Townsville DAMA: Skilled Migration Pathways for North Queensland Employers

The Townsville Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a targeted regional migration program designed to help employers across North Queensland fill critical skill shortages.

Through the Townsville DAMA, eligible employers can sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers for occupations that cannot be filled locally. The program provides tailored visa pathways and concessions, as well as a clear route to permanent residency for eligible workers and their families.

Qu'est-ce qu'un accord de migration dans une zone désignée (DAMA) ?

A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal arrangement between the Australian Government Department of Home Affairs and a Designated Area Representative (DAR) — typically a regional authority or local government.

Each DAMA is region-specific and tailored to address local workforce needs by allowing employers to sponsor a wider range of occupations than those available under the standard skilled migration program. It also provides special concessions relating to age, English language proficiency, and salary thresholds.

The DAMA framework primarily operates under the following visa subclasses:

• Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa – Subclass 482
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) Visa – Subclass 494

These visas can later transition to permanent residency through the:

• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa – Subclass 186, or
• Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa – Subclass 191.

About the Townsville DAMA

The Townsville North Queensland DAMA is a five-year labour agreement between the Department of Home Affairs and the Townsville Enterprise Limited (TEL), which acts as the Designated Area Representative (DAR).

The agreement covers the Townsville and North Queensland region, which includes the following local government areas:

• City of Townsville
• Shire of Burdekin
• Shire of Charters Towers
• Hinchinbrook Shire
• Shire of Whitsunday
• City of Mackay
• Shire of Isaac
• Shire of Richmond

The region’s economy is diverse, spanning mining, agriculture, healthcare, defence, logistics, manufacturing, and tourism. The DAMA is specifically designed to help employers in these industries recruit skilled workers where local labour is unavailable.

Key Benefits and DAMA Concessions

The Townsville DAMA offers several advantages that make it an effective solution for addressing workforce shortages in regional North Queensland.

1. Liste élargie des professions

Employers have access to over 195 occupations, including skilled and semi-skilled roles across a wide range of industries — more than are available under standard skilled migration lists.

2. Concessions relatives à la langue anglaise

Certain occupations benefit from reduced English language requirements, making it easier for employers to sponsor workers with strong technical expertise but limited English proficiency.

3. Réductions liées à l'âge

Applicants may qualify for age concessions up to 55 years, providing opportunities for experienced workers to transition to permanent residency.

4. Salary (TSMIT) Concessions

The DAMA allows flexible salary thresholds to reflect regional market conditions, ensuring that remuneration remains fair while accommodating regional economic realities.

5. Voies d'accès à la résidence permanente

All eligible occupations under the Townsville DAMA provide clear, structured pathways to permanent residency, offering security and long-term workforce stability.

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Processus d'approbation et de demande

Employers seeking to participate in the Townsville DAMA must first obtain endorsement from Townsville Enterprise Limited (TEL) before applying for a labour agreement with the Department of Home Affairs.

The process generally follows these stages:

1. DAR Endorsement:
   Employers apply to TEL for endorsement, demonstrating compliance with Australian workplace laws and evidence of unsuccessful local recruitment efforts.
2. Labour Agreement Request:
   Once endorsed, the employer applies to the Department of Home Affairs for a formal DAMA labour agreement.
3. Nomination and Visa Application:
   Following labour agreement approval, the employer nominates the overseas worker for a visa (Subclass 482 or Subclass 494), and the applicant then lodges their visa application.
4. Transition to Permanent Residency:
   After meeting employment and regional residency requirements, the worker may transition to permanent residency through either the ENS 186 or PRSR 191 visa.

Australian Migration Lawyers provide legal assistance at every step — from preparing endorsement applications to managing visa lodgements — ensuring full compliance and maximising success rates.

Évaluation des compétences DAMA

Under the Townsville DAMA, skills assessment requirements vary by occupation and skill level:

• ANZSCO skill levels 1–3 typically require a formal skills assessment from an authorised assessing body.
• Skill levels 4–5 may be assessed based on relevant experience and references, depending on the occupation.

Australian Migration Lawyers guide employers and visa applicants through the appropriate skills assessment process, ensuring all documentation meets Department of Home Affairs standards.

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Si vous souhaitez obtenir plus d'informations sur un visa, prenez contact avec Australian Migration Lawyers pour une consultation.

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Industries Supported by the Townsville DAMA

The Townsville region’s economy is supported by a broad mix of industries. The DAMA covers roles across:

• Exploitation minière et ressources
• Agriculture et agroalimentaire
• Construction and engineering
• Soins de santé et soins aux personnes âgées
• Transport, logistique et entreposage
• Tourisme et hôtellerie
• Education and community services

By expanding access to skilled workers, the DAMA strengthens regional productivity and supports sustainable growth in Northern Queensland’s most critical industries.

Permanent Residency Opportunities

A major benefit of the Townsville DAMA is the opportunity for overseas workers to transition to permanent residency after a period of employment in the region.

Permanent residency can typically be achieved through:

• Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) – Subclass 186, or
• Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) – Subclass 191

These clear migration pathways give employers a stronger retention advantage and provide skilled workers with a stable, long-term future in Australia.

Comment les avocats australiens spécialisés dans les questions de migration peuvent-ils aider ?

The DAMA framework provides exceptional opportunities for North Queensland employers but also involves complex legal and procedural requirements.

Australian Migration Lawyers provide comprehensive assistance with:

• Employer eligibility assessments;
• Preparing and lodging DAR endorsement and labour agreement applications;
• Gestion des demandes de nomination et de visa ;
• Advising on skills assessment, English, and salary concessions; and
• Supporting permanent residency transitions.

Our legal expertise ensures every stage of the DAMA process is managed efficiently, with compliance and accuracy prioritised to achieve successful visa outcomes.

Questions fréquemment posées

1. Who manages the Townsville DAMA?

The Townsville Enterprise Limited (TEL) acts as the Designated Area Representative (DAR) for the Townsville and North Queensland region.

2. What areas are covered under the Townsville DAMA?

The agreement covers local government areas including Townsville, Burdekin, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, Whitsunday, Mackay, Isaac, and Richmond.

3. Quels visas peuvent être obtenus par le biais du DAMA ?

Employers can sponsor workers under the Subclass 482 (TSS) and Subclass 494 (SESR) visas, which can lead to permanent residency via Subclass 186 or Subclass 191.

4. Quelles sont les concessions disponibles ?

Concessions may apply for age, English language, and salary thresholds, depending on the nominated occupation.

5. Comment les avocats spécialisés en droit de l'immigration australien peuvent-ils vous aider ?

We manage every stage of the DAMA process — from endorsement and labour agreement requests to visa applications and PR transitions — ensuring smooth, compliant outcomes for employers and skilled workers.