South Australia DAMA: A Guide for Regional Employers

The Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is an Australian Government program designed to help regional communities address chronic workforce shortages. For employers across regional South Australia, the DAMA offers a unique opportunity to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers in roles that cannot be filled locally.

The South Australia Regional DAMA provides a flexible migration framework that includes important concessions on English, age, and salary thresholds. It enables regional employers to attract and retain much-needed workers, while offering eligible overseas employees a clear pathway to permanent residency in Australia.

What is a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA)?

A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a formal arrangement between the Department of Home Affairs and a Designated Area Representative (DAR) — generally a regional government body or development authority. Each DAMA is tailored to the economic and workforce needs of its region, allowing employers to sponsor skilled migrants for occupations that may not appear on the national skilled lists.

The DAMA framework aims to:

• Fill regional skill shortages through targeted migration;
• Provide an expanded occupation list for local industries;
• Offer flexibility and concessions to standard visa requirements; and
• Establish defined pathways to permanent residency for eligible workers.

Unlike business-specific labour agreements, DAMAs operate at the regional level, allowing multiple employers within the designated area to benefit under one comprehensive agreement.

About the South Australia Regional DAMA

South Australia has two DAMA regions, both administered by the South Australian Government Department for Industry, Innovation and Science (DIIS) acting as the Designated Area Representative (DAR):

1. Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement Agreement, covering Adelaide’s high-tech and innovation industries; and
2. South Australian Regional Workforce DAMA, covering the rest of the state’s regional and rural areas.

This article focuses on the South Australian Regional Workforce DAMA, which applies to all areas of the state outside metropolitan Adelaide.

The South Australia Regional DAMA supports employers across key sectors such as:

• Agriculture, viticulture, and horticulture
• Manufacturing and construction
• Hospitality and tourism
• Healthcare and aged care
• Transport and logistics
• Mining and energy

To participate, employers must first obtain DAR endorsement from the South Australian Government, confirming that they have made genuine attempts to recruit locally and comply with Australian workplace laws.

Australian Migration Lawyers assist employers throughout this process, from endorsement and labour agreement requests to visa applications and compliance management.

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Key Features and DAMA Concessions

The South Australian Regional DAMA offers extensive flexibility not available through standard skilled migration programs.

1. Expanded Occupation List

The South Australia Regional DAMA features over 110 occupations across ANZSCO skill levels 1–5. This broad list ensures regional employers can fill both skilled and semi-skilled roles, particularly in agriculture, aged care, and hospitality.

2. Age Concessions

Applicants may be eligible for age concessions up to 55 years, depending on the occupation and the pathway to permanent residency.

3. Salary Concessions

Certain occupations qualify for reduced Temporary Skilled Migration Income Thresholds (TSMIT) that reflect regional pay conditions, helping employers offer competitive yet lawful wages.

4. English Language Concessions

Applicants may benefit from reduced English language requirements, allowing more qualified candidates with the necessary technical expertise to qualify under the DAMA framework.

Employers must maintain compliance with all requirements of the Department of Home Affairs, including accurate role descriptions, fair pay, and adherence to workplace legislation.

The DAMA Skills Assessment

The skills assessment process under the South Australia DAMA is designed to accommodate a wider range of experience and qualifications.

For ANZSCO skill levels 1–3, formal skills assessments are generally required. For skill levels 4–5, applicants may rely on relevant work experience and demonstrated competencies as evidence of suitability.

For instance, an aged care worker or farm machinery operator may qualify through verifiable practical experience rather than a formal skills qualification.

Australian Migration Lawyers guide employers and applicants through these requirements, ensuring each DAMA occupation’s skills and qualification criteria are fully met and supported by appropriate documentation.

DAMA Visa Pathways to Permanent Residency

One of the key advantages of the South Australian Regional DAMA is that it offers a clear pathway to permanent residency (PR) for eligible overseas workers.

Primary Visa Pathways

The DAMA primarily uses the following visa subclasses:

• Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) Visa (Subclass 482) – Labour Agreement Stream: Allows overseas workers to be sponsored for up to five years. After a qualifying employment period, workers may transition to the Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) Visa (Subclass 186) for permanent residency.
• Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) Visa (Subclass 494): Enables workers to live and work in regional South Australia for three years, after which they can apply for the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Visa (Subclass 191).

All eligible occupations under the South Australia Regional DAMA have defined PR pathways, giving both employers and workers long-term certainty.

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Book a Consultation‍

If you are interested in getting more information about a visa, get in touch with Australian Migration Lawyers for a consultation.

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The Nomination and Visa Application Process

Once a business has secured DAR endorsement and a formal labour agreement under the DAMA, the next step is to nominate the overseas worker.

Australian Migration Lawyers assist by:

• Preparing and lodging DAMA labour agreement requests with the Department of Home Affairs;
• Managing nomination applications to ensure all role, salary, and compliance requirements are met;
• Preparing and lodging visa applications for nominated employees, including the required health, character, and identity documents; and
• Advising on ongoing compliance to maintain approval status and prevent visa processing delays.

Our legal team provides comprehensive guidance at every stage, ensuring your applications are complete, compliant, and processed efficiently.

Get Expert Help from Australian Migration Lawyers

The South Australia Regional DAMA presents a valuable opportunity for employers to fill persistent workforce gaps while providing skilled overseas workers a clear path to permanent settlement in Australia.

However, the DAMA process — from endorsement to visa grant — involves complex eligibility checks, documentation, and compliance requirements.

Australian Migration Lawyers provide end-to-end support for South Australian employers, including:

• Business eligibility assessments;
• Preparation and submission of DAR endorsement requests;
• Labour agreement negotiation and lodgement; and
• Visa application management for overseas workers.

If your business is struggling to fill regional workforce shortages, contact Australian Migration Lawyers for professional assistance navigating the South Australia Regional DAMA.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What areas are covered under the South Australia Regional DAMA?

All areas outside metropolitan Adelaide, including the Barossa Valley, Limestone Coast, Eyre Peninsula, and Far North regions.

2. Who can apply under the DAMA?

Employers based in regional South Australia who have genuine skill shortages and comply with workplace laws.

3. What industries are prioritised?

Key industries include agriculture, healthcare, construction, manufacturing, hospitality, and logistics.

4. Are there permanent residency pathways?

Yes. Most occupations under the South Australia Regional DAMA provide clear pathways to permanent residency through the ENS (Subclass 186) or PRSR (Subclass 191) visas.

5. How can Australian Migration Lawyers assist?

We manage every stage of the DAMA process — from DAR endorsement and labour agreement applications to nomination and visa lodgement — ensuring legal compliance and efficiency.