DAMA in Detail by Region: Agreements and Sponsored Roles

What is a DAMA, and why do they differ by region?

A DAMA — Designated Area Migration Agreement — is a special migration agreement between the Australian Federal Government and a local or territory authority. The purpose of a DAMA is to address localised labour shortages in regional areas that standard visa requirements cannot meet.

Each DAMA works like an “addendum” to the Subclass 482 visa, allowing:

• An expanded list of sponsored occupations (including occupations not on the national SID list).
• A reduction of the minimum salary below TSMIT in some cases.
• More flexibility on English-language and work-experience requirements.

However, an employer wanting to use a DAMA must sign an agreement with the regional authority before lodging a nomination — a mandatory step many people overlook.

Northern Territory

The Northern Territory (NT) DAMA is one of the broadest and most flexible DAMAs in Australia. The NT DAMA currently covers more than 130 distinct occupations, ranging across health, construction, agriculture, tourism services, retail and hospitality.

Some occupations are specific to the NT DAMA (and not on the national list):

• Cafe/Restaurant Manager
• Cook (various levels)
• Motor Mechanic
• Hairdresser
• Retail Supervisor

Employer requirement: the employer must have an ABN operating in the NT for at least 12 months and be registered with the NT Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade. Signing the Labour Agreement with DHA takes around three to six months.

Salary requirement: some NT DAMA occupations are subject to a salary below TSMIT under special provisions, typically ranging from AUD $55,000 to $65,000 a year.

South Australia

South Australia has two main active DAMAs: the Adelaide City Deal DAMA and the South Australian Regional DAMA. Each serves a different geographic area and occupation group.

The Adelaide City Deal DAMA focuses on industries such as:

• Hospitality and food services.
• Health (particularly nursing and community pharmacy).
• Construction and infrastructure.

The South Australian Regional DAMA extends to rural SA areas with an emphasis on:

• Agriculture and food.
• Regional transport and logistics.
• Technicians and electrical/mechanical trades.

South Australia is also well known as the state with the best DAMA-and-491 combination policy — people working under a DAMA in regional SA may receive additional support through the 491 nomination process.

Far North Queensland (FNQ)

The Far North Queensland (FNQ) DAMA — also known as the Cairns and Far North Queensland DAMA — is designed to address labour shortages in tourism, hospitality/health and agriculture across the area from Cairns out to the Torres Strait.

Occupations specific to the FNQ DAMA include:

• Tourism operators and Dive Instructors.
• Agricultural Scientists and Farm Managers.
• Aged Care Workers (certain job titles).
• Chefs and Cooks in hospitality.

The FNQ DAMA particularly suits those working in marine tourism, resorts, or tropical agriculture (sugarcane, bananas, coffee).

Orana (New South Wales)

The Orana DAMA covers western NSW, centred on the city of Dubbo. This is an agricultural and mining region, focused on:

• Agricultural Technicians and Farm Managers.
• Civil Engineers and Construction Managers for regional infrastructure.
• Medical Practitioners and Allied Health Professionals.
• Heavy Vehicle Mechanics and Diesel Fitters.

The Orana DAMA is less widely used than the NT or SA ones because the number of participating employers is still limited, but it is a good opportunity for those with technical or health qualifications who want to live and work in regional NSW.

Goldfields (Western Australia)

The Goldfields DAMA focuses on the mining region around Kalgoorlie and the Goldfields-Esperance area of WA. Labour demand here is mostly for:

• Mining Engineers and Metallurgists.
• Electricians and Instrumentation Technicians for the mining industry.
• Heavy Equipment Operators (may be included depending on the DAMA version).
• Health Professionals serving mining communities.

The Goldfields is an area with relatively high actual wages to offset the harsh living conditions, so DAMA salary requirements here are usually close to or above TSMIT.

How to approach a DAMA

The process for employers and workers to access a DAMA involves these steps:

1. The employer contacts the regional authority (for example NT Government or Orana Regional Development Australia) to register for the DAMA.
2. Signing a Labour Agreement with DHA — this is the most time-consuming step and requires documentation demonstrating the recruitment need.
3. Lodging a nomination under the terms of the signed Labour Agreement.
4. The worker lodges a Subclass 482 visa application once the nomination is approved.

The biggest difference between a DAMA and a standard Subclass 482 is steps 1 and 2 — the employer must invest the time upfront before they can sponsor anyone.