Skilled Migration Process

ORANA Region DAMA
June 22, 2019

ORANA Region DAMA

The word Orana means “Welcome”. The Orana region is the largest and most diverse region in NSW and it stretches from across the Central West and Western region of NSW, extending from Mudgee in the east to Bourke in the west. It covers approximately 25% of NSW territory and includes 12 Local Government Areas of Dubbo Regional Council and Mid-Western Regional Council along with the Local Government Areas of Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Narromine, Walgett, Warren and Warrumbungle. With a population of 120,000 people the Orana region has a strong and growing economy that is contributing over $8 billion to the State and Nation’s GDP annually.
Australia ORANA Region DAMA

ORANA DAMA

In addition to previously announced DAMA agreements for the Northern Territory, the Great South Coast region in Victoria and Kalgoorlie-Boulder in Western Australia, Adelaide City and Regional South Australia, the Australian government and Regional Development Australia Orana region have reached an agreement to establish the Orana Region DAMA that was approved by Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs in April 2019. The Orana region DAMA has been negotiated for 5 years and it will enable employers to sponsor skilled overseas workers in specified industries that are currently experiencing critical skill and labour shortages.

The list of specific occupations eligible for the Orana region DAMA is not yet available but it will range from ANZSCO level 4 and 5 positions that are not currently included in Regional Skilled Migration to level 1, 2 and 3 positions that are on the current skills shortages lists. Positions will cover various industries including agriculture, education, hospitality, manufacturing, construction, health and social welfare. Around 500 people will be sponsored by this agreement in the first year.

The priority for all Australian businesses is to offer employment to Australians first, but where that is not possible skilled migrants will supplement the local workforce.The DAMA application process will require employers to demonstrate that the job cannot be filled by an Australian worker and skilled migrants will also need to undertake a skills assessment, demonstrating their competence and qualifications, as well as an English language proficiency test.

Businesses can access the Orana region DAMA if they are actively operating in the Orana region and:

  • are viable and have been operating for at least 12 months
  • have no history of not meeting its obligations to employees
  • intend to employ overseas workers to fill full-time positions with duties that align with one of the occupations on the Orana region DAMA list
  • can provide terms and conditions of employment to overseas workers that are comparable with those offered to Australian workers in the Orana region.
  • can demonstrate that they cannot fill the position locally with Australian citizens or permanent residents
All DAMA programs are employer-sponsored only and individual workers cannot apply for a visa in these programs on their own without first being sponsored by an approved business.
However, individual workers may be eligible for a Skilled Migration pathway. Qualified specialists, managers and trades people can complete Skilled Visas assessment by clicking on the Yellow Pattern Road or using Visa Eligibility Assessment below.

Follow the Yellow Pattern Road for a free visa assessment


Follow the Yellow Pattern Road for a free visa assessment

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