DAMA · South Australia · Established 2021 (component of the consolidated SA DAMA)
South Australia Regional Designated Area Migration Agreement
The Regional component of the consolidated SA DAMA targets occupations in regional South Australia – primarily Barossa, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Eyre Peninsula, Riverland and remote SA – across agriculture, wine, hospitality and care services.
★Key takeaways
- ✓South Australia Regional DAMA was established 2021 (component of the consolidated SA DAMA) and is administered by Department of State Development (Skilled & Business Migration).
- ✓Occupation list includes 10+ roles with TSMIT and English concessions not available on standard 482 Core stream.
- ✓Employer geographic trigger: Employer must be located in regional SA (outside the Adelaide metropolitan area)
- ✓PR pathway: 186 Direct Entry stream under the Labour Agreement pathway after 3 years on the 482.
- ✓Cite all DAMA pathway numbers against Department of State Development (Skilled & Business Migration)’s current published occupation list – concessions and occupations are reviewed periodically.
At a glance
Agreement holder
Department of State Development (Skilled & Business Migration)
Geographic trigger
Employer must be located in regional SA (outside the Adelaide metropolitan area)
PR pathway
186 Direct Entry stream under the Labour Agreement pathway after 3 years on the 482
Occupations covered
10+ across mining, trades, hospitality, care and professional services
Top concession occupations
10 representative occupations
A sample of the 10+ occupations on the South Australia Regional DAMA. The full current list is published by the agreement holder and is reviewed periodically.
Source: Department of State Development (Skilled & Business Migration) DAMA occupation list →
Concessions summary
What the DAMA actually changes
| Concession | South Australia Regional DAMA |
|---|---|
| TSMIT | Up to 10% concession on TSMIT for selected occupations |
| English | IELTS 5.0 each band; some semi-skilled at 4.5 each band |
| Age (PR pathway) | PR pathway: age cap raised to 55 for selected occupations |
| Work experience and skills | Reduced work experience to 2 years for selected occupations |
Concessions are set out in the agreement between the Commonwealth and the agreement holder and can change at agreement renewal. Always confirm against the current published agreement.
In depth
How the South Australia Regional DAMA actually works
Regional SA covers an enormous geography but a thin population (around 350,000 outside Adelaide). The wine industry (Barossa, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Clare Valley), horticulture (Riverland citrus and stone fruit), aquaculture (Eyre Peninsula tuna and oysters) and grain growing dominate the regional economy.
The Regional component of the SA DAMA carries concessions for occupations specific to these industries: wine maker, vineyard manager, aquaculture farmer, farm manager. It also covers the regional care economy – aged care worker, disability support worker, veterinarian – which has been particularly thin since 2020.
Applications for regional SA proceed through the same SA Migration office channel as the Adelaide City Tech stream, but the eligibility is constrained to regional SA employers.
Employer obligations
- Employer must be located within the agreement region (see geographic trigger above).
- Obtain agreement holder endorsement before lodging a Standard Business Sponsorship (SBS) application with Home Affairs.
- Demonstrate local labour market testing (LMT) was carried out and a local hire was not available.
- Pay the Skilling Australians Fund (SAF) levy on nomination: $1,200/year (small business under $10m turnover) or $1,800/year (larger employers).
- Pay at or above the agreement’s salary floor (cannot use DAMA concession to push salary below the agreement minimum).
- Do not recover any sponsorship or migration agent costs from the worker (this is a strict sponsor obligation).
Agreement holder contact
Department of State Development (Skilled & Business Migration)
Common questions
South Australia Regional DAMA – common questions
What counts as "regional" South Australia?
Anywhere outside the Adelaide metropolitan area as defined by the SA Government for migration purposes. This includes Barossa, McLaren Vale (outer Adelaide is usually included via the broader DAMA), Riverland, Eyre Peninsula, Yorke Peninsula, Limestone Coast and remote SA.
Can a winery in Barossa use this DAMA?
Yes. Barossa wineries are heavy users of the Regional SA DAMA for wine maker, vineyard manager and senior cellar hand roles.
Is the DAMA the same as a 491 family-sponsored visa?
No. DAMA is employer-sponsored 482 / 186. 491 is points-tested skilled regional, sponsored by a family member or by the state. Different applications, different obligations.
Can I get PR via the Regional SA DAMA?
Yes – 186 Direct Entry under the Labour Agreement pathway after 3 years on the 482. Some occupations also retain 191 PR access via the regional residence pathway.
Other DAMA regions