There are a wide variety of skilled and semi-skilled occupations that may be sponsored for a work visa under the DAMA in South Australia, of which there are currently two:
- The Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement Agreement (ACTIAA), which covers the Adelaide Metropolitan region, with 60 occupations in the defence, space, innovation, advanced manufacturing and technology industries; and
- The South Australian Regional Workforce Agreement (SARWA), which oversees the entire state of South Australia. It contains 114 occupations which are eligible for sponsorship in the key regional growth industries of agriculture, forestry, health, aged care, hospitality, tourism, mining and the construction sectors.
One of the benefits of applying for a sponsorship visa under the South Australia DAMA is the fact that occupations classified as Skill Level 4 and 5 are now included in the list of eligible occupations under the SARWA, whereas previously, occupations at this skill level have not previously been eligible for sponsorship under the skilled visa programme. Occupations included in the ACTIAA are in the skill level range of between 1 and 3.
The skill level for each occupation is specified in the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO).
Before we take a look at the DAMA list South Australia and what occupations may be sponsored under this visa programme, let’s start our discussion by exploring the ANZSCO and how it works.
What Is The ANZSCO?
For migration law purposes, all occupations are classified in accordance with the Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations (ANZSCO). Each occupation which is included in the ANZSCO is assigned a unique identification code, and includes a general description, its skill level (i.e. the minimum qualifications and/or work experience requirements), any registration and/or licensing requirements as well as tasks and duties that may be performed.
The ANZSCO is organised under the following hierarchy for each occupation category:
- Major group
- Sub-major group
- Minor group
- Unit group
- Occupation
To demonstrate, let’s take a look at the occupation of Community Worker (ANZSCO code: 411711), a skill level 2 occupation which is eligible for sponsorship under the SARWA. It is part of the following ANZSCO hierarchy:
- Major Group 4 Community and Personal Service Workers
- Sub-major group 41 Health and Welfare Support Workers
- Minor group 411 Health and Welfare Support Workers
- Unit group 4117 Welfare Support Workers
- Occupations:
- 411711 Community Worker
- 411712 Disabilities Services Officer
- 411713 Family Support Worker
- 411714 Parole or Probation Officer
- 411715 Residential Care Officer
- 411716 Youth Worker
The following description is provided:
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411711 COMMUNITY WORKER Description: Facilitates community development initiatives and collective solutions within a community to address issues, needs and problems associated with recreational, health, housing, employment and other welfare matters. Skill Level: 2 Specialisations: · Community Development Officer · Community Support Worker · Housing Officer
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What Are The Occupation Skill Levels?
As we drill further down into the detail for each occupation, as mentioned earlier, one of the most important elements is the skill level.
This refers to the level of skill that is normally required to competently carry out the tasks of an occupation. Each occupation is assigned a skill level of between 1 and 5.
We recommend that you refer to our article on the South Australia DAMA, where we discuss the ANZSCO system and skill levels in more detail.
What Occupations Can Be Sponsored Under The South Australia DAMA?
In the above article, you will also find a comprehensive listing of the DAMA occupation list SA, where we cover all occupations that may be sponsored under the ACTIAA and SARWA, including each ANZSCO code, skill level, and whether each occupation is eligible for a permanent residence visa under a South Australia DAMA.
See also our article on the DAMA SA – New occupations available, where you will find more information on the DAMA’s in South Australia, including Skill Level 4 occupations which are eligible to be nominated under the programme.
What Else Should You Know About The South Australia DAMA?
Now that we have covered the basics around occupations and skill levels to help you to understand and interpret the South Australia DAMA occupation list as you make your way through the ACTIAA and SARWA, lets now take a step back and take a more general look at the South Australia DAMA visa programme and how it works.
What Is A DAMA?
A DAMA is short for Designated Area Migration Agreement. It is an agreement executed between the Commonwealth Government and the South Australian Government to allow employers in the State to sponsor suitably skilled overseas workers to fill critical workforce shortages in the local employment market.
One of the main benefits of the DAMA is that it adds greater flexibility when compared with the standard skilled visa migration programme by allowing individual regions, states and territories around Australia to negotiate the terms of their unique DAMA according to local conditions.
The DAMA framework consists of two levels:
- Head Agreement, which lasts for five years. As mentioned earlier, there are currently two DAMA’s in South Australia, the ACTIAA and SARWA; and
- Individual Labour Agreements between the South Australian Government (this process is administered by Immigration South Australia (SA), as the Designated Area Representative) and individual employers in South Australia, who must apply for endorsement under the programme.
Endorsed employers, who must be operating in a designated region, may then apply to the Department for a Labour Agreement to enable it to nominate foreign workers for sponsorship in eligible occupations.
The following regions are designated areas in South Australia under the DAMA’s:
- ACTIAA – this Agreement covers the Greater Adelaide planning region (refer to the yellow and black dotted line in the map in the link); and
- SARWA –the entire state of South Australia is covered under this Agreement.
Which Visas Can Sponsored Workers Apply For Under The South Australia DAMA?
Suitably skilled overseas workers may be sponsored by an endorsed employer for a Subclass 482 Temporary Skill Shortage (TSS) visa under the labour agreement stream.
Certain eligible occupations also provide a pathway to a permanent residence visa under the Subclass 186 Employer Nomination Scheme.
What Are The Benefits Of Sponsorship Under A South Australia DAMA?
Apart from the added flexibility discussed above, the South Australia DAMA provides a range of concessions to the sponsoring employer and to overseas workers applying for a skilled visa. This will depend on the DAMA being applied for and the nominated occupation.
Sponsored workers may be able to access a concession for the English language requirement.
An age concession may also be available at the permanent residence visa stage.
Get More Information
In DAMA South Australia, we take a look at how an employer can apply for endorsement under a South Australia DAMA, including its benefits and key features.
And in DAMA Adelaide, you can read about the obligations of sponsoring employers under the DAMA, and how PAX Migration Australia can help you to apply for sponsorship under the South Australia, whether you and employer seeking to sponsor workers, or you are a worker yourself.
You can find more information on the Immigration SA website.
Subscribe to our newsletter for regular updates and additional information.
Contact us to book a no-obligation consultation to find out more about the South Australia DAMA occupation list and your eligibility to sponsor overseas workers under this visa programme.
Sources/Links:
Adelaide City Technology and Innovation Advancement Agreement (ACTIAA)
South Australian Regional Workforce Agreement (SARWA)
Australian Bureau of Statistics – 1220.0 – ANZSCO – Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, 2013, Version 1.3 – LATEST ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 05/11/2019
Australian Bureau of Statistics – 1220.0 – ANZSCO – Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, First Edition, Revision 1 – Contents – Conceptual Basis of ANZSCO – Scope of the classification
https://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/0/598C2E23628BB8FDCA2575DF002DA6B8?opendocument
Australian Bureau of Statistics – 1220.0 – ANZSCO – Australian and New Zealand Standard Classification of Occupations, First Edition, Revision 1 – Contents >> Major Group 4 Community and Personal Service Workers >> SUB-MAJOR GROUP 41 Health and Welfare Support Workers >> MINOR GROUP 411 Health and Welfare Support Workers >> UNIT GROUP 4117 Welfare Support Workers
Australian Government – Department of Home Affairs – Immigration and Citizenship – Visas – Employing or sponsoring workers – Sponsoring workers – Labour agreements
Government of South Australia – Immigration South Australia
https://www.migration.sa.gov.au/
Government of South Australia – Location SA Map Viewer
Government of South Australia – Immigration South Australia – Local employers – Designated Area Migration Agreements – DAMA Skills Assessment and Concessions
Government of South Australia – Immigration South Australia – Designated Area Migration Agreements
