South Australia provides a range of visa opportunities that are not available elsewhere in Australia in this form. It can open up visa options for a broader range of occupations and, in some cases, provide a pathway to permanent residency for applicants above the usual age threshold. This creates attractive opportunities for prospective migrants that are not available elsewhere in Australia. These are visa pathways available under a DAMA agreement.
What is DAMA?
DAMA stands for Designated Area Migration Agreement. These agreements are negotiated between a designated region (or state) and the Australian Government. They allow businesses in participating areas to sponsor overseas workers in occupations that are not on the national skilled occupation lists. A DAMA is therefore not a separate visa subclass. Instead, it allows concessions to standard visa requirements for certain existing visa subclasses, giving employers more flexibility when sponsoring workers. Under the DAMA framework, the relevant visa subclasses are the Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa (subclass 482), and the Skilled Employer Sponsored Regional visa (subclass 494). In both cases, you need a genuine job offer from an employer in South Australia.
In addition to the fact that DAMAs open visa access to a much broader range of occupations, they are particularly attractive to prospective migrants for another reason: although these are initially temporary work visas, many occupations may have a subsequent pathway to permanent residency and full work rights in Australia. Requirements for Permanent Residency under a DAMA can also be significantly more flexible—for example through higher age limits.
Which DAMA agreements exist in South Australia?
South Australia has two DAMA agreements, one for metropolitan Adelaide (Adelaide City Agreement), and a second agreement covering the wider state (South Australian Agreement).
The Adelaide City Agreement—officially the Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement Designated Area Migration Agreement—is primarily aimed at skilled workers in the fast-growing technology sector, where Adelaide employers face strong demand. This agreement is available to employers with roles located in the Adelaide metropolitan area.
The second agreement, the South Australian Regional Workforce Designated Area Migration Agreement, covers the entire state of South Australia. However, not all occupations are available in every location. Occupations are linked to specific postcode areas, meaning you need to check carefully which occupation is eligible in which part of the state.
What are the advantages of a DAMA visa?
More occupations
One of the key requirements for an Australian skilled visa is having an occupation that appears on an official skilled occupation list—meaning an occupation in demand in Australia.
DAMA agreements expand those occupation lists significantly. As a result, they can create a migration pathway for occupations that would otherwise have limited or no options. This may benefit, for example, certain agricultural roles without a formal agriculture degree, as well as aged care support roles.
Pathway to Permanent Residency
While a DAMA visa is initially a temporary work visa, South Australia provides a defined pathway to Permanent Residency for the occupations listed under the agreement. This means that some occupations may suddenly have access to Permanent Residency—where in other parts of Australia they might only qualify for temporary work visas, or have no visa pathway at all.
Higher age limit
Another major benefit of the South Australia DAMA program is that it can provide a pathway to Permanent Residency for applicants aged 45 and over, because a higher age limit applies. Depending on the occupation, the age limit may be increased to 50 or 55.
For many people who are over the usual age threshold, South Australia can therefore offer a realistic chance to still achieve the goal of living and working in Australia.
Further concessions
There are additional benefits that depend on the occupation. For some roles, for example, less work experience may be required. For others, English language requirements may be lower than under standard settings.
Which jobs and occupations are available under South Australia DAMA?
Jobs under the Adelaide City Agreement DAMA
DAMA visas are available in the greater Adelaide area for the following in-demand occupations:
A-E
- Actors, Dancers and Other Entertainers
- Advancement Manager
- Advancement Professional
- Analyst Programmer
- Artistic Director
- Arts Administrator or Manager
- Biochemist
- Biotechnologist
- Botanist
- Chemist
- Chemistry Technician
- Chief Executive or Managing Director
- Chief Information Officer
- Clinical Researcher
- Corporate General Manager
- Corporate Services Manager
- Dance Teacher (Private Tuition)
- Dancer or Choreographer
- Data and Analytics Manager
- Developer Programmer
- Digital Artist
- Digital Producer
- Digital Production Manager
- Digital Supervisor
- Earth Science Technician
- Education Manager nec
- Environmental Research Scientist
- Environmental Scientists nec
F-L
- Film and Video Editor
- Geophysicist
- Graphic Designer
- Hydrogeologist
- ICT Project Manager
- Illustrator
- Importer or Exporter
- Information and Organisation Professionals
- Laboratory Manager
- Librarian
- Life Science Technician
- Life Scientist (General)
- Life Scientists nec
M-R
- Marine Biologist
- Mathematician
- Medical Laboratory Technician
- Meteorologist
- Microbiologist
- Multimedia Designer
- Multimedia Specialist
- Natural and Physical Science Professionals
- Naval Architect
- Other Spatial Scientist
- Physicist
- Policy and Planning Manager
- Public Relations Manager
- Quality Assurance Manager
- Research and Development Manager
S-Z
- Science Technicians nec
- Senior Digital Artist
- Specialist Managers
- Statistician
- Training and Development Professional
- Web Designer
- Web Developer
- Zoologist
Jobs under the South Australian Agreement DAMA
The following occupations are in demand across South Australia or in specific parts of the state:
A-E
- Aged or disabled carer
- Agricultural and Horticultural Mobile Plant Operator
- Agricultural Consultant
- Agricultural Scientist
- Agricultural Technician
- Aquaculture Farmer
- Audiologist
- Backhoe Operator
- Beef Cattle Farmer
- Care Supervisor
- Child Care Centre Manager
- Child Care Worker (Group Leaders Only)
- Chiropractor
- Civil Engineer
- Civil Engineering Draftsperson
- Clinical Psychologist
- Cold Store Manager
- Cold Store Operator
- Community Worker
- Construction Project Manager
- Cook (ethnic cuisine)
- Counsellors nec
- Dairy Cattle Farm Operator
- Dairy Cattle Farmer
- Dental assistant
- Dental Hygienist
- Dental Specialist
- Dental Technician
- Dental Therapist
- Dentist
- Dietitian
- Disabilities Services Officer
- Diversional Therapist
- DrillerEarly Childhood (Pre-primary School) Teacher
- Educational Psychologist
- Electrical Engineer
- Electrical Engineering Draftsperson
- Electrical Engineering Technician
- Electrical Motor Repairer or Winder
- Electronic Engineering Draftsperson
- Electronic Engineering Technician
- Electronics Engineer
- Engineering Manager
- Engineering Technologist
- Enrolled Nurse
- Exercise Physiologist
F-L
- Facilities Manager
- Family Support Worker
- Fishing HandFitter (General)
- Fitter and Turner
- Fitter-Welder
- Food Technologist
- Fruit or Nut Grower
- Grape Grower
- Health Diagnostic and Promotion Professionals nec
- Industrial Engineer
- Interpreter
- Irrigation Technician
M-R
- Manufacturer
- Meat Boner and Slicer
- Meat Inspector
- Mechanical Engineer
- Mechanical Engineering Draftsperson
- Mechanical Engineering Technician
- Metal Fabricator
- Metal Fitters and Machinists nec
- Metal Machinist (First Class)
- Miner
- Mixed Crop and Livestock Farmer
- Mixed Crop Farmer
- Mixed Livestock Farmer
- Nurseryperson
- Nursing support worker
- Occupational Therapist
- Optometrist
- Organisational Psychologist
- Orthoptist
- Orthotist or Prosthetist
- Osteopath
- Personal care assistant
- Physiotherapist
- Pig Farmer
- Plastics Technician
- Podiatrist
- Poultry Farm Supervisor
- Poultry Farmer
- Poultry Stockperson
- Pressure Welder
- Primary Products Inspectors nec
- Procurement Manager
- Production Horticultural Supervisor
- Production Horticulturalist
- Production Manager (Forestry)
- Production Manager (Manufacturing)
- Production Manager (Mining)
- Production or Plant Engineer
- Psychologists nec
- Psychotherapist
- Registered Nurse (Aged Care)
- Registered Nurses nec
- Rehabilitation Counsellor
- Residential Care Officer
S-Z
- Sales and Marketing Manager
- Saw Maker and Repairer
- Senior Dairy Cattle Farm Worker
- Senior Piggery Stockperson
- Sheetmetal Trades Worker
- Shot Firer
- Skilled Horticultural WorkerSlaughterer
- Social Worker
- Sonographer
- Special Education Teachers nec
- Special Needs Teacher
- Speech Pathologist
- Stonemason
- Structural Engineer
- Supply and Distribution Manager
- Teacher of the Hearing Impaired
- Teacher of the Sight Impaired
- Therapy aide
- Transport Engineer
- Vegetable Grower
- Vehicle Body Builder
- Vehicle Painter
- Vehicle Trimmer
- Veterinary Nurse
- Vineyard Manager
- Vineyard Supervisor
- Welder (First Class)
- Welding Engineer
- Welding Inspector
- Welding Specialist Supervisor
- Welding Technologist
- Welfare Worker
- Wine Maker
- Youth Worker
What can the DAMA visa pathway look like?
Even though the list of occupations under DAMA is significantly broader, the underlying visas are still Australian skilled work visas that require a nominated occupation. This means you must nominate an occupation and meet the criteria for that occupation. It is not enough to have just any job offer from an Australian employer.
The first step is therefore to determine which occupation best matches your formal qualification and/or your employment history. The next step is to check whether there are any additional occupation-specific requirements and whether you need to complete a formal skills recognition process (a skills assessment).
As with any Australian visa, it is essential to take a structured approach and clarify the key requirements early, to avoid issues during the visa process. Visapath Australia is happy to support you in developing your personalised pathway towards an Australian work visa. We can advise you on your options and guide you step by step through the process.
