DAMA Occupations List For South Australia Announced

South Australia has announced the list of approved occupations for sponsorship under the state’s Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) with the federal government.

DAMAs assist employers in filling skilled and semi-skilled positions which are facing a labour shortage in a designated area.

A DAMA offers greater access to occupations and concessions on other criteria when compared to the standard Temporary Skill Shortage subclass 482 visa. Applications under the SA DAMA are also afforded priority visa processing with the Department of Home Affairs.

Immigration SA will undertake the role of Designated Area Representative (DAR), which is responsible for endorsing employers seeking to access overseas workers through the Designated Area Migration Agreements.

SA DAMA summary

The SA DAMA will come under two separate agreements, the Adelaide Innovation and Technology Agreement and the South Australian Regional Workforce Agreement. Each DAMA Agreement contains its own list of eligible occupations and concessions available with each list being linked to either the Adelaide metropolitan area or Regional South Australia.

Of note to people who do not currently have an occupation listed on one of the more mainstream Australian Occupation Lists, There are also a number of occupations included in the South Australian DAMA that are not on any other skilled occupation list. Below are some examples listed by the industry they will directly benefit:

Agriculture

Farm, Forestry and Garden Workers nec (841999)
Fishing Hand (899212)
Meat Process Worker (831311)
Production Horticulturalist *
Senior Production Horticulturalist *
Slaughterer (831212)

Healthcare

Aged or Disabled Carer (423111)
Nursing Support Worker (423312)
Personal Care Assistant (423313)
Therapy Aide (423314)

Mining and Construction

Driller (712211)
Earthmoving Plant Operator (General) (721211)
Loader Operator (721216)
Miner (712212)
Sand Blaster (711913)
Scaffolder (821712)
Shot Firer (712213)
Truck Driver (General (733111)

Film and Gaming

Digital Artist *
Senior Digital Artist *

Hospitality and Tourism

Passenger Coach Driver (731213)
Gaming Worker (431311)
Hotel or Motel Receptionist (542113)
Waiter (431511)

Note: * denotes that the occupation is not listed in ANZSCO and has been identified by the SA government.

We’ll cover each of the DAMA lists in more detail below.

Adelaide Innovation and Technology Agreement

• 60 occupations are eligible
• Restricted to employers in the Adelaide Metropolitan region (Greater Adelaide)
• Age concessions to facilitate a permanent residency pathway
• All occupations have a pathway to permanent residency via the Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186 visa.

Adelaide Innovation and Technology Agreement Occupations (Adelaide Metropolitan region only)

Occupation	ANZSCO or 6 digit code	ANZSCO skill level	Age concession
Biochemist	234513	1	Under 55
Biotechnologist	234514	1	Under 55
Botanist	234515	1	Under 55
Chemist	234211	1	Under 55
Chief Executive or Managing Director	111111	1	Under 55
Chief Information Officer	135111	1	Under 55
Construction Project Manager	133111	1	Under 55
Corporate General Manager	111211	1	Under 55
Digital Artist	070499*	2	Under 50
Electrical Engineer	233311	1	Under 55
Electronics Engineer	233411	1	Under 55
Engineering Manager	133211	1	Under 55
Engineering Technologist	233914	1	Under 55
Environmental Research Scientist	234313	1	Under 55
Environmental Scientists (nec)	234399	1	Under 55
Film and Video Editor	212314	1	Under 50
Fitter (General)	323211	3	Under 50
Fitter and Turner	323212	3	Under 50
Fitter-Welder	323213	3	Under 50
Geophysicist	234412	1	Under 55
Graphic Designer	232411	1	Under 50
Hydrogeologist	234413	1	Under 55
ICT Project Manager	135112	1	Under 55
Illustrator	232412	1	Under 50
Importer or Exporter	133311	1	Under 50
Industrial Engineer	233511	1	Under 55
Laboratory Manager	139913	1	Under 55
Life Scientist (General)	234511	1	Under 55
Life Scientists (nec)	234599	1	Under 55
Manufacturer	133411	1	Under 55
Marine Biologist	234516	1	Under 55
Mathematician	224112	1	Under 55
Mechanical Engineer	233512	1	Under 55
Metal Fabricator	322311	3	Under 50
Metal Fitters and Machinists (nec)	323299	3	Under 50
Metal Machinist (First Class)	323214	3	Under 50
Meteorologist	234913	1	Under 55
Microbiologist	234517	1	Under 55
Multimedia Designer	232413	1	Under 50
Multimedia Specialist	261211	1	Under 50
Natural and Physical Science Professionals (nec)	234999	1	Under 55
Naval Architect	233916	1	Under 55
Other Spatial Scientist	232214	1	Under 55
Physicist	234914	1	Under 55
Plastics Technician	399916	3	Under 50
Pressure Welder	322312	3	Under 50
Procurement Manager	133612	1	Under 55
Production Manager (Manufacturing)	133512	1	Under 55
Production or Plant Engineer	233513	1	Under 55
Quality Assurance Manager	139914	1	Under 55
Research and Development Manager	132511	1	Under 55
Senior Digital Artist	070499*	1	Under 50
Sheetmetal Trades Worker	322211	3	Under 50
Specialist Managers (nec)	139999	1	Under 50
Supply and Distribution Manager	133611	1	Under 55
Training and Development Professional	223311	1	Under 50
Web Designer	232414	1	Under 50
Web Developer	261212	1	Under 50
Welder (First Class)	322313	3	Under 50
Zoologist	234518	1	Under 50

South Australian Regional Workforce Agreement

• 114 occupations are eligible;
  • 78 occupations eligible for employers in the whole of South Australia.
  • 36 occupations eligible for employers in the postcode range 5110 to 5734 (non-metropolitan SA)
• Concessions vary per occupation and include:
  • Skills and experience;
  • Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT);
  • English;
  • and age concessions to facilitate a permanent residency pathway
• Only certain occupations have a pathway to permanent residency via the Employer Nomination Scheme subclass 186 visa.

South Australian Regional Workforce Agreement Occupations (All of SA)

Please note: This is quite a wide table so dependent on your screen resolution, you may need to use the scroll bar at the bottom of the table to view all columns, or simply drag with your fingers if using a mobile device ;-) 

DAMA Concessions explained

It is important to note that not all concessions apply to every occupation. You will need to check your individual occupation on the list to see which apply.

There are also several occupations listed that have no concessions available and are already eligible for the standard subclass 482 visa. In these cases it may not be necessary to apply under the DAMA, however, priority processing will still be an advantage over the standard subclass 482 visa.

Is the South Australian DAMA going to open new opportunities for you?

Applications under the SA DAMA will commence from 1 July 2019. Will this open up new opportunities for you? Let us know in our comments below.