimberley region, including Kununurra and Wyndham.
   2. Occupations: ~106 occupations in diverse fields (health/welfare, agriculture, trades, etc.).
   3. Key Eligibility:
      • 12+months of lawful operation in East Kimberley.
      • Provide LMT evidence, show genuine need.
   4. Concessions:
      • Salary: Some roles below CSIT if business case is strong.
      • English: IELTS 5.0 overall for 482/494, with no band <4.
      • Age: Up to 55 (skill levels 1–4).
7. South Australia Regional (SA)
   1. Coverage: Regional SA outside of Greater Adelaide or certain designated areas (plus a separate Adelaide City DAMA).
   2. Occupations: 300+ occupations (agriculture, forestry, mining, tourism/hospitality, etc.)
   3. Key Eligibility:
      • Must operate in SA’s regional area and have proven labour shortage.
      • Provide strong evidence of LMT.
   4. Concessions:
      • English: IELTS 5.0 overall, with band minimum 4 for 482/494.
      • Age up to 55 in many cases.
      • Salary threshold and skill concessions vary by occupation.
8. South West (WA)
   1. Coverage: Multiple shires (e.g., Dardanup, Bunbury, Busselton, Margaret River)
   2. Occupations: Agriculture, trades, hospitality, etc.
   3. Key Eligibility:
      • Operate in one of the designated local government areas.
      • Demonstrate unfilled roles locally, with LMT.
   4. Concessions:
      • English: Typically IELTS 5.0 overall, no band <4.5 for certain streams.
      • Salary: 90% of CSIT plus possible non-monetary benefits.
      • Age up to 55 for skill level 1–4.
9. Orana (NSW)
   1. Coverage:Dubbo region and surrounding LGAs.
   2. Occupations:~73 occupations (accounts clerk, hospitality, trades, agricultural roles).
   3. Key Eligibility:
      • Business must operate in Orana region.
      • Show labour market need.
   4. Concessions:
      • English: IELTS 5.0 overall, with no band<4.5 for many roles.
      • Salary: 90% of CSIT is permitted.
      • Age: Up to 55 for skill levels 1–4; up to50 for skill level 5.
10. Pilbara (WA)
    1. Coverage: Pilbara region, includes Karratha, Port Hedland, etc.
    2. Occupations: ~66 occupations (electrician, motor mechanic, aged care, etc.).
    3. Key Eligibility:
       • Employer must be financially viable, with at least 12 months in the Pilbara.
       • Role must be on the Pilbara occupation list.
    4. Concessions:
       • English: IELTS 5.0 overall, no band <4.5in some occupations.
       • Salary: 90% of CSIT for certain roles.
       • Age: Up to 55.
11. Far North Queensland (QLD)
    1. Coverage: Cairns, Douglas, Mareeba, Tablelands, Cook, Cassowary Coast, etc.
    2. Occupations: ~162 occupations across a range of industries.
    3. Key Eligibility:
       • Employer must be located in the FNQ DAMA area.
       • Must show inability to recruit locally.
    4. Concessions:
       • Age: Up to 55 or 50 for lower-skill.
       • English: IELTS 5.0, no band <4.5 in certain roles.
       • Salary: 90% of CSIT.
12. Goulburn Valley (VIC)
    1. Coverage: Greater Shepparton, Campaspe, and Moira Shire areas.
    2. Occupations: ~56 occupations (accountant, chef, dairy farmer, etc.).
    3. Key Eligibility:
       • Must be an actively operating employer in the Goulburn Valley region.
       • Role must be on the occupation list, withLMT evidence.
    4. Concessions:
       • Age up to 55/50.
       • English concessions for certain occupations.
       • Salary: 90% of CSIT is acceptable if justified.
13. WA DAMA (Whole of Western Australia)
    1. Coverage: Newly introduced for the entire WA state, complementing existing regional DAMAs.
    2. Occupations:Broad coverage with many roles across skill levels.
    3. Key Eligibility:
       • Business established in WA for at least 12 months.
       • No adverse information; demonstrate labour need.
    4. Concessions:
       • Age: Up to 55 for skill level 1–4, 50 for skill level 5.
       • English: Generally IELTS 5.0 overall; skill level 1–2 require standard benchmarks.
       • Salary: 90% CSIT plus possibility of non-monetary benefits.
       • Work experience: 1–3 years, depending on visa stream and location (Metro vs. Regional).