Examine the South West DAMA Occupation List for August 2024, which includes the skill levels, industries, and concessions that are available to skilled migrants from Australia.

In an effort to address the region’s persistent skills shortfall, the South-West and the Australian government have developed a Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA).

The South-West DAMA was signed in December 2021 and went into force in January 2022. In comparison to regular skilled visa programs, it provides firms in the designated South-West region with access to a wider selection of jobs and concessions. Employers who have posted local job ads but haven’t been able to find suitable candidates for some openings would especially benefit from this.

Businesses must apply through the Shire of Dardanup, the designated Designated Area Representative (DAR) for the South-West DAMA, in order to be eligible to participate. Businesses can then file for a Labour Agreement with the Department of Home Affairs after getting a good endorsement.

Applications for DAMA endorsement and a South-West DAMA Labour Agreement are accepted from qualified companies in the following local government areas:

• City of Bunbury
• City of Busselton
• Shire of Augusta Margaret River
• Shire of Boyup Brook
• Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes
• Shire of Capel
• Shire of Collie
• Shire of Dardanup
• Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup
• Shire of Harvey
• Shire of Manjimup
• Shire of Nannup

What makes DAMA?

Employer-sponsored overseas workers are a feasible alternative, despite the fact that Australian workers are given priority, given the existing skills deficit in the South-West region. The South-West DAMA provides access to a greater choice of vocations and concessions, which assists firms in addressing labor shortages and supporting future workforce planning.

The Labour Agreement protects both companies and employees by requiring sponsorship, which guarantees that the terms and conditions extended to foreign workers are on par with those offered to Australian workers.

The Chamber of Commerce and Industry WA (CCIWA) conducted a Business Confidence Survey, and 31% of businesses cited a shortage of skilled labor as their top issue and a key impediment to expansion.

Companies that take part in a Labour Agreement are also obliged to pay into the Skilling Australians Fund levy, which funds worker training and advancement within the country.

Demanding Jobs Revisioned August 2024

The list of jobs that are in demand in the South-West at the moment is provided below. The South-West DAMA only allows nominations for these professions. Complete documentation of efforts to find a sufficiently qualified Australian worker must be included in applications for endorsement. This documentation should also be sent to the Department of Home Affairs during the Labour Agreement and Nomination phases.

Check out the Department of Home Affairs website for additional information about the requirements for Labour Market Testing.

August 2024: South-West DAMA Occupation List by Industry Area

This table shows the South West DAMA Occupation List for August 2024, sorted by Industry Area:

ANZSCO or 6 Digit Code	Occupation	Skill Level	TSMIT Concession Available (10%)	English Language Concession Available	Age Limit (SESR and ENS only)
721111	Agricultural and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operator	4	Yes	Yes	55
841511 / (84231)	Beef Cattle Farm Worker	4	Yes	Yes	55
842299	Crop Farm Workers nec*	5	Yes	Yes	50
841512	Dairy Cattle Farm Worker	5	Yes	Yes	50
831114	Dairy Products Maker	5	Yes	Yes	50
841211	Fruit or Nut Farm Worker	5	Yes	Yes	50
841212	Fruit or Nut Picker	5	Yes	Yes	50
841217	Mushroom Picker	5	Yes	Yes	50
841214	Vegetable Farm Worker	5	Yes	Yes	50
841215	Vegetable Picker	5	Yes	Yes	50
311211	Anaesthetic Technician	2	No	No	55
411711	Community Worker	2	Yes	No	55
251111	Dietician	1	No	No	55
411712	Disabilities Services Officer	2	Yes	No	55
411713	Family Support Worker	2	Yes	No	55
251511	Hospital Pharmacist	1	No	No	55
252411	Occupational Therapist	1	No	No	55
252511	Physiotherapist	1	No	No	55
272511	Social Worker	1	No	No	55
251214	Sonographer	1	No	No	55
252712	Speech Pathologist	1	No	No	55
272613	Welfare Worker	1	Yes	No	55
411716	Youth Worker	2	Yes	No	55
121111	Aquaculture Farmer	1	No	No	55
842111	Aquaculture Worker	5	Yes	Yes	50
399911	Diver	3	No	Yes	55
839312	Product Grader	4	No	Yes	55
831313	Seafood Process Worker	5	Yes	Yes	50
899412	Autoglazier	4	Yes	Yes	55
321111	Automotive Electrician	3	Yes	Yes	55
321212	Diesel Motor Mechanic	3	Yes	Yes	55
321211	Motor Mechanic (General)	3	Yes	Yes	55
899411	Motor Vehicle Parts and Accessories Fitter (General)	4	Yes	Yes	55
321213	Motorcycle Mechanic	3	Yes	Yes	55
324111	Panelbeater	3	Yes	Yes	55
321214	Small Engine Mechanic	3	No	Yes	55
899415	Tyre Fitter	4	Yes	Yes	55
423111	Aged or Disabled Carer	4	Yes	Yes	55
421111	Child Care Group Leader	2	Yes	No	55
421111	Child Care Worker	3	Yes	No	55
411715	Residential Care Officer	2	Yes	Yes	55
232111	Architect	1	No	No	55
312113	Building Inspector	2	No	No	55
312211	Civil Engineering Draftsperson	2	No	No	55
312212	Civil Engineering Technician	2	No	No	55
821211	Concreter	5	Yes	Yes	50
133111	Construction Project Manager	1	No	No	55
712211	Driller	4	No	Yes	55
721211	Earthmoving Plant Operator (General)	4	No	Yes	55
721214	Excavator Operator	4	No	Yes	55
333111	Glazier	3	No	Yes	55
(362213) 362711	Landscape Gardener	3	No	Yes	55
821511	Paving and Surface Labourer	5	Yes	Yes	50
711913	Sand Blaster	4	Yes	Yes	55
821713	Steel Fixer	4	Yes	Yes	55
821714	Structural Steel Erector	4	Yes	Yes	55
333411	Wall and Floor Tiler	3	No	Yes	55
241111	Early Childhood Teacher (Pre-primary School) Teacher	1	No	No	55
351111	Baker	3	Yes	Yes	55
431112	Barista	4	Yes	Yes	55
351311	Chef	2	No	Yes	55
351411	Cook	3	Yes	Yes	55
351112	Pastrycook	3	Yes	Yes	55
272311	Clinical Psychologist	1	No	No	55
253912	Emergency Medicine Specialist	1	No	No	55
411411	Enrolled Nurse	2	Yes	No	55
253111	General Practitioner	1	No	No	55
251211	Medical Diagnostic Radiographer	1	No	No	55
253999	Medical Practitioners nec*	1	No	No	55
254111	Midwife	1	No	No	55
254411	Nurse Practitioner	1	No	No	55
423312	Nursing Support Worker	4	Yes	Yes	55
254412	Registered Nurse (Aged Care)	1	No	No	55
254413	Registered Nurse (Child and Family Health)	1	No	No	55
254414	Registered Nurse (Community Health)	1	No	No	55
254415	Registered Nurse (Critical Care and Emergency)	1	No	No	55
254416	Registered Nurse (Developmental Disability)	1	No	No	55
254417	Registered Nurse (Disability and Rehabilitation)	1	No	No	55
254421	Registered Nurse (Medical Practice)	1	No	No	55
254418	Registered Nurse (Medical)	1	No	No	55
254422	Registered Nurse (Mental Health)	1	No	No	55
254425	Registered Nurse (Paediatrics)	1	No	No	55
254423	Registered Nurse (Perioperative)	1	No	No	55
254424	Registered Nurse (Surgical)	1	No	No	55
254499	Registered Nurses nec	1	No	No	55
141999	Accommodation and Hospitality Managers nec	2	Yes	No	55
070499	Bar Attendant (Supervisor)	4	Yes	No	55
141111	Cafe or Restaurant Manager	2	Yes	No	55
811411	Commercial Housekeeper	5	Yes	Yes	50
431999	Hospitality Workers nec	5	Yes	Yes	50
149999	Hospitality, Retail and Service Managers nec	2	Yes	No	55
141311	Hotel or Motel Manager	2	Yes	No	55
431411	Hotel Service Manager	3	Yes	No	55
431511	Waiter	4	Yes	Yes	55
070499	Waiter (Supervisor)	4	Yes	No	55
322311	Metal Fabricator	3	No	Yes	55
312912	Metallurgical or Materials Technician	2	No	No	55
322312	Pressure Welder	3	No	Yes	55
322313	Welder (First Class)	3	No	Yes	55
721212	Backhoe Operator	4	Yes	Yes	55
399212	Gas or Petroleum Operator	3	No	Yes	55
721216	Loader Operator	4	No	Yes	55
721112	Logging Plant Operator	4	Yes	Yes	55
233211	Civil Engineer	1	No	No	55
233513	Production or Plant Engineer	1	No	No	55
233215	Transport Engineer	1	No	No	55
251311	Environmental Health Officer	1	No	No	55
135112	ICT Project Manager	1	Yes	No	55
312911	Maintenance Planner	2	No	No	55
232611	Urban and Regional Planner	1	No	No	55
621511	Retail Supervisor	4	Yes	No	55
391111	Hairdresser	3	No	Yes	55
899311	Handyperson	5	Yes	Yes	50
711211	Industrial Spraypainter	4	Yes	Yes	55
541211	Information Officer	4	Yes	No	55
312611	Occupational Health and Safety Inspector	3	Yes	No	55
452215	Outdoor Adventure Instructor	3	Yes	Yes	55
542111	Receptionist (General)	4	Yes	No	55
711516	Rubber Production Machine Operator	4	Yes	Yes	55
399611	Signwriter	3	Yes	Yes	55
839412	Sawmill or Timber Yard Worker	5	Yes	Yes	50
721911	Aircraft Baggage Handler and Airline Ground Crew	4	Yes	Yes	55
733111	Truck Driver (General)	4	Yes	Yes	55
363117	Vineyard Supervisor	3	No	Yes	55
841216	Vineyard Worker	5	Yes	Yes	50
234213	Wine Maker	1	No	No	55

The following table enumerates industry-specific jobs, accompanied by their ANZSCO codes, skill requirements, possible concessions, and the age range for SESR and ENS visas.

There Are Concessions

Businesses may qualify for the following concessions under the South-West DAMA:

1.Age Discount:

>Applicants must be under 55 (skill level 1-4 jobs) or under 50 (skill level 5 occupations) at the time of nomination in order to be eligible for SESR (subclass 494) or ENS (subclass 186) visas.

2.Required Language: English

>There may be an exception to the minimal English language proficiency criteria for some professions.
>TSS, SESR: 5.0 on the IELTS, with no minimum requirement for any component score (unless higher levels are needed for license or registration).
>ENS: The usual English language requirements are in effect.

3.TSMIT (Pay):

There might be a chance to lower the Temporary Skilled Migration Income Threshold (TSMIT). Types of concessions include:
>Type 1: A TSMIT reduction of at least 90% from the present level.
>Type 2: Reduced TSMIT with non-cash income (such as board and food) not to exceed 10% of TSMIT.
>The TSMIT raised to $73,150 as of July 1, 2024. This criterion, or the Annual Market Salary Rate (AMSR), whichever is higher, must be met by all new employer nominations.

4.Competencies and Background:

>Relevant education, training, and experience must match the standards of the designated occupation. Subclass 482 Temporary Skills Shortage (TSS), subclass 494 Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional (Provisional) (SESR), and subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme (ENS) visas (where applicable) are all covered by this.

5.Pathway for Permanent Residency (New as of August 2024):

>After holding a South-West DAMA TSS/482 visa for two years, all jobs within the program have a pathway to permanent residency through the ENS/186 visa.

New Procedure for Applications

Fill out the new online form and submit it to apply. The form should take about fifteen minutes to complete if you have your business information, nomination details, and contact information ready. Once you’ve electronically signed the form, send in your supporting paperwork to have your endorsement application processed. On the form, there are additional instructions.