Designated area migration agreements (DAMA)
DAMA is a five-year labour agreement between the Federal Government and certain Regional Governments. DAMA has been negotiated to provide Australian employers a specific tool to sponsor skilled overseas workers in specified industries in a region that is currently experiencing critical skill and labour shortages.
The concessions available under DAMA may include:
- Broader occupation lists.
- English requirement concessions.
- Age concessions up to 55 years of age to facilitate a pathway the permanent residence.
- Lower Minimum salary payment.
There are currently 13 DAMAs in place. Below is a list of those DAMAs with links to the respective DAR* websites that contain information on how to access each DAMA as well as which regions/locations/shires are covered:
- Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement, SA: Skilled & Business Migration
- East Kimberley, WA: East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Industry
- Far North Queensland, QLD: Cairns Chamber of Commerce,
- Goulburn Valley, VIC: Goulburn Valley
- Great South Coast, VIC: Warrnambool City Council
- Northern Territory, NT: Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement
- Orana, NSW: Regional Development Australia – Orana, NSW
- Pilbara, WA: RDA Pilbara
- South Australia Regional, SA: Skilled & Business Migration
- South West, WA: Shire of Dardanup
- The Goldfields, WA: City of Kalgoorlie Boulder
- Townsville, QLD: Townsville Enterprise Limited
- Western Australia: Department of Training and Workforce Development