Expansion of Designated Area Migration Agreements (DAMAs)
A new program to tackle labour shortages in Victoria’s Great South Coast region was officially launched in Warrnambool in 2019.
The Great South Coast Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) provides an opportunity for regional employers to be endorsed to hire overseas workers for roles that cannot be filled by Australian residents.
The DAMA is an Australian Government initiative with the Great South Coast DAMA a first for Victoria and the first to be driven by Local Government.
Great South Coast DAMA
Warrnambool City Council accepts employer applications for endorsement to sponsor overseas workers. (The first round closed on 5 July 2019.)
A Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is an agreement between the Australian Government and a designated area to enable businesses within that area to address specific labour shortages.
The Great South Coast (GSC) DAMA enables the region’s employers to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled Overseas Workers for specified positions they are unable to fill with local workers.
This website provides guidance to employers seeking endorsement to sponsor skilled and semi-skilled Overseas Workers.
Great South Coast (Warrnambool) DAMA in 2026: key facts
| Designated Area Representative | Warrnambool City Council |
| Region | Warrnambool City, Glenelg Shire, Southern Grampians Shire, Moyne Shire, Corangamite Shire and Colac-Otway Shire |
| Occupations | Around 113 approved occupations. The current list is available from Warrnambool City Council. |
| 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 | After 3 years on a Great South Coast DAMA 482 visa, a 186 nomination is possible. At nomination the worker must generally be under 55 (skill level 1 to 4 occupations) or under 50 (skill level 5). |
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 consultation to discuss your situation.
Explore Australia’s DAMA Regions
Australia has 13 DAMA regions, each with its own occupations, eligibility criteria, and application process.
Click on a location below to view the page for that region’s Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA).
Australia DAMA Map
Australia DAMA Map
Book a meeting for a commitment free briefing with our Registered Migration Agents in Melbourne to find more about your visa options.
