The Regional Development Australia (RDA) Orana Designated Area Migration Agreement (DAMA) is one of the 13 existing DAMAs in Australia, specifically tailored for the Orana region in New South Wales. This 5-year employer-sponsored visa program cultivates a partnership between local businesses and the Australian government, creating pathways for skilled migration to address labour shortages in the region. Individuals looking to access a Labour Agreement under the RDA Orana DAMA, may secure it through the following visa programs:

What are the Specific Agreements Tailored to Orana, NSW?

The RDA Orana DAMA is a tailored migration agreement between the Australian government and local employers in the Orana region.

A visa requirement is the applicant has to live and work in the Designated Area once being sponsored under the labour agreement. The RDA Orana DAMA include 5 regions in NSW,
- Orana region has the following 12 local government areas:
  - Dubbo Regional
  - Mid-Western Regional
  - Narromine Shire
  - Gilgandra Shire
  - Warren Shire
  - Coonamble Shire
  - Warrumbungle Shire
  - Walgett Shire
  - Brewarrina Shire
  - Bogan Shire
  - Cobar Shire
  - Bourke Shire
- Central West includes the 11 local areas below:
  - Bathurst
  - Blayney
  - Cabonne
  - Cowra
  - Forbes
  - Lachlan
  - Lithgow
  - Oberon
  - Orange
  - Parkes
  - Weddin
- The Riverina region has a total of 14 areas:
  - Bland
  - Carrathool
  - Coolamon
  - Cootamundra-Gundagai
  - Griffith
  - Hay
  - Junee
  - Leeton
  - Lockhart
  - Murrumbidgee
  - Narrandera
  - Snowy Valleys
  - Temora
  - Wagga Wagga
- Murray region has a total of 9 areas listed below:
  - Albury
  - Balranald
  - Berrigan
  - Edward River
  - Federation
  - Greater Hume
  - Murray River
  - Wentworth
  - parts of the Snowy Valleys
- The Southern Inland region also has 7 areas that are included:
  - Wingecarribee
  - Goulburn-Mulwaree
  - Upper Lachlan
  - Hilltops
  - Yass Valley
  - Queanbeyan-Palerang
  - Snowy Monaro
Businesses who wish to employ and sponsor a skilled worker must:
- Be a registered Australian entity and have been operating actively for at least 12 months in the abovementioned regions.
- Have no adverse information
- Apply for an endorsement through the relevant RDA Orana DAMA migration officer of the specific region to access the RDA Orana DAMA.
- Businesses who seek to access new overseas workers will have to apply to the RDA Orana DAMA Designated Area Representative (DAR) each subsequent year for endorsement for:
  - Further occupations
  - Worker nominations
  - Variations to their labour agreement
- There is a DAMA endorsement fee of AUD 990 + GST per position for the first 5 positions and AUD 550 + GST per position after 5 positions.
- Ensure that the Labour Market Testing (LMT) has been conducted.
RDA Orana DAMA occupation list includes 129 occupations. Concessions that have been agreed on are required to be applied, which can be requested in the application.
- English concession for some occupations
- CSIT concession (previously known as TSMIT) may apply to some occupations
- Age concession
  - Applicants up to 55 years of age can apply for occupations with Skill Level 1 - 4.
  - Applicants up to 50 years of age can apply for occupations with Skill Level 5.
- After living and working in the Orana region for 3 years on a TSS (Subclass 482) visa granted under the Orana DAMA, a permanent residence (PR) pathway may be available through an ENS (Subclass 186) visa.

Read Orana DAMA Occupation List

How Can Agape Henry Crux Help

If you are interested in DAMA and labour agreement for your next visa pathway in New South Wales (NSW). Contact Agape Henry Crux and speak with one of our immigration lawyers or registered migration agents for professional advice. The team works together with our Accredited Specialist Immigration Lawyer(s), who specialise in handling highly complex matters. You can schedule an appointment with one of our lawyers or agents to seek professional advice by calling 02-8310 5230 or emailing us at info@ahclawyers.com.

We speak fluent English, Mandarin and Cantonese. We can also help you arrange an interpreter if this isn't your language.

This article/presentation (“publication”) does not deal extensively with important topics or changes in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you find this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances, please contact our office.

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