• DAMA

DAMA (Designated Area Migration Agreement)

Designated area migration agreements

Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) provides flexibility for states, territories or regions to respond to their unique economic and labour market conditions through an agreement-based framework.

Under the DAMA framework, employers in designated areas experiencing skills and labour shortages can sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers.

DAMAs are designed to ensure employers take on Australians citizens and permanent residents as a first priority and prioritise initiatives and strategies to facilitate the recruitment and retention of such workers.

Note: The DAMA is an employer-sponsored visa program and individual workers cannot apply for a visa independently.

The Western Australian Government has successfully negotiated the establishment of a Western Australian Designated Area Migration Agreement (WA DAMA) with the Commonwealth Government. This is in response to the strong demand that still exists from employers to fill jobs in key areas of demand in Western Australia. 

The WA DAMA will be the fifth DAMA for WA, complementing the existing Goldfields, Kimberley, Pilbara and South West DAMAs. 

Migration Services is currently accepting Expressions of Interest (EOI) to access the WA DAMA.  

There are currently 12 DAMAs in place. Below is a list of those DAMAs with links to the respective Designated Area Representative* websites that contain information on how to access each DAMA as well as which regions/locations/shires are covered:

South West WA DAMA

This DAMA will assist in filling the large number of vacancies in Dardanup and South West Western Australia.

The Shire of Dardanup will administer the process for accessing the South West DAMA which will be open to businesses operating in any of the 12 local governments areas covered by the agreement – City of Busselton, City of Bunbury, Shire of Capel, Shire of Collie, Shire of Augusta/Margaret River, Shire of Boyup Brook, Shire of Bridgetown/Greenbushes, Shire of Dardanup, Shire of Donnybrook/Balingup, Shire of Harvey, Shire of Manjimup and the Shire of Nannup.

Local businesses can apply individually to access the DAMA from 2022.

Goulburn Valley Victoria DAMA

The Goulburn Valley region, bordered on the south by the Great Dividing Range and to the north by the Murray River, is a significant agricultural region but also includes important retail, manufacturing and tourism industries.

The Greater Shepparton City Council will administer the process for accessing the Goulburn Valley DAMA which will be open to businesses operating in any of the Greater Shepparton, Moira and Campaspe local government areas.

Local businesses can apply individually to access the DAMA from 2022.

DAMA Visa Eligibility

Am I eligible for a TSS visa?
TSS DAMA Fees:

There are no charges for:

  • endorsement by Migration to access the Northern Territory Designated Area Migration Agreement
  • labour agreement – Australian Government
  • skills verification for selected occupations – Northern Territory Government.

There are fees, which change over time, for:

  • Cost to request a labour agreement- $420
  • nomination application – Australian Government – $330
  • worker visa application – Australian Government –
    • Primary applicant – $2,645
    • Secondary applicant >18 – $2,645
    • Secondary applicant <18 – $660
  • Skilling Australians Fund levy – Australian Government.

Contact us today for a commitment free briefing with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne to find more about your visa options.