What is a DAMA?

A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a type of Labour Agreement. Labour Agreements are work agreements that enable approved employers to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers for positions they are unable to fill with local workers and in response to identified market shortages.  These agreements are negotiated between the Department and employers or industrial associations. Other types of labour agreements also include: Company-specific labour agreements, Project agreements, Global Talent Scheme (GST) agreements and Industry labour agreements.

DAMAs are labour agreements between a Designated Area Representative (DAR) and the Australian Government and provide access to additional occupations and concessions to standard migration programs under the:

• Temporary Skill Shortage visa (Subclass 482)
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (Subclass 494)
• Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186)

Once a DAMA is in place, local businesses can apply for endorsement and enter into individual labour agreements under the conditions of the relevant DAMA.

Active DAMAs

There are currently thirteen DAMA lists in place:

• The Orana region DAMA (NSW) with 131 occupations available and skills and work experience, salary, English and permanent pathway concessions.
• The Northern Territory DAMA (NT)  with 135 occupations available and English and salary concessions for some occupations.
• The Far North Queensland (FNQ DAMA) (QLD) with 175 occupations available and English, skills, experience, salary and permanent residency (PR) pathway concessions.
• The Townsville DAMA (QLD) with 195 occupations included in the list.
• The Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement DAMA (Metro) (SA) with 56 occupations available and English, age, salary and permanent residency pathway concessions.
• The South Australian Regional Workforce DAMA (Regional) (SA) with 320 occupations available and English, age, salary and permanent residency pathway concessions.
• The Goulburn Valley DAMA (VIC) with 56 occupations available and Qualifications & Experience, TSMIT, English, PR Pathway and Age concessions.
• The Victoria’s Great South Coast DAMA (VIC) with 114 occupations available and English, skills, experience, salary and permanent pathway concessions for some occupations.
• The EK (East Kimberley) DAMA (WA) with over 187 occupations available.
• The Goldfields DAMA (WA) with 145 occupations available and English, salary and permanent pathway concessions.
• The Pilbara DAMA (WA) covers 135 occupations.
• The South West DAMA (Shire of Dardanup) (WA) with 56 occupations available and TSMIT, English, PR Pathway and Age concessions.
• Western Australia DAMA (WA) with 310 occupations available.

How To Apply Under A DAMA?

The DAMA is an employer-sponsored visa program and individual workers cannot apply independently. Employers must apply to the relevant DAR to access the DAMA for the occupations, concessions and number of workers they required.

Generally, the application process consists of:

• Step 1. The employer (sponsoring business) applies to the relevant DAR for endorsement.
• Step 2. The DAR assesses the endorsement application.
• Step 3. If the assessment is positive the DAR issues a letter of endorsement to the employer and notifies the Department.
• Step 4. The sponsoring business makes an application to enter into an individual DAMA labour agreement with the Department.
• Step 5. The Department assesses the DAMA application.
• Step 6. On receival of a positive outcome from the Department, the employer can proceed to lodge a nomination for the employee and the employee can also lodge a visa application under the labour agreement stream with the Department.