Your Guide to the SA DAMA Occupation Lists & Concessions

Introduction

For South Australian employers facing persistent labour shortages, the Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) offers a vital and flexible solution. This formal agreement between the Australian Government and the South Australian Government enables businesses to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers for positions they are unable to fill from the local labour market.

This visa program operates with unique occupation lists and significant concessions that are not available through standard visa streams, creating accessible pathways to permanent residency. This guide provides essential information for both South Australian employers and skilled workers on navigating the South Australian DAMA framework, one of several complex migration matters, from understanding the available occupations and concessions to securing a long-term future in the state.

Understanding the SA DAMA Framework

The Adelaide Technology & Innovation Advancement Agreement

The Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement Agreement is a DAMA specifically covering the Adelaide metropolitan region. This agreement helps local employers sponsor highly skilled overseas workers when they cannot fill positions with the local workforce.

Its primary focus is on Adelaide’s high-tech growth industries. By providing access to a skilled international talent pool, this agreement enables businesses in specialised fields to:

• Secure the experiencedise needed to drive advancement
• Maintain a competitive edge in their respective sectors

The DAMA targets key sectors that are crucial for the city’s economic development and innovation, including:

• Defence
• Space
• Advanced manufacturing
• Technology

The SA Regional Workforce Agreement

Covering the entire state, the South Australian Regional Workforce Agreement is a DAMA designed to address labour shortages in regional areas. This agreement allows employers to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers for positions in a wide range of industries vital to the state’s economy.

The framework provides a flexible solution for regional employers who are experiencing difficulties in finding suitable Australian workers. As a result, it supports the sustainability and growth of local communities and industries throughout South Australia.

The agreement targets several of South Australia’s high-growth regional sectors, such as:

• Agribusiness and forestry
• Health and social services
• Tourism and hospitality
• Construction
• Mining

SA DAMA Occupation Lists Explained

Key Industries & Occupations in Regional SA

The South Australian DAMA occupation lists are tailored to address the specific labour market needs of the state, reflecting the workforce requirements of key regional industries. The South Australian Regional Workforce Agreement focuses on high-growth sectors, creating tangible opportunities for employers in fields like hospitality, agriculture, and the care industry.

This targeted approach means that both skilled and semi-skilled roles are available to support regional businesses. Some key occupations available for sponsorship by employers in regional South Australia include:

Industry Sector	Example Occupations
Agribusiness & Aquaculture	Aquaculture Farmer, Fruit or Nut Grower, Vegetable Grower
Hospitality & Tourism	Hospitality Supervisor, Hospitality Worker, Cook (ethnic cuisine)
Care Industry	Aged or Disabled Carer, Personal Care Assistant, Residential Care Officer
Trades & Construction	Automotive Electrician, Metal Fabricator, Welder (First Class)

How DAMA Occupations Are Determined & Reviewed

The occupations included in the South Australian DAMA lists are not chosen arbitrarily. Instead, they are determined through a detailed process involving:

• Extensive consultation with industry associations and key employers across the state
• Direct industry feedback combined with government data analysis on identified skills shortages in target sectors

To ensure the DAMA occupation list remains relevant and responsive to the evolving labour market, it is subject to an annual review. This regular assessment allows for occupations to be added or removed based on current economic conditions and workforce needs, providing confidence to employers that the agreement addresses genuine, contemporary skill gaps.

Key Visa Concessions Under the SA DAMA

Age Limit Concession for Mature Workers

A significant benefit of the South Australian DAMA is the age concession for mature workers. While standard skilled migration pathways often have a strict age limit of 45, the SA DAMA extends this, allowing applicants to be nominated for permanent residency up to the age of 55. This concession applies to permanent visa pathways, including:

• The Employer Nomination Scheme (subclass 186)
• The Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (subclass 494) visa

Although the temporary Subclass 482 visa has no age limit, this age concession is critical for those seeking a long-term future in South Australia. It ensures that experienced overseas workers who might otherwise be ineligible due to age can transition from a temporary visa to permanent residency, allowing regional employers to retain valuable, seasoned professionals.

English Language & Work Experience Concessions

The SA DAMA program provides considerable flexibility on English language proficiency, making the visa program more accessible to a wider pool of skilled candidates. For certain occupations, the requirements are lower than those for standard employer-sponsored visas.

Specific English language concessions include:

Visa Subclass	Required IELTS Score (or equivalent)
Subclass 482 & 494	An overall score of 5.0, with a minimum of 4.0 in each band. This is reduced to an overall score of 4.5 for some semi-skilled roles in outer regional SA.
Subclass 186 (Permanent Residency)	An overall score of 5.0, with a minimum of 4.5 in each band.

In addition to language flexibility, the DAMA labour agreement also offers concessions on work experience. The required period of employment can be lower than standard visa streams, with some DAMA occupations requiring just one year of relevant work experience.

This adjustment is particularly beneficial for recent international graduates from Australian institutions, as it addresses the common issue of having qualifications but less post-study work experience, a key consideration for how international graduates can get permanent residency through South Australia.

Salary Concession on the TSMIT

To address the economic realities of regional businesses, the SA DAMA offers a salary concession for eligible occupations. Employers may be able to access a 10% reduction in the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT).

This allows a business to sponsor an overseas worker even if the market salary rate for the nominated occupation is slightly below the standard national threshold. The flexibility helps employers offer competitive remuneration that aligns with local market conditions while still meeting their obligations under the DAMA labour agreement.

Pathway to Permanent Residency with a SA DAMA

Accelerated Two-Year Path via the Subclass 482 & 186 Visas

A significant incentive of the South Australian DAMA visa program is the accelerated pathway to permanent residency. For overseas workers holding a Temporary Skill Shortage (Subclass 482) visa under a DAMA labour agreement, the time required before becoming eligible for a permanent visa has been reduced.

Previously, a three-year waiting period was required, but this has now been shortened to two years. This change applies specifically to SA DAMA applications endorsed on or after 27 June 2025.

To qualify for this accelerated pathway:

• A nominee must have held the Subclass 482 visa for at least two years
• Their employer must nominate them for the permanent Employer Nomination Scheme (Subclass 186) visa
• The employer needs to submit a variation request to Skilled & Business Migration to initiate this process

Regional Pathway via the Subclass 494 & 191 Visa

An alternative route to permanent residency is available for holders of the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (SESR) Subclass 494 visa. This provisional visa provides a clear pathway to the Permanent Residence (Skilled Regional) Subclass 191 visa.

To qualify for the Subclass 191 visa:

• The visa holder must have held their Subclass 494 visa for a minimum of three years
• They must comply with all visa conditions throughout this period
• There is no minimum income requirement for this pathway

A key feature of this regional pathway is its flexibility, demonstrating how living in regional SA can strengthen your skilled visa pathway to PR.Instead of income requirements, the visa applicant must provide three Notices of Assessment from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) for three of the five years they held the eligible visa, offering a flexible long-term settlement option.

The DAMA Application Process for SA Employers & Workers

Step 1: Securing DAR Endorsement

The initial and mandatory step for any South Australian employer wanting to access the DAMA is to secure an endorsement from the Designated Area Representative (DAR). In South Australia, the DAR is Skilled & Business Migration, a unit within the state government. This endorsement confirms that the business has a genuine need to sponsor an overseas worker.

To be eligible for endorsement, a business must meet several key requirements designed to ensure the integrity of the DAMA program and protect the local labour market:

• Be actively and lawfully operating in South Australia for at least 12 months
• Demonstrate financial viability and have no adverse history of non-compliance with workplace or immigration laws
• Show that the position they wish to fill is a genuine, full-time vacancy
• Provide evidence of having conducted Labour Market Testing (LMT) to confirm that no suitable Australian citizen or permanent resident is available for the role

The application for endorsement is submitted electronically through the Skilled & Business Migration online portal. While there is no application fee for this state-level endorsement, employers should be aware that they are responsible for all subsequent federal government costs.

Step 2: Requesting the DAMA Labour Agreement

Once an employer receives a Letter of Endorsement from the DAR, the next stage is to request a DAMA Labour Agreement with the Australian Government. This formal application is lodged with the Department of Home Affairs through its online portal, ImmiAccount, with the Letter of Endorsement being a required document for this submission.

A DAMA Labour Agreement is the formal contract between the employer and the Commonwealth government. This agreement, which is generally effective for five years, outlines:

• The specific terms and concessions
• The number of overseas workers the business can sponsor under the DAMA framework

It is important to understand that receiving endorsement from the DAR does not guarantee the approval of a labour agreement request. The Department of Home Affairs conducts its assessment and makes the final decision based on additional criteria.

Step 3: Nomination & Visa Application

With an approved DAMA Labour Agreement in place, the employer can move to the final stages of the process. The business can now formally nominate a specific skilled or semi-skilled overseas worker for an occupation covered by the agreement. This nomination is lodged directly with the Department of Home Affairs.

Following the employer’s nomination, the visa applicant can then submit their application for the relevant visa. The DAMA program utilises several visa subclasses, including:

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

The Australian Government’s Department of Home Affairs is responsible for assessing and making the final decision on all visa applications. Therefore, it is critical to be aware of the common reasons for an Australian visa refusal. Individual workers cannot apply for a DAMA visa independently; they must be nominated by an employer with an active DAMA labour agreement.

SA DAMA vs. Standard Sponsored Visas

Broader Occupation Lists & Greater Flexibility

The South Australian DAMA provides greater flexibility than standard employer-sponsored visa programs, primarily through its broader and more tailored occupation lists. Unlike standard visas that rely on national skilled occupation lists, the DAMA framework includes skilled and semi-skilled roles specifically chosen to address labour shortages in South Australia’s key industries.

This targeted approach allows the DAMA occupation list to cover positions not typically available for sponsorship, such as those in:

• Agriculture
• Hospitality
• The care industry

By including semi-skilled occupations, the DAMA program provides a vital pathway for employers to fill roles that are essential for local business operations but fall outside the scope of traditional skilled migration streams. This flexibility ensures that the visa program effectively meets the genuine workforce needs of the South Australian economy.

The Unique Role of the Designated Area Representative

A fundamental difference in the DAMA application process is the mandatory involvement of a Designated Area Representative. For the South Australian DAMA, the DAR is Skilled & Business Migration, a unit of the state government. This body acts as a gatekeeper, and employers must first secure an endorsement from the DAR before they can apply to the Department of Home Affairs for a DAMA labour agreement.

This endorsement step is unique to the DAMA framework and is not a feature of standard employer-sponsored visas. The DAR is responsible for:

• Overseeing the agreement to ensure it meets regional objectives
• Assessing and endorsing employers who have a genuine need to sponsor an overseas worker
• Acting as the skills assessing authority for certain occupations that are not on standard national lists

This additional layer of assessment by a local representative ensures that the DAMA program is used appropriately to address verified labour shortages, a key factor among the top reasons why skilled migrants are choosing to move to South Australia.

Conclusion

The South Australian DAMA program provides a vital solution for employers facing labour shortages by offering access to a broad range of occupations with significant concessions. For skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers, it presents a flexible and often accelerated pathway to achieving permanent residency in South Australia.

Navigating the DAMA framework requires careful planning and a clear understanding of its unique requirements. For trusted experiencedise on the South Australian DAMA visa program, contact our specialists at Moya Migration Law in Adelaide to secure your best possible outcome.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)