The Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is a 5 year, employer-sponsored visa program initially agreed between the Department of Home Affairs and our colleagues at RDA Orana. In 2024 the DAMA was expanded to cover the Murray NSW region, with the RDA Murray team managing it in our region.

The DAMA gives local employers a way bring onboard overseas workers who are highly skilled in their industries. Bringing valuable skillsets and unique perspectives to the workforce and the region. Allowing for greater flexibility to our regions unique economic and labour needs.

Businesses benefit in 4-key ways:

1. Preapproval of skilled migrants a year in advance allows a business to plan ahead with their hiring process.
2. Applicants are fast tracked compared to the ordinary skilled migration process.
3. A wider list of occupations can be hired through the DAMA, granting businesses opportunities to hire staff they might otherwise be unable to via skilled migration.
4. And concessions unique to the region allow for a wider pool of skilled migrants.

The DAMA isn’t about promoting migrant employment instead of local employment. In fact, RDA Murray strongly encourages employers to offer positions to Australians first wherever possible. The DAMA is simply there to supplement the local workforce in response to the skills shortages in the area.

While there are other paths available to address these skill shortages, such as training and education programs, these options are often nowhere near fast enough. One of the key benefits of having a strong temporary skilled migrant program within Australia is how quickly and efficiently we can respond to these labour and skill shortages.

It can take Australians years to achieve the same qualifications that overseas workers already hold. In the meantime, temporary skilled workers can offer high-quality and highly relevant expertise immediately. Giving employers the opportunity to overcome immediate labour challenges and seize economic opportunities they otherwise might not have been able to.