DAMA · Victoria · Established 2020
Warrnambool (Great South Coast) Designated Area Migration Agreement
The Warrnambool DAMA covers the Great South Coast of Victoria – Warrnambool, Port Fairy, Portland, Hamilton, Camperdown and surrounds. It targets the dairy, hospitality, renewable-energy and care workforce gaps in south-west Victoria.
★Key takeaways
- ✓Warrnambool (Great South Coast) DAMA was established 2020 and is administered by Warrnambool City Council (in partnership with the Great South Coast Group of councils).
- ✓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 the City of Warrnambool, Moyne Shire, Corangamite Shire, Glenelg Shire or Southern Grampians Shire
- ✓PR pathway: 186 Direct Entry stream under the Labour Agreement pathway after 3 years on the 482.
- ✓Cite all DAMA pathway numbers against Warrnambool City Council (in partnership with the Great South Coast Group of councils)’s current published occupation list – concessions and occupations are reviewed periodically.
At a glance
Agreement holder
Warrnambool City Council (in partnership with the Great South Coast Group of councils)
Geographic trigger
Employer must be located in the City of Warrnambool, Moyne Shire, Corangamite Shire, Glenelg Shire or Southern Grampians Shire
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 Warrnambool (Great South Coast) DAMA. The full current list is published by the agreement holder and is reviewed periodically.
Concessions summary
What the DAMA actually changes
| Concession | Warrnambool (Great South Coast) DAMA |
|---|---|
| TSMIT | Up to 10% concession on TSMIT for selected occupations |
| English | IELTS 5.0 each band for skilled occupations; 4.5 for selected semi-skilled |
| 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 Warrnambool (Great South Coast) DAMA actually works
The Great South Coast of Victoria is Australia’s largest dairy region, producing more than a quarter of national milk output. Dairy farms, milk processors (Saputo, Bega, Warrnambool Cheese & Butter) and the downstream cheese / butter / specialty dairy industry employ tens of thousands across the region. The local workforce has thinned over two decades and the DAMA gives local employers a sponsorship pathway.
Dairy cattle farmer and cheese maker are distinctive concession occupations on this DAMA. Wind turbine technician is another notable addition – the region hosts large wind farms (Mortlake, Macarthur) and the operations & maintenance workforce has been hard to recruit locally.
Aged care worker, disability support worker and veterinarian also feature, reflecting the same regional care economy pattern seen in other DAMAs.
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
Warrnambool City Council (in partnership with the Great South Coast Group of councils)
Common questions
Warrnambool (Great South Coast) DAMA – common questions
Does the Warrnambool DAMA cover Geelong?
No. Geelong is in the City of Greater Geelong and is not covered. The agreement reaches from Camperdown west to Portland and inland to Hamilton.
Can a dairy farm in Cobden use this DAMA?
Yes. Cobden is in Corangamite Shire, which is covered. Dairy cattle farmer is a concession occupation.
Is there a renewable energy concession?
Yes – wind turbine technician is on the agreement. The region’s large wind farms have used the DAMA for operations and maintenance staff.
How long does the Warrnambool DAMA endorsement take?
Typically 4–6 weeks from application to City endorsement, then standard 482 timelines apply for SBS, nomination and visa.
Other DAMA regions