Goulburn Valley DAMA: Concessions, Steps and Visas

Goulburn Valley Designated Area Migration Agreement

A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is an agreement between the Australian Government and a designated area. This enables businesses to address specific labour shortages within that area.

The Goulburn Valley (GV) DAMA enables the region’s employers to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers. These jobs are specifically for positions they are unable to fill with local workers.

The GV DAMA website provides guidance to employers seeking endorsement to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled overseas workers.

Check your eligibility for a DAMA visa

Definition of abbreviations

DHA: Department of Home Affairs
DAR: Designated Area Representative
DAMA: Designated Area Migration Agreement
SAF: Skilling Australians Fund
LMT: Labour Market Testing
TSMIT: Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (replaced by the Core Skills Income Threshold, CSIT, on 7 December 2024)
DOV: Deed of Variation
DOA: Deed of Agreement
TSS: Temporary Skill Shortage (replaced by the Skills in Demand visa on 7 December 2024)

Goulburn Valley DAMA in 2026: key facts

Designated Area Representative	Greater Shepparton City Council
Region	Greater Shepparton, Moira Shire and Campaspe Shire
Occupations	Listed in the GV DAMA table of approved occupations, available from the Council
Possible concessions	Age: under 55 for skill level 1 to 4 occupations and under 50 for skill level 5 at the time of a 494 or 186 nomination; English concessions for some occupations; a reduced income threshold (90% of the standard threshold) with a strong business case
Visas used	Labour agreement streams of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa and the Subclass 494 visa, with a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 186 visa (or the 191 visa for 494 holders).
Permanent residence	494 holders can apply for the 191 after 3 years; 482 holders need at least 3 years on that visa before a 186 nomination

Concessions are not automatic. The Designated Area Representative decides which concessions it will support for each position, and the final terms are set in the employer’s labour agreement with the Department of Home Affairs.

How the DAMA process works

Check the occupation and location. The position must be on the DAMA occupation list and based in the DAMA region.
Recruit locally first. The employer must show genuine but unsuccessful attempts to fill the job with Australian citizens or permanent residents (labour market testing).
Apply for endorsement. The employer applies to the Designated Area Representative, which assesses the business, the position and any concessions requested.
Request a labour agreement. With the endorsement, the employer asks the Department of Home Affairs for a DAMA labour agreement.
Nominate the worker. Once the agreement is in place, the employer nominates the worker under the labour agreement stream of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa or the Subclass 494 visa, and the worker applies for the visa.
Plan for permanent residence. After working in the region for the required period, the worker may move to the Subclass 186 visa (labour agreement stream) or, from the 494, to the Subclass 191 visa.

On 7 December 2024, the Skills in Demand visa replaced the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa. References to the TSS visa on this page relate to the earlier program.

Can I apply for a DAMA visa myself?

No. A DAMA is an employer-sponsored program. You need an employer in the region who has a DAMA labour agreement and is willing to nominate you.

Which visas can be granted under a DAMA?

DAMA positions are filled through the labour agreement streams of the Skills in Demand (subclass 482) visa and the Subclass 494 visa, with a pathway to permanent residence through the Subclass 186 visa (or the 191 visa for 494 holders).

Do I have to live and work in the DAMA region?

Yes. You must work for your sponsoring employer in the DAMA region. Moving away or changing employer without a new nomination can put your visa and your permanent residence pathway at risk.

What concessions can a DAMA offer?

Depending on the agreement and the occupation, concessions can include a higher age limit for permanent residence, lower English requirements and a reduced income threshold. Each concession must be supported by the Designated Area Representative and approved in the labour agreement.

How can VisaEnvoy help?

We help employers check eligibility, prepare the endorsement and labour agreement request, and lodge nominations and visa applications. Book a video consultation to discuss your situation.